Deals: Cellular Carriers Kick Off New 2020 Offers on iPhone and Apple Watch

[MacRumors]

The major cellular carriers in the United States have all kicked off new offers for customers in the New Year, with the chance to save on your monthly cellular bill and hardware device payments for iPhone, Apple Watch, and more. We've rounded up these various offers below from Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Sprint

Starting today, you can get the Apple Watch Series 4 at up to $275 off, seen in the form of a $11.46/month credit on your bill. This will make the 40mm Apple Watch $7.29/month and the 44mm model $8.54/month. A 24-month installment billing agreement is required, or you'll have to buy a new watch line of service on a qualifying plan with one active handset on the account.

If you're shopping for iPhone, you can get the 64GB iPhone 11 for $15/month with qualifying trade-in and Sprint Flex lease. You'll need a new line of service and an 18-month lease, and afterwards you'll see $14.17/month in credit applied to your bill.

You can also lease a 64GB iPhone XS at $37.50/month, and then get another 64GB iPhone XS for no extra cost thanks to a $37.50/month credit applied to your account within two bills. You'll have to add two new lines or get one new line and one new upgrade, along with a pair of 18-month leases.

There are also a few options for anyone considering switching to Sprint. You can get the iPhone XR for $15/month, or the same smartphone in pre-owned condition for $8/month, if you switch to Sprint from another carrier.

AT&T

AT&T is offering its customers a chance to get up to $500 off eligible iPhones with a new line of service, while customers switching to AT&T can get up to $700 off when they port in their number from another service. The usual caveats apply: you'll need a qualifying installment agreement, eligible smartphone trade-in, and pay a $30 activation fee.

iPhones that you can purchase under this offer include: iPhone: 8 (128GB/256GB), 8 Plus, XR (128GB/256GB), X (64GB/256GB), XS (256GB/512GB), XS Max, 11 ,11 Pro, 11 Pro Max (priced up to $1,450). AT&T noted that the 64GB iPhone 8, 64GB iPhone XR, and 64GB iPhone XS are not eligible.

iPhones that you can trade in under this offer include: iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. You can also trade in various smartphones from Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola, Razer, OnePlus, and more.

After all of this, customers switching to AT&T will get up to $700 in bill credits, while existing AT&T customers adding a new line will get up to $500 in bill credits. These credits start within three bills, and they will be applied in equal amounts over 30 monthly installments.

If you're shopping around for Internet and TV packages, AT&T has a few bundle options of AT&T Internet and U-Verse TV, allowing you to save up to $240/year as well as $300 in AT&T reward cards. The carrier even has a few deals on accessories, like 20 percent off AT&T branded chargers.

Verizon

Verizon has a BOGO offer, allowing you to buy one iPhone and get $700 off a second one. Eligible devices include: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

If you add two of these to your cart with any Verizon Unlimited plan, you can get $700 credited to your account over 24 months.

The carrier also has a few deals on older iPhones, like the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7. You can get the iPhone 8 for $10/month when you buy a new smartphone line, or the same offer stands for the iPhone 7 at $5/month.

Other deals include Apple Watch offers, where you can buy one Apple Watch and get another for up to 50 percent off. To do this, add one Apple Watch to your cart on Verizon's website and then shop for another to see the discount applied.

A new watch line of service is required and up to $150 off the retail price of the lower device will be applied.

T-Mobile

If you and someone else are switching to T-Mobile, you can get two lines and two new 64GB iPhone 11 smartphones at $90/month, via 24 monthly bill credits and qualifying trade-ins.

You can also save up to $700 on the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max when switching and trading in a qualifying device. This deal is for the 64GB iPhone 11 Pro or Pro Max, and a monthly payment plan must be selected.

For both offers, you can get up to $700 off if you trade in: iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus. You can also get up to $500 off if you trade in: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus.

Additionally, T-Mobile has an Apple Watch offer where you can buy the Apple Watch Series 3 and get $100 off when you add a paired DIGITS line. Once you buy the Series 3 on a monthly payment plan and activate at least one new line of Apple DIGITS service, T-Mobile will apply a monthly bill credit of $4.16 to your account for 24 months.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Article Link: Deals: Cellular Carriers Kick Off New 2020 Offers on iPhone and Apple Watch

 

[LeeTom]

What if I want to stay with my existing carrier? Where’s my deal?

 

[Abacab]

What if I want to stay with my existing carrier? Where’s my deal?

"YOU WILL GET NOTHING AND LIKE IT!!!" ... Judge Smails, Caddy Shack

I was thinking the same thing but my 6S that's been paid for is WORKING JUUUUST FINE!!
I'm on T-Mobile who used to be very aggressive with upgrades. Although I would love the 11 the thought of paying OVER 1000K for a phone just doesn't sit right with me.

 

[44267547]

I'm on T-Mobile who used to be very aggressive with upgrades. Although I would love the 11 the thought of paying OVER 1000K for a phone just doesn't sit right with me.

The 11 isn’t over a ‘1000K”’ it starts at $700, the 11 Pro starts at $999.00. [Also, even if you wanted the 11 Pro, you wouldn’t have to pay that price, with the incentive of trade-ins, you could easily lower the price of the phone.]

 

[tharitm]

What if I want to stay with my existing carrier? Where’s my deal?

