Back-to-school deals are live right now, and this is the best week of the year to buy. Every major carrier has its strongest offers of the season on the table, and the best cell phone deals land in the first half of August, before the academic year starts. We've verified every deal below against the carriers' own pages and will keep it updated throughout the entire back-to-school season.
As students and educators prepare for a new academic year, carriers are competing harder than usual. T-Mobile will hand you a brand-new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 for under $100. AT&T will give you an iPhone 17 Pro for free if you trade in any iPhone 13 or newer in any condition—and unlike most trade-in deals, existing customers qualify too.
The bigger change this year is on the phone plan side. T-Mobile launched dedicated student plans starting at $30/month at the end of July, AT&T takes 20% off its Premium 2.0 plan for verified students, and educators can still score teacher discounts at all three major carriers. Our favorite Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) go even cheaper, like Visible's $19/month unlimited plan on Verizon's network, or Mint's $15/month Unlimited plan running on T-Mobile's.
Should you buy now or wait? Three dates that matter
Buy a foldable by August 7. Samsung's trade-in credit of up to $1,200 and AT&T's preorder pricing both close when the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 start shipping.
Wait until August 12 if you want a Pixel. Google will launch the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, 11 Pro Fold and Pixel Watch 5 at its Made by Google event.
Consider waiting until mid-September for an iPhone. The iPhone 18 Pro is widely expected then, though Apple hasn't confirmed a date. Something else worth noting is the standard iPhone 18 is reportedly pushed to spring 2027, so if you want a non-Pro iPhone, the iPhone 17 is your current-generation option.
Buy a laptop or iPad by August 27, when Apple's back-to-school gift card promotion ends.
Explore the guide below to find the right phone and the best phone plan for students.
2026 T-Mobile back-to-school deals
T-Mobile has the two most aggressive foldable deals of the season and the loosest trade-in requirements on the iPhone 17. Here are our favorite deals from the Un-carrier:
Get the Galaxy Z Flip8 for under $100
T-Mobile is taking up to $1,100 off the brand-new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8, which brings a $1,199.99 foldable down to about $100. It's the cheapest brand-new current-generation flagship phone you'll find anywhere this month.
What makes it unusual is the "or." Most deals like this demand a new line and a trade-in. T-Mobile is requiring either a new line or an eligible trade-in—whichever you've got. You'll need to be on Experience More or Experience Beyond ($85/month or higher with AutoPay), and the discount is applied as 24 monthly bill credits.
The Z Flip8 ships on August 7.
See deal at T-Mobile
Save up to $1,900 on the Galaxy Z Fold8 or Fold8 Ultra
T-Mobile is knocking up to $1,900 off Samsung's newest big foldables, which makes the Galaxy Z Fold8 free and the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra about $200. For context, those phones retail at $1,899.99 and $2,099.99.
You'll need a trade-in to receive the biggest discount—like a Galaxy S26—and you'll need to be on Experience Beyond. The upside is that no new line is required, so existing customers can upgrade with this deal.
Both phones ship on August 7.
See deal at T-Mobile
Get the iPhone 17 Pro free without a trade-in
T-Mobile will take up to $1,100 off the iPhone 17 Pro, effectively making it free, and you don't need a trade-in. That's extremely rare on a phone that starts at $1,099.99.
The catch is that this is a switcher deal. You'll need to bring your number over to T-Mobile on a new line and land on Experience Beyond, T-Mobile's top plan at $105/month.
If you're already with T-Mobile, the trade-in deal below is the one for you.
See deal at T-Mobile
Up to $1,100 off the iPhone 17 with a trade-in
This is the deal for existing T-Mobile customers, because no new line is required. Trade in an eligible phone in good condition and you'll get up to $45.84/month in bill credits spread over 24 months, which works out to as much as $1,100 off an iPhone 17.
