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Though many Apple users couldn’t wait for the release of the latest iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, the third-gen iPhone SE makes an excellent choice for anyone on a budget who wants to upgrade or join the Apple ecosystem and not overspend. At $429, it’s already one of the most affordable phones around, making it a great choice for teens and tweens too. And right now you can get it for next to nothing, depending on your preferred carrier and if you have a device to trade in. We’ve rounded up some of the best deals and discounts available right now below.
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One of the biggest additions to the newest version of the iPhone SE is that it supports 5G, so you’ll be able to get faster data speeds while out and about. Apple also upgraded the processor to its A15 Bionic chip while maintaining the compact size of the previous model. The 12-megapixel camera on the back is even more powerful thanks to that A15 processor, and there’s a familiar Touch ID sensor on the front.
Read more: Best iPhone SE Cases for 2023
How much does the iPhone SE cost?
Base pricing for the iPhone SE (2022) starts at $429 (£419, AU$719) for the base model with 64GB of storage. You can bump that up to 128GB for $479 or 256GB for $579.
Watch this: Apple’s 2022 iPhone SE Is Equal Parts New and Old
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What colors does the iPhone SE come in?
The iPhone SE is available in midnight (black), starlight (white) and Product Red.
Best iPhone SE deals
The iPhone SE wasn’t updated in 2023 alongside the iPhone 15 series, so it doesn’t get quite as much attention on the deals front. There are still plenty of ways to save on one, though, and we’ve rounded up the best offers below.
If you prefer to buy your new iPhone right from the source, you can do that with the iPhone SE. Apple has all the carrier models, along with the unlocked one. And if you’re looking to ditch your old phone to switch to the new SE, Apple is offering up to $620 off with an eligible trade-in. With a base price of $429, that theoretically means you could get the new SE totally free, but bear in mind that the trade-in value for older phones is much lower than that $620 figure. If your trade-in value exceeds the cost of your new phone, you’ll receive an Apple Gift Card for the remainder. If your trade-in doesn’t cover the full cost, you can pay the remaining amount in full, or split it into 24 months of interest-free payments when you use an Apple Card during checkout (and get 3% cash back).
You can also nab carrier models via Apple. T-Mobile is offering the phone for free with eligible trade-in, and AT&T is offering up to $358 in bill credits.
Best Buy doesn’t have any straightforward discounts on the iPhone SE, but you can get up to $120 in trade-in credit on your old phone. You’ll also get some added bonuses, like three free months of Apple Arcade, Apple TV Plus, Apple Fitness and four free months of Apple Arcade with purchase.
While Verizon deals on upgrading existing lines are pretty slim right now, there’s a great offer available if you’re looking to add a new line of service. When you buy an iPhone SE on a new line with any unlimited plan, you can save $430, which gets you the 64GB model for free. Just note that the discount will be applied in the form of monthly credits over a 36-month period, even if you buy the phone outright.
Other promos at Verizon include $280 off an iPad and $120 off an Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 8 or Apple Watch Ultra with your iPhone SE purchase, though you’ll need to add a line of cellular service for these devices.
AT&T has various discounts for the different sizes, starting with the 64GB version going for $2 per month for 36 months, which can get you up to $359 in bill credits after activation. The 128GB model is going for $6 per month, which will get you up to $264 in credits, while the 256GB model is going for $11 per month and will save you up to $184 in credits. These deals require a new or upgraded line on an eligible unlimited plan.
T-Mobile is offering deals to new and existing customers right now. People who have or switch to a Go5G Next plan can save up to $830 off with trade-in, though you’ll probably be trading in a slightly older phone so it’s more likely to be between $400 and $830 in savings. Still, that nets you the phone for free, or close to it.
If you’re on the Go5G Plus plan or switch to it, with an eligible device trade-in you can save up to $830. Those on the Go5G, Magenta, or One rate plan can still save up to $300 off with trade-in and all other plans can get up to $200 off with an eligible trade-in.
You can also save 50% off by adding a new line, no trade-in required.
Spectrum is another carrier that has the 2022 iPhone SE available for purchase, though the deals there are pretty slim. The only offer available is an extra $100 on top of the estimated value of your device with a qualifying trade-in and a new line of service.
When you purchase an iPhone SE at full retail price and switch your existing number over to Metro’s $40-per-month unlimited data plan, you’ll get an instant $100 rebate. Meaning you’re getting the iPhone SE for a $330 total. Transfer your number and the savings are even bigger: you can get the phone for $100, saving you $330.
Note: Because Metro is owned by T-Mobile, this offer isn’t available to those switching their number from an existing T-Mobile plan.
Though there aren’t any discounts on the base price of the iPhone SE, you can get six months of free wireless when you sign up for a year of service. Right now only the 64GB model is in stock.
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