Best time to buy an iPhone in 2026: Buy now or wait for Black Friday?

The worst time to purchase an iPhone

This is normally in the weeks leading up to Apple’s September launch occasion, or in the early spring, when brand-new designs are anticipated to be revealed. Purchasing right before a refresh implies you might lose out on brand-new functions or pay complete rate for a design that’s about to be superseded.

The very best time to purchase an iPhone

This depends upon where you live:

In the U.K., where most iPhones are offered opened and off agreement, the greatest cost savings are generally readily available throughout significant sales occasions such as Amazon Prime Day (normally in July and October, and sometimes in March) and Black Friday in late November. Beneficial iPhone discount rates can be discovered throughout the year if you understand where to look.

In the U.S., where individuals tend to purchase iPhones through a provider, the very best time to upgrade is typically throughout Black Friday when networks boost their deals with bigger trade-in worths, expense credits, present cards, or affordable service strategies.

Should you purchase a brand-new iPhone now or wait?

Ida Blix

September and the months that follow are a far better time to purchase an iPhone than previously in the summer season. July and August are typically bad months to purchase a Pro iPhone since Apple’s September launch is so close. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo have actually now been revealed, getting rid of that unpredictability.

If you require a phone now, there’s little factor to await another yearly refresh, and the iPhone 17, 17e and Air are likewise reasonably safe purchases due to the fact that their followers aren’t anticipated up until spring 2027. See: iPhone 18 and 18e reports and iPhone Air 2 reports.

The iPhone 17 stays the greatest worth, with a 120Hz ProMotion screen, A19 chip, double 48MP electronic cameras and 256GB of storage for$ 899/ ₤ 899( although it was formerly$ 799/ ₤ 799). The 18 Pro and Pro Max make more sense if you desire the very best video cameras, efficiency or battery life, while the Duo is for purchasers particularly thinking about Apple’s brand-new folding style.

There is, nevertheless, one essential factor to wait: 2027 might bring a much larger iPhone redesign. Apple is reported to be preparing a 20th-anniversary iPhone with a near-all-screen curved style, under-display Face ID, possible solid-state buttons, a thinner and more effective OLED screen, bigger battery and significant video camera enhancements. That might make 2027 a more substantial upgrade year than 2026.

If your present iPhone is still serving you well, waiting might be rewarding. Otherwise, purchase now if you require a phone, or wait up until Black Friday if rate is your primary issue.

Wondering which iPhone to purchase? Read: Best iPhone for our ranked suggestions and our iPhone purchasing guide for more extensive info about video cameras, display screens, efficiency, storage, battery life and other crucial requirements throughout Apple’s existing lineup.

Should I purchase an iPhone 17?

Is now a great time to purchase? Yes.

The iPhone 17 is a bargain nowparticularly since it isn’t anticipated to be changed till. spring 2027It went on sale in September 2025however stays Apple’s present mainstream design.

Its greatest strengths are the 6.3-inch 120Hz ProMotion screen double 48MP camsand 256GB of storage as basicBattery life is likewise strong, making it an outstanding overall option for a lot of purchasers.

If you do not require a brand-new phone instantly, however, it might deserve awaiting an offer. The very best discount rates are most likely throughout Black Friday in November 27when merchants and mobile networks typically use lower rates, trade-in rewards or agreement rewards.

Waiting up until spring 2027 just makes good sense if you particularly desire the anticipated iPhone 18 upgrades, such as the A20 chip, more RAM or an enhanced front video camera. Otherwise, the iPhone 17 stays an extremely strong buy today.

Finest Prices Today:

Apple normally reveals brand-new iPhone designs in September. Providers typically present their most aggressive trade-in deals and advertising offers around this time to attract clients to update.

New launches: Waiting for the September (or spring) launch window is typically a great method if you desire the current design at a possibly much better subsidized rate.

Inspect your agreement cycle: Lots of provider agreements today last 24 to 36 months. If you’re nearing completion of your agreement, you’re in a strong position to work out or benefit from upgrade deals. Updating mid-contract might include paying off the staying balance, so it’s worth examining your particular terms.

Think about Apple’s upgrade strategies: Apple has actually changed its old iPhone Upgrade Program with more recent funding and leasing alternatives. In the U.S., Apple Upgrade lets you rent an iPhone through Klarna and upgrade, purchase or return it at the end of the term. In the U.K., Apple’s Flexible Finance Account provides qualified iPhones on month-to-month payment strategies with the alternative to update after a set variety of payments. Terms and month-to-month expenses differ by design.

Apple follows a reputable yearly rhythm for its iPhone updates, with the main occasion happening in September each year.

Apple usually reveals its brand-new iPhone lineup at a devoted Apple Event in September. Pre-orders normally open on the Friday following the statement, with gadgets delivering and getting here in shops a week later on.

