Just as everyone was enjoying receiving their $1,200 checks, Apple unveiled its latest budget iPhone model: the iPhone SE (2020), priced from $399 and available for preorder starting April 17. That price was already quite affordable, but carriers have unexpectedly started offering discounts already.
Red Pocket Mobile (now increased to $349)
MVNO Red Pocket Mobile (which previously acquired Freedompop) has now announced that it will sell the iPhone SE (2020) for $299 [sold out], and it also includes 6 months of free 3GB talk-and-data service (on the AT&T network).
The price has now gone up by $50 to start at $349, but it is tax-free, so it is still a pretty good deal compared to buying directly. Click here to purchase.
Note: Red Pocket’s unlock policy used to be 180 days, but after this deal, they quietly changed it to 360 days, which is pretty sneaky. If you plan to switch to another network, make sure to read the details carefully!
Best Buy Deal
Best Buy also has some offers. The AT&T version of the iPhone SE 2020 is sold at regular price, but comes with a $50 Best Buy gift card. The Sprint version is discounted by $100 and also comes with a $50 gift card, with the condition that service must be activated at the time of purchase.
Summary
In my view, the iPhone SE (2020) is still better suited as a backup phone. It is inexpensive, and its latest CPU should help ensure several years of iOS updates. If you need one, it is worth considering.