iPhone SE 3 rumors heat up: 5G budget phone incoming. Every iPhone launch brings the same question: is it worth upgrading, and more importantly, how do you upgrade without getting locked into an expensive carrier plan?
The carriers will push hard to get you on a 24–36 month installment plan tied to their most expensive unlimited tier. Don't fall for it. Here's a smarter approach:
Buy the new iPhone outright (or use Apple's trade-in program directly) and pair it with an MVNO. You'll have the same phone, on the same 5G networks, for $30–$40/month less. Over two years, that's $720–$960 in savings — more than enough to pay for the phone upgrade itself.
For the new iPhone, we recommend: Mint Mobile for T-Mobile's 5G network ($30/mo), Visible for Verizon's coverage ($25/mo), or US Mobile for premium dual-network access ($35/mo). All three are fully compatible with the latest iPhone models.
The smart move: New phone, MVNO plan, maximum savings. You don't have to choose between having the latest technology and keeping your bill under control.