Do iPhones Go on Sale After Christmas?

December 26 is when a lot of people find out the box under the tree held the wrong phone, or no phone at all. Some have a gift card or holiday cash in hand, and the question is whether waiting a few weeks will make an iPhone cheaper.

iPhones do go on sale after Christmas, but not from Apple. Apple hasn't had a regular post-Christmas iPhone sale: its holiday event runs around Black Friday, and its own prices change in September when new models launch. The drops after December 25 come from carriers, retailers and the pre-owned market, mostly on older models, and the biggest carrier offers depend on a trade-in, a new line or a pricier plan.

The Short Answer: Yes, But Not From Apple

Yes, you can find a lower price on an iPhone after Christmas, as long as you know who is doing the discounting. Macworld's buying guide, updated Oct 22, 2026, puts it simply: "Apple rarely discounts its newest iPhones directly." Apple's own shopping event lands on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving (Nov 27 this year), and it has usually come as a gift card rather than a lower price.

Here is how the after-Christmas picture splits by seller:

• Apple: Apple hasn't usually changed its list prices between Christmas Eve and the days after. The newest models are the least likely to move at all.
• Carriers: The big numbers live here, as bill credits tied to a trade-in, a new line or a premium plan.
• Retailers: Stores clear older models in January, and some of those prices get low.
• Pre-owned: Prices on older iPhones tend to ease from January into March as holiday stock clears.

So the real question is less "will iPhones go on sale" and more "which iPhone, from whom, and with what attached."

Why Apple Doesn't Run an After-Christmas Sale

Apple's price calendar turns on September, not January. That's when it launches new models and reshuffles the older ones. This year, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale Sept 18, 2026, per Apple's newsroom.

This fall's reset went the other way from a sale. MacRumors and Macworld reported that Apple now lists the iPhone 16 at $799 and the iPhone 17 at $899, with the iPhone 17e at $699 and the iPhone Air at $1,099, and that each of those is $100 higher than before the launch. Apple's own launch release doesn't state those prices, so treat them as reported and view the current Apple iPhone prices on Apple's store.

If Apple raised older models in September, a January cut from Apple is even less likely than usual. That's why the after-Christmas deals you'll see come from everyone else.

Where the After-Christmas Drops Actually Come From

The discounts after December 25 come from three places: carriers, retailers and the pre-owned market. Each one gives you something different, and each comes with its own catch.

Carriers. This fall, carrier and store pages are advertising offers of up to $1,000 or more on new iPhones. Nearly all of that arrives as bill credits, and the biggest amounts usually need a trade-in, a new line or a premium plan. The credits come monthly over 24 to 36 months, and they stop if you pay the phone off early, upgrade or leave. Review the offer's own terms before you count on the full amount.

Retailers. Stores mark down older models to clear stock after the holidays. For a sense of scale, Tom's Guide reported on Dec 28, 2024, an iPhone SE (2022) at $149 at Walmart and an iPhone 13 at $100 at Metro by T-Mobile. Those were two-year-old prices on older phones, so use them as a guide to the kind of deal that shows up, not as this year's price.

Pre-owned. Sellers of pre-owned phones say holiday leftovers are usually reduced in the New Year, with price drops running all the way into March. Nobody puts a figure on how big that drop is.

There's no published price-tracking study that compares Black Friday, Cyber Monday and post-Christmas iPhone prices head to head. Last year's examples are the best guide you have. ZDNet's holiday roundup from Dec 4, 2025, said "you might not see many bargain Apple products over the holiday season," but that a 5% to 20% discount can still add up.

A "Free" iPhone Isn't Free: How Bill Credits Work

A carrier's "free iPhone" is a phone you pay for in full, with the carrier paying you back a little each month. Think of it as a gift card you can only spend a small piece of each month, and that stops working the day you leave.

Here is a worked example with round numbers (not a real offer):

• The phone: $800, paid in monthly installments over 36 months.
• The credit: $800 in bill credits, also spread over 36 months. That's about $22 a month knocked off your bill.
• If you stay all 36 months: The credits cover the phone. You've paid for whatever plan the offer required, the whole time.
• If you leave after 12 months: You've received about $267 in credits. The other $533 or so of the phone is still owed, and the credits stop.

This means the real cost of a "free" phone is the plan you must keep, multiplied by the months you must keep it. If the required plan costs more than the one you'd pick anyway, add that gap up over 24 or 36 months before you decide.

