Why T-Mobile Is the Worst Choice for iPhone Pre-Orders

Want a new iPhone on T-Mobile's network? Get ready to make some serious down payments.

Mandatory down payments on the iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max will have you forking over from $279.99 to as much as $729.99 toward the purchase of Apple's new flagships. To be fair, T-Mobile has always required down payments on their pricier phones, but this time around the down payments could price some customers out of T-Mobile.

MORE: Where to Pre-Order the iPhone Xs and Xs Max

Ultimately, your iPhone will cost the same as if you bought it elsewhere — the iPhone Xs costs $999, while the Xs Max starts at $1,099 — but the price of admission is now higher than ever. The down payments run the gamut as follows. Each payment is then followed by a $30/month payment plan over the next 24 months:

Down payments for the pricier iPhone Xs Max come with an even bigger down payments sticker shock.

Fortunately, there's a little relief. The Uncarrier Network announced that it's taking up to $300 off the cost of a new iPhone when you trade in your old iPhone. Even better, any iPhone in good working condition will get at least a $100 trade-in value. The credits are dispersed over 24 months when you buy your new phone on an installment plan.

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iPhone XS/XS Max
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Louis Ramirez

As deals editor-in-chief at Tom’s Guide, Louis is constantly looking for ways to avoid paying full price for the latest gadgets, appliances, and apparel. With over 10 years of deals-hunting experience, Louis price checks against multiple retailers and searches high and low for the best deals to bring readers. He's also always on the look out for the best coupon codes to use when shopping. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is also an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.