Back-to-school seasonal deals are over. Major carriers have the best cell phone deals in August, before the start of the academic year. Check out the top deals below for a better idea of what you'll find next year, and who knows, maybe you'll luck out and find a deal that's still active.
As students and educators prepare for a new academic year, carriers roll out offers that make technology more accessible and affordable. Snag the latest iPhone with a substantial trade-in discount from Verizon or the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 for free with T-Mobile's special promotion.
And let's not forget about the plans themselves. Educators can score teacher discounts on top plans from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Plus, our favorite MVNOs offer competitive budget-friendly options, like Visible's unlimited access on Verizon's network, or Mint's $15/month Unlimited plan with T-Mobile's coverage.
So whether you're a student looking for the latest gadget or a parent seeking the best value for your family, this back-to-school season is filled with opportunities. Explore this guide and find the perfect phone and best phone plan for students to make this school year both productive and enjoyable.
2025 T-Mobile back-to-school deals
Get your student a new top-of-the-line phone for free with one of several T-Mobile back-to-school deals. Here are some of our favorite deals from the Un-carrier itself:
Get the iPhone 16 for free
Get the iPhone 16 free when you purchase with T-Mobile. Trade in your old phone and get a new line for up to $1,000 off the new iPhone 16, making it free. Make sure your new line is on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan to get the full savings over 24 monthly bill credits.
You can also save up to $830 with a new line and trade-in on other T-Mobile plans. Check out the latest iPhone 16 deals from T-Mobile.
See deal at T-Mobile
Save up to $1,100 on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 or Fold7
Get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 for up to $1,000 off, or the Fold7 for up to $1,100 off. In order to get this phone at a discount, purchase it on a new T-Mobile line or upgrade and trade in your old smartphone on Experience More or Experience Beyond.
The same conditions apply if you want to save up to $1,100 on the Z Fold7, too. For either phone, you'll see this discount through 24 monthly bill credits.
Plus, T-Mobile will throw in a free pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro earbuds for free (valued at $189.99).
See deal at T-Mobile
Free Pixel Buds A-Series with the 8a
Listen to all the best beats to study this school year with the Pixel Buds A-Series—free right now through T-Mobile when you purchase the Pixel 8a. Although it may be last season's phone, the Pixel 8a is just as powerful as the Pixel 9 and comes with free earbuds.
To snag the full offer, you need to activate a new line on an unlimited plan and sign up for installments.
See deal at T-MobileQuick tip: Save on T-Mobile internet, too
If you're a current T-Mobile wireless customer—or you're interested in becoming one—you may also be able to receive major savings on your internet plan. T-Mobile wireless customers are eligible for discounted T-Mobile home internet, with plans starting at just $40/month.
To find out how much you can save, check below to see if T-Mobile home internet is available in your neighborhood.
2025 Verizon back-to-school deals
Verizon offers the best package device deals, so you can snag a new tablet and watch with your phone. Check out the best deals here:
Get a free iPad A16 with your new iPhone 15
Get the Apple duo this back-to-school season with Verizon's latest deal. You can get a more recent iPhone 15 up to $729.99 off and get a free iPad A16 when you activate a new line or upgrade on unlimited.
To see the full savings, you'll need to trade in an old iPad. Start school with Apple swag thanks to Verizon's latest offering.
See deal at VerizonFree NFL Sunday ticket with Verizon
Sports fans will cheer for Verizon's back-to-school perk—free NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube. When you buy a new device with Verizon, you can score access to watch NFL Sunday on YouTube. You'll have to add a new line or upgrade on any unlimited plan to qualify, and don't wait too long since this offer ends September 23.
Just don't forget to check out how to watch football for free before you settle on this offer.
See deal at Verizon
Free Galaxy Tab S10 FE with your new Fold6
This back-to-school season, Verizon is offering free accessories and devices when you purchase a new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 upfront.
You can get a free Galaxy Tab S10 when you buy last year's Galaxy Fold6. It's just as good as the newest version, and you can get back to class with extra swag.
