Verizon vs. T-Mobile Best Black Friday 2016 Deals on Free Smartphones with Trade-In Deals

Nov 24, 2016 11:49 AM EST

T-Mobile is offering one of the best Black Friday deals for smartphone users. On the other hand, rival carrier Verizon is looking to match that up with its own free smartphones by trading in another flagship device. However, their deals are not entirely similar. If you want more options, you have to pick one over the other.

T-Mobile offers a free iPhone 7 Plus, Galaxy S7 Edge or LG V20 when you trade-in another iPhone 7 Plus, Galaxy S7 Edge or LG V20. You can get a free iPhone 7 or Galaxy S7 when you trade in Apple iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, another iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge +, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy Note 5, LG V20 or LG G5.

According to Tech Times, customers are required to have an eligible unlimited plan. They are qualified provided that they trade-in a fully paid off. They need to "agree to stay on T-Mobile's network for two years" through on the T-Mobile One unlimited plan or on the Simple Choice Unlimited plan. This is the only time you can get the full credit for the free smartphone you have chosen. T-Mobile will also cover the cost of the smartphone with 24 monthly bill credits. For more details, you can check their website if you have not yet done that.

Verizon also offers the same 12 eligible phones for trade-in as T-Mobile, with the addition of Moto Droid Turbo 2. It's also applicable to other free devices that include iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Droid Life. In addition, you will also get a $200 Visa prepaid card. That is if you actually have switched from a different carrier to Verizon and purchased a smartphone on a device payment. The said offer is only valid for up to four lines.

Verizon requires you to sign up for a 24-month installment plan as they cover the payment for the phone each month. Though customers with less than full two years stay will not be able to get full credit for a phone.

According to Fortune, T-Mobile and Verizon has offered a free iPhone 7 with trade-in deals back when the Apple flagship device was first released. Apparently, T-Mobile said that such offer "greatly increased demand compare to sales of last year's iPhone 6s". As for Verizon, it only "modestly affected demand". With the Holiday season, these kind of deals will likely attract customers.