Best iPhone SE Deals: Free With New Line or Trade-In

If you prefer to buy your new iPhone right from the source, you can do that with the iPhone SE. Apple has all the carrier models, along with the unlocked one. And if you're looking to ditch your old phone to switch to the new SE, Apple is offering up to $630 off with an eligible trade-in. With a base price of $429, that theoretically means you could get the new SE totally free, but bear in mind that the trade-in value for older phones is much lower than that $630 figure. 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 full cost, you can pay the remaining amount in full, or split it into 24 months of interest-free payments when you use an Apple Card during checkout (and get 3% cash back).

You can also nab carrier models via Apple. T-Mobile is offering the phone for free with eligible trade-in, and AT&T is offering up to $358 in bill credits. 

Best Buy doesn't have any straightforward discounts on the iPhone SE, but you can get up to $120 in trade-in credit on your old phone. You'll also get some added bonuses, like three free months of Apple TV Plus, Apple Music and Apple Fitness and four free months of Apple Arcade with purchase. 

While Verizon deals on upgrading existing lines are pretty slim right now, there's a great offer available if you're looking to add a new line of service. When you buy an iPhone SE on a new line with any unlimited plan, you can save $430, which gets you the 64GB model for free. Just note that the discount will be applied in the form of monthly credits over a 36-month period, even if you buy the phone outright. 

Other promos at Verizon include $280 off an iPad and $120 off an Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 8 or Apple Watch Ultra with your iPhone SE purchase, though you'll need to add a line of cellular service for these devices. 

AT&T has various discounts for the different sizes, starting with the 64GB version going for $2 per month for 36 months, which can get you up to $359 in bill credits after activation. The 128GB model is going for $6 per month, which will get you up to $264 in credits, while the 256GB model is going for $11 per month and will save you up to $184 in credits. These deals require a new or upgraded line on an eligible unlimited plan. 

T-Mobile is offering deals to new and existing customers right now. People who have or switch to a Go5G Next or Go5G Plus plan can save up to $830 off with trade-in, though you'll probably be trading in a slightly older phone so it's more likely to be between $400 and $830 in savings. Still, that nets you the phone for free, or close to it. 

Those on the Go5G, Magenta, or One rate plan can still save up to $300 off with trade-in and all other plans can get up to $200 off with an eligible trade-in. 

You can also save 50% off by adding a new line, no trade-in required. 

Spectrum is another carrier that has the 2022 iPhone SE available for purchase, though the deals there are pretty slim. The only offer available is an extra $100 on top of the estimated value of your device with a qualifying trade-in and a new line of service.

When you purchase an iPhone SE at full retail price and switch your existing number over to Metro's $40-per-month unlimited data plan, you'll get an instant $100 rebate. Meaning you're getting the iPhone SE for a $330 total. Transfer your number and the savings are even bigger: you can get the phone for $100, saving you $330.

Note: Because Metro is owned by T-Mobile, this offer isn't available to those switching their number from an existing T-Mobile plan.

Though there aren't any discounts on the base price of the iPhone SE, you can get six months of free wireless when you sign up for a year of service. Right now only the 64GB model is in stock.