How to pre-order iPhone 16 and 16 Pro – the UK's best deals and free extras

Pre-orders for the new Apple devices now open – here are the best offers we've found

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro deals
(Image credit: Apple / Future)

The new iPhone 16 lineup is now available to pre-order, with Apple having announced them on Monday 9 September during the "It's Glowtime" event.

There are iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max models, plus the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus which have all been built "from the ground up" with Apple Intelligence and a whole stack of new features in mind.

You also get a Camera Control button on each of the entire family of devices, with some great capabilities to help take even better photos. And now you can order your own, with some great deals available in the UK.

Here are the best we've found, plus everything else you need to know.

iPhone 16 pre-order and release dates

The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max are now available to secure, with Apple and networks opening their pre-orders at 1pm on Friday 13 September 2024.

The new handsets will ship from Friday 20 September.

iPhone 16 SIM-free prices

Here are the prices of the new iPhone 16 models if you buy them outside of a contract.

  • iPhone 16 – £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB)
  • iPhone 16 Plus – £899 (128GB), £999 (256GB), £1,199 (512GB)
  • iPhone 16 Pro – £999 (128GB), £1,099 (256GB), £1,299 (512GB), £1,499 (1TB)
  • iPhone 16 Pro – £1,199 (256GB), £1,399 (512GB), £1,599 (1TB)

iPhone 16 pre-order deals

Apple is naturally ranging each of the new iPhones SIM-free, but there are plenty of deals to be had from the multiple UK networks.

Here are the best offers we've seen so far.

Buy directly from Apple

You can buy your new iPhone from Apple directly – either here for iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, or here for iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.

There is traditionally a mad rush on pre-orders day, so you might find that some models or variants will ship later.

See Apple's iPhone 16 pre-order deals here 

The UK's cheapest iPhone 16 deal from Three

Arguably the best we've found is from Three UK. You can get an iPhone 16 and 15GB of data for just £30.50 per month. That's for a 128GB iPhone 16 on a 36-month plan.

You'll need to pay £30 upfront, but the device will cost just £21.50 per month to "pay back". The 15GB data plan is priced at £9 per month.

At the other end of the scale, an iPhone 16 Pro Max will cost from £41 per month on a 36-month contract (£32 for the phone, £9 for 15GB of data). You'll need to pay £60 upfront.

Three will also offer up to £747 off the price when you trade in an eligible iPhone model.

See Three's iPhone 16 pre-order deals here

Free yearly upgrades from Vodafone

Vodafone has launched an interesting incentive called "Xchange".

This allows eligible customers to swap the eligible phones, including iPhone 16 models. for the latest handset each year without having to pay off the remainder of the phone plan. You just have to send back the current model in good condition to receive an upgrade.

Prices start at £43.24 per month over 36-months for the 128GB iPhone 16 and 3G of data, with a £30 upfront fee. However, as stated above, you can swap your iPhone 16 for a new model next year with no penalty.

There is also up to £736 off a new iPhone 16 if you trade in a selected iPhone.

See Vodafone's iPhone 16 pre-order deals here 

EE offers standalone 5G connectivity and more

EE has confirmed that the iPhone 16 series devices will run on its new 5G standalone network.

But while its plans start at £48.24 per month for a 128GB iPhone and 5GB of data (with the price plan lasting 24-months and the phone plan over 36-months), you might want to look at one of its new tiers to get a great package of extras.

Take the iPhone 16 Pro on an Ultimate All Rounder plan, for example, and you get unlimited data for both the phone and an existing or new Apple Watch. You also get a Network Boost when the network is busy, giving you preferential treatment to the best speeds, and no charge for EU roaming. On top of that, you also get a choice between free Apple Music or Apple TV+.

EE boasts that its standalone 5G network offers lower latency and speeds than other 5G networks.

See EE's iPhone 16 pre-order deals here

Half-price data plans with Sky Mobile

Sky Mobile simplifies its planning structure, offering each phone for a set monthly fee.

You can get the iPhone 16 from £26 per month, for example, the iPhone 16 Plus from £30, iPhone 16 Pro from £33, and iPhone 16 Pro Max from £39.

Data plans are in addition to that and are available from £5 per month. Selected plans are currently available at half price, with 100GB of data available for just £14 per month (from a normal price of £28).

See Sky's iPhone 16 pre-order deals here

Combine mobile and broadband for extra perks on O2

O2 has a number of attractive price plans for each of the new iPhone 16 models, but perhaps the most unique incentive is that if you also have Virgin Media broadband and combine your accounts, you can add some great perks.

That includes a speed boost up to the next tier (ie. up to 350MB/s from 250MB/s at no extra cost). You also get 25GB of inclusive EU roaming and a 3-month subscription to O2 Extra on a Classic Plan over 36-months.

Prices include the iPhone 16 Pro for £55.25 per month with 25GB of data. There's also a £30 upfront fee.

See O2's iPhone 16 pre-order deals here

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Rik Henderson
News Editor

Rik is T3’s news editor, which means he looks after the news team and the up-to-the-minute coverage of all the hottest gadgets and products you’ll definitely want to read about. And, with more than 35 years of experience in tech and entertainment journalism, including editing and writing for numerous websites, magazines, and newspapers, he’s always got an eye on the next big thing.

Rik also has extensive knowledge of AV, TV streaming and smart home kit, plus just about everything to do with games since the late 80s. Prior to T3, he spent 13 years at Pocket-lint heading up its news team, and was a TV producer and presenter on such shows as Channel 4's GamesMaster, plus Sky's Games World, Game Over, and Virtual World of Sport.