Best iPhone deals in Australia

You don't necessarily have to pay full price for your next iPhone, even if it's one of the latest models. We've put together a one-stop shop for iPhone deals in Australia, both for outright purchase and iPhone plans.

Barring special deals, grabbing it on a plan doesn't save you money on the phone itself, but paying it off over time can help spread the cost out. At the same time, it does mean you'll need a mobile plan through one of the big three telcos, which tends to be more expensive.

On the other hand, buying one outright is a bigger upfront hit to the wallet, but it means you can grab a SIM-only or prepaid plan from a smaller provider. Many of these providers have significantly cheaper plans than Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone, so you end up saving money in the long term.

Most of the time, and if you can afford it, the best way to save money is to purchase your iPhone outright, then sign up to a BYO mobile plan from a smaller provider. These Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) have much cheaper plans than the big three telcos. This is why you save money.

Barring special deals, the 12, 24, and 36-month phone repayment contracts from Optus, Vodafone and Telstra still charge you the full retail price for the handset – it's just paid off in monthly instalments. But the mobile plan portion of your monthly bill (i.e. your mobile network access), costs quite a bit more than a similar plan from an MVNO. For example, if you can sign up to a plan that's just $10 per month cheaper, that's $360 over the life of a 36-month term. Saving $20 per month is $720 over 36-months – better than just about any discount you're likely to see.

But be especially careful when looking for older model iPhone deals and sales. Once Apple stops stocking an iPhone, there's no official retail price anymore. So a $100 "discounted", two-year-old iPhone 15 might be comparing itself to last year's price tag, which is a pretty useless number.

Even if Apple does still sell a given model, such as the basic iPhone 16, some retailers "discount" their stock to a price that's actually higher than Apple's new official RRP.

Luckily, we know the tricks of the trade and can sort the wheat from the chaff. Let's take a look at our picks for the best iPhone deals out there right now from online retailers.

As the current newest series, you're unlikely to find earth-shattering discounts (if any) for the iPhone 17 lineup just yet. They do pop up from time to time, but sadly, now isn't one of them.

For now, here's a quick look at official iPhone 17 pricing from Apple:

The standard iPhone 17 walks alone this year, thanks to Apple ditching the larger Plus version that would normally have accompanied it. It's a good balance of price and performance, especially given its starting price is $600 less than the same-sized iPhone 17 Pro. It has good cameras compared to its competition, and all-round smooth performance. Though you might want to check out the cheaper iPhone 17e below before making your decision.

Sadly, there aren't any noteworthy deals going for the iPhone 17 at the moment, so you're probably going to have to pay the full RRP, which is $1,399 for the 256GB model or $1,799 for the 512GB model.

The iPhone Air is a new entrant to Apple's lineup. It largely exists to cater to people who are happy to pay more for just a little extra pocket space, thanks to its ultra-slim 5.6mm profile and feathery 165g weight. But in achieving this, Apple had to sacrifice some rear camera quality and a big chunk of battery life. Plus, its $1,799 starting price is $400 more than the basic iPhone 17 and only $200 cheaper than the more-capable iPhone 17 Pro.

And that price tag is currently pretty firm, with no notable deals currently going from major online retailers.

The iPhone 17 Pro is the pint-sized option of Apple's Pro pairing, cramming almost identical features into a smaller package than its Pro Max counterpart. The only real difference is the Pro Max has a 2TB storage option, whereas the 17 Pro tops out at 1TB.

While its 6.3-inch display is the same size as the basic iPhone 17, that's pretty much where the similarities end. The iPhone 17 Pro boasts Apple's powerful A19 Pro chipset, some of the best cameras we've ever reviewed (though admittedly quite similar to last year's 16 Pro and Pro Max), and a sharp new look, to name just a few special features.

Sadly, there are no notable deals going for the iPhone 17 Pro right now. Expect to pay close to its RRP of $1,999 for 256GB storage, $2,399 for 512GB, or $2,799 for 1TB.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple's current flagship model, with the price tag to boot. Starting at $2,199 for 256GB of storage, it's already a high ask. Or you can expect to pay $2,599 for 512GB, $2,999 for 1TB, or a hefty $3,799 for the 2TB model – this is the first time Apple has released an iPhone with this much storage.

