Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
No—this is not a current “today-only” Verizon deal. The headline referred to a promotion published on February 28, 2023. Verizon reportedly offered a 128GB iPhone 13 for $0 through monthly promotional credits, but only with a new qualifying line, an eligible 5G Unlimited plan, and an online purchase. The historical deadline has passed, so readers should not treat the old headline as a live September 2026 offer.
What the original Verizon iPhone 13 deal included
The original iMore report described a standard Apple iPhone 13 with 128GB of storage. Its device cost could be reduced to $0 under the promotion, but the offer was conditional:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Midnight - Unlocked (Renewed) | $262.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Starlight - Unlocked (Renewed) | $270.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Blue - Unlocked (Renewed) | $265.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Apple iPhone 12, 64GB, Black - Unlocked (Renewed) | $185.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Apple iPhone 13, 128GB, Pink - Unlocked (Renewed) | $287.00 | Buy on Amazon |
- Phone: standard iPhone 13, 128GB—not the iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max.
- New line: a new qualifying Verizon line was required.
- Plan: an eligible 5G Unlimited plan was required.
- Purchase channel: the reported promotion was online-only.
- Trade-in: the contemporaneous coverage said no trade-in was required.
- Service charges: the Verizon wireless plan still had to be paid for.
The report said all colors were included, subject to inventory. A Tom’s Guide account also described the offer as applying to eligible Unlimited plans and reported that the Welcome plan was excluded at the time. That was a 2023 promotion rule, not a current Verizon policy.
When was the “only for today” deadline?
“Only for today” meant February 28, 2023, the publication date of the original article. It did not mean today when the headline appears in a current search result. The original promotion page is no longer available as a current offer, and there is no basis for presenting that specific new iPhone 13 promotion as available in 2026.
#1 Best Overall
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
- Product may come in generic Box.
Why the phone was called free
Carrier “free phone” deals usually do not mean that the carrier hands over a phone with no financial conditions. Instead, the customer typically agrees to device payments and receives matching monthly promotional credits over the required term.
That distinction matters because a $0 device payment is not the same as a $0 Verizon bill. The customer can still owe the wireless plan, taxes, activation or other fees, and any charges not covered by the promotion. Verizon’s current device-deals FAQ says promotional credits may take one or two billing cycles to appear, so an early bill may not show the full expected credit immediately.
The original offer was therefore better described as a qualifying Verizon service promotion that could offset the phone’s cost—not as an unconditional giveaway.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #2
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR display. 5G Superfast downloads, high quality streaming
- Cinematic mode in 1080p at 30 fps. Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 60 fps. 2X Optical zoom range
- A15 Bionic chip. New 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores. New 4-core GPU. New 16-core Neural Engine
- Up to 19 hours video playback. Face ID. Ceramic Shield front. Aerospace-grade aluminum
Could existing Verizon customers use it?
The reported requirement was a new line. That means a new Verizon customer could potentially qualify by opening a qualifying line, subject to the original terms. An existing customer might have needed to add a new qualifying line, but could not assume that an ordinary upgrade on an existing line would qualify.
Because the original Verizon promotion terms are no longer available for inspection, account-level eligibility should not be stated as a current Verizon rule. Existing customers should check the exact terms shown in their account and checkout flow.
What happens if you cancel or change the plan?
Monthly credits generally depend on keeping the qualifying line, device arrangement, and plan in place. Under Verizon’s current general guidance, credits can stop if you:
Rank #3
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR display. 5G Superfast downloads, high?quality streaming
- Cinematic mode in 1080p at 30 fps. Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 60 fps. 2X Optical zoom range
- A15 Bionic chip. New 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores. New 4-core GPU. New 16-core Neural Engine
- Up to 19 hours video playback. Face ID. Ceramic Shield front. Aerospace-grade aluminum
- cancel the qualifying line;
- move to a plan that is not eligible;
- pay off the device early; or
- upgrade early.
If future credits stop, the remaining device-payment balance may become due. In other words, a customer generally cannot obtain a phone through a credit-based promotion and immediately leave Verizon while keeping all the expected credits. The exact result depends on the written terms of the particular promotion.
Transfers can also have separate rules. Verizon provides account and line-transfer guidance at its service-transfer support page; a device promotion does not automatically transfer simply because the phone moves between accounts.
Is Verizon offering a similar iPhone 13 deal now?
Verizon’s current promotional inventory is not the same as the 2023 offer. The available Verizon listings reviewed for this topic included iPhone 13-family devices such as certified-preowned iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 mini models. Those are not equivalent to a brand-new, standard 128GB iPhone 13.
Rank #4
- Fully unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US-Cellular, Cricket, Metro, etc.).
- Inspected and guaranteed to have minimal cosmetic damage, which is not noticeable when the device is held at arm's length.
- Successfully passed a full diagnostic test which ensures like-new functionality and removal of any prior-user personal information.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a charging cable that may be generic.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
For example, a page snapshot showed certified-preowned models with monthly pricing over 36 months, including an iPhone 13 Pro listed at $9.97 per month and an iPhone 13 mini at $5.83 per month. Prices, inventory, eligibility, condition, and promotions can change by account, ZIP code, and checkout date, so treat those figures as a snapshot rather than a current guarantee. Check Verizon’s current free-phone listings and the live smartphone deals page instead of using the old article’s shopping link.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to check a Verizon phone deal safely
Before entering payment information, verify all of the following on the live Verizon product and checkout pages:
- Exact model: Confirm whether it is an iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, or another model.
- Condition: Check whether the device is new, refurbished, or certified pre-owned.
- Storage and color: Make sure the advertised capacity and desired color are actually in stock.
- Line requirement: Determine whether you must add a line, port in a number, or be a new customer.
- Plan requirement: Confirm the precise qualifying plan rather than assuming every Unlimited plan works.
- Trade-in requirement: Check whether a trade-in is mandatory and how its value is delivered.
- Credit period: Identify the number of months, monthly credit amount, and device-payment term.
- Up-front costs: Look for taxes, activation fees, shipping, down payments, and deposits.
- Exit rules: Read what happens if you cancel, change plans, transfer the line, pay off the phone, or upgrade early.
- Total service cost: Compare the required Verizon service cost over the full credit period with the cost of buying an unlocked phone and using a cheaper plan.
Verizon says promotions can change and may be limited by inventory. The safest comparison is not simply the phone’s advertised monthly price; it is the total cost of the required service and device arrangement for as long as the credits last.
Best Value
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR display. 5G Superfast downloads, high?quality streaming
- Cinematic mode in 1080p at 30 fps. Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 60 fps. 2X Optical zoom range
- A15 Bionic chip. New 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores. New 4-core GPU. New 16-core Neural Engine
- Up to 19 hours video playback. Face ID. Ceramic Shield front. Aerospace-grade aluminum
The personal-finance trade-off
A no-trade-in offer can be attractive because it avoids giving up an existing phone. But requiring a new line can make the account more expensive, especially if the line is added only to obtain the device. Monthly credits also reduce flexibility: leaving Verizon or changing the qualifying plan may cause the remaining balance to become payable.
Certified-preowned phones can be a lower-cost alternative, but they should be compared on condition, warranty, return rights, storage, battery expectations, and total price—not described as the same deal as a new iPhone 13.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems
