Levi answered on 10.17.17:
Of the 77% of Americans who own a smartphone, 42% own an Apple product, making the iPhone the most popular cellphone in America.
Its user-friendly interface and simplistic yet elegant software makes the iPhone appealing to all types of consumers. And whether you’re looking to upgrade your current iPhone, or planning to purchase your first Apple product, it’s important to take note of the iPhone market’s quirks and vocabulary: iPhones are generally sold by or under a provider (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile), and, when the hardware is free for use under any service, it is considered “unlocked.”
We’ve considered all the options — store pricing, provider, features, and contract required. And, because deals vary from model-to-model, we’ve organized the best prices by phone version. Use the navigation below to quickly jump to each model to see the top iPhone deals:
X | 8 Plus | 8 | 7 Plus | 7 | SE | 6s Plus | 6s | 6 Plus | 6
Best iPhone X Deals
Pronounced “iPhone Ten” and set to release on November 3, 2017, the iPhone X comes with several updates. Its fully integrated screen, lack of a home button, and new facial recognition feature — made possible by a complex series of sensors and cameras — make the X an extremely desirable phone.
Apple
Best offer
$999
For the time being, you’ll have to wait to get your hands on an iPhone X, but not for too long. Once the phone is available (pre-orders start October 27), you can purchase the X either from a service provider or directly from Apple. Pricing will start at $999, but with 64GB and 256GB configurations, you may end up paying more if you need more storage for music and pictures.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #1 in Best iPhone Deals | 4.8 out of 5 | www.Apple.com |
If you aren’t one of Apple’s die-hard tech-junkies and don’t want to spend four digits on your next phone, the iPhone X may not be the best phone for you. However, you can still upgrade to a newer model without breaking the bank if you check out the other options on this list.
Best iPhone 8 Plus Deals
The iPhone 8 Plus boasts a larger design and more battery life compared with the iPhone 8, but beyond those differentiating factors it shares the same features as the smaller model. However, that larger size means the glass backing is also bigger than it’s ever been before, so make sure you’re on board with its fresh but fragile design before buying.
Target
Best offer
$799
At Target, you’ll find the 64GB iPhone 8 Plus for $799 outright among the three providers — Verizon, AT&T;, and Sprint. Shopping through Target gives those looking to upgrade a couple promotions to take advantage of. From a $100 gift card to 10% off a phone case, those who upgrade through Target could be in for some real savings. As with any iPhone, financing deals are available through term-agreements with service providers.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #2 in Best iPhone Deals | 4.7 out of 5 | www.Target.com |
If you aren’t sure you’re ready for the larger yet more fragile design, upgrading to the iPhone 8 might be a better fit.
Best iPhone 8 Deals
Strangely rivaled by its own company’s product, the iPhone 8’s amazing features and design changes are often overshadowed by the commemorative iPhone X and its rapidly approaching release date.
However, it does have some noteworthy upgrades, including a glass backing suited for wireless charging, a better camera, and a revisited build that harks back to the iPhone 4.
Walmart
Best offer
$699
Given its recent release, the iPhone 8 may be limited in availability. However, Walmart currently has a 64GB iPhone 8 for $699, plus $100 off when you sign an agreement with one of the main service providers (AT&T;, Verizon, Sprint). Other online storefronts, like eBay and Amazon, have the 8 ranging in price between $850 and $1150, granted the phones are generally unlocked and able to work with any provider. But because the price tag is still rather high, signing a contract will typically enable financing so you don’t have to pay the phone’s cost all at once.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #3 in Best iPhone Deals | 4.6 out of 5 | www.Walmart.com |
If you’re looking to get a brand new Apple product, but don’t want to wait on the iPhone X — or pony up for its lofty four-digit price — look no further than the iPhone 8. But, if you’re looking for a better deal on a newer model, you might consider the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus.
Best iPhone 7 Plus Deals
Sharing all the features and software of the iPhone 7, the iPhone 7 Plus proves to be a great option for a cheap yet new phone feeling. Its battery life increases with size as does its price, making this option better for phone owners especially appreciative of large displays.
Best Buy
Best offer
$670
Best Buy lists the 32GB iPhone 7 Plus for $719, but this time we found that financing the device through any of the major carriers makes it a bit cheaper. You can easily find the right size and color iPhone online, then you can choose to pick it up at your local Best Buy at no cost to you. That means you’ll be able to tap the customer service team for help getting new accessories and even setting it up.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #4 in Best iPhone Deals | 4.5 out of 5 | www.BestBuy.com |
If you’re tired of the trend toward bigger, forget about plus-sized iPhones (and even the newer models). The next iPhone model offers similar features, a smaller size, and a lower price — perfect for those who wish to keep the feel of the older models without sacrificing the processing power and other great features found in larger models.
Best iPhone 7 Deals
Now that the iPhone 8 has dethroned the 7 as Apple’s newest model, the iPhone 7 is now cheaper than ever.
The 7 model boasts better processing speeds, a six-lens camera system, and a touch-sensitive home button with haptic feedback as well as other standard features. And while this iPhone lacks a major physical design deviation present in the last three iPhone versions, it’s sure to feel new with its various add-ons and lack of a headphone jack.
