These iPhone SE deals can help make the already affordable phone even cheaper.
Adam Oram is a Senior Editor at CNET. He studied Media at Newcastle University and has been writing about technology since 2013. He previously worked as a Senior Writer at iMore, Deals Editor at Thrifter, and as an Apple Genius. His spare time is spent watching football (both kinds), playing Pokémon games, and eating vegan food.
Expertise Deals | Apple Amber Guetebier 
Oliver Haslam has been writing about phones, computers, games, and anything else that takes a battery or plugs in for more than he'd like to admit. With a focus on mobile and laptops, Oliver is never too far away from whatever social network is trending today and is never short of an opinion to share.
Expertise Apple, phones, laptops, smartwatches, mobile accessories, gaming, apps 
Jared DiPane is a writer on CNET's Commerce Team specializing in finding the best deals and tips on how to maximize your money. With over 10 years of experience, he's managed commerce content and initiatives for Digital Trends, Mobile Nations, & Future PLC. When not deal hunting, he's likely spending time with his family, building something or researching his next big purchase.
Expertise Deals and Shopping Tips Oliver Haslam Jared DiPane Aug. 27, 2024 11:44 a.m. PT 5 min read Up to $620 off with trade-in See at Apple Up to $120 off with trade-in; up to $130 off carrier models See at Best Buy $430 off with a new line of service See at Verizon From $2 per month See at AT&T Free with trade-in or new line See at T-Mobile Spectrum Mobile $100 trade-in bonus See at Spectrum Up to $430 off See at Metro Mint Mobile Get 6 months of free wireless See at Mintmobile Show more (3 items)Apple fans looking for a new phone have many options to consider. The most cutting-edge of the bunch are the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. If you know you want an Apple phone but are hoping to pay a more reasonable price, you'll likely want to think about the iPhone SE line. While there are rumors of an iPhone SE 4 coming sometime in the future, Apple has stayed mum about its plans for the SE and there are no guarantees that it will come this year -- or ever. For now, the third-generation iPhone SE is your best bet for a more budget-friendly phone, and it's a solid choice. Starting at $429, the iPhone SE is already an excellent affordable phone, and you can get it for even less with these excellent deals.
The third-gen iPhone SE supports 5G, so you can expect to get fast data speeds while you're out and about. Apple squeezed its A15 Bionic chip into the same compact size of the previous SE 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.
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 OldThe iPhone SE is available in midnight (black), starlight (white) and Product Red.
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. But, there are still plenty of ways to save on one, 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 TV Plus, Apple Music and Apple Fitness, and four free months of Apple Arcade with purchase.
If you opt for a carrier model through Best Buy, you can save up to $130 off the list price with activation through AT&T or Verizon. GoogleFi models will save $30. These offers require purchasing the phone and activating a new line through the carriers via Best Buy.
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.
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 or Go5G Plus 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.
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 $150 rebate. Meaning you're getting the iPhone SE for $280. Transfer your number and the savings are even bigger: You can get the phone for nothing, saving you $430.
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.
*All information about the Apple Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
