There are lots of great AT&T phone deals available right now. Some get you hot new iPhone models for free, while others save you tons of money.
The best ones require you to add a new line or trade in an old device. But the resulting bill credits over 36 months can be well worth it.
1. Trade In Your Old Phone
If you have an old iPhone lying around, you can get some money for it by trading in at Apple or at one of the major carrier's trade-in programs. These services, which include Best Buy, Gazelle and uSell, will give you an instant price for your device based on its make, model and condition.
You can also sell your old phone yourself through sites like eBay or Craigslist. But this process takes more work, including posting pictures of your device, answering questions from buyers, creating shipping labels and sorting payments. And you run the risk of dealing with scammers.
Another option is to reach out to a buyback site like Trademore, Gazelle or decluttr. These companies typically pay competitive prices for iPhones in good condition, although they may not offer as much as a carrier trade-in program. In some cases, they'll send you a gift card that you can use to pay for a new iPhone.
2. Switch to AT&T
You can save a lot on an iPhone by adding a line, trading in your old phone or switching to AT&T. These deals can often cut hundreds of dollars off the retail price of an Apple iPhone.
For example, AT&T has a deal that lets you get the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra for just \$1 per month. This phone is only available through AT&T, but it offers high-speed unlimited data and a huge 2,000 MB pool of hotspotting data.
You can also find great AT&T iPhone deals right now that don't require a trade-in, such as the Apple 3rd Generation iPhone SE for \$5 per month. That's an amazing price for a phone that comes with a 5G network and has a dual 12 and 7MP camera. These deals are only around for a limited time, though. So be sure to check out AT&T's website to see what's available. And don't forget that AT&T has special discounts for military personnel, students and teachers.
3. Get a Free Phone
There are a few different ways to get a free phone. One way is to sign up for a government assistance program like Lifeline or ACP. Another way is to switch to a different carrier. Many carriers offer free phones to people who switch to them.
Rogers, for example, is currently offering the iPhone 12 for \$1 per month when customers trade in an old device. However, this deal is only available in-store and requires a two-year financing plan.
Another option is to look for deals on smartphones on websites such as OfferUp or NextDoor. These sites work similarly to Craigslist and allow users to post things they’re selling or giving away for free. However, these deals may not always be legit. It’s also important to note that most free smartphone giveaways on the Internet come with a catch. They often require a high-speed data plan or subscriptions to streaming services. These fees can add up quickly, making a “free” phone not so free in the long run.
4. Get a Credit
Getting a new credit card is an easy way to add more security to your online shopping. Plus, you can use your iPhone to scan your credit card so you don’t have to manually enter the number each time you shop.
Large carriers like AT&T and Verizon often promote 'free' phones. However, the reality is these deals end up costing you a lot of money over the long term, as they often require you to sign up for a big data plan and a bunch of extras.
Luckily, there are a few exceptions to this rule. One is Apple's upcoming credit card, the Apple Card, which will live in your Wallet app and give you 2% cash back on all purchases. You can apply for an Apple Card now and get a \$50 sign-up bonus. Another exception is when a credit card is used to make automatic payments for a renewable Apple subscription service. These cards will continue to receive bill credits until the subscription ends or they are deleted from the Wallet app.
