AT&T is offering up to $1,200 off Apple's $1,999 iPhone Duo with an eligible trade-in, days before preorders for the first foldable iPhone open on Friday.
Key Points:
- AT&T's discount of up to $1,200 arrives as 36 monthly bill credits and requires a plan starting at $100 a month.
- Customers who switch carriers can get up to $800 toward an old phone balance, and new online lines earn $200 more.
- T-Mobile has not announced Duo deals, though a reported $1,000 listing trails AT&T's offer.
AT&T iPhone Duo Deal
AT&T announced the promotion on Oct. 9, opening it to both new and existing customers a week before preorders start and two weeks before the phone reaches stores on Oct. 23. The discount comes as 36 monthly bill credits, not a lower price at checkout.
To get the full amount, buyers must trade in a phone worth at least $230, finance at least $1,999.99 on an installment plan and activate the Premium 2.0 plan, which starts at $100 a month. Customers who switch carriers can also claim up to $800 on a reward card to pay off the balance they still owe on their current phone. New lines ordered online earn another $200.
On paper, the credits cut the monthly device payment from $55.56 to $22.23. Buyers still owe sales tax on the full retail price upfront, plus a $35 activation fee, and canceling service before the three years end stops the credits and makes the remaining balance due.
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T-Mobile, Apple Offers
Rival offers look thinner so far. Apple's own trade-in program pays between $35 and $885 toward the Duo, while Xfinity Mobile lists up to $1,000 off with a trade-in and Verizon is waiving activation fees for some loyalty customers. T-Mobile has not formally announced Duo deals, but a listing on Apple's carrier checkout reportedly shows $1,000 in trade-in credit on its Experience Beyond 2.0 plan, or $27.75 a month over 36 months.
That credit would cover only about half of the phone's price and tie buyers to T-Mobile until late 2029, according to one analysis, which also noted the figures could change before Friday. Jenifer Robertson, who leads AT&T's consumer business, said the carrier wants to make it simple for people to connect on any device, including the Duo.
Apple iPhone Duo Launch
Apple's preorders open at 5 a.m. PT on Oct. 16 in more than 70 countries and regions.
Apple unveiled the Duo on Sept. 9 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, pairing a 7.6-inch inner display with a 5.4-inch outer screen, both driven by the A20 Pro chip. At $1,999, it costs more than Samsung's $1,899 Galaxy Z Fold 8. When iPhone 18 Pro preorders opened in September, AT&T offered the same $1,200 maximum credit and accepted any iPhone 14 or newer, except the 16e, in any condition.
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