Target
Best offer
$649
When you shop at Target for your iPhone 7, you’ll be able to easily select your service provider, storage size, and color options for your device. When we crunched the numbers, the financing deals from each provider — AT&T;, Verizon, or Sprint — seemed to match Target’s listed retail price. Either way you split it, the price comes out to about the same so don’t worry about being overcharged if splitting the cost into smaller payments is better for you.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #5 in Best iPhone Deals | 4.4 out of 5 | www.Target.com |
Continuing the Apple started with the sixth generation of iPhones, the iPhone 7’s software and additional features will be sold in a Plus edition for those looking for a more robust phone.
Best iPhone SE Deals
The iPhone SE combines the familiarity of older designs with new software and additional features. At only four inches, this model is the smallest on our list, but the SE’s impressive feature list includes a 12 MP rear camera, the most powerful camera found on a phone only four inches long, an A9 processor well overpowered for its job, and Apple’s first generation Touch ID.
Best Buy
Best offer
$298
At a whopping $100 cheaper than the outright retail price, purchasing the SE under a financing plan offered through providers on the Best Buy website allows you to get the best deal. AT&T;, Verizon, and Sprint all have payment plans that bring the total price of an SE to less than the retail price of $399 (although it’s worth mentioning that Apple.com offers a 32GB unlocked SE for $349). The beauty of shopping through Best Buy is getting a look at what other providers are offering to see if it may be worth switching.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #6 in Best iPhone Deals | 4.2 out of 5 | www.BestBuy.com |
The iPhone SE is built to save space and money, but if you like Apple’s new school look, and not their price, the next phone on our list may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Best iPhone 6S Plus Deals
With a 5.5-inch screen, the iPhone 6s Plus boasts all the tune-ups of the 6s at the size of the 6 Plus.
Walmart
Best offer
$385
Walmart advertises multiple listings for unlocked 6s Plus models with prices bouncing from $385 to over $420. The prices at Walmart vary depending on storage size, color, and condition of the device. That said, this phone is still being manufactured and sold by Apple, which currently has a brand new unlocked 32GB model for $549 if you would rather go straight to the source.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #7 in Best iPhone Deals | 4.1 out of 5 | www.Walmart.com |
The 6s model came with significant software upgrades, but if the Plus size is too big for you, consider the next iPhone on our list.
Best iPhone 6s Deals
The iPhone 6s saw a handful of new features such as improved processing power, Siri improvements, and, yet again, a new and improved camera. Though it still shares the numeral, this model of iPhone is sure to feel a little different than its predecessors.
Staples
Best offer
$359
The iPhone 6s model is still sold by Apple, but you can get a better deal without a carrier or contract from Staples. Most of the 6s models in stock at Staples are refurbished or pre-owned, but that generally means you’ll pay less for it than a new model (currently sitting at $449) from Apple. While Staples might not be the first retailer that comes to mind for smartphone sales, it shouldn’t be overlooked.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #8 in Best iPhone Deals | 4.0 out of 5 | www.Staples.com |
If the bells and whistles on the 6s, or 6s Plus aren’t wholly persuasive, look into the next option on our list, which may save you hundreds on your new phone.
Best iPhone 6 Plus Deals
The iPhone 6 Plus, as with other Plus versions of iPhones, offers a longer battery life alongside the same impressive software specs and features of the iPhone 6.
Prices have been seen to vary between $280 and $430, depending on the provider availability of the device and its condition.
Walmart
Best offer
$298
One offer seen at Walmart currently lists an unlocked 16GB iPhone 6 Plus for $298.97, making it a highly competitive deal considering the reliability of Walmart’s name in a largely unreliable after market. Keep in mind that the pricing on discontinued phones can fluctuate wildly based on what a brand may have in stock, which is just the nature of the aftermarket.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #9 in Best iPhone Deals | 3.9 out of 5 | www.Walmart.com |
Best iPhone 6 Deals
The iPhone 6 was discontinued after the release of the iPhone 7 series in September 2016, meaning there are few “new” iPhone 6 models. What you see being sold are refurbished or used models. However, it still holds its utility as one of the cheapest standing offers on an iPhone with a large amount of available storage.
Best Buy
Best offer
$239
On the Best Buy website, you can find unlocked iPhone 6 models in various storage sizes and colors, although the nature of the aftermarket limits the availability of particular colors. While Best Buy’s supply of the iPhone 6 is limited, it’s hard to find a better price on this older, discontinued iPhone model.
| Offer Category | DealCrunch Rating | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| #10 in Best iPhone Deals | 3.7 out of 5 | www.BestBuy.com |
Use Today’s Offers to Upgrade Your Smartphone
As you move forward with your next iPhone purchase, keep in mind the important features associated with each model of iPhone (Plus sizes increasing battery life, the original size of the SE, and the major design changes with the upcoming iPhone X) to make an informed decision. After all, we use our phones so often, upgrading or switching to Apple’s products can have a huge impact on your day-to-day activities.
Whether your screen is cracked or you’re just ready for a change, don’t be afraid to try something newer than your previous phone or even to revert back to the comfortable size and function of older models. And now that you know where to go for the best deal on an iPhone, you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank to upgrade.
