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Here Are The Best Carrier Deals You Can Get When Pre-Ordering iPhone 16 Today
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T-mobile requires you to be on 5G next to get even a remotely worth it deal. Apple only gives $640 and t-mobile only gives $160. Not even close to worth it. Forced to finance $559 from t-mobile. You can’t pay it off early anymore either or else you lose those credits. Have to basically stay with the phone payments for 10 months. And then if you upgrade again next year, you just keep compounding phone prices.
T-Mobile has become garbage, when they were once the best for consumers.
Might just cancel my order with t-mobile and keep my 15pm.
T-Mobile has become garbage, when they were once the best for consumers.
Might just cancel my order with t-mobile and keep my 15pm.
Wait for November, usually that's when the best deals to be had, especially with the slow sales of ip16 this year.
So after 1 1/2 hours....t-mobile just locked my account. I was not logging in and out. I logged in once and just kept trying to complete a purchase. Now with my account locked, it says I have to wait 24 hours to log in again. Alternatively, I have the option to call in - current hold time is 2 hours.
The majority of people use these trade-in plans, and it works for them. I am on my second Pro Max phone using these plans. I don't change my Pro Max every year but wait every three years. The majority of us just want a cool phone to take pics with and hold our music.
Usually, wait till January, the carriers get desperate then.
Not completely related to this post, but some people are saying trade-in through Apple, so I wanted to share a quick experience. If you have an Apple Store anywhere near you, trade in your device in person instead of through the kit they send you. A few years ago, I sent a device in, and they lowered the value when they received it. I had photos and videos showing it in near-perfect condition. The next year someone on here recommended taking it in person to a store. They process it in-store, and you know your amount when you leave. I have done this for the past few years with our two phones. Even if you chose to receive a trade in kit, you can still take it into a store for trade in.
The crazy part is with my cheap grandfathered in plan from when I had sprint. It’s actually cheaper to just add an additional device in payment plans than upgrading my actual plan.
I took the bait hook/line/sinker. We are already on the Plus plan with Verizon and have been for years. Don't see us every leaving them. Traded in two iPhone 12 Pros for $7.50 something a month for 36 months. Compared to Apple Card installment plan at $36 a month for 24 months, and i'm saving $594. And I can upgrade early through Verizon.
We are basically back to the old upgrade plans through Apple, just with our carrier now. And you have the option to pay down the amount at check out if you want to avoid a minor increase in your month plan costs.
We are basically back to the old upgrade plans through Apple, just with our carrier now. And you have the option to pay down the amount at check out if you want to avoid a minor increase in your month plan costs.
T-Mobile no longer unlocks devices after 60-90 days, have to wait for the 2 year period to end i.e. paid off.
Visible, like most other prepaid brands, does not allow pre-orders.
When did this change? T-Mobile's policy says if device is paid off, it gets unlocked after 40 days for post-paid plans. Pre-paid plans require 365 days.
SIM Unlock Policy | Unlock Your Mobile Wireless Device | T-Mobile
Learn how to unlock your wireless mobile device for use on other carriers (formerly SIM Unlock). See device compatibility and unlock requirement.
www.t-mobile.com
Unlock eligibility for mobile devices on Postpaid plans
- The device must have been active on the T‑Mobile network for at least 40 days on the requesting line.
- If the device was financed or leased through T‑Mobile then all payments must be satisfied and the device must be paid in full.
- If the device is associated with a canceled account, then the account balance must be zero.
- T‑Mobile may request proof of purchase or additional information in its discretion and certain other exceptions may apply.
Pro tip: port out your number to Mint Mobile then port to Visible. You'll then be eligible to save $10 off their $25/mo plan with promo code BYEBYETMO
Visible Wireless - Unlimited No-Contract Prepaid Cell Phone Plans
Visible offers unlimited data, talk and text for $25/month powered by Verizon. Check out our plans, deals, and devices today.
www.visible.com
Since T-Mobile owns Mint Mobile now, ports from Mint to Visible are recognized as a port from T-Mobile in their system.
Yes, you'll have to spend $45 on a 3 month 5GB Mint Mobile plan (their cheapest). But you'll make that up by only paying $15/mo instead of $25/mo
Traded in my iPhone 13 Pro 1TB for an iPhone 16 Pro Max 1TB. Got $1,000 for my trade in. Can't beat that. I don't mind keeping the phone for 36 months. I don't get a new phone every year like I used too. 
Exactly. I’m still paying off my 13 pro max because they got me on a 3 year finance deal for an outrageously low monthly price but I got to keep my legacy 5G plan.
I’m paying $6.21 a month for service from an MVNO. Best to stock up on Apple credit when it’s 10-15% off, buy the phone unlocked from Apple, and be a free agent for service.
It used to be 30 months for the phone credits up to $1,000. Now it's 36 months! This deal is only good if you don't mind waiting 3 years for a new phone AND if you're getting a really good discount off the service plan. I'm getting 25% teacher discount with ATT and we're all on the Starter plan with the lines being about $30 per month with the free iphones.
