The “free phone” deal is nothing new in the consumer space, and if you’ve clicked into this article with a bit of skepticism, that’s normal. Such offers are almost always too good to be true, whether promoted by AT&T, T-Mobile, or Best Buy. For the right customer, however, they’re the perfect opportunity to own a new phone for less than retail.
The latest variation of the “free phone” comes via Boost Mobile, which previously sold the iPhone 15 series for a penny, and has now moved on to the more recent iPhone 16 series. With this Cyber Monday deal, you can score the latest iPhone model — the standard 16, specifically — for one cent. So, what’s the deal with this deal? Let me break down the fine print for you.
Also: The best Cyber Monday deals: Live updates
Buying one of the best iPhones on the market for almost no money is a no-brainer for anyone, but digging into the offer details shows that you must meet three other qualifications to reap the benefits:
- You must enroll in a 36-month installment plan under Boost Mobile.
- A Boost Infinite wireless plan is required and starts at $65 per month.
- The iPhone will be locked to the Boost Mobile network and will be unusable by other carriers.
Basically, the one-cent iPhone is Boost Mobile’s way of reeling you into a three-year agreement. The wireless plan that you have to sign up for is how the carrier makes its money back.
Also: Why I’m recommending the standard iPhone 16 over the Pro this year (and I’m not alone)
If you ever opt out of the contract, you’ll have to pay off the rest of the iPhone. Conversely, once you get through the three-year term, you can always resell the iPhone and get some money back.
These qualifications shouldn’t surprise you, especially if you’ve purchased a phone from a carrier before. In fact, if you’re already under a monthly data plan that costs roughly the same (if not more), your existing handset has been paid off, and you’re ready to try a new (and possibly better) mobile service, this deal is not as bad as it seems. Best of all, you don’t have to trade in any qualifying devices.
Before you take the offer, here are the key differences between every iPhone 16 model to help you decide which is best for you:
- iPhone 16: Most standard iPhone 16 experience, with a 6.1-inch display and a slew of bold colorways
- iPhone 16 Plus: A long-lasting iPhone with a big 6.7-inch screen, but has a 60Hz refresh rate panel
- iPhone 16 Pro: Similar feature set as the Pro Max but with a smaller form factor and battery size
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: The largest display and battery on an iPhone, with all the fix-ins, including Camera Control
|
Model |
Battery life |
Typical price |
Camera |
|
iPhone 16 (6.1 inches) |
22 hours of video playback, 80 hours of audio playback |
$800 |
12-megapixel ultrawide camera, 2X optical zoom |
|
iPhone 16 Plus (6.7 inches) |
27 hours of video playback, 100 hours of audio playback |
$900 |
12-megapixel ultrawide camera, 2X optical zoom |
|
iPhone 16 Pro (6.3 inches) |
27 hours of video playback, 85 hours of audio playback |
$1,000 |
48-megapixel ultrawide camera, 5X optical zoom |
|
iPhone 16 Pro Max (6.8 inches) |
33 hours of video playback, 105 hours of audio playback |
$1,200 |
48-megapixel ultrawide camera, 5X optical zoom |
Looking to broaden your scope? Check out our roundup of the best Black Friday phone deals available now.
Deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com.
Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 2, 2024, the first Monday following the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. However, expect retailers to begin early discounts and sales weeks before.
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