Why You Can Trust CNET Best T-Mobile Deals Worth Calling Home About Right Now
Get your hands on a new device upgrade and secure a low-cost service plan without spending an arm and a leg with these offers at T-Mobile.
Cracked screens, accidental spills and other hazards happen. If you're looking to upgrade to a new smartphone, maybe even snag one of the top phones of 2023, there are a variety of ways to score a solid smartphone with reliable service at an affordable price. While recently released phones from popular brands can go for well over a grand, you can find plenty of deals on new phones directly from carriers. To help you take full advantage of the best offers currently available at T-Mobile, we've rounded up the very best phone and plan deals you can shop for right now.
It's worth noting that carriers constantly update their deals. The best offers usually happen around new phone launches -- typically February or March for Samsung Galaxy S phones, September for Apple iPhones, fall for Google Android phones and around holiday shopping events, like Black Friday.
Although some manufacturers -- particularly Apple and Samsung -- offer deals on their own websites and stores, most people look to carriers to buy new devices. T-Mobile tells CNET that unless it calls out a specific plan like the Go5G Plus or Magenta Max, all voice lines generally qualify for its deals. We'll keep this page updated regularly with some of the best deals we're seeing on T-Mobile's website.
Best T-Mobile phone deals
Many of T-Mobile's phone deals are available to new and existing customers, although trade-ins are often required to get the advertised prices. Keep in mind the deals are split across 24 months of bill credits, meaning you'll need to remain a T-Mobile customer for at least two years for the phone to get paid off as the terms state. Some have 36-month terms; if you cancel before that period is over, you'll be responsible for any remaining charges.
If you're looking to upgrade to Apple's latest flagship phone, T-Mobile is offering both new and existing customers a few ways to save right now. You'll be able to get the iPhone 15 Pro for free (up to $1,000 off via 24 monthly bill credits) when you trade in an eligible device and opt for the Go5G Next plan. If you opt for the Go5G Plus plan and trade in an eligible device, the savings will be up to $830. Folks with a Go5G, Magenta, or ONE rate plan can trade in their old device for savings of up to $350.
Need more than one iPhone 15? You'll be able to buy one and get $700 off another when adding a new line. Your trade-in device doesn't need to be an Apple phone, but the highest value comes from Apple's latest models, such as the iPhone 11 and higher.
If you don't need the absolute latest and greatest iPhone, T-Mobile is offering a few ways to save on the previous-gen 14 series right now. If you're adding a new line of service, you can save $730 (which scores you the basic iPhone 14 for free) when you bring your existing number over from another carrier. You can save even more if you've got an old phone to trade in. You'll get up to $830 off with a trade-in on a Go5G Plus plan and up to $1,000 off with a Go5G Next plan, and for Magenta, ONE and Go5G plans, you can take up to $350 off. All other plans can save up to $200. People adding a new line can also get up to $730 in trade-in credit and can save $700 off a second iPhone with the purchase.
The iPhone 13 is now two generations old, but it's still more than capable of handling most people's day-to-day needs, and T-Mobile is offering a few ways to save on these older Apple phones right now.
New customers switching to T-Mobile can get the iPhone 13 for free (in the form of 24 months of bill credits), with no trade-in required. Or get up to $630 in bill credits by adding a new line, also no trade-in is required.
If you have a device to trade in and add a new line, you'll get up to $730 off. Existing customers can also get up to 50% off when adding a new line to a qualifying rate plan. For folks who want or need more than one device, the best deal is to buy any iPhone 15, 14 or 13 and get up to $700 in bill credits when activating two or more lines.
Good to know: T-Mobile stocks the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini but not the 13 Pro Max.
T-Mobile is offering some solid savings on the latest Samsung phones right now. If you want a model from Samsung's latest flagship Galaxy S23 series, you can save up to $800 when adding a new line on a Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plan. You can also save $600 when adding a new line on a different qualifying service plan.
If you already have a Go5G Next or Plus plan (or switch to one), you can also save up to $800 with an eligible trade-in, which scores you the base model Galaxy S23 for free. Those on a regular Go5G plan can save up to $350 with a trade-in, or you can save up to $200 with a trade-in if you're on another qualifying service plan.
You can save big on Samsung's latest Z series foldable phones right now at T-Mobile. If you have or switch to either the Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan, you'll save up $1,000 when trading in a qualifying device. That effectively scores you the Z Flip 5 for free. People on other qualifying service plans can still save $600 with a new line, or up to $350 with an eligible trade-in.
If you don't need the latest and greatest, you can also save up to $600 on the Z Flip 3, which is now two generations old.