Aside from that 2TB model and its larger 6.9-inch screen, the iPhone 17 Po Max is essentially identical to the iPhone 17 Pro: excellent performance, great cameras, all-day battery life, and some nifty features only available to the Pro lineup.

Sadly, there aren't any notable deals at the moment from major online retailers.

The iPhone 17e is the most recently released (and last) addition to the iPhone 17 series. Starting at just $999 for the 256GB model and $1,399 for 512GB, you might be asking yourself how it compares to the basic iPhone 17. The answer is: very well indeed. If you're upgrading from an older model, such as an iPhone 14, you should be more than happy with this upgrade.

The iPhone 17e has great performance and battery life, a good 6.3-inch display (albeit limited to 60Hz refresh rate), and a solid primary camera – though the lack of secondary lenses does hamper versatility a bit.

There aren't any noteworthy deals going for it right now from major online retailers. But given how much cheaper it is than even the basic iPhone 17, you might be happy to pick one up without waiting around.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have dropped in official RRP since the newer models launched in September, while the 16 Pro and Pro Max have been discontinued – though you can still buy them if you hunt around.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are basically the same phone, but with two important differences. The iPhone 16 has a smaller 6.3 inch screen and is only available with 128GB of storage, while the iPhone 16 Plus has a 6.7-inch screen and can still be picked up with 128GB or 256GB storage. That said, not too many retailers still stock either device.

It's also worth noting a few big-name online stores have special "sale" or "clearance" prices for the iPhone 16 that are actually higher than Apple's current RRP of $1,249 for the remaining 128GB version of this phone.

As for which phone you choose, it's mostly up to you if you prefer something you can fit easily in a pocket and use one-handed. If so, get the iPhone 16. But if you need a little more real estate, the 6.7-inch screen on the Plus should suffice.

Both are still solid handsets that provide smooth performance, have good battery life, and their cameras were among the best in the market when this series launched in 2024.

As for what deals you can get right now, it's a mixed bag.

For the iPhone 16, the best price for the 128GB storage option is pretty much Apple's RRP, so you might as well pick it up straight from the manufacturer. But if you want 256GB, you can still get one from Officeworks for $1,497... as long as you're a fan of teal.

For the iPhone 16 Plus, there really isn't much available. Most retailers have stopped stocking it, and those that do probably only have the 128GB model for roughly its $1,399 RRP.

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max were top-tier handsets when they came out in 2024, but have been discontinued and it's pretty near impossible to find non-refurbished options. Given we're only covering brand new handsets in this guide, that's pretty much all she wrote for these once-great iPhones.

Getting straight to the point, it's probably best to avoid the iPhone 16e. While you'd think retailers would be keen to get this discontinued mid-ranger out of their store rooms, the various clearance sales and "discounts" are underwhelming, to say the least. One of them was only $2 cheaper than the newer (and better) iPhone 17's RRP, while another was $40 cheaper. 

On top of this, the iPhone 16e wasn't an impressive phone and didn't offer the same value as other members as Apple's "e" lineup, before or since its release.

You'd be better off picking up the iPhone 17e and getting a better phone with an extra year's life behind it.

If you want to grab an iPhone with a mobile plan, Optus, Telstra and Vodafone are your three options. These plans come with 12, 36 and 34-month commitments – the longer the timeframe, the less you pay for the phone each month. For this reason, most people opt for 36 months, so that's what we'll cover here.

Below is a quick list of the cheapest plans right now for the iPhone 17. If you'd like a more comprehensive look that covers other models like the full iPhone 16 and 15 range, check out our guide to the best iPhone plans.

These are the cheapest iPhone 17 plans in our database right now for the base with 128GB storage.

Below, you'll find the cheapest iPhone Air plans in our database right now for the base with 128GB storage model. The Air is new to the iPhone lineup, replacing the Plus of previous years.

