Technologies

Best iPhone Deals 2022: Cheapest Ways to Get an iPhone

Find the best iPhone deals available right now. Save on your new iPhone with trade-in promotions, gift cards, and other deals.

‘Tis the season for deals, so if you’ve been looking to get your hands on one of Apple’s sleek and ultrapopular devices at a bargain, now’s the time to buy. There are tons of offers out there that make the iPhone more affordable, including some serious discounts with a trade-in or activation on a new line of service.

Our team has scoured the web to bring you the very best iPhone deals available right now. Below, you’ll find the best offers out there on the new iPhone 14 and the 2022 iPhone SE, as well as some older models like the iPhone 12 and 13. We’ll continue to update this page as offers come and go, so be sure to check back often for the best prices available.

Best iPhone deals available now

Find the best deals for models across iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 12, iPhone SE 2022 and older iPhone models below grouped by generation.

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iPhone 14 deals

The iPhone 14 series is Apple’s current flagship line of phones and includes the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and top-spec iPhone 14 Pro Max. Being Apple’s latest and greatest, these phones don’t come cheap, though there are plenty of iPhone deals out there to cut their sticker prices down to size.

iPhone 13 deals

The iPhone 13 may not be Apple’s flagship series anymore, but these are still some super powerful phones worth considering. With the iPhone 14 taking top spot, there are some great iPhone 13 deals to be found right now.

iPhone 12 deals

Though it’s no longer the latest model, Apple still sells the iPhone 12 and reduced its price when the iPhone 13 launched in 2021 making for some stellar iPhone deals. It’s a solid upgrade for anyone still using an older iPhone who doesn’t want to spend top dollar.

iPhone SE (2022) deals

The budget option in Apple’s lineup, the iPhone SE was updated for 2022 but is still targeted squarely at people who want a no-frills iPhone experience. From $429, it’s the affordable device for anyone who wants to stick with a familiar experience.

Older iPhone deals

In recent years, Apple has formed a habit of keeping some older iPhone models in the lineup at reduced prices for those that don’t want to pay more for newer devices. Because of this, it’s possible to find some really competitive iPhone deals on previous-gen models.

Which iPhone deal is the best?

While it appears a simple question at first, the best iPhone deal for you might be different from the best iPhone deal for someone else. Apple currently sells eight different iPhone models, so choosing the right one for you means assessing your needs and preferences when it comes to things like design, features, cameras and price.

The current iPhone 14 is going to be the best iPhone for most people as it balances top-tier features with a relatively affordable price (especially with the above deals). It has a bright and clear OLED display, 5G support and cameras that are more than good enough for day-to-day use, and the A15 Bionic chip powering it is a portable powerhouse.

Take the step up to the iPhone 14 Pro line and you’ll get an additional camera lens for macro photography, a more powerful A16 Bionic chip, a brighter display with the new Dynamic Island feature plus a heftier feeling stainless steel construction. It’s the best iPhone for those that want the latest and greatest technology from Apple.

The outgoing iPhone 13 models are still stellar phones, though, and you can pick up the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini from Apple for a while longer. If value is your main decision driver, the iPhone 12 is also still available from Apple and from carriers with some significant markdowns. Just because these are previous-gen devices, that doesn’t mean they might not be the best iPhone for you with their great displays, cameras and speedy performance making them great value for money. Plus, Apple is great at supporting its older devices with software updates for many years after they are released.

If you want the most affordable iPhone, you’re going to be looking at the iPhone SE (at least when it comes to brand new phones, that is). Updated for 2022, the third-generation iPhone SE maintains the overall design of the iPhone 8 which will be familiar to a lot of iPhone buyers. Don’t be fooled by its classic appearance, though, as inside it is powered by the beefy A15 Bionic chip found in the current flagship iPhone models. It also offers 5G connectivity and a 12-megapixel camera. For $429, it’s a lot of iPhone for not a lot of money.

What is the cheapest iPhone deal?

To buy outright in new condition, the iPhone SE is going to offer the cheapest iPhone deal. It starts at $429 contract-free and you can find carriers offering iPhone SE deals from as little as $11 per month making it a super affordable choice.