The genuinely surprising part is how far back the trade-in list reaches. T-Mobile's published values include:
- iPhone 14 Pro: Save up to $1,100
- iPhone 13: Save up to $830
- iPhone 6: Save up to $500
Yes, an iPhone 6. If you have a phone from 2014 in a drawer somewhere, it's worth $500 toward a new iPhone 17 right now. You'll need to be on Experience More or higher ($85/month or more with AutoPay), and T-Mobile caps credits so they never exceed the cost of the device.
See deal at T-Mobile
iPhone 17e on us on a $45/month plan
If the deals above are gated behind plans you don't want to pay for, this is the workaround. T-Mobile is offering up to $630 off the iPhone 17e, essentially making it free, and it only requires a plan at $45/month or higher with AutoPay. That's the lowest plan floor of any Apple deal T-Mobile is currently running.
It's also the only device deal on T-Mobile's page that explicitly extends to 55+, Military and First Responder plans, which makes it the pick for a lot of families that get shut out of the best offers.
You'll need to switch to T-Mobile with a number port-in. No trade-in required, and savings come as 24 monthly bill credits.
See deal at T-MobileThe cheapest phone T-Mobile will give you
Not everybody needs a $1,200 foldable for eighth grade. T-Mobile will hand over a free Samsung Galaxy A17 5G or REVVL 8 Pro when you add a line on a plan at $60/month or higher with AutoPay. No trade-in required.
For a first phone for a middle or high schooler, this is usually the smart buy.
See deal at T-MobileSave on T-Mobile internet, too
If you're a current T-Mobile wireless customer—or about to become one—you can also save on home internet. Bundling a new internet line with a qualifying voice line brings T-Mobile 5G Home Internet down to as low as $35/month with AutoPay, via a $15/month bill credit.
Students do better still: pair any T-Mobile student plan with 5G Home Internet, and it's $30/month with AutoPay, plus taxes and fees. There's also up to $200 back on a virtual prepaid Mastercard, depending on which plan you pick—just register your code within 30 days of activating.
To find out how much you can save, check below to see if T-Mobile home internet is available in your neighborhood.
2026 Verizon back-to-school deals
Verizon still runs the best bundle deals, so this is where you go if you want a tablet or a watch to come along with the phone. Here are the best of them:
Buy any iPhone, get a free iPad or Apple Watch
Buy any iPhone, and Verizon will give you either an iPad (A16) or an Apple Watch Series 11 free. You'll need to be on Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus; if you're eyeing the iPhone 17, current Verizon deals make it land at $0/month over 36 months.
Read the fine print on this one, because it's the most misreported deal of the season: A service plan is required on all three devices. The "free" iPad or Watch needs its own cellular line, typically $15–$25/month. Over 36 months of bill credits, that can add up pretty fast. If your student will mostly be on campus Wi-Fi, buying an iPad outright at Apple's education price often works out cheaper.
See deal at Verizon
Galaxy S26 and S26+ free, S26 Ultra for $5/month
This is the cleanest deal in the category, because there's nothing to trade in. Add a new line on Unlimited Ultimate, and Verizon will give you the Galaxy S26 or S26+ free, or the Galaxy S26 Ultra for $5/month. On a $1,299.99 phone, that's roughly $1,120 in credits over 36 months.
See deal at Verizon
Two ways to save on the Galaxy Z Fold8
Verizon is running two different deals on the Z Fold8, and which one suits you depends entirely on whether you have a phone to trade.
If you have a trade-in, you can get up to $1,100 off the Galaxy Z Fold8 or Z Fold8 Ultra, spread over 36 monthly credits, when you upgrade to Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate. One trap to watch—the phone you trade must have been active on your account for at least 60 days, so you can't buy a cheap phone this week and flip it.
If you're switching and have nothing to trade, the Z Fold8 256GB runs $30/month over 48 months with $460 in promotional credits, on Verizon's new Simplicity Plan with AutoPay and paper-free billing. The Z Fold8 Ultra is $35/month with $420 in credits.
Buy either one and Verizon adds six months of the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ perk free then $10/month after.
