Here Are The Best Carrier Deals You Can Get When Pre-Ordering iPhone 16e Today

[MacRumors]

Apple earlier this week announced the iPhone 16e, and pre-orders for the device went live this morning. As is typical for an iPhone launch, you can already find early discounts and offers from popular cellular carriers, and we've rounded up all of the best deals below.

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.

AT&T

• iPhone 16e: $5.99 per month with any Unlimited plan, no trade-in required
• iPhone 16 Pro: Free when trading in an iPhone 13 Pro or later in any condition

iPhone 16e at AT&T ($5.99/MONTH)​

AT&T's offer has the iPhone 16e at $5.99 per month on any Unlimited plan of your choosing, and you don't need to trade in your old device to get this offer. The carrier is also updating its iPhone 16 offers with the iPhone 16 Pro at no cost when trading in an iPhone 13 Pro or later in any condition.

Verizon

• iPhone 16e: $5.00 per month after purchase on any plan
• iPhone 16: Free when adding a new line and available online only
• iPhone 16 Pro: Free when adding a new line and available online only

iPhone 16e at Verizon ($5.00/MONTH)​

At Verizon, you can pay $5.00 per month for the 128GB iPhone 16e when you purchase the smartphone on any plan. You'll need to add a new line and pay a one-time activation fee of $35 to see this offer.

Visible

• iPhone 16e: Get $25 per month in service credits for 24 months
• iPhone 13: Free when purchasing a year of Visible+

iPhone 16e at Visible ($600 CREDITS)​

Visible is offering customers a chance to get $25 per month in service credits for 24 months when you purchase the new 128GB iPhone 16e. In total, that represents $600 in savings on the latest iPhone, which covers the cost of the 128GB model.

Visible has a few other iPhone offers running right now, including a free 128GB iPhone 13 when purchasing a year of the Visible+ service. You'll need the code SWEETDEAL to get this offer at checkout.

T-Mobile

• iPhone 16e: Free when trading in a device on Magenta Max, Go5G Plus/Next, or when trading in/adding a line on Go5G or most plans

iPhone 16e at T-Mobile (FREE WITH TRADE-IN)​

T-Mobile's deal has the iPhone 16e at no cost when you trade in a device on Magenta Max, Go5G Plus or Next, or when trading in and adding a line on Go5G (or most other plans). Depending on your trade-in value, you can get up to $830 off with this offer.

If you want to buy an iPhone 16e for you and your family, you can get four iPhone 16e devices at no cost and four new voice lines for $25/line per month when trading in four eligible devices. T-Mobile is also offering free next day shipping and free activation when pre-ordering the iPhone 16e.

The iPhone 16e will launch on Friday, February 28 in 59 countries and regions, and it's available in white or black, with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage capacities. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.



Deals Newsletter

Interested in hearing more about the best deals you can find in 2025? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!



... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: Here Are The Best Carrier Deals You Can Get When Pre-Ordering iPhone 16e Today

 

[sw1tcher]

Visible is offering customers a chance to get $25 per month in service credits for 24 months when you purchase the new 128GB iPhone 16e. In total, that represents $600 in savings on the latest iPhone, which covers the cost of the 128GB model.

Same deal over at Total Wireless. Probably because both are owned by Verizon.

Visible doesn't say how much the iPhone 16e will be though (currently priced at $599.00) while Total Wireless says it's $299.99 with their Total 5G+ Unlimited plan which is $60/mo

Buy the new iPhone 16e for $299.99 with the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan and get $25/month of service credits for a year. That’s $600 in savings! Limited time offer, while supplies last. Device taxes and fees may apply. Requires new activation or upgrade on Total 5G+ Unlimited plan, external port in and ID Verification. Must stay on the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan for 12 mos. to receive all credits; credits will drop if you change plans or fail to continuously maintain active service. Limit one device per account.

If people just want the iPhone 16e, it'd be $299.99 + $60 = $359.99

Then you'd have to wait 60 days for phone to unlock to use with any carrier if you don't want to stay with Total.

Sure beats paying Apple $599 for it.

Same offer over at Straight Talk... $299.99 with their Platinum Unlimited plan ($65/mo or $60/mo with auto pay) & get $300 in device credits over 12 months. Unlocks after 60 days as well.

 

[tomsop]

Is this a promotion site or a news site - I am confused because the article is misleading. You get the deal not for just trading in the iPhone 13 in any condition but you also need to get a qualifying unlimited plan. That is a big deal since it excludes those of us who already have a plan but don't want to switch carriers. Please clarify if I am incorrect but you should post all the relevant conditions before promoting the phone.

 

[GIZBUG]

Decent deals but I would rather not finance (lease) my new phone purchase. (TMO customer who got burned in the past when I wanted to pay the phone off early, lost my promotional credits…..never again)

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you need to finance $599 to be able to afford the phone, you shouldn't be buying, in my opinion. Carrier deals always benefit the carrier, not the customer.