See deal at Verizon
Buy a Pixel 8 and get a free Samsung Tab S10 FE
Right now, Verizon is offering a free Samsung Tab S10 FE when you purchase a Google Pixel 8 outright and activate a new line on any unlimited plan.
No trade-ins necessary. This deal is the easiest way to get new tech gear for the start of the school year.
See deal at Verizon
2025 AT&T back-to-school deals
AT&T has some of the best flagship device discounts this school season. We've found the best deals to help you save.
Save up to $1,000 on the iPhone 16 Pro
You can save big on a brand-new iPhone 16 Pro from AT&T. The iPhone 16 Pro is one of Apple's newest flagship devices in its new titanium series. They come with ProMotion technology and run on the powerful A18 Pro chip.
Save up to $1,000 when you add a new line or upgrade and trade-in on an unlimited plan starting at $65.99/month. The only requirement is signing up for installments, since this discount is applied through 36 monthly bill credits.
See deal at AT&T
Up to $1,100 off Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 or Fold7
Get a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 or Fold7 for free with AT&T's current deal. You can save up to $1,100 on this spectacular smartphone, making it free! You'll need to add a new line or upgrade on a qualifying AT&T unlimited plan (starting at $75.99/month minimum), and trade in any old Galaxy phone in any condition.
Installments are required because this discount is applied through 36 monthly bill credits.
See what we thought about last year's Samsung flip phone in our Galaxy Z Flip6 review.
See deal at AT&T
Get the Google Pixel 9a for $5.99/month
AT&T is offering the Google Pixel 9a for $5.99/month. New and existing customers can snag this new phone by purchasing it with a new line or upgrading on any unlimited plan (starting at $65.99/month).
You'll also need to sign up for installments since this promotion is applied through 36 monthly bill credits.
See deal at AT&TMVNO back-to-school deals
MVNOs are already a great value, providing the same network coverage you get from the big carriers at much lower prices. Snag a new plan with unlimited data to keep you connected to classmates (and your favorite study apps) wherever, whenever. With these MVNO back-to-school deals, you can save even more!
Save on your phone bill with Visible
Sign up with Visible—a great MVNO that gets you unlimited service on the Verizon network—for some of the best unlimited plans on the market starting at only $25/month.
|
#1
|
Visible
$25 Visible Plan
$25.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
|
#2
|
Visible
$35 Visible+ Plan
$35.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
|
#3
|
Visible
$45 Visible+ Pro Plan
$45.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
|
Mint's device discounts and $15/month unlimited data
New customers on Mint can get discounted phones and two years of unlimited data for only $15/month with its back-to-school deals. Check out the best Mint phone discounts below to score a steep discount on a new device this school season.
Save $440 on the Galaxy S25 Edge
Mint is offering $440 off the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, plus two years of its Unlimited plan for only $15/month. That means you get unlimited data for only $180 a year, much cheaper than any other carrier.
To qualify, you'll have to port in your number and buy the phone outright ($660 with the applied discount). You won't find a better device and plan pair this back-to-school season.
See deal at MintIf you aren't interested in a new phone, you can still snag three months of unlimited data for $15/month as part of Mint's new customer introductory pricing. You'd be paying the exact same price for the lowest-tiered Mint plan, so opt for unlimited for unhindered browsing anywhere, anytime. It's really a no-brainer.
|
#1
|
Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$25.00/mo
$75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
|
#2
|
Mint Mobile
5GB Data Plan
$10.00/mo
$30.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $10.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
|
#3
|
Mint Mobile
15GB Data Plan
$15.00/mo
$45.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $15.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
|
Get up to 67% off your first 3 months of service with Twigby
Switch to Twigby and get up to 67% off your first three months of service with this back-to-school deal. You can pay as low as $5/month (for the first three months) for 2GB of data.