Apple also still sells the iPhone 12 from $600 meaning you can get a more modern-looking device with an edge-to-edge display and dual camera system for not much more, though it’s powered by the slower and older A14 Bionic chip.

When is the best time to snag an iPhone deal?

There are a few points in the year that make the most sense to buy an iPhone. The first is when a new model launches, usually in September each year. If you’re an early adopter that wants the best device as soon as possible, that’s when you’ll get it. It’s also a great time of year to buy if you’re looking for an iPhone deal as prices on older models drop to make room for the new devices.

Other times of year that make the most sense are during major sale seasons, including annual events like Labor Day sales, Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Apple tends not to participate in these events, at least not directly, but you can bet third-party retailers and carriers will be offering some of their best iPhone deals of the year at these times.

Get your next phone for the best price.

Set price alerts on your favorite models with the CNET Shopping extension and get notified when prices drop.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Tuesday, Oct. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Oct. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword has an odd vertical shape, with an extra Across clue, and only four Down clues. The clues are not terribly difficult, but one or two could be tricky. Read on if you need the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Smokes, informally
Answer: CIGS

5A clue: «Don’t have ___, man!» (Bart Simpson catchphrase)
Answer: ACOW

6A clue: What the vehicle in «lane one» of this crossword is winning?
Answer: RACE

7A clue: Pitt of Hollywood
Answer: BRAD

8A clue: «Yeah, whatever»
Answer: SURE

9A clue: Rd. crossers
Answer: STS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Things to «load» before a marathon
Answer: CARBS

2D clue: Mythical figure who inspired the idiom «fly too close to the sun»
Answer: ICARUS

3D clue: Zoomer around a small track
Answer: GOCART

4D clue: Neighbors of Norwegians
Answer: SWEDES

Technologies

Watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight Test 11

Technologies

New California Law Wants Companion Chatbots to Tell Kids to Take Breaks

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the new requirements on AI companions into law on Monday.

AI companion chatbots will have to remind users in California that they’re not human under a new law signed Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The law, SB 243, also requires companion chatbot companies to maintain protocols for identifying and addressing cases in which users express suicidal ideation or self-harm. For users under 18, chatbots will have to provide a notification at least every three hours that reminds users to take a break and that the bot is not human.

It’s one of several bills Newsom has signed in recent weeks dealing with social media, artificial intelligence and other consumer technology issues. Another bill signed Monday, AB 56, requires warning labels on social media platforms, similar to those required for tobacco products. Last week, Newsom signed measures requiring internet browsers to make it easy for people to tell websites they don’t want them to sell their data and banning loud advertisements on streaming platforms.

AI companion chatbots have drawn particular scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators in recent months. The Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation into several companies in response to complaints by consumer groups and parents that the bots were harming children’s mental health. OpenAI introduced new parental controls and other guardrails in its popular ChatGPT platform after the company was sued by parents who allege ChatGPT contributed to their teen son’s suicide.

«We’ve seen some truly horrific and tragic examples of young people harmed by unregulated tech, and we won’t stand by while companies continue without necessary limits and accountability,» Newsom said in a statement.

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One AI companion developer, Replika, told CNET that it already has protocols to detect self-harm as required by the new law, and that it is working with regulators and others to comply with requirements and protect consumers.

«As one of the pioneers in AI companionship, we recognize our profound responsibility to lead on safety,» Replika’s Minju Song said in an emailed statement. Song said Replika uses content-filtering systems, community guidelines and safety systems that refer users to crisis resources when needed.

A Character.ai spokesperson said the company «welcomes working with regulators and lawmakers as they develop regulations and legislation for this emerging space, and will comply with laws, including SB 243.» OpenAI spokesperson Jamie Radice called the bill a «meaningful move forward» for AI safety. «By setting clear guardrails, California is helping shape a more responsible approach to AI development and deployment across the country,» Radice said in an email.

One bill Newsom has yet to sign, AB 1064, would go further by prohibiting developers from making companion chatbots available to children unless the AI companion is «not foreseeably capable of» encouraging harmful activities or engaging in sexually explicit interactions, among other things.