Nothing unless you want to add a line. I rarely see any upgrade offers for existing customers. But you might be able to get some extra buck if you trade in, sometimes they have trade in bonus.

 

[Xirian]

"YOU WILL GET NOTHING AND LIKE IT!!!" ... Judge Smails, Caddy Shack

I was thinking the same thing but my 6S that's been paid for is WORKING JUUUUST FINE!!
I'm on T-Mobile who used to be very aggressive with upgrades. Although I would love the 11 the thought of paying OVER 1000K for a phone just doesn't sit right with me.

You should have upgraded when they came out, they had a preorder trade in deal without needing to add a line and I think the 6s was included. It was half off an iPhone 11. And the 11 isn’t over $1000. That’s the pro.

 

[burgman]

The 11 isn’t over a ‘1000K”’ it starts at $700, the 11 Pro starts at $999.00. [Also, even if you wanted the 11 Pro, you wouldn’t have to pay that price, with the incentive of trade-ins, you could easily lower the price of the phone.]

In addition to missing the new T-Mobile cellular bands if available where he lives.

 

[davidwes]

The 11 isn’t over a ‘1000K”’ it starts at $700, the 11 Pro starts at $999.00. [Also, even if you wanted the 11 Pro, you wouldn’t have to pay that price, with the incentive of trade-ins, you could easily lower the price of the phone.]

Plus 1000k is technically a million dollars. Even if he meant 1k, your right the iPhone 11 starts lower than that.

 

[Nabby]

What if I want to stay with my existing carrier? Where’s my deal?

Not sure who your existing carrier is, but AT&T does have a Loyalty department that will get you significant discounts. There are caveats, like having to be on specific plans (usually the unlimited), agreeing to a 2-year agreement, etc. However, I purchased 2 iPhone 11 (base model) for $250 each. You must pay that amount in full, and the discount done directly from the purchase price. Based on the plans I already had, my monthly bill did not change at all. Some people on older plans reported higher access fees.

Search for AT&T loyalty number, or use the online chat and ask for Loyalty department. Regardless, confirm with whoever you are speaking/chatting with that you are dealing directly with the loyalty department, not customer service. I've heard of people who couldn't get the same deal they had previously heard after waiting, so if you hear a deal you like, do it then. Stores do not have these offerings. They must be done online or via the phone.

Bottom line is that you aren't going to find a carrier that gives you a great discount on a great phone and let you keep a great plan that you have had for years.

Can't speak for any other carrier regarding loyalty offerings.

 

[minimo3]

It doesn’t make sense to stick to the same carrier. I switch carriers every 2 years and enjoy the freebies

 

[sirghost]

"YOU WILL GET NOTHING AND LIKE IT!!!" ... Judge Smails, Caddy Shack

I was thinking the same thing but my 6S that's been paid for is WORKING JUUUUST FINE!!
I'm on T-Mobile who used to be very aggressive with upgrades. Although I would love the 11 the thought of paying OVER 1000K for a phone just doesn't sit right with me.

No way would I pay a million dollars for any phone let alone an iPhone 11.

I think you meant iPhone 11 Pro Max and meant 1k not 1000k.

 

[csi24]

Not sure who your existing carrier is, but AT&T does have a Loyalty department that will get you significant discounts. There are caveats, like having to be on specific plans (usually the unlimited), agreeing to a 2-year agreement, etc. However, I purchased 2 iPhone 11 (base model) for $250 each. You must pay that amount in full, and the discount done directly from the purchase price. Based on the plans I already had, my monthly bill did not change at all. Some people on older plans reported higher access fees.

Search for AT&T loyalty number, or use the online chat and ask for Loyalty department. Regardless, confirm with whoever you are speaking/chatting with that you are dealing directly with the loyalty department, not customer service. I've heard of people who couldn't get the same deal they had previously heard after waiting, so if you hear a deal you like, do it then. Stores do not have these offerings. They must be done online or via the phone.

Bottom line is that you aren't going to find a carrier that gives you a great discount on a great phone and let you keep a great plan that you have had for years.

Can't speak for any other carrier regarding loyalty offerings.

AT&T hasn't run the loyalty deal for the 11 Series for about a month now. They take it away and then add it back after a while. Best bet is to always do it at or shortly after launch. That way when your two year contract is up, you won't have to worry about the deal not being offered

 

[aneftp]

The Post paid carriers always (att, verizon , sprint). T-Mobile hardly runs deals for existing customers. But around holiday times in early November sams club always has $300-400 gift cards for new or existing customers on installment deals. So you don’t need to add a new line.
This year was $400 gift card. And you can use gift cards at Walmart or Sams club.

Some people hate gift cards. But they are essentially cash to most of us to buy essential household items at stores like food water etc.

The best thing about installment deals is you can pay off phone after 15 days and eligible for another promo. Which makes it even better than the “monthly credits” spread over 24-30 months. I got $200 Sam Card credit gift card sept 20 for iPhone 11 128gb on att. Paid off the phone. Unlocked it for my friend who is on T-Mobile which offer no deals. Paid taxes etf. Sold iPhone 11 128gb to him for $600 cause I’m a nice friend. Got activation fee waived. So saved him $200.

just did same thing in November for another friend got $400 gift card and unlocked phone for them.

so best time to buy is holiday season for existing customers.