See deal at VerizonFree NFL Sunday Ticket with Verizon
Sports fans will cheer for Verizon's back-to-school perk—NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube on us, which Verizon values at up to $480 for the regular season. Buy a new 5G phone and add a line or upgrade on Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus to qualify.
Verizon home internet customers can get in on this too, including Fios, 5G Home Ultimate, Home Internet Lite Extra and Frontier Fiber plans. Existing home internet subscribers can buy in at a discounted rate.
Don't wait, enrollment closes September 2.
See deal at VerizonVerizon's Free Phone Guarantee: Any brand, any condition
This one isn't a seasonal promotion, but it's worth knowing about because it's the widest-open trade-in door in the industry. Verizon's Free Phone Guarantee gets you a free phone when you trade in any device from Apple, Google, or Samsung, in any condition, up to $1,000 in trade-in and promotional credit over 36 months.
You'll need to keep an active line on an eligible postpaid plan for the full 36 months, and the minimum plan tier runs $65–$90/month with Auto Pay depending on which phone you pick. If you're upgrading rather than switching, the trade-in has to have been active on your account for 60 days first.
Verizon also holds your core monthly plan price for three years on myPlan, though that lock excludes taxes, fees and perks—and it resets for another three years every time you change your plan.
Free phones on Verizon Prepaid—no credit check, no 36-month commitment
If you'd rather not attach a three-year bill-credit agreement to a teenager, Verizon Prepaid is a good alternative. On a new line on any Prepaid Unlimited plan, you can get:
- Samsung Galaxy A17 5G: Free
- Moto G Play 2026: Free
- Google Pixel 10a: $199.99, plus $100 back as $10/month service credits over 10 months
Two Prepaid Unlimited lines run $80/month after the first month with Auto Pay, or you can get four lines at $35 each. There's no credit check and no long-term agreement.
2026 AT&T back-to-school deals
AT&T is the only major carrier this season whose best deals explicitly include upgrades. Every deal below runs on a 0% APR, 36-month installment agreement with $0 down for well-qualified customers, with tax on the full price of the phone due at the time of sale.
Get the iPhone 17 Pro free when you trade in any iPhone 13 or newer, in any condition
AT&T will credit up to $1,100 over 36 months on the iPhone 17 Pro, bringing it to $0/month.
For trade-ins, AT&T accepts an iPhone 13 or higher in any condition (the iPhone 13 mini is excluded), with a trade value of $290 or more. This offer is open to both new and existing customers, so you don't have to switch carriers to get it.
You'll need an eligible unlimited plan. AT&T notes that credits can vary depending on your trade-in and plan combination, so the higher your plan tier, the larger your credit tends to be.
See deal at AT&T
Galaxy Z Fold8 free or Z Flip8 for $5.56/month until August 7th
This is the most time-sensitive deal on the page. AT&T's preorder trade-in structure closes when the phones start shipping on August 7.
Right now you can get the Galaxy Z Fold8 for $0/month (it retails at $1,899.99) or the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra with up to $1,900 off, landing at $5.56/month. The Galaxy Z Flip8 comes in at $5.56/month with up to $1,000 off.
Trade-in requirements differ by phone. The Fold8 needs a trade worth $290 or more. The Flip8 specifically requires a Galaxy S22+, Z Flip4, Z Fold3, or higher. And both are open to new and existing customers.
AT&T is also bundling a Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Tab A11+ 5G at $1.99/month each with these purchases, plus 50% off Samsung accessories.
See deal at AT&T
Pixel 10 Pro free with a trade-in from any year, in any condition
AT&T is giving away the Google Pixel 10 Pro at $0/month, down from $29.17/month, and the trade-in terms are the loosest we found anywhere: Any year, any condition. Not "any iPhone 13 or newer." Any year. It applies to new lines and upgrades alike.
One caveat worth mentioning is the Pixel 11 launches on August 12. If you take this deal now, you're committing to 36 months of bill credits on a phone that's about to be last year's model. If you specifically want a Pixel, waiting a week could be the better move—and Google historically discounts the outgoing generation hard right after a launch.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL is also free with a trade-in if you want the bigger screen.
