Updated: November 28, 2025 — Black Friday is live and so are the biggest iPhone and phone deals of the year.
Black Friday 2025 has finally landed, and if you’ve been holding out for a new iPhone or Android phone, today is the moment. Apple has kicked off its official shopping event, U.S. carriers are practically throwing free iPhones at anyone willing to open a new line, and major retailers are discounting both the latest flagships and older models.
The newest roundups from Forbes, Macworld, and Business Insider all agree on one thing: the best Black Friday iPhone deals this year are not coming from Apple alone, but from a mix of Apple’s gift-card promos, carrier bundles, and aggressive discounts at big-box stores. [1]
Below is a concise field guide to the most important phone deals you can still get today, November 28, 2025, plus practical tips so you don’t get burned by fine print.
Apple’s Official Black Friday iPhone Offer: Gift Cards Instead of Price Cuts
Apple’s own Black Friday “shopping event” runs November 28 through December 1, 2025. Instead of cutting prices directly, Apple is offering Apple Gift Cards when you buy eligible hardware. [2]
For iPhone buyers, the key offers are:
- iPhone 16 / 16 Plus (US): Apple is giving a gift card worth up to $75 with purchase.
- iPhone 16e (US): A slightly smaller gift card (around $50) is included. [3]
- UK buyers: Macworld reports Apple is pairing £60 gift cards with iPhone 16/16 Plus and £40 with iPhone 16e during the same event. [4]
On top of that, Apple’s standard trade‑in program can take as much as around $600–$670 off an iPhone 17 series device, depending on the phone you’re trading in. [5]
Takeaway:
- Buying from Apple directly is best if you want a SIM‑free iPhone 16 plus a gift card to use later on AirPods, accessories, or services.
- You won’t see massive “$300 off” stickers at Apple, but the gift card + trade‑in combo can still be competitive if you value flexibility more than a carrier lock-in.
Free iPhone 17 Bundles From Verizon, T‑Mobile & AT&T (US)
The most eye‑catching deals in 2025 come from U.S. carriers. Both TechRadar and Business Insider point out that this year’s headline offers are “free” iPhone 17‑series phones bundled with tablets and smartwatches—if you’re willing to open or switch to specific plans and accept long installment terms. [6]
Verizon
Verizon’s Black Friday promos include:
- Free iPhone 17 Pro Max (no trade‑in required) when you add a new unlimited line on eligible plans, with the cost refunded over 36 monthly bill credits.
- Bundles where you can also get a free iPad and Apple Watch alongside that iPhone 17 or 17 Pro Max, again via monthly credits and extra lines for the accessories. [7]
Good for:
- People already considering switching to Verizon.
- Families who want to bundle multiple Apple devices under one account.
Watch out for:
- 36‑month commitments, activation fees on each device, and the fact that “free” means “paid back slowly as long as you stay on the plan.” [8]
T‑Mobile
T‑Mobile is matching Verizon’s aggression with some unusually generous Apple promos:
- Free iPhone 17 Pro + Apple Watch + iPad when you take out a qualifying Experience Beyond plan and meet trade‑in / line requirements. [9]
- A standout “family” deal: four iPhone 17 handsets free when you add four lines on an unlimited Essentials plan—effectively spreading the phone cost across the service fees instead of charging for the hardware upfront. [10]
Good for:
- Households wanting to upgrade everyone at once.
- Shoppers who want premium models but can live with higher‑tier plans.
Watch out for:
- Accessory devices often need their own cellular lines, which adds recurring monthly charges.
- You’ll generally be tied to T‑Mobile for three years to realize the full discount. [11]
AT&T
AT&T is leaning heavily on trade‑ins and monthly credits:
- Up to about $1,100 off the iPhone 17 series with an eligible trade‑in, enough to make an iPhone 17 Pro effectively free over 36 months. [12]
- The same promos often let you add a deeply discounted iPad and Apple Watch when you pay for extra accessory data lines.
- A notable side deal: iPhone Air on AT&T at roughly half its usual monthly cost without needing a trade‑in, if you open a new unlimited line. [13]
Good for:
- People with a relatively new phone to trade in (Pixel, Galaxy, or older iPhone).
- Shoppers who want a single premium iPhone rather than a huge family bundle.
Watch out for:
- Trade‑in deadlines (usually within 30 days of starting the new installment plan).