Right now you can score the latest Google Pixel 8 phone for free with the trade-in of an eligible device when you have or upgrade to the Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plan. You can also get the Pixel 8 for free with a new line on the Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plan and the trade-in of an eligible device. Since the regular retail price of the Google Pixel 8 is $700, even with a later model phone on trade-in, you're likely to get the phone at a steep discount.
Trade in an eligible device and you can get up to $500 in bill credits when you have or switch to the Go5G Plus or another qualifying plan, or save up to $700 when you add a line with any qualifying plan; no trade-in required.
The current deal for the Google Pixel 8 Pro -- which has a retail price of $1,000 -- includes up to $1,000 in credits when you have or upgrade to the Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plan. You can also get the $700 off deal for the Pixel 8 Pro with a new line on the Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plan and the trade-in of an eligible device.
Right now, T-Mobile is sold out of last year's model of Google's Pixel phone. If it happens to come back in stock, the current offer will score you the Pixel 7 for free if you have (or switch to) a Go5G Plus or other qualifying plan and trade in an eligible device. Alternatively, you can save $700 when adding a new line of service.
If you're on the hunt for the Pixel 7A, you can trade in a qualifying device if you have (or switch) to the Go5G Plus plan and you'll get the phone for free, or get the same deal when you add a new line of service on select qualifying plans. This $500 savings will come in the form of bill credits over 24 months, meaning you'll have to keep the phone and service plan for at least two years to see the rewards.
If you're a fan of Google and you want a foldable phone, the Google Pixel Fold may be a great option. People on a Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan will save up to $1,000 with the trade-in of an eligible device or by adding a new line of service.
Although the OnePlus' latest flagship device, the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G, isn't currently available at T-Mobile, you can get a decent discount on the Nord N300 5G and the Nord N30 5G. Perhaps T-Mobile's best deal on any of the OnePlus devices is the offer on the Nord N300 5G. You can get it free if you're on or add a new line to the Go5G Plus or any plan and trade in a qualifying device -- including a broken one.
There's a similar offer for the Nord N305G, although it's a little less liberal. Score one for free if you add a new line with any qualifying plan, or, if you're on or switch to the Go5G Plus plan, with a trade-in. Unlike the trade-in rules for the N300, your trade-in device needs to be in good working condition, with no screen or water damage.
As with the other deals, the money will be dished out as bill credits over 24 months. If you leave T-Mobile before those two years are up, you risk forfeiting the remaining credits and needing to pay off whatever is still owed.
Best T-Mobile plan deals
If you're looking to make the switch to T-Mobile, there are a few deals on various plans that may make you lean toward one or the other. Promotions on plans are less common these days, although oftentimes you can get some free extras, like streaming service subscriptions, music subscriptions and extra travel data, with enrollment in some of the higher-end 5G plans from each carrier, including T-Mobile.
Customers who are looking to move to T-Mobile and have three lines of service will be happy to hear that the carrier is offering a buy two, get one free promotion, meaning your third line won't cost you anything. This works on the Essentials and Go5G Plus plans. For the Go5G Next plan, the third line is discounted.
T-Mobile offers active-duty military, veterans and first responders $15 off the cost of monthly service, which brings the base price of the plans down a little per line with autopay enabled.
T-Mobile has several discounted plans for people aged 55 and older. Essentials 55 offers two unlimited lines for $55 per month ($27.50 per line) and the Go5G 55 is $80 per month for two lines. If you want the Go5G Plus 55, it's $100 per month for two lines. The Go5G Next is $60 per line, for two lines. All are with automatic payments enabled, although all plans except the Essentials also include taxes and fees.
The Magenta Max 55 Plus plan comes in at $135 for three lines, a $15 discount. Magenta 55 Plus is $105 for three lines, again a $15 savings. To be eligible, only one person on the plan needs to be over 55.
FAQ
Are T-Mobile deals available to existing customers? Or only new ones?
Up until recently, T-Mobile heavily favored new customers with its best deals, leaving behind folks who were loyal to the carrier. That's since changed, and now most of the offers are available for both new and existing customers under the same terms.
How do T-Mobile's discounts work?
It's easy to see up to $400 off the price of something and get excited, but you'll want to make sure you know what you're signing up for. T-Mobile applies these discounts as bill credits that are usually spread out across a 24-month period. Sometimes, part of the discount amount is given in the form of a prepaid gift card (for a trade-in) and the rest is done as bill credits, but that's specified when it's happening.
What happens if you leave T-Mobile before the 24 months are up?
If you don't stick with T-Mobile through the full 24 months of bill credits, you'll be responsible for all the remaining charges. Before canceling or transferring your service to another carrier, be sure to reach out to T-Mobile to understand what you'll actually owe, to ensure you can cover that before making the move.