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iPhones aren't cheap, but you can save money on even the latest models if you know where to look for discounts. In this article we round up the best iPhone deals, contracts and bundles available in February 2021, to save you the trouble of hunting them down yourself.
We'll help you find a discounted iPhone suitable for any budget, and cover all five of the currently available models, from the mighty 12 Pro Max down to the (relatively) humble SE. We even throw in a few tasty deals on discontinued handsets such as the iPhone 8.
For each phone we offer separate advice for SIM-free and contract deals. Contracts cost less upfront but the total cost of ownership (TCO) will probably end up higher, so think about what's best for your budget.
We'd advise you to move fast if you see a really good deal, as stock is likely to run out quickly.
Best iPhone deals
Best iPhone 12 Pro Max deals
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is phenomenally powerful and well specced - and extremely expensive, if you don't shop around. Read our guide to the best iPhone 12 deals for specific advice dedicated to the late-2020 generation of Apple handsets.
The 12 Pro Max starts at £1,099 / $1,099 / AUD$1,699 (or less if you've got another iPhone to trade in).
SIM-free iPhone 12 Pro Max deals
Apple is an obvious place to buy the 12 Pro Max, but you can find it from a variety of third-party retailers and networks too. At time of writing Amazon has the best price, offering the entry-level model for £1,085.76 - it's not a huge saving, but the other retailers are currently sticking to the RRP.
Our automatically updated widget gathers the best prices from a wide range of retailers in your region:
You can also find the iPhone 12 Pro Max in the following UK shops:
And these stores in the US:
iPhone 12 Pro Max contracts
Most of the major networks now offer the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Here are links to browse the latest deals:
And in the US, try the following providers:
Best iPhone 12 Pro deals
The 12 Pro has a smaller screen and battery than the Pro Max (and a less powerful optical camera zoom), but also costs less. For many readers it will be a better option: read our iPhone 12 Pro review for detailed analysis and testing.
SIM-free 12 Pro deals
Again, try Apple first. The 12 Pro starts at £999 / $999 / AUD$1,699 but trading in an older handset can get that down significantly.
We're not seeing anything below the RRP from other retailers at time of writing, but check the automated widget below for any bargains that have emerged since we last updated this article:
You can find the iPhone 12 Pro in the following UK stores:
Plus Walmart, Best Buy and Target in the US.
iPhone 12 Pro contracts
Our widget below rounds up the latest and best offers for the iPhone 12 Pro:
You can also try the following providers in the UK:
The following retailers offer phones on contract from various networks, and may have different deals:
US readers should try the following:
Best iPhone 12 deals
In our iPhone 12 review - and again in our best iPhone chart - we name this model as the one we'd recommend to most people. It's significantly cheaper than the Pros but still has the latest super-fast processor, great cameras and a big screen - upgraded this year from LCD to OLED (and given a big resolution bump too).
SIM-free iPhone 12 deals
Apple sells the iPhone 12 starting at £799 / US$829 / AUD$1349. You can save a little if you buy elsewhere; at time of writing Amazon has the entry-level mode for £789, just £10 below the RRP.
Check our automated widget for the lowest SIM-free prices from other retailers:
You should also check prices in the following shops:
iPhone 12 contracts
Check out our widget below for the best contract deals available.
If you're feeling thorough, it's also worth checking the following networks:
Best iPhone 12 mini deals
The iPhone 12 mini is the smallest and cheapest of the late-2020 handsets. Yet it matches the larger iPhone 12 in most respects, and features the same super-fast A14 Bionic processor and 5G support as the rest of that generation.
The iPhone 12 mini starts at £699 / US$729 / AUD$1,199 (or less if you trade in another iPhone).
SIM-free iPhone 12 mini deals
Apple is the most obvious retailer to buy the 12 mini from, but you can find it from a variety of third-party retailers and networks too.
As with several of the other 12-series handsets, Amazon has the lowest price at time of writing, offering the entry-level 12 mini for £689. It's only £10 off the RRP, but it's the best you'll find right now.
Just in case a lower price has popped up since we last updated this article, check our automated widget for the very latest deals:
It's also worth trying the following retailers:
iPhone 12 mini contracts
Best iPhone 11 deals
The iPhone 11 is significantly cheaper than the Pro models but still has a very fast processor, great cameras and a big screen. Read our iPhone 11 review for more information.
SIM-free iPhone 11 deals
Apple offers the iPhone 11 from £599 / US$599 / AU$999, although trading in a used handset can earn you serious money off.