- Extra costs for accessory lines that can quietly raise your monthly bill. [14]
Budget Shoppers: Mint Mobile & Visible Wireless Black Friday Deals
You don’t have to sign a major‑carrier contract to save big. Business Insider singles out Mint Mobile and Visible as two of the most compelling low‑cost options this Black Friday. [15]
- Mint Mobile
- 50% off unlimited plans, bringing some tiers down to around $15 per month, and importantly, this year’s discounts apply from three months up to a year—not just on long, annual commitments. [16]
- Pairs nicely with unlocked iPhones or Android phones bought outright from Apple, Amazon, or retailers.
- Visible Wireless (Verizon‑owned)
- 50% off some annual plans.
- A limited‑time offer that throws in a free Apple Watch SE 2 if you buy a new iPhone on certain annual plans. [17]
Who should look here:
- You want the lowest possible monthly bill and you’re happy to buy your phone unlocked or bring your own device.
- You’d rather avoid complicated bundles and just get simple, cheap data.
Best Unlocked & Retail iPhone Deals (US & UK)
United States: Best Buy, Amazon & Others
In the U.S., the strongest non‑carrier iPhone savings are often tied to retailer‑run promos plus carrier activation rather than pure cash discounts.
- Best Buy is advertising up to $1,000 off iPhone 17, Galaxy, and Pixel models when you buy on installment with eligible carrier plans—essentially mirroring or stacking the carrier offers in-store. [18]
- Select Apple Black Friday pages at Best Buy also highlight shorter‑term “doorbusters” on older Apple hardware, though iPhone offers remain mostly activation‑based rather than big one‑time cash cuts. [19]
If you insist on fully unlocked phones with no carrier tie‑in, you’ll see the biggest cuts on slightly older devices (think iPhone 14, iPhone 13, SE):
- Third‑party retailers and marketplaces are running double‑digit percentage discounts on older iPhones, while the very latest iPhone 17 series tends to rely on trade‑ins and carrier incentives instead of direct price drops. [20]
UK & Europe: Real Price Drops on iPhone 16 & Older Models
The UK market is seeing some of the cleanest cash discounts on unlocked iPhones:
- Macworld and European deal trackers report unlocked iPhone 16 and 16e selling for as much as £90–£100 below list price at Amazon and big-box electrical retailers, plus Apple’s own £60/£40 gift-card event. [21]
- Flagships like iPhone 16 Pro are also dropping by roughly £100 at certain UK stores, which is significant for such a new model. [22]
On the contract side:
- UK coverage notes Tesco, Sky Mobile and other carriers offering deals where top‑tier iPhones come in at under £40 a month with low upfront costs, sometimes with data packages that undercut rival networks. [23]
Quick snapshot: if you’re in the UK and don’t mind going SIM‑free, you can combine real sticker‑price discounts with Apple’s own gift cards to beat the value of many U.S. offers—especially if you don’t want to be locked into a three‑year carrier contract.
Australia & Other Regions: Surprise Price Drops on New iPhones
Black Friday 2025 isn’t just a US/UK story. In Australia, several outlets report steep price cuts on top‑tier iPhones only a couple of months after launch:
- An Australian deals roundup highlights “top‑tier” new iPhones already selling noticeably below launch price at major retailers, part of a wider tech and gaming event that also discounts Samsung phones and other electronics. [24]
If you’re shopping outside North America or Europe, it’s worth checking local versions of:
- Amazon (or Amazon AU/DE/JP)
- Your country’s leading electronics chains
- Official carrier sites for short‑term Black Friday or “Click Frenzy”‑style sales
The key theme globally: this is the first Black Friday where even very new iPhones are getting aggressive markdowns outside the U.S., not just older stock. [25]
Don’t Forget Android: Big Galaxy, Pixel & Foldable Deals
Even though this article focuses on iPhones, this year’s Black Friday phone landscape is packed with high‑end Android deals that are worth knowing about—especially if you’re comparing total value between ecosystems.
- Business Insider flags up to $1,000 off Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and other flagship devices when you bundle trade‑ins and carrier credits. [26]
- Carrier quick‑link roundups show Best Buy and major U.S. networks discounting Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 10 heavily, sometimes matching iPhone 17‑level incentives with similar “free device with unlimited plan” structures. [27]
Why it matters to iPhone buyers:
If you’re mainly chasing maximum hardware value, an aggressively discounted Galaxy or Pixel might beat an iPhone 17 deal—especially if you don’t care about iMessage or Apple’s ecosystem. Comparing total 3‑year cost of ownership (phone price + plan) is more important than ever this year.
