Short answer: the eye-catching Black Friday offers often quoted online—such as a $0.01 iPhone 16, free iPhone 15 Plus phones, or a $679 iPhone 15—were Black Friday 2024 promotions and are not evidence of deals available today. As of August 18, 2026, Apple’s current U.S. starting prices are $599 for iPhone 17e, $699 for iPhone 16, $799 for iPhone 17, $999 for iPhone Air and $1,099 for iPhone 17 Pro. Carrier promotions may cut the device price by hundreds of dollars, but usually require a trade-in, new line and months of bill credits.
This tracker separates an actually unlocked price from a subsidized phone, shows what each offer requires and gives you a way to compare total cost before you switch or trade in.
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What is actually available now?
Apple’s U.S. shopping page is the cleanest price baseline. These are starting prices for new phones, not temporary Black Friday discounts:
| Model | Apple starting price | Configuration information |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17e | $599 | Verify the current storage and connectivity configuration on Apple’s page |
| iPhone 16 | $699 | 128GB starting configuration |
| iPhone 17 | $799 | 256GB; Apple also lists a $999 512GB version |
| iPhone Air | $999 | Verify the current storage configuration |
| iPhone 17 Pro | $1,099 | Starting configuration; Pro Max pricing is higher |
Sources: Apple’s iPhone shopping page and the iPhone 17 purchase page.
#1 Best Overall
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000nits (typ), 2000nits (HBM), 2556x1179px at 460ppi, 3561mAh Battery
- 128GB 8GB RAM, Apple A18 (3nm), Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz), Apple GPU 5-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide + 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 5G: n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79 - Dual eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
Apple’s iPhone 17 page shows $799 for 256GB when purchased unlocked, or $829 for the “connect to any carrier later” option. A carrier activation can display a different price. Apple lists trade-in values of $35 to $695 on that page, depending on the device and condition. Purchases made in full or through Apple financing are unlocked, subject to carrier terms.
Best choices by shopper type
| Shopper goal | Most defensible starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest unlocked price | iPhone 17e at $599 from Apple | Exact storage, tax and whether you need a carrier activation |
| Cheap current-generation phone | iPhone 17e | Compare its features and storage with discounted iPhone 16 inventory |
| More storage without a Pro price | iPhone 17 512GB at $999 | Whether cloud storage would cost less than the $200 storage upgrade |
| Existing carrier customer | Your carrier’s upgrade or trade-in offer | Plan tier, credit period and whether credits survive a plan change |
| Switcher | A new-line promotion, if the required plan is cheaper than your current service plus phone cost | Port-in rules, activation fee and payoff requirements |
| No trade-in | Apple’s direct price or an immediate retailer markdown | Do not treat “up to” savings as available without an eligible trade-in |
| Older or refurbished model | Remaining iPhone 15/older stock or Apple Certified Refurbished | Warranty, battery health, return policy, activation lock and unlocked status |
How to tell a real deal from a headline price
Instant discount
The checkout price is reduced immediately. There is no bill-credit period, so this is the simplest comparison for an unlocked buyer.
Bill-credit promotion
The phone is financed, usually at its full price, while monthly credits reduce the payment over 24 or 36 months. Leaving early, upgrading or changing to an ineligible plan can stop future credits.
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Trade-in promotion
The maximum discount depends on surrendering a qualifying phone in the required condition. Include the trade-in phone’s resale value in your calculation; a carrier’s credit is not automatically the best value.
Rank #2
- 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. There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product will have a battery which exceeds 90% capacity relative to new.
- Accessories will not be original, but will be compatible and fully functional. Product may come in generic Box.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 365 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
New-line or port-in promotion
These offers can be excellent for a genuine switcher and poor for someone adding an unnecessary line. “Open a line” may not be enough if the terms require porting in from an eligible carrier.
Prepaid promotion
A low phone price may require buying one or more months of service. Check whether the device is locked and when it becomes eligible for unlocking.
Bundle promotion
A free watch, tablet or gift card has value only if you would otherwise buy it. Its advertised retail value is not cash savings.
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Keep these in a separate ranking from new phones. Condition, battery-health guarantees, parts disclosures, warranty and return windows vary by seller.
Rank #3
- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak), 2532x1170px at 460ppi, 4005mAh Battery
- 8GB RAM, Apple A18 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), Apple GPU 4-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- Connectivity: Global 4G LTE, Sub-6 GHz 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C, Wireless Charging (7.5W). (does not have mmWave 5G or MagSafe or physical SIM card) - Dual eSIM Only
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk., Etc.
