New iPhone 17 series is getting a lot of buzz, but last year's iPhone 16 series remains a great option if you're looking to upgrade your smartphone.
The iPhone 16 lineup offers the perfect combination of power and features in a slim, premium design, along with excellent battery life and exceptional camera quality. And you don't have to pay full price for it.
Major carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile And Verizon are offering deep discounts to make room for the next generation, meaning you can save hundreds (or more) with a new line or trade-in program now.
To help you make the most of these deals, CNET's shopping experts have rounded up all the best deals on the iPhone 16 below. It's worth noting that deals will start to dwindle as the iPhone 17 series takes center stage, so take advantage of these deals soon.
Read more: iPhone 16E vs iPhone 16: all specs compared
And if you want to switch to an Android phone, there are plenty Samsung Galaxy S25 And Google Pixel 10 Discounts also available.
Check this out: Review: Apple's iPhone 16 Pro is an impressive upgrade
Buying a new iPhone 16? Check out the best deals on iPhone accessories like Apple Watch series 10 And AirPods 4.
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Best deals on iPhone 16
We'll continue to update the list below with the best iPhone 16 deals from all major US retailers and carriers.
You can still buy iPhone 16 series phones directly from the Apple Store and get up to $700 in credit if you have an old phone to trade in. You'll also receive 3% cashback when you make a purchase using your Apple Card.*
T-Mobile is still offering great deals on iPhone 16 series trade-ins. Trading in your old phone will save you up to $1,100 on Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plans, up to $830 on Experience More or Go5G Plus plans, and up to $300 on other plans. Savings will be applied as 24 monthly bill credits. Switching to T-Mobile will save you up to $630 on most plans.
AT&T is offering deep discounts on the iPhone 16 series only when you purchase the phone in installments. With these deals, you can get the iPhone 16E for just $6 per month, the base iPhone 16 for $11 per month, the 16 Pro for $16 per month, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max for $21 per month. The rebates will be applied as a bill credit for 36 months, saving you up to $384 in total.
There are currently no special offers on the iPhone 16 Plus. And while they're not required for these deals, AT&T also has its own trade-in program where you can save even more. Plus, it offers a special online-only discount of $200 when you activate the line.
Adding a qualifying unlimited plan line to Verizon will save you $600 on the iPhone 16E, $730 on the base iPhone 16, $830 on the iPhone 16 Plus, $900 on the iPhone 16 Pro, and $1,100 on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which gets you any base configuration of any model for free. Discounts are applied in the form of a credit on promissory notes for a period of 36 months.
US Cellular is offering the opportunity to get any iPhone 16 model for free right now when you add the line to the Everyday Unlimited Data or Even Better 3.0 plan (including business plans). You can also save $350 on a prepaid phone by choosing the Unlimited Plus prepaid plan and switching your existing number to US Cellular.
Let us immediately note that at the moment quite a lot of configurations are sold out.
Xfinity customers who add a line or upgrade an existing one will receive $400 off any iPhone 16 model and can save up to $830 if they also trade in an eligible device, getting some base configurations for free. Plus, Xfinity is offering up to $500 toward paying off existing contracts when switching carriers.
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When did iPhone 16 come out?
Apple's iPhone 16 and 16 Pro lineup will hit stores in September 2024, with the iPhone 16E launching in February. You can now go to any store that sells iPhones (such as an Apple store, Best Buy, or your mobile carrier) and buy one from their remaining stock.
Use Apple Store app to choose your favorite model, memory size and color, and check availability at your nearest physical Apple store. You'll also find lineups from all major carriers. We've highlighted these suggestions below.
Read more: A billion pixels per second: a rare look at Apple's secret iPhone camera labs
How to order an iPhone 16?
You can buy the iPhone 16 series from almost all online stores and telecom operators, as well as brick-and-mortar stores.
First, decide which iPhone model you want to buy: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, or iPhone 16E. Then choose your preferred color and storage capacity and decide whether you'll trade in your old iPhone, which could set you back up to $700 from Apple.
Then select your secondary carrier and AppleCare Plus coverage (or not) and tap the blue icon. Add to cart button. You can then enable any accessories you want and enter your payment information to complete your purchase.
How much does the iPhone 16 cost and what are the specifications?
Prices vary depending on the amount of storage you purchase, but here's the range:
- iPhone 16E: $599 to $899.
- iPhone 16: $799 to $1,099.
- iPhone 16 Plus: $899 to $1,199.
- iPhone 16 Pro: $999 to $1,499.
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1,199 to $1,599.
Characteristics of the iPhone 16 line
| iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 plus | iPhone 16 pro | iPhone 16 pro max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price 128 GB | US$799 | US$899 | US$999 | N/A |
| Starting price 256 GB | US$899 | US$999 | US$1099 | US$1199 |
| Starting price 512 GB | US$1099 | US$1199 | US$1299 | US$1399 |
| Starting price 1 TB | N/A | N/A | US$1499 | US$1599 |
| Display size | 6.1-inch | 6.7-inch | 6.3-inch | 6.9-inch |
| Screen resolution (pixels) | 2556 x 1179 | 2796 x 1290 | 2622 x 1206 | 2868 x 1320 |
| Pixel Density | 460 pixels per inch | 460 pixels per inch | 460 pixels per inch | 460 pixels per inch |
| CPU | A18 | A18 | A18 Pro | A18 Pro |
| Mobile software | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 18 | iOS 18 |
| Camera (megapixels) | 48MP Fusion Camera, 12MP Ultra Wide Angle Camera | 48MP Fusion Camera, 12MP Ultra Wide Angle Camera | 48MP Fusion Camera, 48MP Ultra Wide Angle, 5x Telephoto | 48MP Fusion Camera, 48MP Ultra Wide Angle, 5x Telephoto |
| Front camera | 12 megapixel | 12 megapixel | 12 megapixel | 12 megapixel |
| Video Capture | 4K up to 60 fps | 4K up to 60 fps | 4K up to 120 fps | 4K up to 120 fps |
| Battery/Charging Speed | Up to 22 hours of video playback | Up to 27 hours of video playback | Up to 27 hours of video playback | Up to 33 hours of video playback |
| Fingerprint sensor | No (face ID) | No (face ID) | No (face ID) | No (face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
What colors are the iPhone 16 models available in?
- iPhone 16e: Black and white
- iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: Black, white, pink, turquoise (green) and ultramarine (blue)
- iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max: Black titanium, white titanium, natural titanium and desert titanium.
How do iPhone 16 trade-in offers work?
Some carriers are offering up to $1,000 in eligible trade-ins, which could get you a free iPhone 16 Pro. It's important to keep in mind that most carrier trade-in deals require you to become a customer, and they often apply to the most expensive plan options.
Some retailers that offer trade-in programs may instead offer gift cards for future purchases, so you don't have to sign up for a contract to take advantage of the savings you can get from parting with your old device. However, these offers may not provide the same benefits as traditional trade-in offers.
We first saw the new iPhone 16 models in the showroom at Apple's headquarters in California.
Want to get a discount on previous iPhone models? Our review best iPhone deals includes sales of iPhone 17, iPhone 15 and other models.
*All information about Apple Card was independently compiled by CNET and has not been verified by the issuer.
