Skip to main content

Best Cyber Monday iPhone deals 2021 — what’s still available

Another Cyber Monday is in the books, but some sweet deals are still available. With supply shortages and supply chain backlogs threatening to extend shipping times this holiday season, it’s a good idea to get your iOS device shopping done now by taking advantage of the biggest Cyber Monday iPhone deals.

If you don’t want to spend hours sorting through online stores and carriers to find the best Cyber Monday iPhone deals, though — time is money, after all — then look no further. We’ve already taken care of the hard part to bring you this hand-picked list of the best Cyber Monday deals available right now on iPhones and iPhone accessories.

Today’s best Cyber Monday iPhone deals

  • Verizon iPhone Deals — Up to $1,000 back with trade-in, plus $1,000 when you switch carriers
  • AT&T iPhone Deals — Up to $1,000 back with trade-in
  • T-Mobile iPhone Deals — Up to $1,000 back with trade-in
  • Apple iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 (Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint/T-Mobile) — Up to $700 off with trade-in from Apple
  • Apple iPhone SE 2020 (Verizon) — Free with new unlimited line, was $400
  • Apple Store Refurbished iPhones (Various Models) — Up to $410 off

Best Cyber Monday iPhone deals — unlocked

  • Apple iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini — Up to $700 off with trade-in from Apple
  • Apple iPhone 11 — Up to $700 off with trade-in from Apple
  • Apple Store Refurbished iPhones (Various Models) — Up to $410 off

Apple iPhone 13 and 13 Mini — up to $700 off with trade-in from Apple

iPhone 13 lying on table among other Apple products.
Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Apple just dropped the iPhone 13 at its September event, following its normal annual release cycle. It’s the best iPhone to buy if you want the latest and greatest, even if there aren’t huge differences between the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12. Just like last year’s iPhone 12 stable, the iPhone 13 comes in four flavors: The standard 6.1-inch iPhone 13, the compact 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini, the upgraded 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro, and the premium 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max. For our money, the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini are the easiest to recommend to the vast majority of people. Most of the best Cyber Monday iPhone deals are for carrier-locked models, but you can get $100 to $700 off of an unlocked unit from Apple if you trade-in — no contracts or data plans required.

Apple iPhone 11 — up to $700 off with trade-in from Apple

A person holding an iPhone 11.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The oldest iPhones we recommend that are still good performers are the 2019 models. The 2019 iPhone lineup included the 6.1-inch iPhone 11, 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro, and 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max, which all featured similar internal hardware built on the A13 Bionic chipset. However, following the introduction of the iPhone 12 range, Apple discontinued the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max while keeping the iPhone 11 as a cheaper flagship alternative. You’ll still be able to find the previous Pro generation, though, and discontinued iPhones are a great way to score a great phone at a lower price. In fact, you can potentially get one for free from Apple if you have a device to trade in.

Best Cyber Monday iPhone deals — contract

  • Apple iPhone SE 2020 (Verizon) — Free with new unlimited line, was $400
  • Apple iPhone 12 (Verizon) — Buy one, get one free up to $700 with unlimited plan, plus $1,000 when you switch carriers
  • Apple iPhone XR (Straight Talk Prepaid) — $249, was $349

Apple iPhone SE 2020 (Verizon) — free with new unlimited line, was $400

The iPhone SE displayed on some lumber.
Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

In the spring of 2020, Apple added the 2nd-generation 4.7-inch iPhone SE to the 13th-generation iPhone stable. It features the same A13 Bionic chip as the iPhone 11 — but inside an iPhone 8 body — and represents a very affordable alternative to the flagship models. It currently stands as the cheapest new iPhone you can buy, so if you like smaller phones, it’s a good pick and a cheaper alternative to the iPhone 12 Mini and 13 Mini. It’s already the cheapest new iPhone you can buy with a $400 retail price, but as part of Verizon’s deals, you can sign up for an unlimited plan and get the iPhone SE for free.

Apple iPhone 12 — $700 back with unlimited plan, plus $800 when you switch carriers

A person's hand holding up the iPhone 12 in blue.

In 2020, Apple again rolled out four devices for the 14th iPhone generation. These include the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and 5.4-inch iPhone 12 Mini, which stand as the more affordable flagships, alongside the more premium iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max models. These all run on the A14 Bionic chipset and feature a return to the classic squared-off design that we haven’t seen since the days of the iPhone 4, along with some other upgrades such as enhanced camera modules. Verizon is giving you $600 back when you buy an iPhone 12 on an unlimited plan — no trade-in required — along with a $1,000 gift card for switching carriers. If you want to go smaller, then you can get the iPhone 12 Mini for free with an unlimited plan — since it retails for $600, the rebate covers the whole cost — but you won’t be eligible for the gift card.

Apple iPhone XR (Straight Talk Prepaid) — $249, was $349

A person's hand holding up the iPhone XR with home screen on.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There aren’t a ton of the 2018 iPhone XS-series handsets floating around anymore, having been discontinued by Apple, but you can still find the budget-friendly iPhone XR on offer from various prepaid carriers if you want something even cheaper than the 2020 iPhone SE — and thankfully without those big “jaw and chin” bezels that the iPhone SE still has that harken back to the iPhone 8. The iPhone XR looks nicely modern with its 6.1-inch display, but it’s even more attractive with this $299 price tag, and with Straight Talk Wireless prepaid, you’re not getting roped into a plan that makes you pay for what you don’t need. If you’re wondering how it stacks up to other cheap iPhones, check out our iPhone SE 2020 and iPhone XR hands-on comparison.

