Best Prime Day iPhone Deals 2020: What to expect

Although Prime Day doesn’t come until next month, the rumor mill has been busy at work making predictions for Amazon’s annual blowout sale (and we’re no strangers to that, ourselves). After being delayed — Prime Day deals usually land in the summer — the big event is now landing neatly between Labor Day sales and Black Friday, and we’re anticipating a tide of some of the best bargains and discounts we’re likely to see before the year is out. We’re particularly excited about Apple deals, and if it’s time for a new smartphone, then read on to see everything we expect to see from 2020’s Prime Day iPhone deals — including some early bargains you can grab right now.

Today’s best Prime Day iPhone deals

The Prime Day iPhone deals won’t be live until early October according to the most recent information we have, but as with all things Apple, these hugely popular mobile devices are pretty much always on sale somewhere. And if you badly need a new phone, you probably need it soon, so if you can’t wait for Prime Day, then we’ve got your back with a selection of the best iPhone deals you can grab right this minute:

• Apple iPhone SE (2020) — Up to $170 off with trade-in
• Apple Store Refurbished iPhones (Various Models) — Up to $350 off
• Apple iPhone SE 64GB (2020, Verizon) — Free with unlimited plan, was $400
• Apple iPhone XS 64GB (AT&T) — $30 ($1/month) after credits with unlimited plan, was $900
• Apple iPhone 7 32GB (Cricket Wireless) — $50 with number port-in, was $200
• Apple iPhone SE 64GB (2020, Cricket Wireless) — $250 with number port-in, was $400
• Apple iPhone 11 64GB (AT&T) — $350 ($11.67/month) with qualifying activation, was $700
• Apple iPhone XR 64GB (Cricket Wireless) — $400 with number port-in, was $599
• Apple iPhone XR 64GB (Straight Talk Wireless) — $449, was $750
• Apple iPhones (Various Models, T-Mobile) — $300 to $1,000 back when you switch (some offers require eligible trade-in)
• Apple iPhone 11 Pro & iPhone 11 Pro Max (Verizon) — Up to $850 off with trade-in and new line, or $350 off without trade-in

When are the best Prime Day iPhone deals?

Amazon reserves the juiciest deals for the official Prime Day calendar dates, and based on previous sales, this one is likely to run for 48 hours (although some rumors have suggested that Amazon might once again extend the event, which was originally a 24-hour ordeal). However, starting the week before, Amazon regularly throws out some early discounts and Lightning Deals to give shoppers a taste of what’s coming on Prime day, so savvy shoppers should stay vigilant and keep their eyes peeled during this time.

Any Prime Day iPhone deals found among these “pre-sale” bargains are likely to be just as good as those found during the event itself, or close to it, so don’t hesitate to grab one that catches your eye if it’s a model you like being offered at a worthy price. Amazon keeps limited stock on hand for Prime Day — once they’re gone, they’re gone — so there’s a good chance that early deal you saw won’t pop up again during the official sale days. If by some chance it does and it’s cheaper, you can always return the one you bought and grab it again at the lower price thanks to Amazon’s generous return policy.

What Prime Day iPhone deals to expect

As far as what Prime Day iPhone deals to expect, the largest discounts are naturally going to be (for the most part) on the latest and most expensive flagship models. That’s the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max right now — particularly the latter two — but also keep your eyes open for deals on last year’s high-end units like the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, which are still excellent phones with price tags to match.

Last-gen models get heavily discounted during these sales too, however, as retailers, Amazon included, like to clear shelves of old inventory to make room for new stuff. That’s doubly true now, with Apple poised to release this year’s new iPhone 12 at its fall launch event coming at the end of October. If you’re okay with buying a phone that’s a couple years older (this also applies to newer budget-friendly models like the iPhone SE), it’s very likely you’ll see these among these Prime Day iPhone deals. Just remember that with these last-gen phones, time is of the essence — there’s no guarantee you’ll find them that cheaply again when that old stock is finally exhausted.

Should I shop on Prime Day or wait until Black Friday?

Black Friday and Prime Day are placed only a month apart from each other this year. So if these Prime Day iPhone deals run the product you want out of stock, there’s a good possibility that Amazon won’t have the time to restock in time for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Since demand during Black Friday is also higher, anything you purchase will see large shipping delays and in some instances, delays that may last over a month, messing with your holiday gift-giving schedule come Christmas. We also don’t predict noticeable differences in prices for these iPhones between the two events so don’t let that hold you back from jumping on these Prime Day iPhone deals.

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