While not necessarily as popular as its bigger sibling, the iPhone 17 Pro packs the same punch in a smaller package. If you cart your phone around in a pocket, it's worth considering if this smaller variant will be more comfortable than the Max alternative. These are the cheapest iPhone 17 Pro plans in our database for the 128GB storage option:

If you like a big screen and want the best Apple has to offer, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the phone to pick. But its status comes with the price tag to boot – especially given the smallest storage option is 256GB. To help ease the hit to your savings, here's a look at the cheapest iPhone 17 Pro Max plans in our database right now:

When making our picks for the best iPhone deals, we have a few rules. For telco plans its simple: which of the plans from Optus, Vodafone, and Telstra currently offer the best value over the length of the plan for a given model? We always pick a 36-month plan with the lowest-storage option because these have the cheapest monthly repayments (and 36-month iPhone plans are far more popular with our readers than 24 or 12).

For outright purchases, the rules are as follows:

To help ensure any deals we pick are trustworthy, we only choose deals from within our list of the bigger phone retailers in Australia:

• Amazon
• Apple's website
• Apple's Amazon store
• Big W
• Bing Lee
• JB Hi-Fi
• Kogan
• Officeworks
• The Good Guys

Many online retailers sell imported iPhones on the cheap, which can look like a great deal. But imported phones aren't necessarily designed for the Australian telco market, and so can have gaps in network frequency support or different features. While network support isn't so big a deal when it comes to iPhones (they tend to be pretty unified in terms of coverage support), you might get caught out on the features side of things. For example, the US version of the iPhone 16 is eSIM-only, meaning there are multiple telcos in Australia you wouldn't be able to sign up to.

For websites such as Kogan and Amazon, which sell both local and imported models, we only consider deals for the local options.

Refurbished iPhones are a great option for saving money, especially when sold through a trusted vendor. But that's not what this guide is about. Here, we highlight iPhone deals for new models, both for outright purchase and on plans.

If you're happy to go the second hand (and professionally touched up) route, check out our guide to refurbished iPhone deals.

If you've got the cash to splash, then the best iPhone is either going to be the iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max. Deciding between these two really comes down to how comfortable you are with a larger or smaller screen and size and the fact that the 17 Pro Max has a 2TB storage option, where the Pro tops out at 1TB (which is still huge for a phone).

For most consumers though, the best iPhone is one that meets your needs and sits comfortably within your budget. The iPhone 17 and 17e have 6.3-inch displays, which is fairly compact by today's standards. These phones are the more affordable options, with the 17e being the cheapest. The new iPhone Air has a 6.5-inch display, though its main drawcard is its super-sleek 5.6mm profile. It's not nearly as cheap, sitting between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro in terms of price.

But you can always go for an older model iPhone. Just because a phone is a couple years old doesn't mean its camera isn't capable of providing great pictures. The main thing to remember here is the update lifetime. Since the iPhone 15 in 2023, Apple supports its handsets for a minimum of five years after they launch (though the actual lifetime isn't set in stone), after which the updates stop, and your phone becomes a bigger security risk as time goes on. So make sure you look up the release date of any older iPhone you're considering and count ahead five years from there to see when you'll need to upgrade again.

If you're wondering when the new iPhone is coming out, August and early September are usually the worst times to buy a new iPhone. New models tend to be announced in September each year, hitting shelves a couple of weeks later. Avoid buying one in the lead-up if you can. You might also see a lack of deals around this time. In the lead-up, retailers seemingly try to eek as much as possible out of their soon-to-be-supplanted stock. And once the new iPhones are announced, noone wants to draw your attention away by discounting older models.

As for when is a good time, iPhone deals don't generally follow a pattern outside of the launch window. But it can pay to wait for the right seasonal discount such as Christmas, EOFY sales, Boxing Day sales, etc. Here's a quick shortlist of times and events that can be better than usual when it comes to cheap iPhone online deals and cheap mobile plans for Apple's iconic smartphone line:

• Back to School sales (January)
• EOFY sales (June/July)
• Pre-Christmas sales (Early December)
• End of year and boxing day sales (Late December)
• Prime Day (typically July)
• Black Friday (November)