Don’t expect Apple to offer a sale on the iPhone Duo. The company almost never discounts its products, especially new ones that are selling like hotcakes (it’s backordered). With the Duo starting at $2,000, it’s very expensive for most people to buy Apple’s first foldable, and the best way to get a deal may be through a carrier.
Of course, there are some stipulations, but if you qualify, you could “save” significantly on an iPhone Duo—as much as $1,200, knocking the price to $800 (keep reading, there’s a catch). Here are some of the potential deals we found.
Shipping times are stretching into January, so it may be a while before you can get your hands on an iPhone Duo, even with one of these offers.
Save $1,200 on an iPhone Duo at T-Mobile
If you sign up for an Experience Beyond plan, T-Mobile will credit you $1,200. To qualify, you need to purchase the iPhone Duo and sign up for the Experience Beyond 2.0 plan for 36 months if you’re a new customer, or sign up for the Experience Beyond 2.0, Experience Beyond, or Go5G Next plans if you’re an existing T-Mobile customer and not already enrolled in another payment plan.
Here’s how the actual deal works.
You don’t get $1,200 upfront. Instead, T-Mobile spreads that amount across 36 monthly credits on your bill. For the 256-GB base model, for example, you’ll pay $22.22 a month for the phone on top of the monthly plan; those payments total about $800 over three years, plus the Experience Beyond 2.0 plan is $100 a month, excluding taxes and fees. The deal doesn’t apply when you pay in full or choose a cheaper plan. If you hate expensive contracts, this isn’t for you.
T-Mobile offers several other incentives for the iPhone Duo, including $1,200 off with trade-in or $1,000 off for seniors, military personnel, students, and first responders. To see what you might qualify for, click on the “see promotions” link on the T-Mobile iPhone Duo purchase page.
If you’re not clamoring for the iPhone Duo, T-Mobile’s incentives also apply to the new iPhone 18 Pro and other models.
Verizon and AT&T Also Have Similar Incentives on iPhone Duo
AT&T and Verizon are also offering incentives on the iPhone Duo. AT&T has a similar trade-in plan to T-Mobile’s: You’ll pay $22.23 a month for the phone for 36 months, which is equivalent to $1,200 off after you’ve fulfilled your contract. AT&T also has a “contract-breaking” deal that will get you an $800 reward card when you switch to AT&T, but you’d still have to pay the full price of the iPhone Duo.
The same goes for Verizon. You can get $1,200 off a 36-month Unlimited Ultimate plan, with or without a trade-in, as a new or existing customer. As an extra incentive, Verizon is including your choice of an Apple Watch Series 12 or iPad.
Whichever company’s deal you pursue, you’re entering into what is essentially a contract. The phone will also be locked to the carrier until you’ve made your final payment. You’ll also pay more after fees and taxes are added, although there’s no monthly interest. When you factor everything—the cost of a particular plan and the discounted phone—it could be what you’re currently paying for a premium plan, or possibly much more.
We usually don’t recommend cell phone contracts; it’s best to get a phone unlocked, even if it means paying full price. However, if you plan to stay with a carrier long-term and want to lower the cost of the iPhone Duo, it’s still worth considering. But do the math before committing.
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The post $1,200 Off the iPhone Duo? Here’s How Carrier Deals Actually Work appeared first on Wired.
