iPhone 16 Price Drop: Get the iPhone 16 for cheap

Lauren Hannula Managing Editor

Updated 12 December 2025

Contents

Jump to:

How much will the iPhone 16 price drop?
When will the iPhone 16 price drop?
Are old iPhones discontinued?
How to get a cheap iPhone
Grab a new plan for your cheap iPhone
FAQs

While the new iPhone 17 might be the talk of the town, savvy customers looking to save a buck can snag the iPhone 16 on the cheap.

With each generation Apple releases, the company typically lowers the prices of previous iPhone models. This year, the iPhone 16 series price has dropped by $100 off the MSRP from Apple, before any additional carrier discounts.

You can also get up to $1,000 off for a free iPhone 16 from carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon.

Read on to learn more about the iPhone 16 pricing, when this discount takes effect, and how you can save on your next iPhone.

How much did the iPhone 16 price drop?

Like most years, the iPhone 16 series devices have received a $100 discount as soon as the iPhone 17 was released for pre-order on September 9.

That means the pricing looks like this:

iPhone 16 series pricing

iPhone 16	iPhone 16 Plus
$699 (previously $799)	$799 (previously $899)

Apple

iPhone 16 128GB

6.1 inch display
Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

203 Plans from $0/mo + $729.99 Upfront

Apple

iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB

6.9 inch display
Rear Cameras: 48MP, 48MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

67 Plans from $8/mo + $869 Upfront

Apple

iPhone 16 Plus 128GB

6.7 inch display
Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

148 Plans from $10/mo + $829.99 Upfront

Apple

iPhone 16 256GB

6.1 inch display
Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

81 Plans from $10/mo + $829 Upfront

Apple

iPhone 16 Pro 128GB

6.3 inch display
Rear Cameras: 48MP, 48MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

49 Plans from $10/mo + $899 Upfront

Will the iPhone 16 Pro models get a discount?

Yes, the iPhone 16 Pro models have gotten a discount—but not from Apple itself. Apple has discontinued the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, as it typically does with the previous series' Pro models when new devices come out.

While you won’t be able to buy an iPhone 16 Pro directly from the Apple store, you can find great discounts from carriers, brick-and-mortar retailers, or a used electronics retailer like Trademore. For example, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro are both being offered for free with a trade-in on a qualifying plan from T-Mobile. Jump over to our iPhone deals page for the latest discounts.

Is the iPhone 15 still available?

Yes, the iPhone 15 is available from carriers, even after the iPhone 17 was announced. This device is priced even lower than the iPhone 16, and is worth the upgrade. If you don’t mind having an even older phone than the iPhone 16, this is a great way to snag premium Apple features at a budget price.

Apple iPhone 15

128GB, Unlocked, Amazon Renewed

The iPhone 15 is a great choice for a budget smartphone. While it is an older device, it still packs a powerful punch with the A16 Bionic processor and takes excellent pictures with its 48MP camera setup. Along with satellite connectivity and crash detection, the iPhone 15 offers 5G capability, so you can take advantage of lightning-fast data speeds.

When will the iPhone 16 price drop?

The iPhone 16 price dropped on September 9, the day the iPhone 17 series was announced.

Are old iPhones discontinued?

Typically the launch of a new iPhone means the end of another one. This rule usually applies to much older phones. For example, the launch of the iPhone 14 caused the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 mini to be discontinued. That simply means Apple isn’t manufacturing these phones anymore. The old stock is still available to buy from certain carriers and they’re still eligible for the most recent iOS upgrades. That said, once an iPhone is discontinued, it's unclear how long it has before it ages out of the newest iOS generation.

Luckily, this won’t be a problem for the iPhone 16. Even though it’s part of last year’s generation, Apple makes sure that its devices remain eligible for iOS upgrades for years after they are released. iOS 18 is available on every iPhone since the iPhone XS, a device that came out in 2018, and iOS 26 should be supported by those same devices. You can feel confident that purchasing an iPhone 16 will nab you a device with years of iOS updates and functionality left.

It’s likely the iPhone 16 has at least another two years before it’s officially discontinued. Phones axed with the release of the iPhone 17 could be the iPhone X models, but we will wait to see what shakes out.

How to get a cheap iPhone

The easiest way to get a cheap iPhone is to shop around or purchase directly from your carrier.

Now that the iPhone 17 is out, you’ll find cheaper iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 models available directly from Apple and other retailers at reduced prices. If you want to buy an unlocked iPhone outright, this is probably the best time to get one. Check out our list of the best iPhones to find which devices are ripe for deals.

Carriers will also offer discounted iPhones to bundle with a phone plan. The iPhone 16 already has several trade-in deals.

A great time to start looking for even more savings on the iPhone 16 is around Black Friday. Many carriers offer deals on virtually every device they have in stock, so you may find an iPhone 16 for free or even a deal that doesn’t require a trade-in!

iPhone 16 deals

There are a ton of iPhone 16 deals going on right now. Carriers are trying to offload their old stock now that the newest device is announced.

