Samsung is hogging the spotlight this week. Three new foldables. Two watches. Smart glasses. It’s a lot.
But don’t ignore Apple just yet.
RAM shortages are driving iPhone prices up everywhere else. T-Mobile, however, is still handing out free iPhone 17 deals. Not tomorrow. Now.
Why is T-Mobile giving away the iPhone 17 for free?
It’s not a charity drive. It’s a trade.
T-Mobile is offering the Apple iPhone 17 for free if you trade in an eligible device and sign up for an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.
There’s also a slightly different path for the iPhone 17 Pro.
Want the Pro model? Switch to T-Mobile. Bring your number. Sign for an Experience Beyond plan. You keep your old phone. No trade-in required. Still free.
So, which deal is right for you? It depends on whether you want to part with your current handset.
The iPhone 17 is free with a trade-in on specific plans, while the Pro requires a carrier switch but no device swap.
How the 24-month credit works
Free usually means “free.” Here, it means “financed and credited.”
You sign a 24-month contract. The full retail price of the phone appears on your bill. Then, a credit cancels it out.
Month 1. Charge: $1000. Credit: $1000. Net: $0.
This repeats for two years.
Here is the catch. Cancel early. Switch carriers. Upgrade to an iPhone 18 next year. The entire unpaid balance of the phone becomes due. Immediately.
You also pay standard taxes upfront. Plus a $35 activation fee. Small price for a flagship phone? Sure. But it’s not zero cost.
Is it worth waiting for the iPhone 18?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Rumors are swirling. Apple is expected to drop the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and even a foldable iPhone Ultra later this year.
Exciting? Yes.
Smart financially? Perhaps not.
As hardware costs climb due to component shortages, carriers are pulling back on these generous promotions. This might be the last window for a free flagship iPhone.
Prices are only going up. The deal structure is likely to tighten.
Do you want to gamble on a rumored foldable that hasn’t been announced? Or do you take the confirmed deal while it exists?
The clock is ticking. T-Mobile isn’t holding these offers forever.
