Got your iPhone 18 Pro Max on preorder but can't quite decide on the perfect plan to pair it with? I think I've found a contender for the best overall option right now.
Even without the discount, Mint's unlimited plan is competitive and much cheaper than many competitors, so the deal is just the cherry on top. While you'll have to pay $180 upfront, you'll lock in an unlimited data plan for an almost unbelievably cheap $15 per month.
Overall, the Mint unlimited plan includes unlimited talk, text, and mobile hotspot. There are a few restrictions, such as 50GB of 5G data and 20GB of mobile hotspot, but these are still pretty generous for the price - especially at $15/mo.
Mint Mobile's latest deal for new customers
Mint Mobile unlimited data plan: was $360, now $180 Mint Mobile's latest plan deal is the perfect pairing for the latest iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Right now, you can get any of the carrier's plans for just $15/mo, including the high-end annual unlimited plan. Paying just $180 upfront, you're locking in a huge amount of value here for not a lot of cash. If you've been curious about trying Mint Mobile, then now's a great time to jump on board. View Deal
Note, if you're looking for a great all-in-one deal at Mint, then the carrier also has some great discounts on the latest Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26. If you're interested, I've attached further details just down below.
Also available at Mint Mobile
Google Pixel 11 series: $450 off, plus a half-price unlimited plan at Mint Mobile Mint Mobile's latest deal on the Pixel 11 series is the perfect pairing with Google's new flagships. Right now, you don't even need to trade-in to get an excellent $450 discount on these new devices. On top of that, you can also get a full year of unlimited data for just $180 - that's half the usual price. Put together, this is a great deal, although it's exclusive to new Mint customers. View Deal
Samsung Galaxy S26 series: $500 off, plus up to $400 off with a trade-in at Mint Mobile Mint Mobile's latest deal on the Galaxy S26 series is one of the best I've ever seen from the well-known prepaid carrier. Not only can you get a record-breaking $500 upfront discount on a brand new device, but you'll also get a full year of unlimited data for just $180 - half price. On top of that, you can also trade-in for an additional discount of up to $400 off, which is enough to cover the entire cost of the standard Galaxy S26.
Big news in the world of iPhones today, as not one, not two, but three new iPhones will soon be available to preorder worldwide. Alongside the expected iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple's lineup will now include the new iPhone Duo, the brand's first-ever foldable device.
If you're looking to upgrade, you'll find everything you need to know laid out in a no-nonsense guide right here. As of writing, we have confirmed pricing, a full picture of specs and features, and the opening deals from both Apple and major US carriers. Details for the UK are more limited, but Apple has confirmed trade-in rebates for unlocked devices.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro preorders will start this Saturday, whereas iPhone Duo preorders will start mid-October. Since details vary for both devices, I've separated everything out into sections for each device. If you're looking for specific information, just scroll to the relevant section on this page.
Note: While we have a good picture of Apple's opening promotions and major carriers in the US, we still don't have any details for UK networks or smaller prepaid carriers. If I spot anything, I'll be sure to update this page. Also, make sure you check in this Saturday, as I'll be rounding up the best deals for our readers once they go live.
As is usual with iPhone preorders, there's a short wait time between the actual announcement of the devices and the opening of the preorders window. You'll be waiting until this Saturday until you can actually preorder an iPhone 18 or iPhone 18 Pro at both Apple and major carriers.
As always, however, you can navigate to the Apple Store to check out the various options, pricing, and deals that are going to be available ahead of the preorders window. Apple likes to give prospective upgraders some time to mull over their options before committing, which is pretty useful when you're potentially paying over $1,000 for a new phone.
As someone who's covered iPhone launches for a few years, I can tell you that the opening deals are pretty much in line with the usual fare. The main bulk of the deals revolve around trade-in rebates, which are currently listed as up to $1,200 off at major US carriers and up to $885 / £885 off for unlocked devices. The unlocked deal here is a little better than the usual rate we see at Apple, but the carrier deals are roughly what you'd expect.
