iPhone Deals: Verizon, T-Mobile & AT&T (2026)

Verizon

Verizon's iPhone promos span 36 months and require Unlimited Ultimate for maximum savings. Its offers have gotten aggressive: iPhone 17 and 17 Pro are available at no cost with a new line on Ultimate; 17 Pro Max is up to $1,100 off with trade-in; iPhone Air up to $1,000 off; iPhone 17e free with a new line on any Unlimited plan. Lower tiers (Welcome, Plus) qualify for reduced credit. Upgrades require the trade-in phone active on the account for 60 days.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile applies credits over 24 months (shorter than Verizon) and accepts trade-ins in any condition. It has dropped the trade requirement on several models: iPhone 17 is free with a new line on Experience Beyond/More or Better Value — no trade needed; 17 Pro is free with trade + a qualifying Experience plan; 17 Pro Max up to $1,100 off; iPhone Air free with a new switch. Maximum discounts require Experience Beyond ($110/mo). Switchers get up to $800/line to cover ETFs via virtual prepaid Mastercard.

AT&T

AT&T applies credits over 36 months and accepts iPhone 13 and newer plus select Android. iPhone 17 / 17 Pro are free with eligible trade-in on qualifying unlimited plans; 17 Pro Max up to $1,100 off; iPhone Air up to $830 off; iPhone 17e at $4.73/mo with trade-in. Base trade credit starts on ~$50/mo unlimited plans; the maximum ($1,100) requires a higher-tier plan (Unlimited Premium, ~$70+/mo).

Carriers vs. buying from Apple

Buying direct from Apple gets you an unlocked phone free to move between carriers, prepaid services, and international SIMs. Apple's own trade-in values run lower than carrier promos (up to ~$700), but Apple Card Monthly Installments spread cost over 24 months at zero interest, and the iPhone Upgrade Program bundles AppleCare+ with a yearly upgrade after 12 payments. Go Apple if flexibility beats subsidy; go carrier if you'll genuinely stay 36 months on a qualifying plan anyway.

MVNOs play a different game: Visible pairs new lines with gift cards instead of bill credits, Boost runs aggressive no-trade-in discounts, Mint discounts phones with annual prepay, and the cable MVNOs (Xfinity, Spectrum) reserve their deepest cuts for internet customers. Smaller discounts — but no premium-plan requirement propping up the math.

How the deals actually work

• Bill credits, not upfront discounts — you finance full retail and the carrier offsets it monthly; net zero only if you finish the term.
• Trade-in valuation matters — the advertised max requires a current-gen flagship; get a real quote first.
• Plan tier requirements — max discounts always require the priciest unlimited plan; the plan cost is often the real cost.
• Early termination — cancel or downgrade and remaining credits forfeit; treat these as 24–36 month commitments.
• Switcher promos stack with trade-in — but usually arrive as virtual prepaid Mastercards, not bill credits.

Before you sign up

1. Get your trade-in's exact credit value from the carrier's estimator — don't rely on advertised maximums.
2. Add up the qualifying plan's cost over the full term.
3. Read the fine print on financing, early termination, and auto-pay requirements.
4. Confirm coverage at your address before committing.
5. Ask your current carrier's retention line to match — unadvertised deals often beat public switcher promos.