No-trade phone deals surge in 2024 – study

Navi, an independent, unbiased wireless comparison platform, announced today its finding that 2024 has been an unprecedented year for no-trade phone deals, particularly for shoppers willing to switch carriers and sign up for a premium unlimited plan.

Prior to 2024, promotions at the big three carriers, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon typically required an eligible trade-in device in good working condition, with phone model limitations. Other qualifications included switching carriers and signing up for select plans. Previously, no-trade deals were only available sporadically for select devices.

In late February 2024, Verizon introduced significant no-trade promotions on a wide range of phone models including all iPhone 15 series devices, as well as select Galaxy S24 models.

In April 2024, T-Mobile followed suit by introducing no-trade promotions across iPhone 15 series and Galaxy S24 series devices.

Navi reports the increase in no-trade deals was most notable among switchers on premium unlimited plans, with average no-trade value in 2024 up 123% versus 2023. For new customers on premium plans, the average no-trade promotional value in 2024 was $343 compared to $154 in 2023. In addition, Navi data shows 1.3x more no-trade phone deals in 2024 compared to 2023 across all wireless shopper segments, from switchers to existing customers, and on all types of postpaid unlimited plans from the least expensive to the most premium.

Notably, Navi also observed an uptick in no-trade deals for the iPhone 15 leading up to the iPhone 16 launch, with T-Mobile and Verizon both offering no-trade promos as high as $830 across all iPhone 15 series devices in the weeks leading up to the iPhone 16 release. And as of October 10th, 2024, Verizon began offering a no-trade deal for switchers on all iPhone 16 series models, with up to $830 on their premium ‘Unlimited Ultimate’ plan.

Read the full press release here.

Navi