Your After-Christmas Calendar: December 26 to March

The after-Christmas window runs from Dec 26 into early spring, and the dates fall on a handy calendar this season. Here is how it lines up:

• Saturday, Dec 26, 2026: The day after Christmas falls on a weekend this year. Expect stores to carry over or refresh earlier holiday offers, mostly on older models.
• Friday, Jan 1, 2027: New Year's Day starts the clearance stretch. Retailers mark down leftover holiday stock through January.
• Monday, Feb 15, 2027: Presidents' Day, the third Monday in February, is the next holiday on the sales calendar. Check whether the older model you want has moved.
• Through March: Pre-owned prices on older iPhones tend to keep easing as the holiday stock clears.

Check each seller's prices and terms on the day you shop. Offers change week to week, and last year's numbers are a guide, not a promise.

Black Friday vs. After Christmas: Which Is Cheaper?

It depends on which iPhone you want. For a new, current model, Black Friday usually wins, though how much iPhones drop on Black Friday varies by seller. Macworld's guide points to the Black Friday window as the likely spot for the best early deals, mainly through carriers, trade-in bonuses and retailers.

After Christmas makes more sense if you want an older model, clearance stock or a pre-owned phone. Those are the prices that tend to slide in January and keep sliding into March.

If you missed Black Friday, don't wait for Apple to cut the newest iPhone in January. Look one or two generations back instead, where the price has room to move.

Where a Plug Certified iPhone Fits

If you want an iPhone after Christmas without a carrier contract, a Plug Certified iPhone is the straight route. Plug doesn't run an after-Christmas price cut. Plug sets its prices from live market data, so they move with the market, and the price you see on the holiday tech deals page is the one that day.

Here is what every Plug Certified iPhone comes with:

• 90+ Point Inspection: Plug tests each phone on more than 90 points before it goes on sale.
• The 80% Battery Line: No Plug Certified iPhone ships with battery health below 80%.
• Unlocked: It works with any carrier, so there's no plan you have to keep to earn the price.
• A Year of Cover: Plug's 12-Month Warranty covers hardware and software faults that show up under normal use.
• 30-day returns: If it isn't the right phone, you have 30 days.

The Good, Great and Excellent grades are about how the phone looks, nothing more. A Good phone passes the same tests and gets the same warranty as an Excellent one. You'll find prices up to 70% off retail, and Plug also sells Plug Certified iPads, MacBooks and Apple Watches if the phone was only half the wish list.

For a sense of the gap between new and pre-owned, Consumer Reports compared an iPhone 15 128GB in April 2025: about $500 refurbished against $700 new from Apple, roughly $200 or 29% less. That's an older comparison, and prices have moved since, but the shape of the gap is the point. Whether you're replacing a gift that missed or spending holiday cash, you'll usually save far more on an iPhone a generation or two back than you will waiting for a January deal on the newest one. If you're unsure about buying pre-owned, this guide on whether refurbished iPhones are worth it is a good place to start.

Before You Buy: A Short Checklist

A few checks protect you whichever seller you pick after Christmas:

1. Check Battery Health

On the phone, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and look at Maximum Capacity. Plug Certified phones ship at 80% or higher. From a private seller, ask for a screenshot before you pay.

2. Confirm Locked or Unlocked

A carrier-locked phone only works on that carrier until it's unlocked. An unlocked iPhone lets you keep your plan or switch to a cheaper phone plan.

3. Know Who Covers the Warranty

Ask who stands behind the phone if something fails, and for how long. With Plug, it's Plug's 12-Month Warranty.

4. Read the Return Window

Return windows vary more than people expect. Apple gives 14 days from receipt, so check Apple's current terms. Verizon allows 30 days, with a $50 restocking fee and the phone in like-new condition with its receipt and packaging (per Verizon's policy page, updated Jan 12, 2026). Plug offers 30-day returns.

5. Add Up the Total Cost Over 24 to 36 Months

For any carrier deal, multiply the required plan by the months you must keep it, then add any trade-in you give up. Compare that total with the price of an unlocked phone and the plan you'd choose yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest month to buy an iPhone?

It depends on the iPhone. For a new model, November, around Black Friday, when carriers raise trade-in credits. For a phone a generation or two old, the first quarter of the year is the stretch to watch. September is when Apple changes its own lineup, though this year that reportedly pushed some older models up by $100 rather than down.

Does the iPhone price drop on Christmas Day?

No. Christmas Day isn't a reliable iPhone sale date. The better odds come in January, mostly on older models.

Is the iPhone 13 worth buying?

Yes, for most everyday use, if the price is right and the battery is in good shape. It's the kind of older model that showed up near $100 at a carrier store after Christmas 2024. Before you buy, check Apple's iOS compatibility list to see how long it's supported, and compare Plug's live iPhone 13 price.