See deal at AT&T
Get the iPhone 17e for under $1/month
AT&T is running the iPhone 17e at $0.99/month, down from $16.67/month, and no trade-in is required. On a $599.99 current-generation iPhone, that's the cheapest route to a new iPhone on a major carrier if you've got nothing to trade in.
You'll need to add a new line on an eligible unlimited plan, with the discount applied over 36 monthly bill credits.
See deal at AT&T
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G free, nothing to trade
The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G is free on AT&T with no trade-in and nothing down. You'll need to add a new line on an eligible unlimited plan, with credits over 36 months.
For a student who needs a reliable 5G phone and doesn't care about a flagship camera, this is the least complicated deal on the page.
See deal at AT&TMVNO back-to-school deals
MVNOs are already a great value, providing the same network coverage you get from the big carriers at much lower prices. Snag a new plan with unlimited data to keep you connected to classmates (and your favorite study apps) wherever, whenever. With these MVNO back-to-school deals, you can save even more.
One thing to check before you sign up for any of these is whether taxes and fees are included. Visible, US Mobile and Total Wireless build them into the advertised price. Mint, Ultra Mobile and Twigby add them on top, usually 10–20%. At these price points, that gap is big enough to change which plan is actually cheapest.
Get unlimited data for $19/month with Visible
Sign up with Visible and use promo code SAVE6 at checkout to take $6/month off for your first 12 months. That brings the plans to:
- Visible: $19/month (normally $25/month)
- Visible+: $29/month (normally $35/month)
- Visible+ Pro: $39/month (normally $45/month)
Twelve months covers a full academic year, and taxes and fees are included in those prices. You'll need to keep service for 12 consecutive months, or you forfeit the remaining credits. If you're going for Visible+ Pro, the code SUMMER takes $10/month off instead of $6, so it beats SAVE6 by $4/month on that tier.
Mint Mobile: Any plan for $15/month
New customers on Mint can get any plan for $15/month—including Unlimited. That's the same price whether you take 6GB, 17GB, 23GB, or unlimited data, so there's no reason to take anything but Unlimited.
Mint bills you for service upfront: $45 for three months, $90 for six, or $180 for twelve. No promo code needed, and there's no port-in requirement.
Fine print worth knowing: unlimited customers who use more than 50GB a month may see reduced speeds for the rest of the cycle, video streams in SD, hotspot is capped at 20GB, and taxes and fees are extra.
See deal at MintTotal Wireless: $25/month unlimited
Total MAX 5G BYO runs $25/month with AutoPay, and that's the standing price, not an introductory teaser. You get unlimited talk, text and data, unlimited hotspot, and taxes and fees included. You'll need to bring your own unlocked phone.
Every other cheap plan on this page eventually resets to a higher rate. This one doesn't, which makes it the plan we'd actually recommend to a student who plans to keep it through graduation.
Total also offers a Samsung Galaxy A16 5G free with any phone plan, a Moto G 5G 2026 free on Total MAX 5G or higher, and four free 5G phones when you switch to Total STARTER.
Ultra Mobile: 30% off annual plans for back-to-school
Join Ultra Mobile with this back-to-school deal and take 30% off 12-month plans or 15% off 6-month plans. The annual pricing works out to:
- 4GB: $9.10/month ($109.20 for the year, saving $46.80)
- 8GB: $11.90/month ($142.80 for the year, saving $61.20)
- 12GB: $14/month
- 24GB: $18.90/month
- Unlimited: $23.80/month
- Unlimited+: $28.70/month (saving $147.60)
The 8GB annual plan is the sweet spot for a student who's on campus Wi-Fi most of the day—$142.80 covers the entire school year. Hotspot runs up to 10GB on Unlimited and 25GB on Unlimited+, and every plan includes unlimited talk and text to 90+ international destinations plus Mexico and Canada.
New customers only, upfront payment required, and taxes and fees are extra. This offer ends August 31.