 

[Johnny907]

Same deal over at Total Wireless. Probably because both are owned by Verizon.

Visible doesn't say how much the iPhone 16e will be though (currently priced at $599.00) while Total Wireless says it's $299.99 with their Total 5G+ Unlimited plan which is $60/mo

Buy the new iPhone 16e for $299.99 with the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan and get $25/month of service credits for a year. That’s $600 in savings! Limited time offer, while supplies last. Device taxes and fees may apply. Requires new activation or upgrade on Total 5G+ Unlimited plan, external port in and ID Verification. Must stay on the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan for 12 mos. to receive all credits; credits will drop if you change plans or fail to continuously maintain active service. Limit one device per account.

If people just want the iPhone 16e, it'd be $299.99 + $60 = $359.99

Then you'd have to wait 60 days for phone to unlock to use with any carrier if you don't want to stay with Total.

Sure beats paying Apple $599 for it.

View attachment 2484529



Same offer over at Straight Talk... $299.99 with their Platinum Unlimited plan ($65/mo or $60/mo with auto pay) & get $300 in device credits over 12 months. Unlocks after 60 days as well.

View attachment 2484533

Question: Do you have to port over a number in order to get the Total Wireless pricing, and with Straight Talk they say the discount comes in the form of statement credits over 12 months, so if you unlock and cancel after 60 days are you required to pay off the remaining discounted amount?

 

[Whyy]

Buy the new iPhone 16e for $299.99 with the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan and get $25/month of service credits for a year. That’s $600 in savings! Limited time offer, while supplies last. Device taxes and fees may apply. Requires new activation or upgrade on Total 5G+ Unlimited plan, external port in and ID Verification. Must stay on the Total 5G+ Unlimited plan for 12 mos. to receive all credits; credits will drop if you change plans or fail to continuously maintain active service. Limit one device per account.

If people just want the iPhone 16e, it'd be $299.99 + $60 = $359.99

Then you'd have to wait 60 days for phone to unlock to use with any carrier if you don't want to stay with Total.

Sure beats paying Apple $599 for it.

But if it’s $60/month and you have to wait for two months to get it unlocked, then you’re going 30 days without phone service, correct? And how easy is it to get them to unlock the phone after you’ve let your service lapse after one month? If you need your service to receive important calls/texts, it seems like the real price would be $299.99 + $60 + $60. (Plus sales tax for the phone if you live in a state where sales tax is required.)

Edit: Fine print for Total Wireless shows that the $5 autopay discount doesn’t take effect until the second month. So it would actually be $299.99 (plus tax) + $65 if you were to only pay for one month of service.

 

[sw1tcher]

Question: Do you have to port over a number in order to get the Total Wireless pricing

Yes, Total Wireless requires porting in a number as well as ID verification (I believe you have to upload a picture of you and/or an ID such as drivers license) which makes me not consider them.

Straight Talks has no such requirements.

and with Straight Talk they say the discount comes in the form of statement credits over 12 months, so if you unlock and cancel after 60 days are you required to pay off the remaining discounted amount?

For Straight Talk, it's an automatic $300 discount on the iPhone 16e itself with 1 month of service. What you'll pay is either:

(A) $599.99 (for iPhone 16e) + $65 (for 1 month of Platinum Unlimted service plan) - $300.00 discount = $364.99 + any taxes and fees

OR

(B) $599.99 (for iPhone 16e) + $60 (for 1 month of Platinum Unlimted service plan with $5.00 auto pay discount) - $300.00 discount = $359.99 + any taxes and fees


Only if you decide to stay with Straight Talk for a full 12 month period will you receive the $300 credit -- that's an extra $300 on top of the original $300 discount -- which would make the iPhone 16e free.

You are not required to stay with them beyond the 1 month of service though, and you will not have to pay anything back for not having service beyond the 1 month.

Keep in mind that if you decide to go with (B) where you save $5.00 with auto pay discount, you'll need to go into your account after activating iPhone 16e to turn auto pay billing off so you don't get charged for 2nd month of service if you don't want to stay with them after 1 month.

The iPhone 16e will automatically unlock after 60 days. You just need to activate the phone and service to get the 60 day iPhone unlock clock started.

Yes, I sure about the above as I'm speaking from personal experience. I did a similar deal during the 2023 holidays.

 

[sw1tcher]

But if it’s $60/month and you have to wait for two months to get it unlocked, then you’re going 30 days without phone service, correct?

Yes, that's the down side to the Total Wireless deal as you need to port in a phone number.

There is no such requirement for the Straight Talk deal, so I strongly recommend buying from Straight Talk instead.

And how easy is it to get them to unlock the phone after you’ve let your service lapse after one month?

The iPhone will automatically unlock. You don't have to do anything beyond activating the iPhone 16e and the 1 month of service.