One thing that's new this year at Apple is a focus on leasing. There's a new Apple Upgrade program that you can investigate if you want to pay a flat monthly rate for a device with a guaranteed upgrade at the end of your lease. Prices start at $34.99/mo for a two-year lease on the iPhone 18 Pro, which adds up to just under $840 in total. That is extremely competitive in my opinion, although there is the obvious caveat that you're not actually the owner of the device.
Note that the leasing program is currently available in the US only, so UK readers will likely have to get a device on a network contract if they want something similar. The major networks haven't updated their websites with exact details yet, so you might have to wait until Saturday to see what you can get.
Confirmed deals for this Saturday
iPhone 18 Pro: up to $1,200 off with a trade or phone and plan for $80/mo, plus iPad and Apple Watch Verizon's opening iPhone 18 Pro deal breaks down into two avenues. The first is the traditional trade-in rebate of up to $1,200, which is eligible with the carrier's myPlan unlimited plans for both new and existing customers. Secondly, there is the option to bundle a device with the carrier's new 'Simplicity Pro' with the plan and device included for $80/mo. This second option will let you upgrade your device free of charge 12 months from now. Finally, both of these deals are eligible with a 'free' iPad and Apple Watch as bonus gifts. I say free in quotation marks here, because you need to take out relevant cellular lines on each device to be eligible for a freebie.View Deal
iPhone 18 Pro: included with a new line, or with an eligible trade-in at T-Mobile T-Mobile's opening iPhone 18 Pro deal is exactly what I was expecting; it's a very competitive deal indeed. Firstly, new customers can get a standard iPhone 18 Pro included if they switch over from another carrier and pick up a device on the Experience Beyond 2.0 plan. The other option at the carrier is a trade-in rebate of up to $1,200 off, which is a good option for upgraders. That's also eligible on the Experience Beyond plan, but according to the T&Cs, it's also eligible for existing customers on the older Go5G Next plan too. View Deal
iPhone 18 Pro: up to $1,200 off with an eligible trade-in and unlimited plan at AT&T AT&T hasn't updated its site yet with its promotions, so I'm going off the information presented on the Apple site here. Apple's promotional material right now says that AT&T's opening deal will be a trade-in rebate of up to $1,200 with an eligible trade in any condition. That's very much standard fare, and I assume you'll need a line on one of the higher-end 36-month unlimited data plans to be eligible here. View Deal
If you've got your eye on the shiny new Apple Duo, you'll have to wait a little bit longer to place your preorder. Apple's first-ever foldable phone will be available to preorder just over a month from now - Friday, 16th of October, to be exact.
As with the iPhone 18 Pro devices, you can already navigate to the official Apple Store page to see all the same details. The device will start at a rather eye-watering $1,999, but you'll have options to trade in or lease if you're looking to cut that price tag down to size.
Apple's own trade-in rebate is capped at $885 for unlocked devices, whereas major carriers are listing their rebates as $1,144, which is curiously lower than those that are available on the 18 Pro Max. These could be provisional rebates to be confirmed at a later date, or the major carriers could be expecting higher demand for the iPhone Duo. They might be thinking that people will bite the bullet and accept a lower rebate for Apple's first-ever foldable.
As with other devices, you can take advantage of Apple's new leasing system with the iPhone Duo if you're inclined. Prices start at $57.99/mo for a 24-month lease, which adds up to just under $1,400 in total. Again, this is an option that could be worth exploring, but it does incentivize you to really lock in long-term so you can get those included upgrades.
What's new with these 2026 iPhones?
(Image credit: Apple)
The biggest news, of course, is the iPhone Duo. Apple's first-ever foldable iPhone combines a 5.4-inch outer display with a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner screen for an intriguing 'passport-like' design. We can't wait to get our hands on it here at TechRadar, as it looks like Apple has added a ton of software features designed to take advantage of the larger folding display
For the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the biggest camera upgrade is a variable aperture on the 48MP main camera. This allows users to open the aperture wider for more light in low-light photography, or close it down to increase depth of field and capture more detail. Both models are powered by the A20 Pro, which delivers a claimed 20% faster CPU and 40% faster GPU than its predecessor. Battery life has also improved, with the iPhone 18 Pro offering up to 36 hours of video playback, matching last year's 17 Pro Max, while the 18 Pro Max reaches up to 45 hours.
