Apple’s unveiling event earlier this month announced many new devices, with the new iPhone 16 lineup being the main focus. The lineup is available for pre-order already from many major retailers as well as directly from Apple and most mobile carriers. The deals include trade-in credit, up to 100% finance when signing up for a cellphone provider, and some discounts.
When does the iPhone 16 come out?
The new iPhone 16 is set to launch on Sept. 20, but preorders have been available since September 13. It’s not uncommon for these new iPhone launches to sell out of stock on the day of the release for the most popular models, versions, or colors. If you want to make sure you have an iPhone 16 on hand on Sept. 20, your best bet is to pre-order one before the release date. They will be shipped out the day of or you can pick them up from your local store if you pre-ordered it with them.
How much is the iPhone 16?
Depending on what storage you get, the price of each iPhone will be different, but here is the range you should expect:
iPhone 16: Starting at $799 and up to $1,099
iPhone 16 Plus: Starting at $899 and up to $1,199
iPhone 16 Pro: Starting at $999 and up to $1,499
iPhone 16 Pro Max: Starting at $1,199 and up to $1,599
What is new about the iPhone 16?
Regardless of which iPhone 26 you get, you’ll experience Apple’s new AI feature, Apple Intelligence, which will all be available with the new iOS 18.1. They’ll also be updated with the new A18 chip as well as 8GB of RAM, upgrades that were generally reserved only for the Pro models in previous lineups.
If you’re in between getting the Plus or the Pro, tech writer Pranay Parab thinks the iPhone Plus is a better option, since the battery life and screen size are better and it comes with all the essential features you’ll likely want. You can also read how the iPhone 16 compares to the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S24.
Best iPhone 16 preorder deals right now
Depending on your circumstances, a retailer or cellphone provider will offer you a better deal.
For trade-in:
If you have a recent iPhone or other valuable devices that you’re willing to trade in, T-Mobile offers the best trade-in deal, with up to $1,000 in credits, which essentially gets you the iPhone 16 Pro for “free” if you have (or switch to) their Go5G Next rate plan (the earliest iPhone they accept is the Apple 11 Pro).
If you’re going for the iPhone 16 Pro, Walmart offers up to $1,100 in trade-in credits and 0% APR when you get your phone through AT&T or Verizon.
All other cellphone providers and major retailers also offer trade-in credit, but might not be as good as these two.
For 100% finance:
Not everyone can drop over a grand in cash to get one of the new iPhones, but there are ways to pay a small monthly payment with 0% interest. You can do this directly with Apple, but if you commit to a cellphone carrier, you can pay less monthly for longer still with no interest. AT&T, Verizon, and Boost Mobile all offer 0% APR for 36 months, while T-Mobile offers 0% APR for 24 months.
Keep in mind that if you choose to go with a cellphone provider over an unlocked iPhone, you’ll have to become a member and likely sign up for the priciest plan they have (this wouldn’t apply if you’re already with them and have the eligible plan).
For a discount:
The best deal available right now is for the 128GB iPhone 16 with Verizon by preordering from Walmart. The payments are $21.64 per month for 36 months with no interest. That would come out to $779.04, which is cheaper than the listing price you can find anywhere else.
From retailers:
If you get reward points, or discounts, or want to pick up the iPhone in person on Sept. 20, going with a retailer is a good choice. Best Buy, Walmart, and Target all offer the complete lineup of iPhone 16. Some offer the same trade-in or finance deals that the cellphone providers offer (you can just make the order through one of them instead of going directly with a cellphone provider). If you have no leverage with any retailer, Best Buy offers three months of Apple TV, Apple Fitness, Apple Arcade, and Apple Music if you pre-order with them.