When I did a similar offer during 2023 holidays, I only paid for 1 month of service. At the 60 day mark after the iPhone and service was activated, I connected the iPhone to my wi-fi and when I went to

Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock, it showed "No SIM restrictions" when it used to read "SIM Locked"

If you need your service to receive important calls/texts, it seems like the real price would be $299.99 + $60 + $60. (Plus sales tax for the phone if you live in a state where sales tax is required.)

Edit: Fine print for Total Wireless shows that the $5 autopay discount doesn’t take effect until the second month. So it would actually be $299.99 (plus tax) + $65 if you were to only pay for one month of service.View attachment 2484823

If you want to take advantage of the sale, get it from Straight Talk instead and get a new number so you can continue to use your existing phone and service until the iPhoen 16e unlocks and you're able to transfer your SIM over to the iPhone 16e. If you do that, you won't have to pay for a 2nd month of service unless...

... this iPhone is for someone new who doesn't have phone service at all. Then in that case, yes, you'll need to pay for a 2nd month of service -- keep in mind that you can always downgrade to a less expensive plan for month #2 if you don't need/want the Platinum Unlimited plan such as the Bronze plan (10GB of data) for $35/mo -- then when it unlocks after 60 days you can then port out the number to another carrier of your choosing if you don't want to stay with Staight Talk.


This is what I sugguest you do with Straight Talk... sign up as "I am a new customer" when it asks for "Choose purchase type."

When you get to next screen that asks "Do you want a new phone number or want to transfer one?" select "I want a new number." Then select the Platinum Unlimited plan on the next screen.

With Straight Talk, the $5.00 auto pay discount will apply to your 1st month too unlike with Total Wireless. You'll just need to remember to go into your account to turn off auto pay so you don't automatically get charged for a 2nd month of service.

After the iPhone 16e gets activated, you may want to use it a couple times... make a call, send a text. Then in 60 days, it will automatically unlock.

 

[Whyy]

Yes, that's the down side to the Total Wireless deal as you need to port in a phone number.

There is no such requirement for the Straight Talk deal, so I strongly recommend buying from Straight Talk instead.


The iPhone will automatically unlock. You don't have to do anything beyond activating the iPhone 16e and the 1 month of service.

When I did a similar offer during 2023 holidays, I only paid for 1 month of service. At the 60 day mark after the iPhone and service was activated, I connected the iPhone to my wi-fi and when I went to

Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock, it showed "No SIM restrictions" when it used to read "SIM Locked"



If you want to take advantage of the sale, get it from Straight Talk instead and get a new number so you can continue to use your existing phone and service until the iPhoen 16e unlocks and you're able to transfer your SIM over to the iPhone 16e. If you do that, you won't have to pay for a 2nd month of service unless...

... this iPhone is for someone new who doesn't have phone service at all. Then in that case, yes, you'll need to pay for a 2nd month of service -- keep in mind that you can always downgrade to a less expensive plan for month #2 if you don't need/want the Platinum Unlimited plan such as the Bronze plan (10GB of data) for $35/mo -- then when it unlocks after 60 days you can then port out the number to another carrier of your choosing if you don't want to stay with Staight Talk.


This is what I sugguest you do with Straight Talk... sign up as "I am a new customer" when it asks for "Choose purchase type."

When you get to next screen that asks "Do you want a new phone number or want to transfer one?" select "I want a new number." Then select the Platinum Unlimited plan on the next screen.

With Straight Talk, the $5.00 auto pay discount will apply to your 1st month too unlike with Total Wireless. You'll just need to remember to go into your account to turn off auto pay so you don't automatically get charged for a 2nd month of service.

After the iPhone 16e gets activated, you may want to use it a couple times... make a call, send a text. Then in 60 days, it will automatically unlock.

That’s good to know that with Straight Talk I could get the $5 discount right away. And yes, I did think about maybe getting a $5 plan with Tello and then porting that over. The fine print for Straight Talk mentions an external port being a requirement so I suspect they may have made some changes since 2023. Anyway, thanks for sharing some ways to get the phone cheaper because at $600, the phone isn’t worth it IMO.

 

[sw1tcher]

That’s good to know that with Straight Talk I could get the $5 discount right away. And yes, I did think about maybe getting a $5 plan with Tello and then porting that over. The fine print for Straight Talk mentions an external port being a requirement so I suspect they may have made some changes since 2023. Anyway, thanks for sharing some ways to get the phone cheaper because at $600, the phone isn’t worth it IMO.

I don't know why it states that, but it does not require a port in.

I was able to get the discount without porting in a number (I got to the last step at check out showing discount to verify, but did not complete purchase). No one on Slickdeals who have completed purchase and gotten order confirmation have said they had to port in a number either.

 

[Whyy]

I don't know why it states that, but it does not require a port in.

I was able to get the discount without porting in a number (I got to the last step at check out showing discount to verify, but did not complete purchase). No one on Slickdeals who have completed purchase and gotten order confirmation have said they had to port in a number either.

Thanks for checking into that and reporting back!

 

[frownface]

Free market speaks again. Apple might raise their prices but people will only pay what they think it's worth