Best Cell Phone Deals for New Lines, Upgrades & Trade-Ins

Contents

Jump to:

iPhone trade-in deals
Samsung Galaxy trade-in deals
Google Pixel trade-in deals
Ongoing carrier trade-in deals

The best phone trade-in deals in August 2026 can save you up to $1,900 at T-Mobile, up to $1,200 at Verizon, and up to $1,100 at AT&T when you trade an eligible device and activate or upgrade a qualifying unlimited plan. T-Mobile offers up to $1,900 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and up to $1,100 off the iPhone 17 series with a trade-in, Verizon offers up to $1,200 off the Galaxy Z Fold8 with a trade-in and a new line on Unlimited Ultimate, and AT&T will hand you a Galaxy Z Fold8 for $0 with an eligible trade-in.

These trade-in discounts apply as monthly bill credits spread over 24 to 36 months, not as money off the upfront price. To get the full value, you'll need to keep the line active for the entire term.

Because upgrade cycles have slowed, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are offering large trade-in subsidies to get you to switch or stay. This means you can currently walk away with a brand-new iPhone 17, Samsung Galaxy S26, or Google Pixel 11 for as little as $0.

Every carrier hides the best value behind different plan requirements and trade-in tiers. We've decoded that fine print below to show you which trade-in deals provide the best value, which older phones still command top-tier credit, and how to snag a flagship device without a massive monthly bill.

Compare iPhone trade-in deals

Apple's iPhone is one of the most popular devices on the planet. You can now find iPhone deals on the iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone Air. Or older models, like the iPhone 16 series. Check out our iPhone trade-in guide to make sure your device is prepped for trading in.

Carrier	Deal	Details
	Up to $1,100 off the iPhone 17 series with a trade-in on Experience More or Experience Beyond	View deal
	Up to $700 off the iPhone 17 with a trade-in worth $130 or more on an eligible unlimited plan, which drops the phone to $3.62/month	View deal
	Up to $830 off the iPhone Air with a new line and trade-in on a select Unlimited plan, or $1,000 off with a new line on Unlimited Ultimate and no trade-in	View deal

Compare Samsung Galaxy trade-in deals

Samsung's newest foldables are where the biggest trade-in money is right now. The Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8 launched on August 7, and all three carriers came out swinging with credits that can cover the entire phone.

You'll also find strong deals on the Galaxy S26 series and on last year's Z Flip7 and Z Fold7, which still carry up to $1,100 in trade-in credit at T-Mobile. If you don't need the newest hinge, that's the value play.

Carrier	Deal	Details
	Up to $1,900 off the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra with a trade-in on Experience Beyond	View deal
	Get the Galaxy Z Fold8 for $0 with an eligible trade-in on a qualifying unlimited plan	View deal
	Up to $1,200 off the Galaxy Z Fold8 or Z Fold8 Ultra with a trade-in in any condition and a new line on Unlimited Ultimate	View deal
	Up to $1,100 off the Galaxy Z Flip7 or Z Fold7 with a trade-in on an Experience plan	View deal
	Up to $1,100 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra when you switch or upgrade to Experience Beyond	View deal

Compare Google Pixel trade-in deals

The Pixel 11 lineup went up for pre-order on August 12 and hits stores on August 20, and carrier credits are already covering the full price on some models. That includes the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

Pixel 10 trade-in credit is still worth a look too, since last-gen prices tend to soften right after a new launch.

