AT&T is touting one of the most aggressive upgrade deals of the season: trade in an eligible phone, get enough bill credits to cover an iPhone 17 for free. For a lot of shoppers that effectively makes Apple’s flagship free assuming, however, you are OK with an installment plan and a few typical carrier caveats.
How the “free iPhone 17” works
The headline number is as much as $1,100 in credits issued over a typical 36‑month installment term (billed monthly). If you scoop up an iPhone 17 Pro with a start price in that vicinity, the ongoing credits zero out your device payments. If you buy the phone outright, taxes and fees are due at purchase and a one‑time activation fee applies per line.
Credits start within three bill cycles, and then continue as long as the line remains active on an eligible plan. Cancel early and you owe the balance of the device. This is not something exclusive to AT&T—most U.S. carrier channels are settling into a comfort-zone bill credit vehicle for someone on an installment plan as carriers seek a way to lock-in value while reducing churn.
New and returning customers alike should be eligible (though you will have to purchase the phone on an installment agreement and commit to a qualifying unlimited plan). The plan requirements are just as important to the math; A cheaper device isn’t going to offset a more expensive data plan for every household, so it’s wise to compare your current bill with the necessary rates.
What gets top credit as a trade-in
AT&T’s upper-level credit is for more recent iPhones, with models from the iPhone 13 series through the iPhone 16 lineup generally being accepted in any condition. The phrase is consumer-friendly but it’s not like literally anything goes: carriers do stipulate that devices aren’t reported lost or stolen and have activation locks removed before the trade-in.
Android device owners aren’t excluded, however. Samsung, Google and OnePlus phones may also be taken in if their appraised trade-in value reaches AT&T’s cutoff, which is commonly reported as around $180 or higher for larger credits. The actual credit you get depends on the device that you’re giving up, its appraised value and which new iPhone model you choose.
This Is The Best Option for an Upgrade?
For customers who remain with AT&T for the full installment term, the economics are strong. According to one deal, on a $1,099 iPhone 17 Pro monthly credits of about $30 add up to nothing over 36 months — before taxes and fees. The math gets trickier if you upgrade every year or two, though, due to credits ending when you pay off early or switch carriers.
Rivals have similarly eye-catching promotions. Verizon and T-Mobile frequently push high trade-in values for new iPhones, but the fine print is different — some offers are limited to switchers, cap credits for lower tier ones or requires premium versions of plans. The best pick for you will largely depend on your plan price, the amount of coverage you need at a server and how long you’ll keep the line active.
Why carriers are so generous with iPhones
Analysts at firms like MoffettNathanson and LightShed Partners often note that long installment terms reduce churn and increase lifetime revenue per line, which helps justify rich iPhone promos. Apple is the leader of premium smartphone sales for wireless carriers in the U.S., according to Counterpoint Research, and carriers are eager to sign up these high spending customers.
Trade-ins also supply a vibrant secondary market. Industry organizations like CTIA have argued that demand for refurbished devices is strong, offsetting the cost of upfront credits. There’s also an environmental angle: groups like the GSMA point out that trading ins extend device life cycles and generate less e-waste than all those old unused phones sitting in drawers.
Common sense steps before you lend your phone out
Back up your data, sign out of your Apple ID or Google account, and turn off Find My before you send it away. Photograph the device from every angle and note any wear; that documentation will come in handy if the mailed appraisal varies from the in‑store estimate.
Hang onto your receipt and monitor your first few bills to make sure that the credit schedule kicks in when it’s supposed to.
If you find yourself torn between mail‑in and in‑store trade-in, in‑store can take the uncertainty out of it by immediately appraising your device on the spot. But keep AppleCare or carrier insurance in mind, only if the deductible and monthly amount are a better fit for your risk tolerance. And if you’re planning to switch carriers in the near future, a big upfront discount on an unlocked phone may be easier to take advantage of than long-term credits.
Bottom line
AT&T’s trade-in offer can actually zero out the iPhone 17 cost after bill credits, particularly if you’re trading in a recent enough iPhone and don’t plan to cancel your line for the full term.
Add in taxes, activation fees and plan requirements, and it can be hard to part with money. For the right profile of customer, this is one of the best upgrade values under the sun.