Apple likewise sometimes presents brand-new iPhones outside the September window and in the past it has actually held a Spring Apple Event at which more inexpensive iPhones have actually introduced. The iPhone 17e, for instance, gotten here in March 2026, and the iPhone 16e introduced in February 2025.

Suitable iPhone designs likewise get an annual os software application upgrade with brand-new functions that can make your old iPhone feel brand-new once again. The significant iOS updates follow the September schedule.

Read our guide to the next Apple occasion to learn if an Apple occasion looms.

Based upon previous experience, Apple is really not likely to minimize the rate of a brand-new iPhone throughout its very first year on sale.

When Apple presents a brand-new generation of iPhones, it normally cuts the rate of the previous year’s designs. That implies September has actually typically been the point when older iPhones end up being more affordable.

Apple likewise tends to keep launch rates broadly comparable from one generation to the next, a minimum of in the U.S., although currency exchange rate and other local aspects can impact prices in other places.

In 2024, for instance, Apple decreased the rate of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus by $100/ ₤ 100 when the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus showed up. The iPhone 16 likewise fell in rate following the launch of the iPhone 17 in 2025. Since the iPhone 17 doubled the base storage to 256GB, the older iPhone 16 looked less appealing even at $100/ ₤ 100 less.

In 2026, the pattern altered. Apple really raised iPhone costs, blaming greater memory expenses. Even the year-old iPhone 17 and two-year-old iPhone 16 increased by $100, revealing that older iPhones do not constantly end up being less expensive when a brand-new generation gets here.

In the U.S., purchasing from Apple is typically the much better choice if you value versatility. If you pay completely or utilize Apple’s own funding, the iPhone is opened, so you can change providers or utilize another eSIM when taking a trip. Apple likewise accepts trade-ins and, notably, lots of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon promos are offered when purchasing through Apple.

An iPhone purchased from Apple however funded through an AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon device-payment strategy is locked to that provider up until it has actually been paid off. An iPhone purchased outright from Apple isn’t.

The primary factor to purchase straight from AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon is to benefit from an especially great promo. U.S. providers regularly market big trade-in credits or “complimentary” iPhones, particularly when you include a line or switch networks. The catch is that the discount rate is typically offered as regular monthly expense credits over 24 or 36 months, so if you leave early you can lose the staying credits.

In the U.K., Apple offers iPhones opened and SIM-free, permitting you to go shopping independently for a SIM-only strategy from EE, Vodafone, O2, Three or an MVNO. This makes it simpler to change networks and can exercise less expensive over the life of the phone than bundling the handset and airtime into a single agreement.

Apple isn’t always the most affordable location to purchase. Amazon U.K. and other merchants regularly mark down SIM-free iPhones, and there can be significant cost savings throughout sales occasions such as Black Friday.

Networks can likewise provide engaging promos, consisting of boosted trade-in worths, marked down airtime, generous information allowances or lower regular monthly payments. Make sure you compare the overall expense of the agreement, rather than focusing on the heading regular monthly rate.

The earliest you might anticipate to get a discount rate on the latest iPhones is around Black Friday at the end of November, so you may be preparing to hold out up until then. The offers we tend to see, if any, are normally for older handsets. See our round-up of Best Black Friday iPhone deals for more.

Nor ought to you anticipate to get a discount rate in an Apple Black Friday sale. Apple’s Black Friday sale generally just takes the kind of coupons with choose item purchases, instead of a discount rate, and it is not likely that the latest iPhone would certify as in previous year’s brand-new iPhones have not been consisted of.

Keep in mind that while shopping occasions like Black Friday get all the attention, that’s not the only time you can get discount rates on Apple items: we see discount rates all the time. Another occasion where we see excellent iPhone offers is Prime Day, which occurs in June or July and October every year. Take an appearance at the iPhone offers for Amazon Prime Day sale to see what you may be able to conserve.

In our experience, we do not tend to see discount rates on the most recent handset till the spring– and these are constantly from third-party resellers, never ever from Apple. We do not tend to see the iPhone marked down in the U.S. extremely typically, many of the discount rates we see are in the U.K. where opened iPhones are frequently offered off-contract at an excellent discount rate.

Yes, purchasing a reconditioned iPhone is definitely worth it for the majority of people, specifically if you wish to conserve cash without compromising quality.

Purchasing reconditioned is a terrific method to “get a deal” while still getting a premium gadget. You can generally conserve 15% to 30% compared to purchasing brand-new, and in some cases far more on older designs.

A typical mistaken belief is that reconditioned is the very same as purchasing an utilized phone from a complete stranger. It’s not. An utilized phone is offered “as-is,” without any assurance it will work effectively. A reconditioned phone has actually been expertly examined, checked, and fixed if required, and it includes a service warranty.

If you desire the greatest quality, Apple’s own reconditioned shop is the gold requirement.