Verizon’s Black Friday iPhone 17 deal gets you a free phone, iPad, and Apple Watch – but read the fine print carefully

Verizon just launched its early Black Friday deals this week, and they include the best promotions I’ve seen on the iPhone 17 series at the carrier since the devices were launched back in September.

Right now, you don’t even need a trade-in to get several devices in the range for free alongside new unlimited data lines. On top of that, the carrier is also throwing in an Apple Watch and iPad alongside the standard iPhone 17 as bonus gifts.

As you’d expect, there are a few caveats here – namely, both those accessories require cellular lines of their own to be claimed. I’ve deep-dived on this particular issue further down the page, including how much that will cost on average if you want to explore these freebies.

Regardless of whether you’re interested in a free iPad and Apple Watch, the main selling point for today’s Verizon plans is that you no longer need a super high-end plan to get the iPhone 17 for free. Previously, you needed a line on the pricey Ultimate plan, but now? It’s available on the Welcome unlimited plan, which makes it a much better budget option at the carrier.

And if you are looking to upgrade to the Ultimate plan, Verizon’s current deal offers the stunning iPhone 17 Pro for free, no trade-in required. I’ve attached more details on that deal just below.

Verizon Black Friday iPhone 17 deals

Is the free iPad and Apple Watch a good deal?

• The freebies are the latest Apple models
• Worth $499 each at full retail price
• Required lines can cost between $17.50 to $30/mo extra

The accessories bundled with this Verizon Black Friday deal are the cellular versions of the latest Apple Watch Series 11 and iPad 11. These freebies would cost $1,000 if you bought them outright at full retail price, so on paper, this is a fantastic deal. Of course, the major catch here is that you’ll need to sign up for accessory cellular lines to claim the devices.

If you get the iPhone 17 on the entry-level Welcome Unlimited plan, the accessory cellular lines will be at least $30 per month extra on top of your phone plan with both devices. It’s possible to get those accessory lines down to just $17.50/mo with the highest-end Ultimate plan, but that in itself presents a conundrum. If you’re going for the pricier unlimited plan, why not just go for Verizon’s deal on the iPhone 17 Pro?

If it were my money, I’d be tempted to either get the standard iPhone 17 for free on the Welcome plan and keep it cheap, or go all-out and get the iPhone 17 Pro with the Ultimate plan. In both cases, I’d probably skip the accessories and just focus on the phone deals – which are already fantastic considering you don’t need to trade-in.

While you’re here, check out our main Black Friday page for more recommendations from our team of experts. Also check out our Black Friday deals hub for a roundup of today’s best sales from Amazon, Best Buy, and other key retailers.

More of this week’s best early Black Friday deals

• Amazon: 60% off TVs, AirPods & vacuums
• Adidas: shoes, clothing & gift ideas from $18
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $85
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99 at Amazon
• Christmas: wreaths, trees & decor from $5
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, grills & tools
• Hulu: Hulu + Live TV – $64/m for the first 3 months
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe’s: up to 30% off appliances & holiday decor
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off TVs & phones
• Target: Christmas decor & clothing from $10
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: TVs, vacs & holiday decor from $4
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor