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.

Disclaimer

I've just updated this page to reflect the new deals that T-Mobile and Verizon have launched today. The new deals in question are the free iPhone 17 Pro Max at Verizon, and the free iPhone 17 Pro at T-Mobile; both of which, by the way, are available with a free iPad and Apple Watch.

Today's Black Friday iPhone deals at the carriers

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: free with a new unlimited line, plus free iPad and Apple Watch at Verizon
Verizon has just upped the ante with its Black Friday deals today, with this incredible promotion on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. For the first time ever, you don't need to trade-in to get this device for free alongside a new unlimited line. On top of that, you can also throw in a free iPad and Apple Watch. Previously, that's a promotion that's only been available on the cheaper 17-series devices. Even better still, this deal is eligible on the higher-end Ultimate and mid-tier Plus plan, so you're not technically tied into the priciest option here if you don't want it. Deal!

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 17: four devices for free on an unlimited plan (no trade) at T-Mobile
Here's another incredible Black Friday special from T-Mobile; one that's particularly good for families. 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 Pro: free with a new unlimited line, plus free iPad and Apple Watch at T-Mobile
T-Mobile's biggest and best deal on the iPhone 17 Pro gets you the device - plus a free iPad and Apple Watch - on a new Experience Beyond plan this Black Friday week. This kind of deal is pretty rare for T-Mobile, so it's a definitely a Black Friday highlight if you're eying up an upgrade. Overall, a strong deal, although the usual caveats apply here: the Experience Beyond plan is the pricier option at T-Mobile, and you also need to take out cellular lines on those accessories to claim them.

Apple iPhone 17: free with a new unlimited line, plus free iPad and Apple Watch at Verizon
And, that same Verizon deal is also available on the standard iPhone 17. On paper, this one might not seem quite as good value as the 17 Pro Max deal above, but it's worth noting that the free iPhone 17 is available on the entry-level Welcome Unlimited plan, which makes it a better option for the budget-conscious. You can also throw in a free iPad and Apple Watch here, although note you will have to pay extra for accessory cellular lines, and these lines don't get any bundle discounts on the Welcome plan. If you're looking to bundle, I would go the whole way and grab the iPhone 17 Pro Max on the higher-end plan.

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
Verizon's iPhone 17 Pro Max is great for single-lines
T-Mobile's iPhone 17 deal is amazing for families

So, which is the best? It's a tough call, but Verizon's current deal for the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the one with the most added value. You can basically get a free phone that's worth $1,300 on one of the carrier's mid-tier unlimited plans without a trade, which is a real notch above what Verizon usually offers.

T-Mobile punched back hard today, however, with its deal on the iPhone 17 Pro. Of particular note are the free iPad and Apple Watch that the carrier is bundling with the phone, which is something I haven't seen frequently at T-Mobile.

Another big deal you'll find at T-Mobile today is the four-free-phones deal on the iPhone 17. If you're a mult-line user, then this is an exceptionally strong promotion considering no trades are needed, and it's available on a plan that costs $100/month in total for four lines. Obviously, if you don't have four numbers to port over, then it's not something to pursue.

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.