Trade in your old phone and get up to $1,100 off a new iPhone 17 at AT&T - here's how

Jason Hiner/ZDNET Apple just unveiled the new iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max , and if you're interested in upgrading, plenty of mobile carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and more have deals for you. And if you're an AT&T user, new and existing customers can get up to $1,100 off any of the latest phones (the equivalent of a free iPhone 17 Pro) with an eligible iPhone trade-in, in any condition. The new iPhones will be available to preorder at most major carriers on Friday, and can be purchased in stores starting Sept. 19. AT&T preorders can be made through att.com, the myAT&T app, and AT&T retail stores. AT&T's complete iPhone 17 series offers are outlined on the carrier's site. Also: The best iPhone 17 cases The iPhone 17 line includes an A19 chip, a 120Hz ProMotion display, and an enhanced front-facing camera for flexible recording. The iPhone Air is Apple's slimmest and lightest iPhone yet, aimed at users who want a lightweight build and a slightly larger screen than the base iPhone 17. The iPhone Air replaces the iPhone Plus model this year. Eligible iPhones accepted for trade-in in any condition include the following: Apple iPhone 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, and 16e. Other non-iPhone devices from Samsung, OnePlus, or Google may be accepted if they have a trade-in value of $180 or more. Still, you'll want to check out the full offer details on AT&T's website if you're coming from an Android (just click "see offer details" under each phone's listing). A closer look at the iPhone 17 Pro camera. Jason Hiner/ZDNET The offer is clearly not without a few fine print details, as always. You'll pay tax on the full retail price and an activation/upgrade fee of $35 per line, and your credits start within three bills and are applied in equal amounts over the installment term. So, obviously, the phone isn't truly "free," but this offer makes it more obtainable to those wanting to upgrade. The offer is only valid with the trade-in of an iPhone 13 or higher (excl. iPhone 13 mini) in any condition, or an eligible smartphone with a minimum trade-in value of $180 for up to $1,100 off iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. Each iPhone below the Pro models decreases the money off, so read the complete terms. I prefer going into the store myself, and as an AT&T customer, you may see me there on Friday. Also: The best iPhone 17 accessories you should buy if you're planning to upgrade Generally, here's the tier structure for new and existing customers with an eligible iPhone trade-in, any condition: iPhone 17 Pro on AT&T, up to $1,100 off (full value of the phone) iPhone 17 Pro Max up to $1,100 off iPhone 17 on AT&T, or up to $830 off (full value of the phone) iPhone Air up to $830 off The offer also requires a postpaid unlimited voice and data plan starting at $76/month before discounts if you're a new, single-line customer. AT&T 55+, Value Plus, Value Plus VL, and Value Plus Unlimited plans are not eligible. See att.com/unlimited for current unlimited plans. If you're an existing customer, you can add to your current wireless plan (if eligible), which may be less. AT&T also has other deals on Apple's new products. You can also grab the latest Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 -- buy one, get one $300 off on your second watch. If you're looking to snag a new iPhone 17 series, don't miss a chance to preorder with these offers at AT&T. How did I rate this deal? I rated this deal a 4/5 Editor's deal rating. It's a relatively good offer if you have an eligible iPhone to trade in and want to upgrade. Plus, it's open to new and existing AT&T customers. When will this deal expire? AT&T doesn't specify an end date to this deal. We're guessing it will run at least the week of preorders, likely longer, but we'll keep you posted. Deals are subject to sell out or expire anytime, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We're sorry if you've missed out on this deal, but don't fret -- we're constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com. How do we rate deals at ZDNET? We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech. In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor's deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision. At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members' expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts. Also: How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2025