Best cheap Apple iPhone deals for March 2021

Theoriginal iPhone was the herald of the smartphone revolution, so it’s no mystery that Apple’s iconic mobile is still the most popular brand in the U.S. Even if Android brands combined command a moderately larger global market share, no single one of them outpaces Apple. It’s also no secret iPhones aren’t usually what you’d call “cheap,” but if you need a new one and are on the hunt for smartphone deals, we can help. We’ve scooped up a heaping helping of all the best cheap iPhone deals available this week, offering tidy discounts on everything from the iPhone X series to the latest iPhone 12.

Also take a look at these iPad deals, MacBook deals, and Apple Watch deals if these whet your appetite for more Apple bargains.

Today’s best iPhone deals

Apple iPhone SE 64GB (Straight Talk Wireless) — $149, was $350
Apple iPhone 12 (All Models, T-Mobile) — Up to $830 off with trade-in
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (Verizon) — Trade-in and save up to $750 w/ new line.
Apple iPhone 12 Mini (AT&T) — Up to $700 back with trade-in
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (AT&T) — Up to $700 back with trade-in
Apple iPhone 12 Pro (Verizon) — Trade-in and save up to $750 w/ new line.
Apple iPhone 12 (Verizon) — Trade-in and save up to $750 w/ new line.

iPhone 8

Several years ago, we saw the launch of not two but three new flagship mobile devices from the fruit-themed tech giant when the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus dropped alongside the iPhone X as the traditional successor to the previous iPhone.

Under the hood, the iPhone 8 isn’t radically different than the X. It boasts the same 2.39 Hexa-core processor, although the standard wireless iPhone 8 only utilizes 2GB of RAM compared to the X’s 3GB (the larger iPhone 8 Plus features the full 3GB). It also performs similarly to the iPhone X when it comes to its excellent camera and speedy wireless charging, akin to the newer Galaxy phones. Since the battery life is also more or less the same, the main differences between the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X are the bezels, screen sizes, and a touch screen home button, but you can still get both in that classic Space Gray color you know and love.

Although its more traditional design isn’t as groundbreaking as iPhones of the past, the iPhone 8 still delivers the solid build quality and performance we’ve come to expect. With a starting retail price of $699 for this iPhone and a $799 price tag for the iPhone 8 Plus, it wasn’t quite as pricey as the X, and you can find it for a lot cheaper now. If you’re looking for a great phone but don’t feel like making monthly payments to upgrade to the newest model, you can save some cash with ongoing iPhone 8 deals.

iPhone X

Speaking of fashionable tech, the high-end iPhone X turned heads (and caused more than its share of sticker shock) when the new line was announced in fall 2017. Marketed as something of a luxury item yet conspicuously lacking a 3.5mm headphone jack, the iPhone X perhaps uniquely represents the reason behind the “love it or hate it” attitudes that Apple inspires among the masses. But with an improved battery, iOS 11, a slo-mo camera, Face ID, and wireless connectivity for AirPods, it was one of the best iPhones you could buy at the time.

And despite its high initial cost, the iPhone X is a great piece of technology with an incredible edge-to-edge OLED touch display, a fantastic front camera, and lightning-fast speed thanks to its snappy 2.39 GHz Hexa-core processor and 3GB of RAM. It also features wireless charging capability, finally bringing the iPhones up to speed with their Android competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and HTC. With all of that screen space for your iPhone apps to fit in, the X is something to behold — though you may need to get a new pair of compatible wireless headphones.

The iPhone X is a high-end phone with a price tag to match. It retailed for an upfront cost of $999 upon its pre-order launch, which made it the most expensive new iPhone yet, but don’t worry: Ongoing iPhone discounts can save you a nice chunk of change on the iPhone X now that it’s a few years old. You can even find some great refurbished models for even less.

iPhone XS, XR, and XS Max

Apple iPhone XS Hands On — iPhone Xs Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The iPhone XS and XS Max were Apple’s flagships for 2018, and honestly, not much changed between the iPhone X and the iPhone XS. The launch price was still right around $1,000, too. If you’re looking to buy the latest tech from Apple, you can grab one of the iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 models right now, but deals on newer stuff are always few and far between; since the iPhone XS and XS Max are two years old now, today’s not a bad time to start hunting for deals on these.

