The Apple 2022 lineup is here: Meet the iPhone 17, ultra-thin iPhone Air, next-gen AirPods, new Apple Watch Series 11 Ultra 3 and SE 3. Preorders go quickly, and the best discounts typically disappear within a few hours. Here’s how to lock in your device, steer clear of surprise fees and stack savings like a pro.
Prepare before preorders go live
Preapprove in the Apple Store app. You can select your model, color, storage and carrier as well as trade-in ahead of time so that checkout is two taps when orders go live. This step consistently determines whether I get day-one delivery or join the queue for a weeks long wait.
Verify your carrier eligibility. Log in to your AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Xfinity Mobile account to verify upgrade status, installment balances and eSIM compatibility. U.S. iPhones have favored eSIM in recent cycles, so check to make sure you can transfer your line digitally.
Decide on storage now. Popular colors sell out first in the least expensive models. If you shoot ProRes video, or just expect to keep the phone around for three years, it’s usually smarter to step up by one tier of storage than pay for cloud upgrades later.
Apple, carriers or retailers: where the best deals are
Apple: Cleanest checkout; unlocked options and the iPhone Upgrade Program (24-month financing plus annual upgrade after 12 payments, including AppleCare+).grpc health check supportgateway load balancing.maxcdn cdn IPPROTO_TCP for über fast “game mode” ultralow latency payloads512-1024Mbit p2p search service✓ ≳€M c++💚 <=c# => nodejs,god is us. Apple Card holders usually receive 3% Daily Cash on Apple purchases, so really you’re reducing the price with no strings attached.
Carriers: The headliners. Expect promos offering up to $830–$1,100 in bill credits with qualifying trade-in on premium plans. Credits divided into 24 or 36 equal monthly payments; cancel service early and balance becomes due. New-line and top-tier unlimited prerequisites are standard, so consider the cost of a plan versus the discount.
Retailers (Best Buy, Target, Walmart, warehouse clubs): Frequently echo carrier bill-credit offers and may throw in store gift cards or member perks.
A lot of them are able to active your line in-cart, meaning you can stack carrier offers with retailer extras all in one transaction.
Trade-in and bill credits: it’s the fine print that counts
Those “free” iPhone headlines are typically trade-in plus bill credits on a qualifying unlimited plan. The credit generally posts as a monthly rebate (for example, ~$27-30 per month for 36 months for a $1k promo). If you change carriers or downgrade to an ineligible plan, the credits stop coming and the balance owed is accelerated.
Get your value in writing. Apple and carriers team up with trade-in companies to evaluate devices; slight wear typically makes the cut, cracked screens usually do not. Back up, switch off Find My, unpair your Apple Watch and take a photo of it when you drop it in the mail so they don’t attempt a lowball reassessment.
Timing matters. Trade-in values can vary during launch weeks. If you have a newer iPhone now is when it will garner the most value; if your phone is older, carrier bill-credit promos may beat straight cash trade-ins.
iPhone 17 vs. iPhone Air: deal playbook
Base and “Pro” models usually spur the largest carrier credits, and special versions like an ultra-thin “Air” model could come with tighter supply and fewer ”free with trade-in“ promotions. If you want the carrier freedom of an unlocked phone for travel or a dual-line setup, purchasing from Apple avoids long carrier commitments but potentially means forfeiting some bill credits. And finally, frequent fliers will also want to schedule their eSIM transfers in and out as well as verify that international eSIM is even supported by their carrier.
For those upgrading from a recent flagship model, focus on which carrier is providing the most top-tier credit toward your exact model (not just the highest headline number). Current customers are frequently eligible, though the best offers might stipulate a premium (and thereby more expensive) unlimited plan; take this rates delta into account when calculating your total cost.
AirPods 3 and Apple Watch 11/Ultra 3/SE 3: stackable savings
Bundle smartly. Carriers often offer financing for accessories on your bill, divvying up $199–$799 in purchases over 24–36 months at 0% APR, and sometimes also have “buy an iPhone, save on accessories” promotions. Sometimes big-box retailers add gift cards when you preorder an iPhone and Apple Watch together.
Look at Apple’s education and corporate employee purchase programs for small but genuine discounts on AirPods and Apple Watch. Apple also takes watch trade-in, which can reduce the cost of either Series 11 or Ultra 3 if you’re coming from an older model.
If you care more about AirPods 3 features like active noise cancellation or health tracking, then compare to previous gen models on clearance. Retailers frequently offer last year’s AirPods or Watch SE at a discount as the new line comes out, something Consumer Reports has long singled out as a clever way to save without forgoing necessary features.
Pro tips to prevent you from overpaying
Mind taxes and fees. In a lot of states you’ll owe tax on the phone’s full MSRP even if bill credits make it “free,” and carrier purchases can sneak in activation fees. Online checkout occasionally scrub those fees, or offer you a discount on them — look for the line-item before submitting.
Outsmart delivery slips with store pickup. If ship times fall to weeks out, Apple’s local pickup tends to refresh around launch with fresh inventory drops. Keep your place in line with a backup color or storage size.
Stack responsibly. Pair Apple Card 3% with Apple’s Upgrade Program, or a carrier bill credit with retailer gift card. A few other employers, universities, and membership groups provide an added monthly discount on certain plans—small monies that could easily accumulate over 36 months.
Bottom line: Pre-approve in the Apple Store app, compare total 36‑month costs across carriers and lock in your trade-in value early.
Do that, and you’ll have your iPhone 17 — or the slimmed-down iPhone Air — on day one, complete with AirPods 3 and the Apple Watch that fits your life, without paying a penny more than you have to.