Currently on Verizon's "5G Play More" plan, which "includes" Hulu/Disney/ESPN, which isn't eligible for any phone deals. We get a 10/line discount for autopay and paper free billing. Just this morning I received this email from Verizon. Total BS! This is the equivalent of bullying. They just make up their own ***** rules forcing ppl to upgrade which will end up costing more if I want to keep Hulu/Disney/ESPN...
We are committed to bringing you our best network and services. Our focus on ongoing innovation enables us to give our customers the best. To ensure we deliver premium experiences and offers, sometimes we need to make adjustments. We want to let you know about an upcoming change to your Auto Pay discount.
Here's what to expect:
While we continue to offer Auto Pay benefits, your $10/line discount will be reduced to $5/mo. and your bill will increase starting on or after 10.10.2024. However, your current plan price and benefits will remain unchanged. You also have the option of moving to myPlan, where you’ll receive an Auto Pay discount of $10/mo for every line you switch.
myPlan gives you the power of choice. You’ll still get our award-winning 5G network, but now you can choose your Unlimited plan and customize it with a variety of perks—exclusive savings on subscriptions for entertainment, shopping and more. You may be able to save on subscriptions you already enjoy.
We are committed to bringing you our best network and services. Our focus on ongoing innovation enables us to give our customers the best. To ensure we deliver premium experiences and offers, sometimes we need to make adjustments. We want to let you know about an upcoming change to your Auto Pay discount.
Here's what to expect:
While we continue to offer Auto Pay benefits, your $10/line discount will be reduced to $5/mo. and your bill will increase starting on or after 10.10.2024. However, your current plan price and benefits will remain unchanged. You also have the option of moving to myPlan, where you’ll receive an Auto Pay discount of $10/mo for every line you switch.
myPlan gives you the power of choice. You’ll still get our award-winning 5G network, but now you can choose your Unlimited plan and customize it with a variety of perks—exclusive savings on subscriptions for entertainment, shopping and more. You may be able to save on subscriptions you already enjoy.
Agreed. I have always been on a 2 year upgrade cycle, but will be switching to a 3 year (minimum) cycle this time around. My wife is a teacher so we get that discount also. We are on the AT&T Unlimited Elite plan, which is the oldest plan that they will give these trade in allowances on from what I can tell. Looks like in 3 years or so I'll have to make a decision regarding what plan or service I want to go with. T-Mobile coverage/service in my area is horrible, so AT&T or Verizon are basically my only choices.
Not necessarily. For example, if someone is buying a 128GB iPhone 16 and has an iPhone 12 mini trade, they get $830 (much more than the $150 Apple trade-in value) whether they are on a Go5G Next plan or a Go5G Plus plan. Plus, it may not even require a Go5G Next or Plus plan if adding a new line.
Any math out there comparing upgrading phone every year by
1. Trade in to Apple
2. Sell outright?
OR
Upgrade every 3 years via carrier by getting bill credits.
Only disadvantage is the phone doesn't work outside the country as it's locked to the carrier. Would an esim outside US work with a locked phone?
1. Trade in to Apple
2. Sell outright?
OR
Upgrade every 3 years via carrier by getting bill credits.
Only disadvantage is the phone doesn't work outside the country as it's locked to the carrier. Would an esim outside US work with a locked phone?
When the iPhone 14 came out, T-Mobile gave me $800 to trade in my three-year-old base-model iPhone XR for a base-model 14 Pro Max. Now they're offering me only $425 to trade in my two-year-old 14 Pro Max for a 16 Pro Max. I don't feel a need to upgrade this year, but I would have done it for an $800 - $1,000 trade-in. I wonder why they were so generous in 2022. Maybe it's because I'm on the Magenta 55+ plan, which I think I switched to in 2023.
While there may be rare exceptions, selling on your own should result in a higher price than trading with Apple.
This is more difficult to assess. There are several types of carrier plans and people "value" things differently e.g., some may view major carrier level service (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) as being steps above MVNO service and/or may view truly unlimited plans (no premium data caps) as being essential over plans with premium data caps and/or find "free" (included) add-ons like Apple TV+. Netflix, Hulu, etc. a great perk. It really depends on what one wants/needs/values more. The other factors can be number of lines.
If someone is ok with MVNO level service, doesn't need a truly unlimited plan, doesn't care about add-ons like Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu, etc. and has only 1 or 2 lines, going with an MVNO plan is likely to be the better value versus the higher priced plans with bill credits.
It's really a case by case situation.
Carrier eSIMs can/do work in foreign countries (international roaming) but you need to check with the carrier on specifics. You can also have dual eSIMs and there are options of getting local eSIMs during time outsode the country.
My guess is that $425 is the standard "non-promotional" trade value for a 14 Pro Max while the $800 on the XR from two years ago was a promo trade offer tied to whatever plan you were on before switching in 2023.
If, for example, you were currently on a Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plan you would be getting $830 to $1,000 trade-in for your 14 Pro Max today.