Navi Data Reveals 2024 Rise of the No-Trade Phone Deal
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – October 29, 2024 – Navi (www.yournavi.com), an independent, unbiased wireless comparison platform, announced today its finding that 2024 has been an unprecedented year for no-trade phone deals, particularly for shoppers willing to switch carriers and sign up for a premium unlimited plan.
Prior to 2024, promotions at the big three carriers, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon typically required an eligible trade-in device in good working condition, with phone model limitations. Other qualifications included switching carriers and signing up for select plans. Previously, no-trade deals were only available sporadically for select devices.
In late February 2024, Verizon introduced significant no-trade promotions on a wide range of phone models including all iPhone 15 series devices, as well as select Galaxy S24 models.
In April 2024, T-Mobile followed suit by introducing no-trade promotions across iPhone 15 series and Galaxy S24 series devices.
Navi reports the increase in no-trade deals was most notable among switchers on premium unlimited plans, with average no-trade value in 2024 up 123% versus 2023. For new customers on premium plans, the average no-trade promotional value in 2024 was $343 compared to $154 in 2023. In addition, Navi data shows 1.3x more no-trade phone deals in 2024 compared to 2023 across all wireless shopper segments, from switchers to existing customers, and on all types of postpaid unlimited plans from the least expensive to the most premium.
Notably, Navi also observed an uptick in no-trade deals for the iPhone 15 leading up to the iPhone 16 launch, with T-Mobile and Verizon both offering no-trade promos as high as $830 across all iPhone 15 series devices in the weeks leading up to the iPhone 16 release. And as of October 10th, 2024, Verizon began offering a no-trade deal for switchers on all iPhone 16 series models, with up to $830 on their premium ‘Unlimited Ultimate’ plan.
2024 also saw an increase in carriers offering trade-in deals with fewer phone model restrictions than in the past. Verizon debuted its first Any Phone, Any Condition trade-in promotions in September of 2023, wherein new customers were guaranteed the ability to trade in a phone with a cracked or broken screen and still get a very large discount on their new phone. In May of 2024, Verizon extended that offer to include existing customers.
Most Any Phone, Any Condition trade-in offers were limited to Verizon, with AT&T occasionally making such offers available on select Android devices for limited periods (namely the Galaxy S24 after it launched in Q1 2024 and periodic “pulses” of promotional activity on the Pixel 9). Meanwhile, T-Mobile continued to reserve their highest trade-in credits for customers trading in a newer model phone with devices older than the Apple iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy S9 not usually eligible.
“For wireless shoppers whose current phones are too old to qualify for trade-in promotions with device conditions and model limitations, the rise in popularity of no-trade deals is good news,” said Madison McCormack, Senior Director of Client Services at Navi. “The availability of no-trade promotions benefits any shopper who doesn’t have a trade-in device—for example, those new to the U.S. and kids getting their first phones. In fact, for parents of kids in the market for their first cellphone, no-trade deals can be a great solution. A parent can hand down their existing phone to their kid and take advantage of a no-trade promotion for themselves.”
Heading into November 2024, Navi will continue to track this no-trade phone deal trend and report on whether it holds through the Black Friday season which is typically the best time to find the deepest phone discounts across the wireless industry.
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About Navi
Navi is an independent and unbiased US wireless services marketplace. Founded by industry veterans, Navi aggregates information on service plans and phone deals to help consumers easily compare choices and find the best offers. Navi features the most comprehensive source of phone promotions in the market with over 2 million records updated daily, including values for every trade-in, plan type, and customer type combination. This pricing data along with Navi's first-party data offers unique competitive intelligence, price sensitivity analysis and market insights to Carriers, OEMs, and analysts in the sector.
To learn more about Navi, please visit www.yournavi.com
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Adeeva Fritz
Navi
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