Best iPhone 16 Deals: Get the Best Phone of 2025 in Your Pocket for Free

May Be Interested In:Former Palantir and Elon Musk Associates Are Taking Over Key Government IT Roles


Packed full of advanced features like slo-mo video capture and Apple Intelligence, Apple’s latest iPhone 16 has claimed the overall top spot as the best phone to buy for 2025. But with an intimidating $799 starting price, upgrading may be a little hard to justify if your current phone still works fine. Fortunately, there are a ton of ways to get one of these sleek Apple devices in your pocket for less. Direct discounts are still rare, but you can save up to $1,000 in exchange for your old phone, or when adding a new line at a carrier. And to help you take full advantage of these offers, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals out there right now below.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

We’ll continue to update this page as offers come and go, so be sure to check back often. And if you’re looking to make the switch to an Android phone, there are plenty of Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 9 deals to be had right now as well.

Read more: Best iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro cases

Watch this: Review: Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Is an Impressive Upgrade

Buying a new iPhone 16? Check out the best deals on iPhone accessories like the Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4.

When did the iPhone 16 launch?

Apple’s iPhone 16 and 16 Pro lineup hit stores in September. You can now pop into any retailer that sells the iPhone — like an Apple store, Best Buy or your carrier — and buy from their available stock. Use the Apple Store app to select the model, storage and color you like, and you can check availability at your nearest physical Apple store. You’ll also find the lineup at all major carriers, and we’ve highlighted those offers below too.

It’s not unheard of for popular configurations of colors, models and storage capacities to sell out of available stock and experience a delay. So we suggest you have a couple backup options in mind if you’re determined to get a new iPhone right away. Or be prepared to wait.

Read more: A Billion Pixels a Second: A Rare Look Inside Apple’s Secret iPhone 16 Camera Labs

How do I order the iPhone 16?

You can shop the iPhone 16 series on nearly all online retailers and carriers, as well as at brick-and-mortar locations.

First, decide which model iPhone you want to buy — iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max. Then select your preferred color and storage capacity and decide if you’re going to trade in an older iPhone, which could get you up to $650 back from the Apple site. 

Then choose an optional carrier and AppleCare Plus coverage (or not) and click the blue Add to Bag button. You can then add any accessories you want and finally enter your payment information to complete your purchase.

How much does the iPhone 16 cost and what are the specs?

Prices differ depending on the amount of storage you buy, but here’s the range:

  • iPhone 16: $799 to $1,099
  • iPhone 16 Plus: $899 to $1,199
  • iPhone 16 Pro: $999 to $1,499
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1,199 to $1,599

Read more: All-New iPhone 16 Button Adds Camera Control to Apple’s Flagship Phone

iPhone 16 lineup specs

iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max
Starting price 128GB $799 $899 $999 NA
Starting price 256GB $899 $999 $1,099 $1,199
Starting price 512GB $1,099 $1,199 $1,299 $1,399
Starting price 1TB NA NA $1,499 $1,599
Display size 6.1-inch 6.7-inch 6.3-inch 6.9-inch
Screen resolution (pixels) 2,556 x 1,179 2,796 x 1,290 2,622 x 1,206 2,868 x 1,320
Pixel density 460 ppi 460 ppi 460 ppi 460 ppi
Processor A18 A18 A18 Pro A18 Pro
Mobile software iOS 18 iOS 18 iOS 18 iOS 18
Camera (megapixels) 48MP fusion camera, 12MP ultrawide camera 48MP fusion camera, 12MP ultrawide camera 48MP fusion camera, 48MP ultrawide camera, 5x telephoto 48MP fusion camera, 48MP ultrawide camera, 5x telephoto
Front-facing camera 12-megapixel 12-megapixel 12-megapixel 12-megapixel
Video capture 4K up to 60fps 4K up to 60fps 4K up to 120fps 4K up to 120fps
Battery/charging speeds Up to 22 hours video playback Up to 27 hours video playback Up to 27 hours video playback Up to 33 hours video playback
Fingerprint sensor None (Face ID) None (Face ID) None (Face ID) None (Face ID)
Connector USB-C USB-C USB-C USB-C

What colors do the iPhone 16 models come in?

  • iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: Black, white, pink, teal (green) and ultramarine (blue)
  • iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max: Black titanium, white titanium, natural titanium and desert titanium

How do iPhone 16 trade-in offers work?

Some carriers are offering up to $1,000 on eligible trade-ins, which could net you an iPhone 16 Pro for free. One important thing to keep in mind is that most trade-in deals from carriers require you to become a customer, and they often apply to the priciest plan options. 

Select retailers with trade-in programs could offer you gift cards toward future purchases instead, so you don’t necessarily have to be locked into a contract to take advantage of the savings you can get from parting with your old device. However, those offers may not provide as much of a deal as traditional trade-in offers. We’ve got specifics on how much you can expect to receive for trading in your phone at select retailers and carriers below. 