US Mobile: A year of unlimited for $199
US Mobile is doing Annual Unlimited Starter for $199 for the first year—about $16.58/month—or Annual Unlimited Premium for $299, roughly $24.92/month. Taxes and fees are included.
What sets US Mobile apart is that every line gets access to all three major networks, and you can switch between them. Starter includes 20GB of hotspot; Premium includes unlimited hotspot, 20GB of international data, and a free smartwatch line. There's also a 30-day free trial when you port a number in.
After the first year, Starter renews at $22.50/month and Premium at $32.50/month on annual billing.
Twigby: Cheap for three months, then not
Switch to Twigby and your first three months run $5/month for 2GB, $10/month for 5GB, or $25/month for Unlimited. It's the lowest entry price in this roundup.
After three months, those plans jump to $15, $20, and $35 respectively—that's up to a 3x increase, which is something worth considering. Twigby also itemizes fees on top, including a $1.99 administration fee.
If you want three cheap months and you're happy to move on afterward, it's a fine deal. If you want a plan you can leave alone for a school year, Total Wireless or Visible will treat you better.
Apple back-to-school deals with the Apple Education Program
Phones aren't the only thing on sale in August. Carriers bundle tablets and smartwatches with phone deals, while laptops come straight from Apple at education pricing.
With exclusive Apple Education Program back-to-school deals, you get education pricing on Macs and iPads plus an Apple Gift Card with qualifying purchases.
Note the change from last year: Apple's 2026 promotion is a gift card, not the free AirPods or Apple Pencil it ran previously. The offer ends August 27, 2026.
One more new requirement: UNiDAYS verification is now required on Apple's US education store, so set that up before you shop.
MacBook Pro
Get $100 off the 14" MacBook Pro and the biggest gift card in the promotion:
- $1,899 for the 14" MacBook Pro with the M5 chip (usually $1,999)
- Plus a $150 Apple Gift Card—$250 in total value
The MacBook Pro is the ultimate powerhouse for back-to-school. With the M5 chip, a Liquid Retina XDR display, and battery life that outlasts a full day of classes, it handles video editing, engineering coursework, and heavy multitasking without complaint. For students in a demanding major, this is the machine that won't need replacing before graduation.
See at AmazonSee at Apple
MacBook Air
Get $100 off when you buy the MacBook Air at education pricing:
- $1,199 for the 13" with the M5 chip (usually $1,299)
- Plus a $100 Apple Gift Card—$200 in total value
The MacBook Air is still the default recommendation for most students. Its lightweight design, M-series chip, and all-day battery keep up with back-to-back classes and late-night projects. Fast, portable, and built to last, it's the perfect study sidekick.
See at AmazonSee at Apple
MacBook Neo
You can get $100 off Apple's cheapest Mac:
- $599 for the 256GB MacBook Neo (usually $699)
- $699 for the 512GB model with Touch ID (usually $799)
The MacBook Neo is excluded from the gift card offer, so you're getting $100 off rather than $200 in total value. But if budget is the constraint, this is the one. It's the cheapest way into macOS, and for writing papers, research, and browsing it's more than enough machine.
See at AmazonSee at AppleWorth knowing: Apple raised prices in June
Before you get too excited about that gift card, some context. Apple raised Mac and iPad prices across the board on June 25, 2026, citing memory component costs.
The 13" MacBook Air went from $1,099 to $1,299. The 11" iPad Air went from $599 to $749. The 11" iPad Pro went from $999 to $1,199. The entry iPad went from $349 to $449.
So this year's $100 gift card is sitting on top of a $200 price increase. In real terms, Apple's 2026 back-to-school promotion is worse value than 2025's—the gift card is smaller relative to what you're paying, and the free AirPods are gone. It's still the best price you'll get on a new Mac, but it's worth going in with clear eyes.
You'll also see a lot of sites still quoting a $999 MacBook Air, a $429 iPad, or a $499 MacBook Neo. Those are all pre-June prices and no longer accurate.
