Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

T-Mobile and Sprint Offering Free iPhone SE With Trade-In

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,701
38,169


T-Mobile is launching a Memorial Day promotion that will see the company offering a free iPhone SE to customers who trade in an eligible older smartphone in good condition.

iPhone-SE-Cosmopolitan-Clean.png

From Friday to Monday, customers who trade in an existing smartphone can get a free iPhone SE (sales tax still needs to be paid) or up to $500 off a Samsung Galaxy S20.

The free iPhone SE will be provided in the form of bill credits. An eligible smartphone trade-in is required, as is a T-Mobile or Sprint postpaid plan (switching to a plan is allowed).
"The way the Un-carrier says THANK YOU is, of course, by putting money back in your pocket -- like with an iPhone on us or half off one of the latest 5G superphones," said Sievert. "This weekend, every T-Mobile and Sprint postpaid customer can get a new iPhone SE on us, or half off another brand-new phone, with eligible trade-in. Why? Because 'thank you' -- that's why!"
Click to expand...
As outlined by TmoNews, eligible smartphones and their discounts are as follows:
$400 Off

  • iPhone 11, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Series, Galaxy Note 10 Series, Galaxy S9 Series, Galaxy Note 9
  • Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL
  • OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren, OnePlus 7T
  • LG G8 ThinQ
$200 Off

  • iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus
  • Samsung Galaxy S8 series, Galaxy Note 8
  • Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL
  • OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro, OnePlus 6T
  • LG V50 ThinQ, V40 ThinQ, G7 ThinQ
The iPhone SE deal will be live tomorrow, May 22, and it will be available through May 25. Customers can get the deal online or by visiting a T-Mobile or Sprint store.

T-Mobile today also said that it is planning to provide free service and 5G access to first responder agencies, which includes all public and non-profit state and local fire, police, and EMS departments.

Article Link: T-Mobile and Sprint Offering Free iPhone SE With Trade-In
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/05/21/sprint-tmobile-free-iphone-se-trade-in/
Last edited:
yaxomoxay said:
youngest kid has an iPhone 7... I am wondering if the SE would be a good choice (T-Mobile)
Click to expand...
If it's a free upgrade and you're already on T-Mobile, it's a no-brainer. Especially with the iPhone 7 reliability issues.

I myself am wondering if I should upgrade my spare iPhone 6 that I keep in case my daily driver (an 8+ bought at launch) gets busted. I was planning on upgrading to an iPhone 12 later this year, though, so I might instead get the free trade-in by trading in my 8+, keep the SE from here to September/October, and then buy a 12, and keeping the SE as my emergency spare.
 
If it works like T-Mobile's other trade-in offers, you can pay it off and then continue to receive the monthly credit for whatever the term is as long as you keep that phone. Once you get a different phone or trade that one in for another, the credits expire.

Also after reading T-Mobile's announcement on its site, I'm not seeing a specific reference to a 24 month term. My last trade-in with T-Mobile (iPhone 7 to xR) was 36 months and it wasn't for the full xR amount. I paid it off early and continue to get a monthly bill credit for the next 18 months.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: compwiz1202
petervivian said:
I'm confused. So they take your trade-in phone and charge you the full price (ie $399 plus tax for the base 64GB model) and then "provide in the form of bill credits"? credits in one bill or over 24 months? Lol
Click to expand...
Usually when providers do this you sign up for the 24 monthly installments, and then get credited each month for a net zero payment. But it takes around three bills for credits to start, so the first bill with credits if for all the previous payments and the current one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: freedomlinux
looking at this deal, I currently use a 7 and have 2 iphone 6 sitting in a drawer. Any chance I can trade in both 6 for $400 vs the 7?
 
michael31986 said:
Can I pay it off or do I have to pay it for 24 months after trading my phone in?
Click to expand...
Would have to check the terms. Sometimes I see you can pay it off as long as you don't cancel and keep getting credits, but some you lose them if you pay it off.
 
compwiz1202 said:
Would have to check the terms. Sometimes I see you can pay it off as long as you don't cancel and keep getting credits, but some you lose them if you pay it off.
Click to expand...
Boo. That stinks than. I was going to get it for my dad and pay it off. Cause I don’t want to have a payment every month
 
The article left off that the iPhone X is also included as a $400 off trade-in. I was super confused, like "how do they allow the 8, but not the X?!"

Went to TmoNews and saw that it's in their article. May want to update.
 
michael31986 said:
Boo. That stinks than. I was going to get it for my dad and pay it off. Cause I don’t want to have a payment every month
Click to expand...
I would ask T-Mobile to be sure. From my experience you definitely still get the credits if you pay it off and keep that phone. If you cancel your T-Mobile service or get a different phone, the remaining credits are cancelled.
 
Wonderful! The only phone they aren't accepting to get the NEW SE is the frickin' OLD SE! Genius! At least Apple gave me a whole $30 for my original SE when I bought the new one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Flojomojo
Pafoofnik said:
Wonderful! The only phone they aren't accepting to get the NEW SE is the frickin' OLD SE! Genius! At least Apple gave me a whole $30 for my original SE when I bought the new one.
Click to expand...

You’re better off selling your iPhone SE ‘out right‘ through a local marketplace or on eBay. Depending on the condition, (that is, if you’re really worried about top dollar), that would be the best possible route. Otherwise, I personally would just accept Thebes trade-in, and you avoid any potential fraud and/or additional fees.
 
Will the iPhone SE be unlocked? I mean, you're paying for it in full upfront, then they pay you a little each month that you keep an account on their network... Or do you have to pay for it in 24 monthly installments?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: compwiz1202
The free iPhone SE will be provided in the form of bill credits. An eligible smartphone trade-in is required, as is a T-Mobile or Sprint postpaid plan (switching to a plan is allowed).

If this is an offer that current T-Mobile subscribers can get without adding a new line, I'm in. Usually you need that new line.
 
KeepCalmPeople said:
Will the iPhone SE be unlocked? I mean, you're paying for it in full upfront, then they pay you a little each month that you keep an account on their network... Or do you have to pay for it in 24 monthly installments?
Click to expand...
From https://www.t-mobile.com/news/connecting-heroes, it does sound like existing postpaid T-Mobile and Sprint customers simply trade in an eligible phone, and then get the eligible amount via monthly bill credits: "Customers just trade in their existing eligible device, and they’ll owe nothing but the sales tax on an iPhone SE — a powerful new smartphone in a popular design — or get up to $500 off another new superphone. No add-a-line. Nothing more to buy. Just “thank you.”"
[automerge]1590099932[/automerge]
KFridman said:
If this is an offer that current T-Mobile subscribers can get without adding a new line, I'm in. Usually you need that new line.
Click to expand...

Right, no new line required per https://www.t-mobile.com/news/connecting-heroes. See above quote.
 
Too bad my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 doesn't make the cut. It's starting to show its' age, since I've had it for over four years now.
 
Namara said:
From https://www.t-mobile.com/news/connecting-heroes, it does sound like existing postpaid T-Mobile and Sprint customers simply trade in an eligible phone, and then get the eligible amount via monthly bill credits: "Customers just trade in their existing eligible device, and they’ll owe nothing but the sales tax on an iPhone SE — a powerful new smartphone in a popular design — or get up to $500 off another new superphone. No add-a-line. Nothing more to buy. Just “thank you.”"
[automerge]1590099932[/automerge]


Right, no new line required per https://www.t-mobile.com/news/connecting-heroes. See above quote.
Click to expand...
Thank you - we are on T-Mo and have an 8 that would be great to upgrade to an SE.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Digger148 and 0128672
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back