Cheap iPhone 12 deals can be found everywhere right now. Retailers from AT&T to Verizon are offering some of the best iPhone 12 deals of the year. Plus, now that the iPhone 13 has stolen the spotlight, iPhone 12 deals are practically free.
Currently, the best iPhone 12 deals can be found at Verizon. The carrier is offering up to $1,200 off all iPhone 12 models when you switch to Verizon and trade-in your old phone. Verizon will even pay for your broken phone. Not to be outdone, AT&T is taking $700 off all iPhone 12 models with an eligible trade-in. Unlike Verizon, AT&T’s iPhone 12 deals are valid whether you’re a new or current AT&T customer.
That said, wireless carriers remain your best option for cheap iPhone 12 deals — particularly if you’re ready to switch networks. Even the iPhone 12 deals at retailers like Best Buy or Walmart typically require that you activate your phone with a carrier instead of buying it unlocked. However, if you want the least-expensive iPhone 12 deal and plan possible, Mint Mobile has the iPhone 12 mini with unlimited 5G data for $60/month. The $60 plan includes the price of the iPhone and unlimited data. By comparison, other carriers charge as much as $60/month just for data alone.
The iPhone 12 sports a fast A14 Bionic processor, 5G connectivity, and updated cameras. It also has a new Ceramic Shield glass display that Apple claims is the toughest in the industry. There’s also a new MagSafe charging system.
The iPhone 12 features a 12MP wide lens with a f/1.6 aperture and a 12MP ultra-wide lens with a f/2.4 aperture and 120-degree field of view. It’s the first iPhone to include Apple’s new 7-element lens, which delivers low light performance. Apple has also added a new Night Mode Time-lapse feature.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 mini is a compact version of the iPhone 12. It sports a 5.4-inch OLED display and the same A14 Bionic CPU found inside the standard iPhone 12. However, its costs $699, which is $100 less than the 6.1-inch iPhone 12.
The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are the successors to the iPhone 11 Pro models. They feature larger screens — 6.1 inches for the Pro and 6.7 inches for the Pro Max — plus triple camera arrays aided by a LiDAR sensor. Otherwise, they share the same processor, 5G connectivity, and charging features as the iPhone 12.
Tips for finding the best iPhone 12 deals
- Carriers offer the biggest discounts: Switching carriers remains the best way to find iPhone 12 deals. This is especially true when new iPhone models are announced. That said, AT&T iPhone 12 deals are worth tracking because sometimes its deals apply to both new and existing users. Otherwise, most carriers will require that you port your number to their service to get the best deals.
- Keep your old iPhone in top condition: In addition to switching carriers, trading in your old phone is another way to save on the purchase of a new iPhone. As a result, you’ll want to keep your current phone in the best shape possible and make sure to save all the boxes, cables, and documentation that originally came with it. That way should you want an iPhone 13, you’ll be able to get it without having to pay full retail.
- Don’t forget about refurbs: We normally wouldn’t recommend shopping for refurbished smartphones, but Apple’s refurbs are the exception. They’re refurbished by Apple to work and look like new. More importantly, they’re backed by the same 1-year warranty that comes with new Apple devices.
- Wait for the next Apple keynote: Apple’s next September keynote is a year away. So if the iPhone 13 isn’t you thing, here’s what we know about the iPhone 14.