AirPods 4 for $99
Apple isn't giving AirPods away with an iPad this year, but they're on sale instead. The all-new AirPods 4 are $99 right now, down from $129.
Designed for all-day comfort with rich, immersive sound, the AirPods 4 keep you focused on lectures, playlists, or calls. Their sleek design and sweat-resistant build make them perfect for campus life.
If you want noise cancellation on a budget, the AirPods 4 with ANC are $119 in Renewed Premium condition, down from $179.
See at AmazonSee at Apple
Apple Watch Series 11 for $299
You can get $100 off the Apple Watch Series 11 at Best Buy right now, with no service line required:
- $299 for the 42mm (usually $399)
- $329 for the 46mm (usually $429)
For students, a watch earns its place by keeping class alerts and campus notifications on your wrist instead of in your hand during a lecture. Add fitness tracking and sleep monitoring and it covers the parts of student life that tend to slip.
One timing note: the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected in September. If you can wait a few weeks, it's worth seeing what launches before you commit.
See at AmazonSee at AppleGet a free tablet with your new phone
If you'd rather have a tablet thrown in with a phone than pay for one outright, all three major carriers are bundling right now:
- Verizon: iPad (A16) on us with any iPhone purchase, or swap it for an Apple Watch Series 11. Requires Unlimited Ultimate or Plus.
- T-Mobile: iPad (A16) for $199, up to $400.99 off, with a new mobile internet line at $25/month or more.
- T-Mobile: Galaxy Tab A11+ 5G on us, up to $289.99 in value, with a new mobile internet line.
- Verizon: Gizmo Watch 4 and Galaxy Tab A11+ on us when you buy any Android phone, with a new line and service plan on each device.
- AT&T: Galaxy Tab A11+ 5G for $1.99/month bundled with a Galaxy Z Fold8 or Z Flip8.
Here's the catch nobody prints: a "free" tablet needs its own line. Every offer above requires a separate cellular plan on the tablet, typically $15–$25/month. Across 24 to 36 months of bill credits, that's $360 to $900 in service on a device you were told was free. If your student is mostly on Wi-Fi, buying an iPad at Apple's education price is usually the cheaper path.
See deal at VerizonSmartwatch and kids' tracker deals
If you're the parent of a younger kid, this is probably the most useful part of the page—a tracker watch is often a better first step than a phone.
- Verizon Gizmo Watch 4: Free $180 in promotional credits over 36 months, on a new watch line at $10/month. No trade-in, and it's open to new and existing customers. It has location tracking, a school mode, and communication limited to approved contacts only. This offer ends September 3.
- Verizon Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Tab S10 FE: Free. Up to $650 per device in credits over 36 months. Works with a new Samsung phone or your own existing Samsung or Android phone, with a new line and $15/month service per device.
- T-Mobile Apple Watch SE 3 or Series 11: Up to $300 off, on a new watch line with a Watch Plan Plus at $15/month or more.
- T-Mobile Galaxy Watch9 free or Watch Ultra2 for $269.99, with up to $430 in credits on wearable service at $15/month or more.
Student discounts on laptops, tablets, and phones
Beyond Apple, most manufacturers run year-round student programs. These are the ones worth verifying for:
- Samsung: up to 30% off, and it stacks with public and seasonal offers. The program covers phones, tablets, Galaxy Book laptops, and wearables. Verify with a .edu email or through ID.me. Limited to two products per category per 12 months.
- Google Store: 10% off, verified through ID.me. Runs through December 31, 2026.
- OnePlus: up to 40% off, plus up to an extra 10% for verified students.
- Nothing: 5% off the Nothing Phone (3) and Phone (4a) Pro through UNiDAYS.
- Best Buy: rotating student-exclusive offers rather than a fixed percentage. You'll need a My Best Buy account plus enrollment verification. Parents of enrolled students can register too.
All the latest cell phone news and deals, delivered every Thursday.
Scott Houghton
Jr. Staff Writer
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