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iPhone 16 pre-order countdown: Where and when to buy Apple's latest phones?

See at Apple

Apple iPhone 16 series in the Apple Store

Pre-order on September 13th

See at T-Mobile

Apple iPhone 16 series at T-Mobile

Up to $1,000 off trade-in

See at AT&T

Apple iPhone 16 series at AT&T

Up to $1,000 off with qualified trade-in

See at Verizon

Apple iPhone 16 series at Verizon

Save up to $1,000 with trade-in

See at Walmart

Apple iPhone 16 series at Walmart

Carrier offers via AT&T

During the Glowtime Apple event on Monday, Apple unveiled its latest products and Apple fans finally got answers to the most pressing questions about the new Apple iPhone 16 series, including highlights on a number of brand new features such as a camera home button, new colors like ultramarine, and the integration of new tricks of Apple Intelligence.

Apple's latest flagship phones running iOS 18 are sure to be a hot item once they go on sale. Luckily for you, we've got all the details you need to take one home as early as possible, and we'll keep updating this page as we continue to find the best iPhone 16 deals.

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Are you buying the new iPhone 16 soon? Check out the best deals on iPhone accessories like the Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4.

Check this out: Hands-On with iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

When will the new iPhone 16 be released?

Apple's iPhone 16 and 16 Pro series will Start on 20 September. That's the date when those who pre-order early enough — say, right when pre-orders open — can expect to receive their fancy new device in the mail. That's also the date when stock will be available in-store. Keep in mind that certain configurations tend to “sell out,” meaning there are often delays on the most popular color and storage capacity of a given model.

If you're determined to get a new iPhone on September 20th or shortly thereafter, we recommend keeping a few replacement options in mind.

More from the Apple event

When do pre-orders for the iPhone 16 start?

If you want to make sure you're at the front of the virtual queue for Apple's iPhone 16, you'll want to pre-order your phone as early as possible, especially if you think the color you've got your eye on is also the one everyone around you is talking about. iPhone 16 pre-orders begins on Friday, September 13, at 5am ​​PTThis applies to Apple's own online pre-order system as well as major retailers and mobile operators.

Want to pre-order the latest Apple devices? We summarize the best launch deals for the iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4.

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is shown against a blue-green gradient background.

We saw the new iPhone 16 models in the demo room at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

What colors are the iPhone 16 phones available in?

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are available in five colors: black, white, pink, teal (green), and ultramarine (blue). The iPhone 16 Pro models are available in four finishes: a darker black titanium, a lighter white titanium, natural titanium, and a new desert titanium.

iPhone16

The new iPhone 16 base model comes in five “vibrant” colors.

Apple/Screenshot by James Martin/CNET

What are the prices for the different new iPhone 16 models?

Prices vary depending on the amount of storage, but each model starts at:

  • iPhone 16: $799 (128GB – 512GB capacity; 6 ounces weight; 6.1-inch OLED display)
  • iPhone 16 Plus: $899 (128GB – 512GB capacity; 7.03 oz. weight; 6.7-inch OLED display)
  • iPhone 16 Pro: $999 (128GB – 1TB capacity; 7.03 oz. weight; 6.3-inch OLED display)
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1,199 (256GB – 1TB capacity; 228g weight; 6.9-inch OLED display)

Read more: Brand new iPhone 16 button adds camera control to Apple's flagship phone

iPhone 16 series specifications

iPhone16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max
Starting price 128GB $799 $899 999 US dollars N/A
Starting price 256GB $899 999 US dollars $1,099 $1,199
Starting price 512GB $1,099 $1,199 $1,299 $1,399
Starting price 1TB N/A N/A 1,499 € $1,599
Display size 6.1 inches 6.7 inches 6.3 inches 6.9 inches
Screen resolution 2,556×1,179 2,796×1,290 2,622×1,206 2,868 x 1,320
Pixel density 460ppi 460ppi 460ppi 460ppi
processor A18 A18 A18Pro A18Pro
Mobile-Software iOS18 iOS18 iOS18 iOS18
camera 48MP fusion camera, 12MP ultra wide angle camera 48MP fusion camera, 12MP ultra wide angle camera 48MP Fusion Camera, 48MP Ultra Wide Angle Camera, 5x Telephoto Lens 48MP Fusion Camera, 48MP Ultra Wide Angle Camera, 5x Telephoto Lens
Front-facing camera 12 megapixels 12 megapixels 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Video recording 4K up to 60fps 4K up to 60fps 4K up to 120fps 4K up to 120fps
Battery/charging speeds Up to 22 hours of video playback Up to 27 hours of video playback Up to 27 hours of video playback Up to 33 hours of video playback
Fingerprint sensor None (Face ID) None (Face ID) None (Face ID) None (Face ID)
Connector USB C USB C USB C USB C

How do I trade in my current phone to upgrade to the new iPhone 16?

