T-Mobile Revives Free iPhone 17 Offer With 1 New Unlimited Line, No Trade-In

7 articles · Updated · TechRadar · May 29

T-Mobile has brought back a top iPhone 17 promotion, letting customers get the phone included when they add 1 eligible unlimited line without trading in an older device.
The offer applies to switchers and existing customers adding a line on Experience Beyond, Experience More, Better Value or equivalent legacy plans, while the entry-level Essentials plan is excluded.
The no-trade-in structure makes the deal more accessible than typical carrier promotions, which usually require handing over an old phone to unlock the biggest discount.
T-Mobile is also waiving trade-ins on some Samsung Galaxy S26 offers, including a free Galaxy S26 Plus with a new unlimited line and up to $1,100 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

In a market with shrinking sales and rising phone costs, how can T-Mobile afford to give away the new iPhone 17?

Is T-Mobile's 'free' phone deal a true 'Un-carrier' move or a clever way to lock customers into its most expensive plans?

As T-Mobile offers free flagship phones, how will competitors Verizon and AT&T react in the battle for 5G customers?