Prime Day deals are back in action and more amazing than ever, but they’ll be gone real soon as it’s the last day of Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale. This major sales event is effectively a second version of Prime Day aimed at anyone who is looking to shop early for the holidays and it’s your best bet to find some amazing Prime Day iPhone deals. Think of it as a prequel to Black Friday. Other retailers are following suit, like Walmart’s October Rollbacks event, which is basically just a Walmart Prime Day sale in disguise. That’s live now, as well.
We’ve got you covered with some of the best Prime Day iPhone deals to shop today — from Amazon and carriers like Verizon. Of course, if you’re wondering whether you should save big now, or wait until Black Friday, we’ll also discuss that below, too!
Today’s best Prime Day iPhone deals
Apple iPhone 13 (128GB, Verizon) — $5.00 a month for 36 months
Why Buy
- Fast performance
- Excellent photography and video recording
- Great battery life
- Best value among the latest iPhones
Apple announced its iPhone 13 lineup at the California Streaming event last September, but we all knew it was coming. The 13 lineup included a full suite of phones, including the standard model, a smaller Mini with similar specs, a beefed-up Pro and a super-beefy Pro Max. As with previous releases, the standard iPhone 13 is the one we recommend for most people, as it hits the sweet spot in terms of size, price, and performance.
All of the phones have a Super Retina XD display, with the standard iPhone 13 measuring 6.1 inches (the same size as the iPhone 12). Apple really hyped up the new camera in the iPhone 13 as well. It has improved light sensitivity for better low-light photos and videos. The Pro and Pro Max have Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras, although the standard and Mini do not. However, the photo apps themselves did get improvements with the upgrade to iOS 15, including a new Cinematic Mode. Smartphone photographers have a lot to like in the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 13 Mini was the cheapest of the bunch, launching at $699, while the standard iPhone 13 launched at $799. As Apple’s latest phone, your best bet for scoring iPhone deals on these newer models is with carrier signup offers, which can even get you one for free. That’s a fantastic bargain if you’re looking to switch carriers, upgrade to an unlimited plan, and/or have an older device you want to trade in toward something new. Note that the iPhone 13 Mini is no longer available on Apple’s website and there will be no iPhone Mini 14, according to Apple.
Apple iPhone SE (64GB, Verizon) — free with unlimited plan
If the ever-growing price tags and screen sizes of flagship iPhones have you down, you’re not alone. In 2020, Apple heeded the cries of fans and finally brought back the beloved iPhone SE for its second generation, which is an excellent mid-range alternative to the much pricier flagships. The new third generation was just announced at Apple’s Spring Event 2022. The new model comes loaded with the A15 Bionic chip, giving the SE the same six-core CPU as the flagship iPhone 13. Overall, it’s 2.2 times faster than the iPhone 8.
Along with the chipset, some other improvements that the 2022 iPhone SE bring to the table include 5G capability, a longer battery life (a notorious issue that plagued the second-gen SE), additional camera features, and a stronger glass front and rear. It still sports a pared-down camera module compared to its flagship counterparts, along with the chunky “forehead and chin” bezels of the iPhone 8, but for the money, the third-gen iPhone SE gives you a lot of phone, and it’s by far the cheapest entry point into the iOS ecosystem if you don’t want to buy refurbished.
The third-gen iPhone SE specs and design aren’t anything ground-breaking, but what should really grab your attention is the phone’s retail price of just $429. That’s an incredible value for a new Apple mobile. If you want a new iPhone and don’t want to pay flagship (or retail) prices, the iPhone SE is an easy choice.
iPhone 11 Pro Max (64GB, Unlocked) — $491, was $850
When the iPhone 11 series launched in 2019, to say we were impressed is an understatement. At the time, our review team declared that the iPhone 11 Pro Max was not just the best iPhone ever made but the best smartphone ever made, period. That’s quite a bold statement, but it’s not one that we would make if it weren’t true. Now, in 2022, two new iPhone flagship generations have been released since the iPhone 11 was rolled out, but the 11 Pro Max is still a fantastic device, and it’s cheaper than ever now.
Following the 2018 iPhone XS series, the iPhone 11 was the first generation to feature a “Pro Max” model, which stood as a premium plus-sized upgrade over the standard flagships. It’s no surprise that the iPhone 11 Pro Max was the most expensive of the 2019 launch, and that has continued with the iPhone 13. Nonetheless, these high-end flagships boast some pretty amazing features, and if you’re willing to opt for a last-gen model, you can get a ton of phone for not nearly as much as you’d have paid even a year or two ago.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max is fitted with a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with a 2,688 x 1,242 resolution, so it’s slightly smaller than the newer iPhone 12 Pro Max. It’s nonetheless not what you’d call a small phone by any means, and it’s definitely weighty in the hand. That’s thanks to the powerful hardware and superb camera module that’s packed in there, along with the generous battery that delivers all-day power without a hitch. At release, pricing for the iPhone 11 Pro Max started at $1,099, but ongoing iPhone deals are your chance to grab a one for far less.
Should you shop these Prime Day iPhone deals or wait until Black Friday?
Prime Day Apple deals are usually pretty special and a great time to buy yourself something new like an iPhone. So, will that extend to the Prime Early Access Sale? While we don’t have any concrete data to compare to past sales as this is the first one of its kind, we can consider what Prime Day is like compared to Black Friday.
Prime Day is often keen to focus on technology which is why we see so many good Prime Day phone deals around that time. It also has the advantage of being earlier in the year than Black Friday which often works out well for anyone spreading the cost for things throughout the year. The Prime Early Access Sale doesn’t have that luxury as it’s a month or so before Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, that brings with it a key advantage.
If you do your shopping earlier and buy as part of the Prime Early Access Sale, the returns window will span across Black Friday. Keep your new purchase boxed up and you can always return it if it happens to end up cheaper as part of Black Friday or Cyber Monday. That may not be ideal if you want to use it immediately or you’re looking to give it to someone as a gift, but if you’re starting your holiday shopping early, it’s the best value option. You can’t lose, simply put.
While we’re thinking about the differences between the two — don’t forget that the Prime Early Access Sale is exclusive to Prime customers. Black Friday is open to everyone and covers all major retailers meaning you have more options but also more competition as everyone can buy the great deal you’ve just spotted. However, as with Prime Day, we’re expecting to see other retailers also offer their own sales during the Prime Early Access Sale period. In which case, you could save big.
Ultimately, there’s a bit of a gamble here but if you’re willing to deal with returning an item, it’s probably going to pay off if you buy early rather than later. Also, it’s fairly likely that the price difference between the Prime Early Access Sale and Black Friday may be more incremental than anything so whenever you buy, it should be worthwhile.
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