Apple has officially delayed the iPhone 18 to the spring of 2027. For its fall 2026 lineup, Apple only announced the iPhone 18 Pro models and iPhone Duo, it's first foldable device. That means the iPhone 17 is still the newest entry-level iPhone on the market, and savvy customers looking to save a buck can snag the iPhone 16 for a lower price.
Typically when Apple releases a new model, the company lowers the prices of previous iPhone models. However, this year Apple has raised the price of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 in the wake of the iPhone 18 Pro's release. The iPhone 16 is still the cheapest iPhone at $799, but it's now back up to its launch price and lost a $100 discount it's had for the past year.
Right now the updated pricing is just when purchasing the device directly from the Apple Store, and you may still find the iPhone 16 cheaper from carriers or third-party retailers. You may also get up to $1,000 off for a free iPhone 16 from carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon thanks to trade-in deals and switching offers.
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?
The current price of the iPhone 16 and any remaining discounts largely depend on where you buy it from.
When the iPhone 17 was released in the fall of 2025, the iPhone 16 series devices initially received a $100 discount. Many carriers and retailers still have that pricing, meaning the iPhone 16's price is $699. However, when buying directly from Apple, the iPhone 16's price has returned to its launch price of $799.
That means the pricing looks like this:
iPhone 16 series pricing
iPhone 16 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB
- 6.9 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro 128GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro 256GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 Pro Max 512GB
- 6.9 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Will the iPhone 17 Pro models get a discount?
Yes, the iPhone 17 Pro models have gotten a discount from many carrier—but not from Apple itself. Now that the iPhone 18 Pro is here, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 17 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 17 Pro directly from the Apple store, you can find great discounts from carriers, brick-and-mortar retailers, or a used electronics retailer like Amazon Renewed. You can see all the best offers on our iPhone deals page. Just remember that the iPhone 17 Pro models are now considered a limited stock. Carriers may stop offering them or run out at any time.
Is the iPhone 15 still available?
Yes, the iPhone 15 is available from select carriers and retailers like Amazon, even now that the iPhone 18 Pro was announced. This device is an even better deal now that the iPhone 16 has received a price hike, and is worth the upgrade if you don't need the newest iPhone.
Apple iPhone 15
128GB, Unlocked, Amazon Renewed
The iPhone 15 is a great choice for a budget smartphone, especially now that the iPhone 16 has returned to its original $799 release price. 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 originally dropped on September 9, 2025, the day the iPhone 17 series was announced. However, its discount was eliminated one year later on September 9, 2026 after the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. It's unlikely the iPhone 16's price will drop back down to $699 again before it is fully phased out of stores after the release of the entry-level iPhone 18.
Are old iPhones discontinued?
Typically the launch of a new iPhone means the end of another one. For example, the launch of the iPhone 17 caused the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus 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 only a matter of time before it also ages out of the newest iOS generation.
Luckily, Apple makes sure that its devices remain eligible for iOS upgrades for years after they are released. iOS 27 is available on every iPhone since the iPhone 11, a device that came out in 2019. Even though it’s now a two-year-old device, if the iPhone 16 gets a similar lifespan to the iPhone 11, it has at least another five years of iOS updates and functionality left.
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 and iPhone 18 Pro are out, you’ll find the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 models from most carriers and retailers at reduced prices. Remember, buying directly from Apple probably means that you're overpaying for the iPhone 16, so make sure to shop around. 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 to make room for the upcoming iPhone 18.
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:
iPhone 16 128GB Plans
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Tello
Unlimited Text, 300 Minutes, and 2GB Plan
$8.00/mo
+ $699 Upfront
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Boost Mobile
Unlimited Plan
$10.00/mo
with AutoPay
+ $829.99 Upfront
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RedPocket
Essentials Monthly Plan (CDMA)
$10.00/mo
+ $829 Upfront
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H2O Wireless
$10 Pay As You Go
$10.00
Per 3 Month Refill
($9.00 with AutoPay)
+ $829 Upfront
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T-Mobile
$15 Connect by TMO 5GB
$15.00
Per 1 Month Refill
Taxes & Fees NOT included
+ $905.99 Upfront
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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 and iPhone 18 Pro devices 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. All iPhone models from Pro devices to budget models have had 5G capability since 2022, so you can rest assured that you’ll have incredibly fast speeds. 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 $30/month Visible+ plan or $40/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.
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Visible
$30 Visible+ Plan
$30.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
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T-Mobile offers the largest 5G network of any carrier. It offers some of the most expensive plan options too. The Experience More 2.0 plan offers unlimited premium high-speed data and a 60GB high-speed mobile hotspot for $85/month with one line. Truthfully, most people don’t need that much 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.
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Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$10.00/mo
$60 for 6 months of service
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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 Extra 2.0 plan. It offers 100GB of premium data and a 50GB mobile hotspot for $70/month.
If you’re looking for something cheaper, US Mobile might be a good choice. It offers plans on all three major networks, including AT&T. US Mobile's Unlimited Starter plan on AT&T's network offers unlimited premium data and a 20GB mobile hotspot for $25/month.
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US Mobile
Unlimited Starter Plan (Dark Star)
$10.00/mo
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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. However, these discounts don't always happen if Apple raises the price of its newest generation.
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?
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 usually 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
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
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