At time of writing no UK retailer is daring to undercut Apple's RRP on the iPhone 11, but it's worth keeping an eye on our automated pricing widget in case a tasty deal comes along:
You should also check prices in the following UK shops:
Plus, in the US:
iPhone 11 contracts
Check out our widget below for the best contract deals available.
If you're feeling thorough it's also worth checking the following networks:
Plus Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile in the US.
Best iPhone XR deals
The XR is our current pick for those on a budget. It's got a year-old processor and weaker cameras than on the 11 but if you can deal with those (hardly egregious) compromises you'll find this excellent value for money.
Read our iPhone XR review for more analysis, and Best iPhone XR deals for specific buying advice.
SIM-free iPhone XR deals
Apple is still selling the iPhone XR, starting at £499 / US$499 / AU$849.
As with the iPhone 11, no UK retailers are undercutting Apple's (pretty appealing) price on the XR at time of writing. However, you should keep an eye on our automatic widget for the latest SIM-free offers:
The following retailers are also worth a look if you have time.
iPhone XR contracts
The comparison widget below has the latest contract deals for the XR.
Best iPhone SE (2020) deals
The new iPhone SE burst on to the scene in April 2020, and unites a fast chipset (the same A13 Bionic you get in the iPhone 11 Pro Max) with an affordable price tag. It's a terrific deal at Apple's RRP, but other retailers may be able to do even better.
Read our roundup of the best iPhone SE (2020) deals for more in-depth buying advice.
SIM-free iPhone SE (2020) deals
You can get the iPhone SE direct from Apple, starting at £399 / US$399 / AU$679. That's about as low as we're seeing the SE right now, but check our automatically updated chart for the best SIM-free offers from other retailers:
And it's always worth checking the following big-name retailers' own sites:
iPhone SE (2020) contracts
The comparison widget below has the latest contract deals for the new SE.
The best deals will appear in the widget above, but those who are feeling especially thorough should also check the following carriers and comparison sites:
If you're in the US, check Verizon, Sprint and AT&T.
Best iPhone 8 and 8 Plus deals
The 8 Plus came out in autumn 2017 and was officially discontinued when the iPhone SE (2020) made its debut. But while its A11 processor is less future-proofed than the chips in more recent handsets, it does have a twin-lens rear camera, so you get Portrait Mode.
Read our iPhone 8 Plus review for more details, and Best iPhone 8 deals for advice on buying this generation of handsets.
SIM-free iPhone 8 Plus deals
The 8 Plus is no longer available from Apple, but check the widget below for alternative places to buy:
If the widget is drawing a blank - and stock is starting to run low on these older handsets - it's worth trying the following retailers in the UK:
iPhone 8 Plus contracts
Check our contract comparison widget below to see the latest and best contract offers.
SIM-free iPhone 8 deals
Apple no longer sells the iPhone 8, but you may still find it on sale elsewhere:
Again, don't be downhearted if the widget is empty for this older and increasingly scarce model. You can also try the following UK retailers:
Plus Best Buy in the US.
iPhone 8 contracts
Use our price comparison tool to find the best contract for you:
What to look for in an iPhone deal
Right now there are some very competitive contract offers and bundle deals as retailers try to win your custom.
However, when considering a contract deal it's very important that you work out the total cost of ownership (TCO) over the course of the contract - lower monthly costs may be offset by a longer contract so that you end up spending more in the long run. If using Carphone Warehouse's comparison widget, tick the box to display the TCO, and always check for upfront costs and any additional fees.
If you're not looking for the latest model, you'll be pleased to hear that there are plenty of bargains around for older models such as the iPhone XR and even discontinued models such as the iPhone 8, both on contract and SIM-free.
Where to find iPhone deals
Check the following places and you should find some great deals:
Amazon regularly discounts iPhone models, so it's well worth keeping an eye out there. If you think you'll be doing lots of Amazon shopping, we'd recommend signing up to the 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime for free next-day delivery and access to deals 30 minutes early. You can sign up here.
Student deals
Another great resource to help you save is Macworld's Student Deals page, particularly the Tech & Mobile section. Simply create an account, log in, and verify your student status, and the discounts are yours.
If you're interested in other Apple products, note that the company is offering up to 10% off Macs to students, as well as up to 50% off Apple Care. You can also save 8% on accessories and 5% on iPads (see more iPad deals here).
Assuming you do happen to be in the market for another bit of Apple kit (since the discount applies to Macs, MacBooks and iPads, not iPhones), here's how to get an Apple student discount.
Best iPhone deals overall
Below (and in the carousel at the top of the article) we've gathered our pick of the best overall deals you can get right now on any iPhone model - including those that have been officially discontinued by Apple.
