NOTE: These deals were valid as of Monday Sept. 25,2017, but could change at any time. Check with your carrier for updates.
With the new iPhone 8 now on sale and the much anticipated iPhone X coming soon, many of us would love to trade up, but are worried about the cost.
That's why we found some great ways to get a new iPhone 8 without spending a fortune.
The new phone retails for $699, with many carriers offering it for a $24 a month lease over 30 months (that's two-and-a-half years if math is not your thing), or $29 a month over two years. But you can do better than that if you shop around, or know what to ask.
Demand slow this time
Remember the days of long lines, and a rush on the Apple store when a new iPhone debuted?
That didn't happen this time with the iPhone 8, as true fans decided to wait for the groundbreaking iPhone X in another month or so.
That means just one thing: You can already find good deals on the somewhat unloved new 8.
Sprint
Time Magazine analyzed the dealsand says Sprint fired the first shot with what may be the best deal of all:
A new iPhone 8 is FREE with trade in of an iPhone 7, 7 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S8. Currently, Sprint is the only carrier offering that deal.
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile
Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile will give you a $300 credit if you trade in certain older phones.
However, Time's analysis claims that Verizon's iPhone 8 dealis the weakest of the bunch, as it applies only to newer phone trade-ins, such as a 6S or newer. With older models, you get just $200 credit.
It found T-Mobile's offer is more generous, as you get $300 to trade in an iPhone 6 or anything newer.
AT&T,meantime, has a BOGO buy-one-get-one-free offer, with one catch: You must have DirecTV or AT&T U-verse TV service to qualify.
Deals not as good as last year
But from the doesn't that stink file: None of these deals is as good as last year's iPhone 7 offers.
Last year, most carriers would give you a free 7 with trade in of an iPhone 6 the first month: only Sprint comes close this time.
Want or need a cheap phone right away? Your best bet is buying an older model, like a 6S, 7 or the tiny SE, where stores are slashing prices. All still enjoy full Apple support.
Bottom line: For the best deal, buy an older model iPhone, as long as it runs iOS 11, the most recent operating system (which means you should avoid buying an iPhone 5, no matter how cheap).
If you want the closest thing to a free" phone (realizing that nothing is truly free when it comes to iPhones), then consider Sprint.
That way you don't waste your money.
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