Some carriers are offering up to $1,000 for eligible trade-ins, which could get you the iPhone 16 Pro for free. It's important to note that most trade-in offers require you to be a carrier customer, and this usually applies to some of the most expensive plan options.

Select retailers with trade-in programs might offer you gift cards for future purchases instead, so you're not locked into a contract to take advantage of the savings from selling your old device. However, these offers may not offer as high a return. Below are details of how much you can expect to get for trading in your phone at select retailers and carriers.

How do I find the best iPhone 16 deals?

We will continue to update the list below with the best iPhone 16 deals from all major US retailers and carriers during this pre-order period.

You can pre-order the iPhone 16 series from the Apple Store starting Friday, September 13 at 5 a.m. PT (8 a.m. ET), with an estimated delivery date of September 20.

Apple is already offering some cellular deals for pre-orders. Existing Verizon customers can save up to $930 with a trade-in; AT&T customers can save up to $800 with a trade-in, and both T-Mobile and Boost customers can save up to $1,000 with no trade-in.

T-Mobile is offering the full iPhone 16 lineup for pre-order starting Friday, September 13, with availability in T-Mobile stores on September 20. Both new and existing customers can trade in an eligible device to Go5G Next and receive a free iPhone 16 Pro or up to $1,000 off any iPhone 16 model. Those who trade in their device and are subscribed to the Go5G Plus plan can receive a free iPhone 16 or up to $830 off any other iPhone 16 model. If you have another Go5G, you can still qualify for the iPhone 16 or up to $830 off if you trade it in and add a new line.

AT&T will begin taking preorders for the iPhone 16 lineup at 5 a.m. PT (8 a.m. ET) on Friday, September 13. You can get up to $1,000 off the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max and up to $830 off the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus when you make an eligible trade-in offer. This essentially gets you a free iPhone 16 or 16 Pro. These discounts will be paid out in the form of bill credits over 36 months.

Eligible devices include smartphones with a minimum trade-in value of $180 for up to $1,000 off the iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max. For other phones in the series, the trade-in device must have a minimum value between $130 and $179. Additionally, customers must purchase or already have an unlimited voice and data plan.

Starting this Friday, September 13, you can pre-order the iPhone 16 lineup through Boost's website, Amazon store, or Apple Store. If you buy an iPhone 16 with a $25-per-month unlimited plan, you'll get a full year of Boost Unlimited 5G cellular service for free, or you can opt for up to $1,000 off a device—no trade-in required.

Opt for Boost cellular service through Apple Stores or the Apple website and trade in an eligible iPhone through Apple to receive additional credits ranging from $180 to $650.

Xfinity Mobile will carry the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, all available for pre-order starting Friday, September 13, and will be available on September 20. Also in the lineup will be the AirPods 4, as well as the latest Apple Watches, available for pre-order now and available on September 20.

No offers have been announced at this time, but we expect these to be comparable to those offered by other providers and will update this post accordingly as soon as they are announced.

Verizon will offer the iPhone 16 series for pre-order starting Friday, September 13, with availability scheduled for Friday, September 20. There are already a number of special offers available.

New and existing Verizon customers on the Unlimited Ultimate plan can get an iPhone 16 Pro for free or up to $1,000 off another phone in the iPhone 16 line when you trade in any phone in any condition. If you opt for Unlimited Plus, you can get up to $830 off, or opt for the Unlimited Welcome plan and still get up to $415 off iPhone 16 series phones.

If you switch to Verizon or add a new line, you can get an iPhone 16 Pro for just $10 per month on the Ultimate Unlimited plan (36 months) or $15 per month on the Unlimited Plus plan.

Finally, there is the option to bring your own device and add a new line to receive a promotional credit: $360 if you choose the Unlimited Plus plan or $540 if you choose Unlimited Ultimate. This promotional credit is valid for 36 months.

Walmart will offer the iPhone 16 lineup for pre-order on September 13, with devices available starting September 20. While Walmart won't be offering deals on unlocked models, you can save on carrier options through AT&T. New and existing AT&T customers can trade in an eligible $130 device and save up to $830. If you're looking to trade in a $180 device, you can save up to $1,000 on the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. You'll need to activate a new line or upgrade your line to an eligible plan if you don't already have one.

Want to buy previous iPhone models cheap? Our roundup of the best iPhone deals includes sales on the iPhone 15, iPhone SE, and more.

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