Best Black Friday iPhone Deals 2021: What to Buy Today

Black Friday iPhone deals are here to save you some cash. If you’re thinking about getting a new iOS mobile device, with supply shortages and supply chain backlogs threatening to extend shipping times this holiday season, it’s a good idea to get your shopping done as soon as possible by taking advantage of the early Black Friday phone deals.

If you don’t want to spend hours sorting through online stores and carriers to find the best Black Friday 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 Black Friday deals available right now on iPhones and iPhone accessories.

Today’s Best Black Friday iPhone deals

Best Black Friday iPhone deals — Unlocked

Apple iPhone 13 and 13 Mini — Up to $790 off with trade-in from Apple

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 Black Friday iPhone deals are for carrier-locked models, but you can get $110 to $790 off of an unlocked unit from Apple if you trade-in — no contracts or data plans required.

Apple iPhone 11 — Up to $499 off with trade-in from Apple

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 Black Friday iPhone deals — Contract

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

In the spring of 2020, Apple added the second-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 early Black Friday iPhone deals, you can sign up for an unlimited plan and get the iPhone SE for free.

Apple iPhone 12 — $600 back with unlimited plan, plus $1,000 when you switch carriers

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) — $299, was $349

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 vs. iPhone XR hands-on comparison.

Best Black Friday iPhone deals — Accessories

Apple MagSafe Charger — $34, was $39

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. Black Friday iPhone deals and sales knock it down to $34, 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) — $119, was $159

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 Black Friday iPhone deals, you can score a pair of second-gen Apple AirPods for just $119 — 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

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 (there are literally thousands of these things for sale on the internet), but ahead of Black Friday, 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 a myriad of different styles, so you’re sure to find something to pair with that new iPhone you have coming.

Should you shop Black Friday iPhone deals now?

Even under normal shopping circumstances, savvy bargain-hunters know that great discounts on Apple products can be hard to find and Black Friday iPhone deals are certainly no exception. This year, however, manufacturers, retailers, and shipping partners are all on a crunch thanks to persistent supply chain issues that are not likely to abate until 2022 at the earliest. Compound these problems with the ongoing computer chip shortage and you can see why shopping early is a good idea.

More than half of people in the U.S. use an iPhone, too, so these Apple-branded mobile devices are in huge demand. All this means that the best Black Friday iPhone deals are going to sell out fast. If you see a worthy discount on a model you want, don’t drag your feet. If you’re worried about a better deal coming along later, though, then many retailers (such as Best Buy, to name just one) are offering Black Friday price match guarantees and will refund you the difference if an iPhone you bought becomes cheaper later. Keep your eyes peeled for these guarantees; if your item is covered by it, then you should be able to buy without worry.