T-Mobile vs AT&T vs Verizon: which carrier has the best phone deals this Black Friday?

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

If you're on the hunt for Black Friday iPhone deals already, then there's no shortage of excellent promotions to check out at major carriers this week. T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T all have massive seasonal events right now, looking to tempt prospective customers with a range of free devices.

But which one should you go for? Well, I've been combing through the various T&Cs and eligibility criteria today to try and determine which is the best value. Annoyingly, it depends on what you're looking for – and I've delved into that further down the page.

Today's Black Friday iPhone deals at the carriers

Apple iPhone 17: free with a new unlimited line, plus free Apple Watch and iPad at Verizon
Here's Verizon's headline Black Friday deal on the excellent iPhone 17. Not only can you get the device for free with a new line on one of the carrier's unlimited plans, but you can also throw in a free iPad and Apple Watch. A few caveats apply here - like you'll need to take out cellular lines on those accessories to claim them. With that said, however, you don't need to trade-in for the free phone here and it's also eligible on the cheaper myPlan options at Verizon. Previously, you needed the really high-end plans to get a free iPhone 17, so this is a fantastic deal.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro: free with a new unlimited line at Verizon
Moving on to the iPhone 17 Pro, Verizon's current Black Friday deal lets you take this device home for free without the usual trade-in criteria. You will still need a new line on the carrier's higher-end Ultimate unlimited plan, but this is a huge $30 per month saving on this stunning flagship. Unfortunately, you can't bundle in a free iPad and Apple Watch here (like with the standard iPhone 17), but this is still one of the best Verizon deals yet on a device that we rate massively.

Apple iPhone 17: four devices for free on an unlimited plan (no trade) at T-Mobile
T-Mobile's Black Friday special on the iPhone 17 is exactly what I expected. Right now, you can get four iPhone 17 for free on an unlimited data plan without the usual trade-in criteria. By itself, that doesn't sound ground-breaking, but the real magic here is in the details. Plan eligibility for this deal includes the carrier's entry-level 'Essentials' plan, which comes out at just $100 per month for four lines. Yep, that means you can get four free iPhone 17 on four lines that average out at just $25/mo each.

Apple iPhone 17 series: up to $1,000 off with a switch at T-Mobile
Looking for a higher-end device at T-Mobile? Here's another incredible promotion that you can get over Black Friday at the carrier. Right now, new customers don't even need a trade-in to get a massive discount of up to $1,000 off any of these devices. That's enough to cover the entire cost of the iPhone Air, and get the iPhone 17 Pro for just $99. Note that existing customers can still trade-in for a similar discount right now if they also want to get in on the action.

Apple iPhone 17 series: up to $1,100 off with trade, plus cheap iPad and Apple Watch at AT&T
AT&T's headline Black Friday deal on the iPhone 17 series is similar to Verizon's in that it gets you a super cheap iPad and Apple Watch alongside your phone. Again, you do need to take out pricey accessory cellular lines to claim the other devices here - and they're also $0.99 per month each, which feels a little stingy when you're paying $20+ for the cellular lines. What is good, however, is AT&T's trade-in rebate of up to $1,100 on the phone itself, which is enough to cover the entire cost of the iPhone 17 Pro.

Apple iPhone Air: was $27.78 now $12.99/mo with a new unlimited plan at AT&T
If you're not dead-set on trading-in for a big discount at AT&T this week, you could consider the carrier's Black Friday deal on the iPhone Air. Right now, no trade-ins are needed to get it for under half price alongside a new line on an unlimited data plan. You can also throw in an iPad and Apple Watch for just $0.99/mo each currently, but the required accessory cellular lines can make you pay a fair bit more on your plan, so the deal on the phone is the best here.

Breaking down these deals in detail

Cheap / free accessories still require cellular lines
T-Mobile's iPhone 17 deal can be cheaper

So, which is the best? Well, on paper, Verizon's iPhone 17 deal looks like the clear winner since it's the only deal that offers a free phone, iPad, and Apple Watch without the usual trade-in rebate.

There is a huge caveat with the promotion, however, in that you're required to take out cellular lines on the accessories, even if they're free upfront. That can come out at $30/mo extra if you're looking at getting the free iPhone 17 on a new line on the entry-level Welcome Unlimited plan.

AT&T's Black Friday deal is similar. You can get some super-cheap accessories, but you'll be paying quite a bit extra per month on a plan that already costs at least $75 per month for the phone.

In comparison, you don't get any freebies with T-Mobile's headline Black Friday deal, instead trading out the accessories for a super-cheap all-in-one deal on multiple phones. If you're a multi-line user, then it's a fantastic choice considering you get an $830 saving per device on a plan that costs $100/month in total for four lines. If you're not looking for four lines, however, then it's obviously a non-starter.

What I'd go for personally

In all three cases, I'd consider the 17 Pro

So, in all cases, you're not exactly getting a free lunch with the headline deals. In all cases, I'd be tempted to check out the deals on the higher-end iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max as well.

For example, in the case of Verizon's deal, by the time you've tacked on the free iPad and Apple Watch, you may as well go for the higher-end plans to get a bundle discount. If you're going for a higher-end plan, then why not just skip the freebies and get an iPhone 17 Pro instead?

It's a similar case at T-Mobile and AT&T. In the case of the latter, the trade-in rebate of up to $1,100 covers the entire cost of an iPhone 17. And, since single-line users are more or less excluded from T-Mobile's excellent deal on the iPhone 17, the massive rebate of up to $1,000 you can currently get with a switch is almost enough for a free Pro.

While you're here, check out our main Black Friday page for more recommendations from our team of experts. Also check out our Black Friday deals hub for a roundup of today's best sales from Amazon, Best Buy, and other key retailers.

More of today's best Black Friday sales

Amazon: 60% off TVs, AirPods & vacuums
Adidas: shoes, clothing & gift ideas from $18
Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $85
Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99 at Amazon
Christmas: wreaths, trees & decor from $5
Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
Home Depot: 40% off appliances, grills & tools
Hulu: Hulu + Live TV – $64/m for the first 3 months
Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances & holiday decor
Samsung: up to $2,000 off TVs & phones
Target: Christmas decor & clothing from $10
T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
Walmart: TVs, vacs & holiday decor from $4
Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

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