Check out our iPhone deals page for a full list of the deepest discounts on the market, or browse some of the most affordable deals below:

XFINITY Mobile	XFINITY Mobile Mobile Select Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 1 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices Unlimited mobile hotspot data Outright Deal: Get a FREE 1 year of Xfinity Mobile Select Plan with Xfinity Internet required $0.00/mo (for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter + $729.99 Upfront View Plan	$0.00/mo (for the first year of service) <br>Regular rate of $30/mo. thereafter + $729.99 Upfront	View Plan
Tello	Tello Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes, and 2GB Plan Refurbished 2GB of 4G LTE/5G data T-Mobile 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices 2GB mobile hotspot data Outright Deal: Get $50 off this refurbished phone from Tello! $8.00/mo + $619 Upfront View Plan	$8.00/mo + $619 Upfront	View Plan
Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan Unlimited 4G LTE/5G data Available on 3 Major 5G Nationwide network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data Outright Deal: Get this Unlimited plan for only $10/mo. for the first 3 months of service with Boost Mobile! $10.00/mo with AutoPay + $729.99 Upfront View Plan	$10.00/mo with AutoPay + $729.99 Upfront	View Plan
Red Pocket	Red Pocket Essentials Monthly Plan (CDMA) 3GB of 4G LTE/5G data Verizon 5G Network in select areas with compatible devices No mobile hotspot data Outright Deal: Get $150 in Rebates w/ port-in after 3 months on any monthly plan + $750 off w/ trade-in $10.00/mo + $729 Upfront View Plan	$10.00/mo + $729 Upfront	View Plan
US Mobile	US Mobile 2GB By the Gig Plan 2GB of 4G LTE/5G data Available on 3 Major 5G Nationwide networks in select areas and compatible devices 2GB mobile hotspot data Outright Deal: Get 30 Days FREE Trial when you switch to US Mobile. $10.00/mo Taxes and fees included + $759 Upfront View Plan	$10.00/mo Taxes and fees included + $759 Upfront	View Plan

Grab a new plan for your cheap iPhone

You don’t have to have the newest iPhone to experience fast data speeds. While the iPhone 17 might have all the new bells and whistles, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 can be just as fast if you have the right plan. iPhone models from the SE (2022) through the iPhone 16 all have 5G capability, so you can rest assured that you’ll have incredibly fast speeds, as long as you pick a plan with 5G data. Luckily, there are plenty of options to choose from on all three major networks.

Verizon offers unlimited premium data on its 5G ultra-wideband network with its Unlimited Plus plan. The plan also includes 30GB of hotspot data and optional perks. Verizon has some of the fastest 5G speeds available and offers the largest 4G LTE network in the nation.

That said, its plans are incredibly expensive. The Unlimited Plus plan starts at $65/month for one line. If you want Verizon’s network and speeds, but not its prices, you could try out Visible. You can snag the $35/month Visible+ plan or $45/month Visible+ Pro plan that offer Unlimited premium 5G ultra-wideband data. Plus, you’ll also get an unlimited mobile hotspot with speeds limited to 5–15Mbps, which is plenty fast for basic browsing.

Carrier	Visible
Data	Unlimited Data
Type	No Contract
Total Price	$35 per month Taxes & Fees included
	View Plan

79 Phones Available

T-Mobile offers the largest 5G network of any carrier. It offers some of the most expensive plan options too. The Magenta plan offers 100GB of premium high-speed data and a 5GB high-speed mobile hotspot (speeds drop to 3G after you exceed 5GB). That plan costs $70/month with one line. Truthfully, most people don’t need 100GB of premium data.

Instead, you could try Mint Mobile. Mint offers a $30 Unlimited Plan ($15/month for new customers) with 50GB of premium data on T-Mobile’s network and a 20GB mobile hotspot.

Carrier	Mint Mobile
Data	Unlimited Data
Type	No Contract
Current Deal	Get this plan for just $25/mo. when you switch to Mint Mobile using promo code 15OFF at checkout. Upfront payment required
Total Price	$25 per month $75.00 upfront payment for 3 months (equals to $25.00/month). Intro pricing for new customers only.
	View Plan

17 Phones Available

AT&T has the second-largest 4G LTE and 5G networks in the nation. Still, it offers some of the most dependable signals and excellent rural coverage. A solid mid-range AT&T plan is the Unlimited Extra plan. It offers 50GB of premium data and a 15GB mobile hotspot for $75/month.

If you’re looking for something cheaper, Boost Mobile might be a good choice. It offers plans on both the AT&T and T-Mobile networks. Boost offers an Unlimited Data plan with 35GB of premium data and a 12GB mobile hotspot for just $40/month.

Carrier	Boost Mobile
Data	Unlimited Data
Type	No Contract
Total Price	$50 per month with AutoPay
	View Details

40 Phones Available

iPhone 16 price drop: FAQs

How much do iPhones drop in price each year?

Apple usually drops the price of older iPhones by $100 each year when a new generation comes out, plus any additional discounts offered through phone carriers.

Does Apple release a new iPhone every year?

Yes, Apple typically releases at least one new iPhone series every year.

Why do iPhones only last a few years?

Understandably, iPhones only last a few years because internal parts wear out and the technology that runs them is always improving. If properly maintained, iPhones can last around five years. That’s actually longer than most Androids, like the Samsung Galaxy series and Google Pixels, which last four and three years respectively.

What time of year are iPhones the cheapest?

The time of year when iPhones are cheapest is the fall. New iPhones are released in September and get discounts through carriers. At the same time, stores lower the prices of older iPhones to make room for the newest devices. Cheap iPhone deals typically stick around through Black Friday and the holiday season.

Lauren Hannula

Managing Editor

Lauren is WhistleOut's Managing Editor. With over 14 years of digital writing and publishing experience, she's developed a passion for breaking down overly complex topics to offer easy, affordable solutions that help make the most of the tech you already have in your pocket. Her work has appeared in industry stalwarts such as CNET, Yahoo! News, and Forbes.

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