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro with a gradient teal screensaver, on a stand in a busy showroom.

We first saw the new iPhone 16 models in the demo room at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California. 

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

Best deals for the iPhone 16

We’ll continue updating the list below with the best iPhone 16 deals across all of the major US retailers and carriers.

You can buy the iPhone 16 series from the Apple Store, and if you have an older phone to trade in, you could get up to $650 in trade-in credit. You’ll also get 3% cash back if you make the purchase with your Apple Card*.

T-Mobile is offering a number of trade-in and new-line discounts on the iPhone 16 series at the moment. Exchanging your old phone will save you up to $1,000 if you have a Go5G Next plan, which scores you the basic iPhone 16, 16 Plus or 16 Pro for free. People on a Go5G Plus plan can get up to $830 off with a trade-in, which still scores you the basic iPhone 16 for free. Those on a Go5G, Magenta or One plan will get up to $300 off, and those on most other plans can get up to $200 in trade-in credit.

You can also save up to $830 with both a new line and a trade-in, and military members, first responders and folks over 55 can take advantage of special trade-in offers for up to $800 off.

AT&T is offering great deals on the iPhone 16 lineup. If you’re after the basic iPhone 16 or 16 Plus, you can save up to $700 with an eligible trade-in, which drops the monthly cost down to just $4 and $6 respectively. If you want to upgrade to a Pro model, a trade-in will save you up to $1,000, which nets you the 128GB iPhone 16 Pro for free, or the 16 Pro Max for just $6 per month.

Note that you need to have or switch to an eligible unlimited plan to get these offers, and the discount will be applied as bill credits over a 36-month period. AT&T is also offering a special online-only discount of $200 off with the activation of a new line.

Xfinity Mobile isn’t offering any direct discounts on iPhone 16 series phones. However, you can save up to $830 on the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max with an eligible trade-in. But unlike some other carriers, Xfinity isn’t offering enhanced credit, so the year and condition of your device will have a much larger impact on its value. And if you’re looking to make the switch from another carrier, Xfinity will give you up to $500 to pay off your current contract.

Verizon is offering slight savings on all iPhone 16 models right now. Adding a new line on an Unlimited Ultimate plan will save you $470 on the basic iPhone 16, $390 on the iPhone 16 Plus, $460 on the iPhone 16 Pro and $480 on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Discounts are applied as bill credits over a 36-month period, which drops the cost down to just $10, $15, $15 and $20 per month, respectively.

If you’ll also be trading in an old phone with the activation of a new Unlimited Ultimate line, the discount jumps up to $830, which scores you the basic iPhone 16 for free.

Best Buy isn’t carrying any unlocked iPhone 16 models right now, but there are some serious savings available if you add a new line and trade in your old phone through AT&T or Verizon. AT&T customers will get up to $700 off the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, or up to $1,000 off the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Verizon customers can trade in for up to $830 off any iPhone 16 model.

Walmart is offering carrier deals that can help you save up to $930 off the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, and up to $1,100 off the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with trade-in when you activate a new line or upgrade with an unlimited voice. You’ll receive the savings via 36 monthly bill credits. You’ll have to activate a new line or upgrade your line to an eligible plan if you’re not already on one.  

If you opt for one of the iPhone 16 series at Boost, you can save up to $1,000 off with no trade-in is required. That nets you the iPhone 16, 16 Pro and 16 Plus for free and gets you a nice discount on the 16 Pro Max. To get the savings, Boost asks you to sign up for their Infinite Access plan, a $65 per month fee.
If you prefer to pay for the phone outright, you won’t get a direct discount on the price, but you will get a free year of 5G service.

US Cellular is offering a discount of up to $1,000 and doesn’t require a trade-in. To qualify for this discount, you’ll need to sign up for a new line on any of its Unlimited personal or business line plans. You’ll receive bill credits for up to 36 months. Remember to check if US Cellular services your area.

Want to get a deal on previous iPhone models? Our roundup of the best iPhone deals includes sales on the iPhone 15, iPhone SE and more.

*All information about the Apple Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.



share Share facebook pinterest whatsapp x print

Similar Content

Sennheiser Profile Wireless review: a well-designed DJI alternative
Sennheiser Profile Wireless review: a well-designed DJI alternative
Air travel tricks and tips for 2025
Air travel tricks and tips for 2025
E.U. Approves Synopsys and Ansys Merger
E.U. Approves Synopsys and Ansys Merger
It's About Danni
It’s About Danni
Two Iranians Charged in Fatal Drone Strike That Killed Three U.S. Soldiers
Two Iranians Charged in Fatal Drone Strike That Killed Three U.S. Soldiers
Labor argues ‘economic madness’ of Coalition’s nuclear plan would cost NSW $1.4tn
Labor argues ‘economic madness’ of Coalition’s nuclear plan would cost NSW $1.4tn
Current Affairs Unplugged: What’s Really Going On? | © 2025 | Daily News