|
#1
|
Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and 2GB Data
$5.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $15.00/month
|
|
#2
|
Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and 10GB Data
$15.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $25.00/month
|
|
#3
|
Twigby Mobile
Unlimited Talk, Text and 5GB Data
$10.00/mo
for the first 3 months then $20.00/month
|
Get up to 20% off service with Ultra Mobile
Join Ultra Mobile with this back-to-school deal and get a huge discount on your phone service. Ultra will take 20% off 12-month plans and 10% off 6-month or 3-month plans.
|
#1
|
Ultra Mobile
12GB 1-Month Plan
$29.00/mo
|
|
#2
|
Ultra Mobile
12GB 3-Month Plan
$17.33/mo
Pay $52 for 3 months or $17.33/month<br> Regular rate at $78 for 3 months or $26/month
|
|
#3
|
Ultra Mobile
Talk & Text 3-Month Plan
$13.00/mo
$39.00 advance payment for 3 months (equals to $13.00/month).
|
Apple back-to-school deals with the Apple Education Program
With exclusive Apple Education Program back-to-school deals, you'll get to take advantage of great discounts on various Apple products and receive an Apple gift card with your purchase.
Here's a quick look at these Apple deals:
Free AirPods 4
Get the all-new AirPods 4 for free when you buy an iPad or iPad Pro during Apple’s back-to-school sale. Usually priced at $129, you can get them free of charge as Apple's back-to-school gift.
Designed for all-day comfort with rich, immersive sound, the AirPods 4 keep you focused on lectures, playlists, or calls. Their sleek design and sweat-resistant build make them perfect for campus life.
Pair them with an iPad for the ultimate study setup and premium audio at no extra cost.
See at AmazonSee at Apple
Free Apple Pencil Pro
The Apple Pencil Pro is valued at $119, but you can get it free with Apple’s current promotion. Sketch, take notes, and create your own custom font with pro-level precision. The Apple Pencil Pro boasts an ultra-responsive tip, magnetic attachment, and speedy charging, making it the smartest way to work on iPad.
For a limited time, add this essential tool to your new iPad or iPad Pro at no extra charge.
MacBook Air
Get $100 off when you buy the MacBook Air at these lowered prices:
- $899 13" with the M4 chip (usually $999)
- $1,099 15" with the M3 chip (usually $1,199)
The new MacBook Air is the ultimate back-to-school upgrade. Its lightweight design, powerful M series chip, and all-day battery keep up with classes, projects, and more. Fast, portable, and built to last, it’s the perfect study sidekick.
See at AmazonSee at Apple
MacBook Pro
Enjoy discounts of $100 to $200 off for the MacBook Pro. Prices start at:
- $1,499 for the 14" MacBook Pro (usually $1,599)
- $2,299 for the 16" MacBook Pro (usually $2,499)
The new MacBook Pro is the ultimate powerhouse for back-to-school. With its blazing-fast M3 chip, stunning Liquid Retina display, and unmatched battery life, it helps with projects, edits, and multitasking like nothing else.
See at Amazon See at Apple
iMac
You can get between $50 and $100 off a new iMac. With the discount, the iMac's starting price drops to $1,249 (normally $1,299).
The new iMac is the perfect all-in-one for back-to-school. With its vibrant 24-inch 4.5K display, powerful M3 chip, and seamless setup, it’s ideal for studying, creating, and collaborating.
See at AmazonSee at Apple
iPad
Educators and students can get $50 off a new iPad. With the discount, the iPads will cost:
- $549 for the iPad Air
- $899 for the iPad Pro
The new iPad is the perfect study buddy for back to school. With its powerful performance, Apple Pencil support, and all-day battery, it's great for notes, projects, and creative work. Thin, light, and versatile, it's the smart way to learn on the go.
See at AmazonSee at AppleLooking for savings on the iPhone? Take a look at all our favorite current Apple iPhone deals.
All the latest cell phone news and deals, delivered every Thursday.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
Find a better phone plan
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
.png?w=280&h=280&usm=20&usmrad=0.8&fit=crop "Best Cell Phone Deals for June 2026: Get the New iPhone 17 for Free")
