X

Free iPhone XR from Sprint with eligible trade-in

Assuming you have an eligible phone to hand over, this is one of the cheapest ways to own an XR.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read
2018-09-12-12-57-21

The iPhone XR livens up the iPhone family.

Screenshot by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Apple's last new iPhone of 2018, the iPhone XR , is now available for preorder. Although it's not quite as expensive as the iPhone XS ($1,000 and up), the $749 starting price puts it out of reach for many a buyer.

Thankfully, there's at least one deal to be had on Apple's "cheap" flagship. It comes from Sprint -- but stay tuned for iPhone XR deals from other carriers. AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and US Mobile all introduced special offers on the iPhone XS and XS Max, so it's quite likely they'll do likewise for the XR.

Read more: iPhone deals: Save big on last year's models 

In the meantime, here's the scoop on Sprint's deal: When you preorder an iPhone XR (64GB), trade in an eligible phone and sign up for an 18-month Sprint Flex Lease, the phone itself will cost you $0 -- you pay only for service.  

That service starts at $40 per month, for a plan that includes 2GB of high-speed data. But Sprint's Unlimited plans range from $60 to $90 -- on par with what the other Big Four carriers charge.

As for eligible trades (for a new line of service), here's the list: iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8+, iPhone 7, iPhone 7+, Samsung Galaxy S9, Samsung Galaxy S9+, Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8+, Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, LG G7 ThinQ, Google Pixel, Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL.

It's worth noting that Sprint is still offering this same $0 deal on the iPhone XS (again, with eligible trade-in and an 18-month service plan) -- at least for now.

If you take it as a Big Four-carrier unlimited service plan is going to cost you at least $60 per month, then Sprint's deal is pretty tempting.

Your thoughts?  


CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones , gadgets and much more. Note that CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter!

Watch this: Unboxing the red iPhone XR

Read MoreAll the latest Sprint coupons

CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest promo codes from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.