This iPhone 13 Pro deal just convinced me to upgrade — and you can still get it
Apple offers one of the most underrated iPhone deals
Back in September, I managed to talk myself out of buying the iPhone 13 Pro. I decided I'd hold on to my trusty iPhone XS for one more year. After nights of offloading apps and deleting photos (I had less than 1GB of storage left), I bit the bullet and purchased an iPhone 13 Pro.
I'm a Verizon subscriber and have no plans of jumping ship for another carrier. That meant the vast majority of iPhone 13 deals were off limits to me. But there's one deal that convinced me to upgrade.
Apple's trade-in policy can get you from $30 to $650 off your iPhone 13 Pro purchase. Naturally, the larger trade-ins are reserved for newer phones. However, I was surprised that Apple was offering me the full $200 trade-in credit for my iPhone XS, which although in good condition, could no longer be charged via cable. Over time, the trade-in value of my iPhone XS would only downgrade, so I decided now was the time to go Pro.
iPhone 13 Pro: up to $650 off w/ trade-in @ Apple
The Apple Store offers one of the best iPhone deals you'll find. Trade-in your old phone and you'll get from $30 to $650 off your purchase of the iPhone 13 Pro. Eligible phones include devices such as the Galaxy S8 ($30 value), iPhone XS ($200 value), and Google Pixel 4 ($100).
I post dozens of iPhone deals every month, but at the end of the day I went with Apple for a few reasons. First, I wanted an unlocked model and all iPhones sold at the Apple Store are unlocked. That means I can avoid Verizon fees and pop in a SIM card should I travel anywhere.
Additionally, I didn't want to switch to an unlimited 5G data plan. There are plenty of great Verizon phone deals for existing customers, but many — if not all — of them require that you to switch to an unlimited data plan, which would've hiked my monthly phone plan by about $50/month ($600 per year).
As for my iPhone 13 Pro experience, in our iPhone 13 Pro review we praise the phone for its 120Hz display, performance, and cameras. Truthfully, I haven't noticed any speed performance/increase from my iPhone XS' A12 Bionic chipset. (To be fair, I have yet to push my new iPhone beyond Netflix, Apple Music, and the occasional Mario Kart game).
What I did immediately notice is its amazing display. Netflix's crime-noir drama My Name, for instance, looked amazing on the iPhone 13 Pro's display. Despite featuring a lot of dark, shadowy scenes, the action-packed thriller looked clear and very detailed on my iPhone with colors that popped from the screen.
The iPhone 13 Pro's camera system is also a massive upgrade from the iPhone XS, especially in low-light conditions. Overall, the iPhone 13 Pro has been one of my favorite tech purchases of the past 12 months.
If you're shopping for an iPhone 13 Pro, I've rounded up the best deals you can get right now at other carriers:
More iPhone 13 Pro deals
iPhone 13 Pro: up to $800 off w/ trade-in + unlimited @ AT&T
AT&T is taking up to $800 off iPhone 13 Pro purchases when you trade-in an old phone and sign up for one of AT&T's unlimited data plans. You'll need to purchase your phone via a monthly installment plan. The deal is valid for new and existing customers.
iPhone 13 Pro: get 6 free months @ Mint Mobile
Mint Mobile is offering savings not on the iPhone 13 Pro itself, but rather on your monthly bill. For a limited time, purchase any 6-month data plan at Mint Mobile and you'll get 6 additional months for free. For instance, Mint Mobile's unlimited plan is $30/month. Buy 6 months ($180 total) and you'll get an extra 6 months for free (so you'll wind up with 12 months total). The iPhone 13 Pro can be purchased with this deal.
iPhone 13: free $100 gift card @ Visible
Purchase a new iPhone 13 Pro at Visible and you'll get a free $100 virtual gift card with your order. Choose from Amazon, Best Buy, Hotels.com, Lowe's, Mastercard, and more. Verizon-owned Visible offers one unlimited 5G data plan priced at $40/month.
iPhone 13 Pro: buy one, get $1,000 off another @ Verizon
For a limited time, when you buy an iPhone 13 Pro at Verizon, you'll get $1,000 off the purchase of another iPhone 13 Pro of equal or lesser value. You'll need to sign up to an unlimited plan to get this deal. Don't need two phones? Trade in your current phone and sign up to an unlimited plan to get $1,000 of your iPhone 13 Pro. Alternatively, existing members can trade-in and get up to $700 off with Verizon's 5G Get More plan or up to $440 off with other plans.
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As deals editor-in-chief at Tom’s Guide, Louis is constantly looking for ways to avoid paying full price for the latest gadgets, appliances, and apparel. With over 10 years of deals-hunting experience, Louis price checks against multiple retailers and searches high and low for the best deals to bring readers. He's also always on the look out for the best coupon codes to use when shopping. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is also an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.