The Apple iPhone is one of the most influential technological achievements in history. Since its first model in 2007, Apple has released a modern iPhone almost every year. Although the features of each modern model change greatly each year, Apple always provides a faster processor and other quality of life updates. The iPhone isn’t a low-cost purchase, with the base model starting at $799. For most users, this is a purchase that needs to be planned, and any discount is very helpful.
Fortunately, you can save on the best iPhone models if you buy them at the right time. There are times during the year when we advise against purchasing an iPhone, mainly because there is a modern model on the horizon. This means you probably won’t see any discounts. If you’re looking for the best time to buy an iPhone, check out our guide below to plan your purchase and save some money in 2025.
The best time to buy an iPhone
Right after release
Surprisingly, the best time to buy an iPhone may be at launch. Because many phone carriers offer significant trade-in discounts, you can often buy the cheapest modern iPhone a few weeks after its launch. This is mainly due to the number of trade-in offers where you can trade in your current phone for a huge discount on the latest iPhone.
To find the best trade-in deals, pay close attention to emails from your current supplier and online advertisements. Many providers like AT&T and T-Mobile run countless ads detailing modern iPhone deals, so pay close attention to the weeks leading up to and following the iPhone launch (we’ve rounded up what’s available for the iPhone 17). It’s vital to note that some of these deals will depend on whether you currently own a newer iPhone you’re looking to upgrade to, but many providers offer no-strings-attached deals.
Moreover, there are also many offers on older iPhone models due to the launch of modern iPhones. The day modern iPhone models are released, Apple will permanently lower the price of older models. You can expect savings on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro right now, since we just got our hands on the modern iPhone 17 lineup. Since Apple usually reduces stock of these devices, you can usually get a great deal at other retailers right now.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Like any technology, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great events to encourage people to buy a modern iPhone. Since they appear just a few weeks after the launch of a modern iPhone, the discounts are usually still dynamic. You can expect the same great discounts and even modern ones from retailers and phone carriers.
The Black Friday and Cyber Monday long weekend is also one of the best opportunities to buy iPhones at discounted prices online. Everything from modern to refurbished models is almost always on sale, so you can save a lot of money by holding off until these sales.
Holiday weekends
Historically, Apple has offered significant discounts on iPhones on both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The holidays are quick approaching, so it’s worth paying special attention to the promotions organized this weekend. Retailers like Best Buy, Amazon and Walmart will likely promote deals in the coming weeks via social media and email newsletters. You can find a list of upcoming sales on each retailer’s website.
Additionally, other holiday weekends throughout the year are solid options. For example, Columbus Day falls right after the launch of the standard iPhone. This is where you can usually get a great discount from your phone company. On the other hand, early-year holidays like President’s Day are also a good choice since there are still more than six months until the launch of modern iPhone models.
However, not all holidays are good for iPhone deals. The same cannot be said for holiday weekends in the summer. As we mentioned above, mid-summer is the worst time to buy an iPhone, so don’t expect any deals during the Memorial Day or Independence Day sales. Although Amazon Day in July may be an exception to this rule.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, a store focused on no-nonsense Japanese games, in 2019 and has worked with various publishers covering the medium. His favorite series are Xeno and Final Fantasy.
