Best iPhone to buy in fall 2026: unlocked or carrier?

The iPhone 17e starts at $699 and the iPhone Duo costs $1,999, and those are the two ends of the seven models Apple sells right now. Where you buy one matters almost as much as which one you pick. According to Wired’s iPhone buying guide, updated in October 2026, most US buyers get their phones from carriers, and that locks the phone to the carrier’s network.

Buy straight from Apple and you generally get an unlocked phone. There’s one exception, and it catches people out.

Should you buy from Apple or from your carrier?

Buy from Apple if you want an unlocked iPhone. Wired says purchases made directly through Apple come unlocked, except when you buy with AT&T on an installment plan. Most US buyers go the carrier route, and a carrier purchase locks the phone to that network.

I’d lean toward unlocked for most people. A locked phone ties you to one network, and an unlocked one leaves you free to switch carriers or sell it to anyone. There’s no physical SIM card to swap either: Apple hasn’t included a SIM tray in US iPhones since the iPhone 14 in 2022.

A quick pass before you pay:

• Want the phone unlocked from day one? Buy from Apple, and avoid AT&T installments.
• Financing? Check which lender you’re using (see below).
• Tempted by a lease? Read the Apple Upgrade section first.
• Have an old iPhone? Price it on a resale site before trading it in.

Which financing options leave the phone unlocked?

Apple’s own financing leaves the phone unlocked. You can pay through the Apple Card or Apple iPhone Payments, which is a Citizens One loan. Apple confirmed to Wired that phones bought either way are unlocked, though both need a credit application. Neither route locks you to a network.

Things get less tidy when you finance through a carrier on Apple.com. Wired says only the T-Mobile and Verizon phones are unlocked. Phones financed through AT&T and Boost Mobile stay locked.

That gives you a simple rule. If you want a payment plan and an unlocked phone, use Apple’s financing or choose T-Mobile or Verizon. Carrier plans differ in other ways too, as Verizon’s iPhone Handoff pricing versus T-Mobile’s shows, so compare the extras before you sign.

Skip Apple Upgrade unless you’ve done the math

Apple Upgrade is a leasing option, and Wired says it is broadly not worth it. You have to return the phone in good condition, and AppleCare isn’t included. A lease means you never own the phone, so there’s nothing to sell later.

The monthly cost and the exact return terms aren’t in the portion of Wired’s guide available to us, so check Apple’s current terms before deciding. If you’re the type who wants to keep a phone for years, or sell it when you’re done, a lease works against both habits. If you do like to swap phones yearly, price the lease against buying and reselling.

Sell the old phone before you trade it in

Check resale options before you hand your old iPhone to Apple. Wired recommends looking at Swappa, Gazelle or Back Market, because iPhones hold their value well. Apple’s trade-in may be easier, but easy isn’t always the best price.

Wired’s excerpt doesn’t compare payouts, so you’ll have to get your own quotes. It takes a few minutes to price your model on two or three of those sites and see how the offers stack up against Apple’s trade-in number.

One side benefit: an unlocked phone is easier to sell. If you ever plan to resell what you buy this fall, that’s another argument for avoiding a locked purchase.

Is this a good time to buy?

Wired says yes. Apple has just released its flagship models, which Wired says makes this a good time to buy an iPhone. Budget shoppers have a reason to pause, though: Wired expects the cheaper iPhone 18 versions to arrive in spring 2027, not before.

So the call depends on your budget. If you want a flagship, the lineup is fresh now. If you’re eyeing the $699 iPhone 17e, the spring models may be worth knowing about, though their prices haven’t been reported.

If the foldable is what you’re after, Wired updated its guide in October with more detail on the iPhone Duo now that it’s available. Our guides cover how Split View works on the Duo, the apps worth installing on day one and which case to buy.

Features that should shape your pick

Software support splits the lineup in a few places, so check three things before you buy: which phones run Apple Intelligence, what the iOS 27 Siri update brings, and which models have MagSafe. The older and cheaper the phone you’re considering, the more these differences matter.

• Apple Intelligence: It debuted in iOS 18.1 and works on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and newer, including the 16e. Genmoji and Image Playground arrived in iOS 18.2.
• Siri in iOS 27: The update adds a revamped, conversational Siri AI assistant. It uses personal context from your messages, emails and photos and can act on your behalf.
• MagSafe: It’s on iPhone 12 through iPhone 18 models, except the iPhone 16e. iPhones also support the open Qi2 standard, and Qi2 accessories work like MagSafe ones.

If you’re buying used or older to save money, the 16e exception matters. It runs Apple Intelligence but lacks MagSafe. Qi2 accessories behave like MagSafe ones on phones that support them, so you aren’t locked into Apple’s own chargers.

What this means for your upgrade

The biggest money decisions here are about how you pay and what you do with your old phone, not which model you choose. Financing through AT&T or Boost Mobile, even on Apple.com, leaves you with a locked phone. Financing through Apple, T-Mobile or Verizon doesn’t.

A leased phone can’t be sold. A traded-in phone may sell for more elsewhere. A flagship buyer can go now, while a bargain hunter might watch for spring 2027.

Whether you’re leaning toward the cheapest model or the priciest, settle the lock status and the financing first, because those follow you for as long as you own the phone.

What’s still unclear

Wired’s guide is only partly available to us, so model-by-model picks and what to avoid aren’t covered here. We also don’t have launch specs for the iPhone Duo beyond its $1,999 price. Prices for the iPhone 18 models, flagship or affordable, haven’t been reported either.

Apple Upgrade’s monthly cost isn’t known to us, and neither is how long a carrier lock lasts or what it takes to get a locked phone released later. Check each carrier’s current terms. Which iPhones will get the new Siri in iOS 27 also isn’t stated in what we have, so confirm with Apple before you buy for that feature.

Frequently asked questions

Does buying an iPhone from Apple get you an unlocked phone?

Generally yes. Wired says Apple purchases come unlocked, except when you buy with AT&T on an installment plan.

Which Apple.com carrier financing options give an unlocked iPhone?

Only T-Mobile and Verizon phones are unlocked, according to Wired. Phones financed through AT&T and Boost Mobile stay locked.

Is Apple Upgrade worth it?

Wired says it's broadly not worth it. It's a leasing option, the phone must be returned in good condition, and AppleCare isn't included.

Where should I sell my old iPhone?

Wired suggests checking Swappa, Gazelle or Back Market before trading in to Apple, since iPhones hold their value well.

Does the iPhone 16e have MagSafe?

No. Per Wired, MagSafe is on iPhone 12 through 18 models except the 16e, though Qi2 accessories work like MagSafe ones on supported phones.

Sources

This article was compiled from reporting by the following outlets. Links go to the original reports.

1. Wired: What’s the Best iPhone to Buy or Avoid Right Now? (2026)
2. Tom's Hardware: OLED on a budget, save $50 now on the Acer Predator XB27OU at Best Buy
3. PCMag: The Best Movies to Watch on Netflix Right Now (Oct. 23-30, 2026)