How to get the free iPhone 17 Pro from T‑Mobile: Preorder details

T‑Mobile has a headline offer: an iPhone 17 Pro from $0 when you preorder, trade in an eligible device and activate or move a line on a qualifying premium plan. It seems almost too good to be true, so here are all the details about how the promotion works now, what you’ll end up paying, and who we think should take advantage of it.

How the “free” iPhone 17 Pro scam actually operates

The carrier will apply bill credits to the full price of the iPhone 17 Pro — up to approximately $1,100 — over 24 monthly credits. You buy the phone on T‑Mobile’s Equipment Installment Plan, and the money’s credited toward those payments until you’ve paid down to a net of $0. Cancel early, device balance payable 4month-plan left and lose eligibility.

You’re paying $0 after credits, not $0 at checkout, for the most part, practically. You will be taxed on the full retail price of the phone up front (this varies by region) as well as a $35 activation or support fee. That’s standard for all carriers, and not a fee that’s waived by the promo.

Plans and who qualifies

The highest discount from T‑Mobile needs you to activate on a premium unlimited plan—rebranded for this promotion as ‘Experience Beyond.’ New customers can switch, or existing customers can add a line or upgrade a line to that plan. When you move away from the qualifying plan, bill credits end.

There is also a second switcher offer on plans such as Experience More or Go5G Plus that will get you a base iPhone 17 for free or save you the value of a base iPhone 17 trade-in—$830 toward any iPhone 17 model—while forgoing a trade in. It’s not “free,” but it does lower the barrier to those who don’t have a good device to trade in.

Trade‑in rules and the phones that usually qualify

You’ll need a high‑tier trade‑in in good working condition to get the full “free” value. T‑Mobile publishes an approved list, and that once again covers high-end smartphones from Apple, Samsung, Google (read: last‑generation Pro or Ultra phones). Devices need to turn on, can’t have cracked screens or heavy damage, and can’t be activation locked, such as Find My iPhone.

Sub‑tier trade‑ins still receive credits, but not as many as above‑tier. If your trade‑in is not at the top tier, you would be in line for a reduced price iPhone 17 Pro, not a free one. T‑Mobile typically makes you to mail in your device within a certain window post activation; anything beyond and credit can be clawed back.

What you’ll pay at checkout

Factor in: applicable state and local taxes on the full MSRP of the iPhone 17 Pro at the time of purchase, a $35 activation fee and your first monthly device installment (which is then credited back to you). Credits can begin after just one or two bill cycles, so your firstfew statements might be higher before the adjustments come through. You may also be charged a restocking fee if you return the phone.

Preorder tips to minimize stress

Select your iPhone 17 Pro model — T‑Mobile’s deal matches the 256GB base, but capacity aside from that needs to be paid for. Start your trade‑in during checkout to lock in the best price on your old iPhone and the option to pay over time.1 If your old phone isn’t eligible for credit, we’ll recycle it for free. Get a refund back to your original payment method, at the time the new purchase is completed — even if your original device was financed.2 Lock in the best price. Add a trade‑in to make your new iPhone even more affordable. back up your old phone. Disable activation lock. And transfer your contacts, photos, and videos to your new iPhone for a smooth start. And if you buy in person, you could exchange your old phone for credit when your eSIM phone is activated. And remember, as long as you keep your line active on the qualifying plan, you’ll see these credits hit your account as expected.

What you’re getting with iPhone 17 Pro

Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro, which features a 6.3‑inch Super Retina XDR display with Dolby Vision, A19 Pro chip for faster performance and better power efficiency, and a 48MP triple‑camera system featuring the ability to take sharper low‑light and long‑range images.

Apple’s emergency features — such as crash detection, satellite messaging where it’s supported, and Emergency SOS — are still a solid safety net.

How this compares with other carriers

AT&T and Verizon usually have more or less the same “up to $1,000 off” deals, though a lot of them will stretch out credits over the course of three years instead of two. T‑Mobile’s 24‑month duration: You’re locked in for a shorter term, which could matter if you upgrade a lot. Independent testing from companies like Opensignal and Ookla has time and again placed T‑Mobile in the lead for 5G availability and median download speeds, which might be an important consideration if you’re switching for performance as well as pricing.

Is the T‑Mobile deal a good value?

If you already desire T‑Mobile’s highest premium unlimited plan and you have a recent flagship to trade in, it’s one of the cheapest ways to get Apple’s latest Pro model. If you would be hopping to a more expensive plan just to qualify, crunch the numbers: Near $1,100 in bill credits can cover a monthly plan delta of $20 and even $30 per line over the two‑year term, as long as you plan to make use of the plan’s extra goodies like hotspot, roaming and the bundled plans.

Some last guardrails: keep AutoPay and paperless billing on in order to keep plan pricing as promoted; don’t change or cancel the line before all credits are received; make your trade‑in on time; and save your submission receipts.

Consumer advocacy groups and regulators like the F.C.C. and state attorneys general advise to jot down all promotional terms in case you need to make adjustments later.

Bottom line

T‑Mobile’s pre‑order effectively means the iPhone 17 Pro is free to those who meet the plan and trade‑in requirements, with the only out‑of‑pocket costs for most being just taxes and standard fees. For customers who don’t mind a smaller commitment window and who could benefit from strong 5G coverage, it’s one of the best upgrade paths that remains open.