How to calculate the cheapest “free” iPhone
Use the full commitment, not the device line on the advertisement:
Total required cost = device payments after credits + required service during the credit period + taxes and activation fees + trade-in opportunity cost − usable value of included extras.
For an existing customer, calculate the incremental cost of upgrading. For a switcher, include the entire required plan cost. Also ask what happens if you leave, change plans or upgrade early.
Current carrier-deal signal—but not a verified ranking
An August 2026 deal roundup reports maximum promotional savings of up to $600 on iPhone 17e and up to $830 on iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro. The reported offers require a new line or trade-in, and the available summary does not establish the carrier, plan, credit duration, taxes or eligibility for every model. Treat these as leads to check at checkout, not guaranteed prices.
Rank #4
- 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. There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product will have a battery which exceeds 90% capacity relative to new.
- Accessories will not be original, but will be compatible and fully functional. Product may come in generic Box.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 365 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
Use the carrier’s official pages—AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile—and record the exact terms before calling an offer the best deal.
Unlocked buying: what to verify
- Confirm that the phone is factory unlocked, not merely eligible to unlock after a service period.
- Check the exact model, storage and seller. Marketplace listings can be mixed with retailer-sold inventory.
- Confirm taxes, return window, warranty and AppleCare+ eligibility.
- For Apple purchases, compare “unlocked” with “connect to any carrier later”; they can display different prices.
Apple’s buying guidance is at apple.com/iphone/buy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Older and refurbished iPhones
Remaining iPhone 15 or older inventory can be good value when the discount is immediate and the phone remains supported. Do not compare a refurbished price directly with a new-phone ranking.
For Apple Certified Refurbished stock, check Apple’s refurbished iPhone page. For retailer or marketplace units, verify battery-health terms, repair history, activation-lock status, seller identity, return rights and whether the device is unlocked.
Best Value
- 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. There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product will have a battery which exceeds 80% capacity relative to new.
- Accessories will not be original, but will be compatible and fully functional. Product may come in generic Box.
Why the famous Black Friday examples are not current deals
The matching Black Friday article described an iPhone 16 for $0.01 with a Boost Mobile unlimited plan, four free iPhone 15 Plus phones through Verizon and an iPhone 15 at $679 from Best Buy. Those were Black Friday 2024 examples. The article is not evidence that the promotions remain available in August 2026. See the original historical coverage at Tom’s Guide.
Black Friday is not automatically the cheapest time
Carrier promotions can appear before Black Friday, while unlocked discounts on an older generation may deepen after a new iPhone launch. Compare the current Apple price, the lowest recent retailer price and the complete carrier commitment. A $0 phone on an expensive plan can cost more than an unlocked phone plus a low-cost wireless plan.
Deal-check checklist
- Write down the model, storage and current unlocked price.
- Identify whether the offer is an instant discount, bill credit, trade-in, new line, prepaid purchase or bundle.
- Record the required plan, monthly device payment, credit duration, taxes and activation or upgrade fee.
- Calculate the total cost for the full credit period and the cost if you leave early.
- Confirm lock status, return rules, financing approval and inventory for your color and storage.
- Save the checkout terms and the date checked; prices and eligibility can change without notice.
Sources and update status
Apple pricing and lineup checked August 18, 2026. Current promotional savings are reported by Tom’s Guide’s cell-phone-deals roundup, but exact carrier terms must be confirmed on the live purchase page. Historical Black Friday context is documented by TechRadar, TechRadar’s iPhone 16 comparison, Tom’s Guide’s Cyber Monday coverage and MacRumors. Inventory, trade-in values, plan eligibility and fees may change at any time.
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Is the $0.01 iPhone 16 Black Friday deal still available?
No reliable current evidence supports that conclusion. It was a Black Friday 2024 Boost Mobile promotion tied to an unlimited plan, so it should be treated as historical unless the carrier shows the same terms at checkout.
What is Apple’s cheapest current iPhone?
Apple’s U.S. shopping page lists the iPhone 17e from $599. Confirm the current storage and connectivity configuration before comparing it with carrier-activated prices.
Are carrier bill credits the same as an unlocked discount?
No. Bill credits normally require financing, an eligible plan and continued service for a stated period. An Apple purchase made in full or through Apple financing is unlocked.
The Bottom Line
The cheapest phone price is not necessarily the cheapest iPhone. Start with Apple’s $599 iPhone 17e baseline, then compare any carrier promotion by adding the required service, fees and trade-in cost over the entire credit period. Treat Black Friday 2024 examples and “up to” savings as historical or conditional until the live checkout page proves otherwise.
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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.