Best Cyber Monday iPhone deals — accessories

  • Apple MagSafe Charger — $30, was $39
  • Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) — $115, was $159
  • Apple iPhone Cases (Various Models) — Up to 50% off at Verizon

Apple MagSafe Charger — $30, was $39

Person putting an iPhone on a MagSafe Pro Charge.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

With the iPhone 12 series, Apple introduced the MagSafe feature, a built-in magnetic attachment in the back of the phone. This allows the phone to “snap” onto wireless charging pads and other accessories for secure wireless charging. This is the official Apple MagSafe charging pad, and it works with all wireless charging-compatible iPhones (even those without the MagSafe feature) from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 13, as well as AirPods. Cyber Monday iPhone deals and sales knock it down to a great price if you’re tired of messing with cables and want to upgrade to a proper wireless charging pad.

Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) — $115, was $159

Apple AirPods second generation displayed outside of their charger.

AirPods aren’t exactly iPhone-specific accessories, but let’s face it: If you have an iPhone, you need a good pair of buds to match. The AirPods are simple and straightforward, and they’re still our favorite budget true wireless earbuds for iOS users. More good news is that they’re much cheaper than they were when they first dropped, and alongside these Cyber Monday iPhone deals, you can score a pair of second-gen Apple AirPods for just $109 — one of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen for these great in-ear headphones.

Apple iPhone Cases (Various Models) — Up to 50% off at Verizon

A gray Otterbox case shown on the back of an iPhone.

Apple iPhones are well-built, but you still want to keep your new phone looking shiny with a good case. Hunting down the right one can quickly become a time-consuming chore, though, since there are literally thousands of these things for sale on the internet. Ahead of Cyber Monday, Verizon has more than a hundred iPhone cases on sale for up to $50 off. These discounted cases are available for a bunch of different iPhone models and come in myriad different styles, so you’re sure to find something to pair with that new iPhone you have coming.

Nishka Dhawan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nishka Dhawan is a freelance blogger and writer. She loves writing about tech, entertainment, and style. Her biggest…
Have an old iPhone? GameStop will give you great cash for it
GameStop mobile trade in program with phones and more

This content was produced in partnership with GameStop.
Apple’s iPhone lineup has some of the highest resale value amongst mobile devices, and that’s especially true right now at GameStop. GameStop offers some of the highest trade-ins for a number of iPhone models, with their offers in many cases besting the likes of Apple, Best Buy and even Gazelle. Whether you’re looking to upgrade to a newer iPhone model or just add some extra cash to your pocket, you don’t want to make a trade-in until you’ve dropped by GameStop for an offer.

 
Why you should trade-in your old iPhone at GameStop
Now is as good a time as any to trade in an old iPhone. With everything announced at Google I/O and the iPhone 15 launch event likely slated for Apple's usual September date, we know where old devices stand amongst both definitive and potential forthcoming devices. When you combine this timing with GameStop’s offers for old iPhone trade-ins, right now is a good opportunity to sell high. If you have an Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, you can get as much as $900 at GameStop for a 1TB model, and the Apple iPhone 13 can bring you up to $578 if you have a well-treated 512GB model.

Read more
Shopping for an iPad 10.2? You need to know about this deal
The iPad 10.2 on a table.

With the 2022 Apple iPad in the market, you're correct in thinking that you can get the 2021 Apple iPad with a 10.2-inch screen for cheaper than usual. For example, Amazon has slashed the price of the tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model to a very affordable $270, for $59 in savings from its original price of $329. Among all the tablet deals online, this offer is among the ones that provide the best value for your money, but you'll need to act fast and complete your purchase as soon as possible because we're not sure when it will expire.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad 10.2
The 10th-generation Apple iPad is already available, but the 9th-generation Apple iPad has certain advantages on top of its lower price. In our 2022 Apple iPad versus 2021 Apple iPad comparison, you may want to go for the 9th-generation Apple iPad if the thicker bezels appeal to you for browsing, and if you've invested in multiple Lightning cables as the 10th-generation iPad uses a USB-C port for charging. Both tablets may be upgraded to iPadOS 16, so you won't be missing out on the newest version of Apple's operating system for its tablets.

Read more
Will iPhones be cheaper on Prime Day 2023? Our prediction
A black iPhone 14 Pro lying on a table.

Prime Day 2023 is just around the corner with Amazon recently announcing that the two-day sales event will run from July 11 and through July 12. That means if you've been waiting to spend money on some of the best Apple deals around, you may be wondering whether Prime Day is the right time to buy. For now, we don't have concrete information on iPhone deals but we can get a rough idea of what to expect based on previous Prime Day sales. While there's rarely any shortage of Apple deals as part of the event, buying an iPhone cheaply is a less simple proposition. Want to know what to do? Let's take a look at your options.

We'll get straight to the point -- Prime Day iPhone deals are very rarely on brand-new iPhones at Amazon. It simply doesn't happen, however, Amazon does sometimes offer discounts on refurbished models so if those are the kind of iPhone deals you're happy with, it could be worth waiting. In particular, we could see some refurbished iPhone deals over at Amazon-owned retailer, Woot, where that kind of stock tends to reside.

Read more