The iPhone XS launched with a sticker price of $999, but Apple also rolled out a more budget-friendly alternative in the iPhone XR which retailed for $749. The iPhone XS Max, for its part, was one of the best plus-sized phone the company has ever released. You can definitely find some pretty big price cuts on these floating around out there if you know where to look. We’ve been scouring the web for the latest discounts, and we will be continually updating this page as the savings continue to roll in.

iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max

The iPhone 11 Pro brought another generation of improvements across the board, from increased battery life to a crisper, more vivid screen, and, of course, more raw horsepower from the onboard processor. In particular, Apple focused on the new camera module, bringing a three-camera setup that delivers snappy autofocus, great depth of field, and an incredible level of image fidelity. This system also offers new shooting modes thanks to its wide-angle lens (something that was curiously absent from the new Google Pixel 4).

The different models of the iPhone 11 feature varying screen sizes and building materials, and the numbering scheme can be a little confusing (although it’s arguably more consistent than previous releases): The iPhone 11 is the more budget-friendly alternative to the Pro models, sporting a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display with a 1,792 x 828 resolution, while the 11 Pro has a 5.8-inch Super Retina XDR touchscreen at 2,436 x 1,125 pixels. Meanwhile, the superb iPhone 11 Pro Max is fitted with a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with a 2,688 x 1,242 resolution. The iPhone 11 takes after previous iPhones with an aluminum and glass body, while the Pro and Pro Max boast a gorgeous brushed steel aesthetic.

Depending on storage options, the iPhone 11 retailed for $699, while the 11 Pro started at $999 and the 11 Pro Max at $1,099.

iPhone SE (Second Generation)

If the ever-growing price tags and screen sizes of flagship iPhones have you down, you’re not alone. Last year, Apple heeded the cries of fans and finally brought back the beloved iPhone SE, which is an excellent mid-range alternative to the much pricier flagships. The new second-gen SE boasts a 4.7-inch Retina display (a bit bigger than the four-inch display of the original SE, but still a nice pocket-friendly size) and packs the same internal processor as the much more expensive iPhone 11. You read that right: The iPhone SE runs on the same awesome A13 Bionic chipset as the current-gen flagships that cost nearly twice as much.

That alone isn’t super shocking. What should really grab your attention is the iPhone SE’s retail price of just $400. That’s an incredible value for a brand new Apple mobile, and there are already iPhone deals and carrier offers available for the second-gen SE that make it an even better buy. If you want an iPhone and don’t want to pay flagship prices (or buy refurbished), the iPhone SE is an easy choice.

iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max

iPhone 12 composite — Digital Trends graphic

Last year was a bit of an odd one for Apple, which has released not three, not even four, but five new smartphones. In early 2020 we got the new iPhone SE (which is technically part of the iPhone 11 generation as it runs on the same A13 Bionic chip), and in October, Apple rolled out four new next-gen devices: The iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Mini, the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. It goes without saying that if you’re in the market for a new Apple handset, 2020 has given you more options to choose from than any year before.

Having many choices can be a good thing, but it can also induce decision paralysis if you don’t already have a reasonably specific idea of what you want. To make things simpler, you can break down the four models into two categories: The iPhone 12 and 12 Mini are the standard flagships, while the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are the premium models. With its 5.4-inch display, the Mini is the obvious choice for those who like smaller phones (which are clearly making a comeback) but who want something with more modern styling than the iPhone SE. It’s worth noting that the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 Mini has similar overall dimensions as the 4.7-inch iPhone SE given the 12 Mini’s much slimmer bezels.

The standard iPhone 12 5G and iPhone 12 Pro are the same size with 6.1-inch displays, while the aptly named iPhone 12 Pro max sits at 6.7 inches (the obvious choice for those who don’t buck the trend of bigger smartphones). All of the iPhone 12 models run on the new A14 Bionic chip, but the Pro models boast some upgrades over the standard flagships including increased RAM, bigger storage options, and enhanced camera modules. If you want a more in-depth breakdown, then check out our detailed iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Pro comparison.

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