Carrier	Deal	Details
	Get up to $1,300 off the Pixel 11 Pro XL with a new line or a trade-in in any condition on Experience Beyond 2.0 or Go5G Next	View deal
	Get the Pixel 11 Pro for $0 when you trade in any old Pixel, any year, any condition	View deal
	Get up to $900 off any Pixel 11 model with a trade-in on Unlimited Ultimate, paid over 36 bill credits. Unlimited Welcome caps at $360	View deal
	Get up to $800 off the Pixel 10 with a trade-in and a qualifying plan, plus a $35 connection fee	View deal

Ongoing carrier trade-in offers

AT&T trade-in offers

New AT&T customers: Sick of your current carrier? Switch to AT&T and trade in your old phone to get up to $1,100 in bill credits toward an eligible flagship. The credits are spread over 36 months and only apply to the device you're financing, so this isn't a pot of money you can spend elsewhere.
Existing AT&T customers: Don't want to switch carriers to get a good trade-in deal? Stick with AT&T and get up to $1,100 toward the purchase of an eligible Samsung Galaxy or iPhone Pro model. You'll need to be on Extra 2.0 or higher, which starts at $80/month for a single line, and your phone must be bought on monthly installments to qualify.
Max savings: $1,100 for new and existing AT&T customers.

View AT&T trade-in deals

Verizon trade-in deals

New customers: If you're thinking of switching to Verizon, you can trade in your old phone and get either account credit toward a new phone, a Verizon gift card, or PayPal credit. Your total trade-in credit depends on the value of your phone and your selected unlimited plan. The biggest offers require Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate, and right now the ceiling sits at $1,200 on Samsung's newest foldables. Expect around $900 on most current flagships.
Existing Verizon customers: If you're an existing Verizon customer, you can trade in your phone for credit toward a new phone purchase or credit on your account. Verizon accepts most devices with cosmetic damage, though battery damage will disqualify a trade. Upgrades also require the trade-in device to have been active on your account for at least 60 days. If your phone isn't eligible, check out our guide on how to sell or trade in your old phone.
Max savings: $1,200 with a new line on Unlimited Ultimate.

View Verizon trade-in deals

T-Mobile trade-in deals

New T-Mobile customers: Get a new phone for cheaper by trading in your old phone to T-Mobile when you make the switch. You can get an estimate for the value of your phone easily online, then simply trade it in at a T-Mobile store or send the phone in. T-Mobile (and other major carriers) may even pay you to switch to their network.
Existing customers: If you're already a T-Mobile customer, you're still eligible for trade-in credit when you upgrade your line or add a new line to your account. Just log into your T-Mobile account online to see what your current phone is worth. You may also be eligible for early upgrades with a trade-in and eligible unlimited plans.
Trade-in conditions: T-Mobile normally requires a paid-off device in good working order with Find My iPhone or Android anti-theft turned off. Specific promotions, like the Pixel 11 Pro XL offer, waive the condition check entirely.
Max savings: $1,900 on the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra with a trade-in on Experience Beyond.

View T-Mobile trade-in deals

Google Fi: Up to $500 in credit with trade-in

Deal: Trade in an eligible device and get up to $500 in Fi credit (or a credit card refund). Most phones will earn you around $300, unless it's a recent flagship like the iPhone 17 or Galaxy S26. Unlike the major carriers, Google Fi gives you an upfront credit for your trade-in that immediately decreases the price of your new device. So if you've been wanting a new Google Pixel, then it wouldn't hurt to see how much you can get off of it with your trade-in today!
Max savings: $500

View Google Fi trade-in deals

Visible: Swap your phone for select devices

Deal: Ready to switch to Visible's $25 unlimited plan? Then take advantage of Visible's swap-your-phone program. The carrier offers a selection of eligible phones you can swap your old phone for, like Visible's own Midnight device, once you confirm that your number is eligible to switch. Then, once you get your new phone and Visible SIM card, send your old phone in and voila!
Max savings: Varies by phone selection

View Visible trade-in deals

Scott Houghton

Jr. Staff Writer

Scott is a Jr. Staff Writer for WhistleOut with over five years of experience writing about tech, education, and digital services for SaaS companies, higher education platforms, and podcasting brands. He specializes in turning complex topics into clear, helpful content, cutting through the noise, and making smarter decisions about the tools and tech they use every day.

Read full bio