Best iPhone SE deals: get a new phone for free with trade-in or new line
Best Buy
Up to $120 off trade-in; up to $130 off carrier models
For Apple fans, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are incredibly powerful and useful phones, but they’re not for everyone. Not only are they on the pricey side, but they may also be too large for some users. If you’re looking for a modern phone that doesn’t break the bank and has a more compact design, the third-generation iPhone SE is an excellent choice. It normally retails for $429, making it one of the cheaper phones you can buy. But if you know where to look, you can find some incredible deals for an even better value.
One of the biggest additions to the latest version of the iPhone SE is that it supports 5G, allowing you to experience faster data speeds when you’re on the go. Apple has also upgraded the processor to its A15 Bionic chip, while keeping the previous model’s compact form factor. The 12-megapixel camera on the back is even more powerful thanks to that A15 processor, and there’s a familiar Touch ID sensor on the front.
read more: Best iPhone SE Cases for 2023
How much does the iPhone SE cost?
Prices for the iPhone SE (2022) start at $429 (£419, AU$719) for the base model with 64GB of storage. You can bump this up to 128GB for $479 or 256GB for $579.
Look at this: Apple’s 2022 iPhone SE is as old as it is new
What colors is the iPhone SE available in?
The iPhone SE comes in midnight (black), starlight (white), and Product Red.
Best iPhone SE Deals
The iPhone SE didn’t get an update in 2023 with the iPhone 15 series, so it doesn’t get as much attention in the deals department. But there are still plenty of ways to save on one, and we’ve rounded up the best offers below.
If you’d rather buy your new iPhone straight from the source, you can do so with the iPhone SE. Apple carries every carrier model, including unlocked. And if you’re willing to trade in your old phone to upgrade to the new SE, Apple is offering up to $620 back with a qualifying trade-in. With a base price of $429, that means you could theoretically get the new SE absolutely free, but keep in mind that the trade-in value for older phones is far lower than that $620. If your trade-in value exceeds the cost of your new phone, you’ll receive an Apple Gift Card for the remainder. If your trade-in doesn’t cover the entire cost, you can pay the remainder all at once or split it into 24 months of interest-free payments when you use an Apple Card at checkout (and get 3% cash back).
You can also buy carrier models through Apple. T-Mobile offers the phone for free with trade-in, and AT&T offers up to $358 in bill credit.
Best Buy doesn’t have any direct discounts on the iPhone SE, but you can get up to $120 in trade-in credit toward your old phone. You’ll also get some extra bonuses, like three free months of Apple TV Plus, Apple Music, and Apple Fitness, and four free months of Apple Arcade with your purchase.
If you opt for a carrier model through Best Buy, you can save up to $130 off the list price with activation through AT&T or Verizon. GoogleFi models save $30. These deals require you to purchase the phone and activate a new line through the carriers through Best Buy.
While Verizon deals for upgrading existing lines are pretty limited right now, there’s a great deal available if you’re looking to add a new line of service. When you buy an iPhone SE on a new line with an unlimited plan, you can save $430, which gets you the 64GB model for free. Keep in mind that the discount will be applied in the form of monthly credits over a 36-month period, even if you buy the phone outright.
AT&T has different discounts for the different sizes, starting with the 64GB version for $2 per month for 36 months, which will get you up to $359 in bill credits upon activation. The 128GB model costs $6 per month, which will get you up to $264 in bill credits, while the 256GB model costs $11 per month and will save you up to $184 in bill credits. These deals require a new or upgraded line on a qualifying unlimited plan.
T-Mobile is currently offering deals to new and existing customers. Those on or switching to a Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plan can save up to $830 with a trade-in, though you’ll likely be trading in a slightly older phone, so you’re more likely to save between $400 and $830. Still, you’ll get the phone for free, or close to it.
Folks on the Go5G, Magenta, or One plans can still save up to $300 with a trade-in. All other plans can get up to $200 off with a qualifying trade-in.
You can also save 50% by adding a new line, without having to do a trade-in.
Spectrum is another carrier that has the 2022 iPhone SE for sale, though deals there are fairly limited. The only offer available is an additional $100 off your device’s estimated value with a qualifying trade-in and a new line of service.
If you buy an iPhone SE at full retail price and port your current number to Metro’s $40-a-month unlimited data plan, you’ll get $150 off instantly. That means you get the iPhone SE for $280. Port your number and the savings are even greater: You can get the phone for free, saving you $430.
Remark:Because Metro is owned by T-Mobile, this offer is not available to people transferring their number from an existing T-Mobile subscription.
While there are no discounts on the base price of the iPhone SE, you will get six months of free wireless when you sign up for a year of service. Currently, only the 64GB model is in stock.
