The best iPhone deals available right now: May 2022

Apple started a whole new approach to offering iPhone promotions through the Apple Store when the iPhone 13 launched last year, and we've now seen that trickle down to the rest of the iPhone lineup. Instead of leaving the promotions only to the carriers, the iPhone maker allows carriers to offer deals for phones bought directly from Apple. Here's how the deals break down if you go through Apple. 

• AT&T via Apple: New and existing AT&T customers can get up to $700 worth of credits to be applied towards the purchase of an iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro with an eligible trade-in and sign up for an unlimited plan. That breaks down to the iPhone 13 Mini being free on a 36-month payment plan, with the iPhone 13 starting at $2.75 per month.

• Verizon via Apple: New and existing Verizon customers can get up to $700 off any iPhone 13 model, depending on your trade-in and as long as you sign up for an eligible Verizon 5G Unlimited plan. 

• T-Mobile via Apple: Customers can get anywhere from $400 to $850 in total credits by trading in a phone to Apple when combined with T-Mobile's credit. Here's how it breaks down: You'll get the current trade-in value for your phone from Apple, plus an additional $200 credit on your T-Mobile bill if you trade in an iPhone X or newer.

AT&T's current iPhone 13 promotions basically match those that are offered through Apple's online store. It breaks down like this: New and existing customers can get up to $700 worth of credit, spread out over 36 months, towards any iPhone 13. That makes the iPhone 13 Mini free after the credits are applied.

If you're shopping for an iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max, you'll pay $2,78, $8.34 or $11.12, respectively, per month after the $700 in credits are applied to your bill over the 36 month period.

The catch is the amount of credit is based on the phone you're trading in, and you'll need to be on or sign up for any of AT&T's unlimited plans. 

T-Mobile is offering four -- yes, four -- different promotions that involve the iPhone 13. 

You can get up to $800 off any iPhone 13 model with a trade-in, add a new service line and sign up for the Magenta Max plan. The amount of the credits, which are applied over 24 monthly bills, depends on the phone you're giving up. The $800 credit effectively makes the iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 13 free. 

Don't want or need Magenta Max? You can still trade-in your old phone with a new line of service and get up to $600 off the iPhone 13. 

If you're upgrading phones and already have service with T-Mobile, you can get up to $400 worth of credits with an eligible trade-in. 

Finally, T-Mobile has a buy-one-get-one-free promotion that requires you to buy an iPhone 13 or iPhone 12, and then you'll get up to $700 in credits (over 24 months) towards a second iPhone 13 or iPhone 12. Both phones will need to be used on a new service line for new customers, or existing customers can upgrade one line and add a second. 

Verizon has an enticing promotion for customers who buy an iPhone 13. 

For existing customers who add a line of service and buy either iPhone 13 Pro model, you can take advantage of an offer that nets you up to $800 off any iPhone 13 model when you trade in a phone and add a line to your account. That makes the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini free. Plus, you'll also get a $200 prepaid Mastercard when you port in your number. 

Existing customers can also get up to $800 through the same promotion, sans the $200 gift card.

The prepaid carrier Visible is offering a pretty sweet deal for new customers. If you buy any iPhone 13 and transfer your number to the carrier, you'll get a virtual gift card after your third month of service. The entire lineup is currently eligible for an $150 virtual gift card, along with a free Bang & Olufsen speaker, worth up to $250. Not a bad deal, eh? 

AT&T's iPhone 12 deals no longer require a trade-in. Instead, you'll need to sign up for a device payment plan and for any unlimited service plan. Once you do that, you'll get the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Mini for 50% off, with credits applied over 36 months. That brings the iPhone 12 down to $10.14 per month and the iPhone 12 Mini down to $8.75 per month.

Verizon has an online-only deal right now that requires you to sign up for a new line of service on an Unlimited plan. You'll get a 64GB iPhone 12 for free in exchange for doing so. The same deal also applies to the iPhone 12 Mini for those looking for a smaller phone. 

Then you'll also get a $200 MasterCard prepaid card to pay off anything you might owe your previous carrier. 

Existing customers can get up to $350 off the iPhone 12 with a trade-in of any phone, regardless if it's working or not.  

T-Mobile expanded its current promotion for the iPhone 13 line to the iPhone 12 lineup. That means when you trade in your current phone, buy any iPhone 12 model with a new line of service, and sign up for the Magenta Max plan, you can get up to $800 off your new phone. The amount of the credit depends on which phone you're trading in, with T-Mobile offering $400 off for older devices. The credits for your trade-in will be split up over 24-months. 

For those who don't need the Magenta Max plan, you can get up to $600 off a new line of service with a trade-in. 

Don't need to add a line of service? The credit amount for an eligible trade-in drops down to $400 off an iPhone 12. 

Finally, T-Mobile's BOGO deal applies to the iPhone 13 or iPhone 12. Buy either device and get up to $700 off the second.

Visible, a prepaid carrier that uses Verizon's wireless network, is back to offering a virtual gift card for those who buy the iPhone 12. Any iPhone 12 listed on Visible's website will net you a $150 gift card and a free Bang & Olufsen speaker that's worth $250. 

Cricket offers new customers $400 off of the iPhone 11 when you switch to the prepaid carrier and sign up for the $60 per month plan and pay for three months of service upfront. That means you'll pay $399 for the phone instead of the usual $499. Better than nothing, I guess? 

Visible is offering a $150 virtual gift card and a free Bang & Olufsen speaker if you buy the iPhone 11 from the prepaid carrier, sign up for a new line of service and port your number in from an eligible carrier within 14 days. After you pay for three months of service you'll get both promotional items. 

T-Mobile is the only major US carrier that's offering a discount on the new iPhone SE. You have two options with the Uncarrier. The first is to trade in your existing phone and get up to $400 worth of credits applied to your account over 24 months. Of course, the amount of the credit is based on which phone you're trading in. For those who have the 2020 iPhone SE, you'll get up to $200 in credits. 

The other option is to add a line to your account, and you'll get 50% off the iPhone SE, with the credits split up over 24 months of service. That makes the iPhone SE $215 at the end of the credits -- which isn't horrible! Depending on what phone you're trading in and the amount T-Mobile offers you, this may be the better way to go if you're starting a new line of service either way. 

Visible already has the new iPhone SE, and the carrier is offering its staple promotion of a $150 gift card to a place of your choosing. 

To be clear, you'll need to buy the new iPhone SE from Visible, sign up for a new line of service, port your number over from your existing carrier within 14 days, and then keep your service active for three months to collect the $150 gift card along with a free Bang & Olufsen speaker.

You can get Apple's shiny new iPhone SE for $379, or $50 off the suggested retail price when you buy the SE from Cricket. It doesn't matter if you're a new customer or an existing customer upgrading phones -- the $379 is available to all.