How to Pick the Right Black Friday iPhone Deal (Quick Scenarios)
If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer number of offers, use these quick “profiles”:
1. “I want a free or nearly free iPhone 17 and I’m okay with a contract.”
- Look at Verizon, T‑Mobile, or AT&T “free iPhone 17/17 Pro/17 Pro Max” promos with 36‑month credits.
- Stack with tablet / watch bundles if those devices are on your wish list anyway. [28]
2. “I hate contracts. Just give me the lowest price on the phone itself.”
- In the US, focus on unlocked iPhone 14 / 13 / SE from Amazon and major retailers; that’s where the real cash discounts are. [29]
- In the UK, look for unlocked iPhone 16/16e discounts at Amazon, AO and others, then add Apple’s £40–£60 gift cards on top if you buy direct for accessories. [30]
3. “I mostly care about lowering my monthly bill.”
- Buy an unlocked phone (not necessarily the newest) and pair it with Mint Mobile or Visible.
- With 50% off unlimited plans for Black Friday, your service savings over a year or two can outweigh a flashy carrier device promo. [31]
4. “I want to upgrade my whole family at once.”
- T‑Mobile’s four‑line iPhone 17 deal and Verizon’s multi‑device bundles are designed exactly for this scenario.
- Run the math on four lines × 36 months and compare it to what you’re currently paying; in some cases, you can upgrade hardware and lower your per‑line cost. [32]
Red Flags & Fine Print to Check Before You Click “Buy”
No matter which offer you choose, pause long enough to check:
- Length of the installment term
- Most “free” iPhone offers rely on 24–36 months of bill credits. Cancel early or change plans and you’ll owe the remaining balance.
- Trade‑in rules
- Many AT&T and Verizon deals require trade‑ins within 30 days of starting the new plan and set minimum device conditions (no cracked screens, minimum value, etc.). [33]
- Accessory line costs
- That “free iPad and Apple Watch” bundle usually comes with extra monthly charges for each device’s data line.
- Taxes & activation fees
- You’ll typically pay sales tax on the full retail price of the phone upfront, plus an activation fee per line.
- Coverage and throttling
- Cheaper MVNO plans (Mint, Visible, etc.) are fantastic value but may deprioritize your data during congestion or cap hotspot usage. [34]
Bottom Line: What’s the Best Black Friday iPhone Deal Today?
As of Black Friday, November 28, 2025:
- Best for raw headline value:
- Verizon and T‑Mobile’s “free iPhone 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max plus iPad and Watch” bundles—if you’re comfortable with long, premium unlimited plans. [35]
- Best for unlocked iPhones:
- UK buyers get the cleanest wins with direct price cuts on iPhone 16 and 16e, plus Apple gift cards.
- In the US, buying slightly older iPhone models unlocked from retailers and pairing them with a cheap MVNO plan often beats carrier “free phone” deals on total cost. [36]
- Best for stretching your budget:
- Mint Mobile and Visible (and similar low‑cost carriers) are the easiest way to slash monthly bills without caring whether your phone came from Apple, Amazon, or a previous contract. [37]
Whichever route you choose, screen‑grab the offer page, save the terms, and double‑check the monthly totals (including taxes and fees) before you commit. Black Friday 2025 is unusually generous to phone buyers—but only if you understand exactly what you’re signing up for.
References
1. www.forbes.com, 2. www.apple.com, 3. www.apple.com, 4. www.macworld.com, 5. www.apple.com, 6. www.techradar.com, 7. www.techradar.com, 8. www.businessinsider.com, 9. www.techradar.com, 10. www.techradar.com, 11. www.businessinsider.com, 12. www.techradar.com, 13. www.techradar.com, 14. www.businessinsider.com, 15. www.businessinsider.com, 16. www.businessinsider.com, 17. www.businessinsider.com, 18. www.techradar.com, 19. www.bestbuy.com, 20. smartish.com, 21. www.macworld.com, 22. fr.zicos.com, 23. www.independent.co.uk, 24. www.news.com.au, 25. www.news.com.au, 26. www.businessinsider.com, 27. www.techradar.com, 28. www.techradar.com, 29. smartish.com, 30. www.macworld.com, 31. www.businessinsider.com, 32. www.techradar.com, 33. www.businessinsider.com, 34. www.businessinsider.com, 35. www.techradar.com, 36. www.macworld.com, 37. www.businessinsider.com