The Duo also features the same A20 Pro chipset and camera array (minus the telephoto) as the Pro-level devices here, so it should be a very, very quick device indeed. Over the next few weeks, we'll post our full review of all these devices, so stay tuned.
Looking for the perfect compact everyday shooter for travel or street photography? The brand-new OM System PEN could be a fantastic option for you. Preorders are now open for this affordable new rangefinder-style camera ahead of an October 1st release date, and several retailers have already updated their sites with listings.
Probably the best option for preorder today is over at Adorama, where you can get yourself a free wrist strap alongside both the body-only and kit-lens options. The strap in question is a black Clever Supply Skinny Wrist Strap worth $54, so it's definitely a nice little freebie that should complement your new camera nicely.
If you're in the UK (or USA but would prefer to order a camera elsewhere), I've attached a roundup of other options below. Major retailers like B&H Photo, Wex Video Photo, and Park Cameras are all stocking the camera today, so there should (hopefully) be plenty of stock available for early adopters.
Note that the OM System Pen starts at $999.99 / £849 for the body, with additional kit lens options. The lens kit, meanwhile, with the new M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III, is just an additional $100 / £100, which could be a better value option if you're new to the system, and looks like a particularly good option for travel photography. Not only is this kit a bargain, but the lens is also weather-sealed (unlike previous iterations).
Much of the PEN's spec sheet will seem familiar to fans of the brand. As with most releases from OM System, the PEN is essentially re-using a lot of pre-existing tech in a new body at a lower price. However, its combination of a retro compact body, built-in viewfinder, image stabilization, weather resistance and accessible price makes it an attractive entry-level mirrorless camera, particularly for smartphone users.
Unlike the previous Olympus EP-7, the PEN now features a 2.36-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder as well as IPX1-rated dust-and-splash resistance. Internally, you're still getting the familiar 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds sensor with 5-axis image stabilisation rated to 5.5EV, but the 121-point phase-detection autofocus with subject detection is a key upgrade.
Other upgrades include OM System's latest computational photography features, namely Live ND, new color profiles, and two Cinema picture modes aimed at 4K video. Like the higher-end OM-3, the PEN is designed from the ground up for JPEG customization thanks to a new color/monochrome switch which provides quick access to film-inspired looks.
Finally, it's worth mentioning that the PEN debuts a new BLS-7 battery, rated for an impressive 410 shots per charge, as well as support for USB-C charging - another massive boon for travel photography.
Is the PEN worth preordering?
The PEN is a great alternative to the Fujifilm X-M5 (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
We haven't fully reviewed the OM System PEN yet, but my initial impression of the camera is positive. It's 'nothing new', so to speak, but the rock-bottom price that the brand is aiming for has the potential to make this one a crowd favorite.
For one, I don't think any other brand is offering a package quite like this for $1,000. With inflation and various tariffs, we've become accustomed to spiralling costs, so it's refreshing to see a brand-new camera with a viewfinder, weather sealing, and a stylish design for this price.
Perhaps the closest competitor to the OM System PEN is the Fujifilm X-M5 - one of our favorite entry-level cameras here at TechRadar. Both cameras share a stunning rangefinder-style design and enticing price point, but the PEN looks like the better choice for photographers, in my opinion. The X-M5 has far superior video specs, but it lacks image stabilization, a viewfinder, and weather sealing.
With such features, the PEN looks like a very, very compelling budget option compared to the likes of the Fujifilm X-E5. That's another one of our favorite rangefinder-style bodies, but it comes in at an eye-watering $1,799 / £1,399 for the body-only. In comparison, the PEN is a more entry-level body, but it's definitely a good option if you're happy with 20MP.
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