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Yes—but the July 2024 Amazon US offer was a carrier promotion, not a free, unlocked iPhone. Stuff reported a $0.01 iPhone 15 Pro Max that was locked to Boost Mobile and required a Boost wireless plan starting at $60 per month. iMore listed the deal with a $70-per-month unlimited plan. The reports differ on the required monthly price, so the checkout terms were essential. This was a Prime Day 2024 offer; its availability today has not been established.
What the one-cent iPhone offer actually included
Stuff reported on July 17, 2024 that Amazon US offered the iPhone 15 Pro Max for $0.01, but the phone was locked to the Boost network and required a wireless plan starting at $60 per month. Stuff’s July 17, 2024 report described the device price and plan requirement.
iMore’s contemporaneous deal guide listed the phone at $0.1 with an unlimited Boost plan and specified a $70 monthly plan. iMore’s Prime Day deal guide therefore gives a different device-price figure and monthly plan price than Stuff.
The reports do not establish one universal plan price. They may reflect different plan or listing terms, so shoppers needed to check the specific Amazon listing and checkout before buying. Neither report describes a one-cent unlocked phone without an ongoing carrier cost.
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- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
Why $0.01 did not mean the phone was free
The headline price covered the handset line, not the total cost of getting and using the phone. A required monthly plan could make the overall expense substantially higher over time. To evaluate an offer, add the device price to every required plan payment for the period you expect to keep the service, then account for any taxes, activation charges, or term requirements stated at checkout.
The phone’s Boost lock also mattered: a locked device may limit which carrier or network you can use. The cited reports do not state when or under what conditions this particular promotion’s handset could be unlocked. Confirm the applicable unlock policy before committing if you expect to switch carriers or travel with the phone.
Rank #2
- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
What to check before accepting a similar offer
- Full cost: Add the handset price and all required monthly payments over your expected holding period. Check whether the plan is recurring and whether any taxes or fees apply.
- Carrier lock and portability: Confirm which network the phone is locked to and the specific conditions, if any, for unlocking it.
- Plan and coverage: Verify the exact plan, its terms, and coverage where you live and travel.
- Phone configuration: Check the storage capacity and exact model configuration in the listing.
- Condition and protections: Confirm whether the handset is new or renewed, along with the applicable warranty and return terms.
Alternatives listed during Prime Day 2024
For shoppers who did not want the Boost plan commitment, iMore listed renewed iPhone alternatives during the event. These are historical prices, not current offers.
| Device and condition | Price reported during Prime Day 2024 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Renewed iPhone 14 | About $485–$499 | iMore’s Prime Day deal guide |
| Renewed iPhone 14 Pro, 512GB | About $839 | iMore’s Prime Day deal guide |
Those examples differed from the iPhone 15 Pro Max promotion in both model and condition. Compare the total purchase and service costs, and check the individual listing’s condition, warranty, and return terms rather than treating a past event price as a current benchmark.
Rank #3
- Premium Display and Design: 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology and Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back and customizable Action button
- Advanced Interaction and Performance: Dynamic Island provides a new way to interact with iPhone. Powered by A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU for enhanced performance
- Professional Camera System: Pro camera system featuring 48MP Main, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses. Super-high-resolution photos at 24MP and 48MP. Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Safety and Emergency Features: Emergency SOS via satellite for remote communication. Crash Detection technology for automatic emergency response. Roadside Assistance via satellite when you need help
- Extended Battery and Connectivity: Up to 29 hours video playback for all-day entertainment. USB-C port supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Secure Face ID authentication
Is the promotion still available?
The reports tie the offer to Prime Day 2024. Amazon’s official announcement described that event as a Prime-member sale with more than five million deals worldwide, but it does not establish that the iPhone promotion continues today. Amazon’s July 2024 Prime Day announcement provides the event context. Treat the one-cent offer as historical unless a current Amazon listing confirms a successor promotion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to verify an Amazon phone deal safely
- Open Amazon directly in its website or app, rather than following a purchase link in an unsolicited message.
- Inspect the listing and checkout for the seller, phone condition and configuration, carrier lock, required plan, recurring charges, taxes, and fees.
- Confirm the deal and any order communications in your Amazon account. Amazon advises shoppers to use its own channels and treat urgency or requests for payment or sensitive information as warning signs. Amazon’s shopping-safety guidance explains how to verify communications.
Amazon said in July 2024 that 40% of scams reported by customers in the prior month involved false messages pretending to be Amazon and asking recipients to verify a smartphone purchase. That historical figure is a reason to verify through your account—not through a text, email, or social post requesting payment or sensitive details outside Amazon.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
Rank #4
- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
