T-Mobile will give you an iPhone 17 basically for free - here's how to get yours

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Close Home Home & Office Networking Mobile Carriers T-Mobile will give you an iPhone 17 basically for free - here's how to get yours Here's how to pick an iPhone 17 series phone for free at T-Mobile.

Written by Kayla Solino, EditorEditor April 21, 2026 at 3:01 a.m. PT

Get the iPhone 17 series for free spring savings 5/5 Editor's deal rating View at T-Mobile

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Spring is in full bloom, and some major mobile carriers have their own springtime savings rolling, especially T-Mobile, which is offering perhaps some of the best "picks" of the season.

Also: T-Mobile will give you a Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 for free - how to get yours

Right now, you can get any model of the Apple iPhone 17 for free when signing up for an Experience More plan and, in some cases, trading in an eligible device -- including the brand-new, budget-friendly iPhone 17e with no trade-in required.

spring savings Get the iPhone 17 series for free View at T-Mobile

It's been a busy few months for Apple, with the recent release of the MacBook Neo, new iPads, and more, and we're starting to see some sweet savings on their flagship phone lineup. Remember, Apple typically launches new phones every September, so the iPhone 17 lineup is heading into its last six months as the latest and greatest.

Also: How to qualify for Apple's education discount - and get a $499 MacBook Neo for school

T-Mobile is celebrating early with a fresh pick of new deals on several iPhones. You can sign up for nearly any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e with no trade-in required. Or, you can grab the iPhone 17 Pro for up to $830 off when you trade-in your eligible phone on an Experience More plan.

Need a family deal? When you trade in four eligible devices and add four qualifying lines on the Essentials promo plan, you can grab four iPhone 17s for under $100 each plus 4 lines for just $25 per line per month.

As with all "freebie" offers from mobile carriers, there are still fees involved. As expected, T-Mobile charges eligible taxes on these free deals and a $35 device activation fee. If you cancel entire account before receiving 24 credits, credits stop and balance on required finance agreement is due. Bill credits also end if you pay your device off early.

Also: T-Mobile is practically giving away the Apple Watch Series 11 - here's how to get one

The newest iPhone 17e uses the A19 chip, which should offer improved performance. Apple's latest budget iPhone hit stores and carriers earlier this month. The "entry-level" iPhone 17 boasts some strong features, including the same A19 processor as the regular iPhone 17, a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, MagSafe charging, and Apple Intelligence.

Also: I compared the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max: Here's which one to buy

Despite some strings attached, there are still not many other ways to pay less for new iPhones, so these T-Mobile offers are something to consider if you're interested in upgrading.

How I rated this deal

For variety and flexibility, I give these T-Mobile iPhone offers a 5/5 Editor's deal rating. There are still a few things to be aware of, like contract locks, taxes, and activation fees, but generally, these deals are a great way to get a newer phone without the upfront expense of purchasing outright.

When will this deal expire?

These T-Mobile offers are here at the time of publish, and we're not sure when they'll be sunsetting. Like most carrier offers, they'll likely stick around for several weeks (or even months), but these types of offers are first-come, first serve, and if stock dwindles on an iPhone you'd miss out.

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.

How do we rate deals at ZDNET?

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In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.

At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.

Also: How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2026