Verizon has been really struggling to keep customers happy lately. In fact, the phone carrier has actually been having a hard time keeping customers in the fold at all.
In the first quarter of 2025, the company unfortunately reported a net loss of 289,000 total postpaid phone customers. This was a record net loss for the company, according to New Street Research Analysts.
The net loss was also considerably higher than the same time period the year prior, when the company reported a loss of just 114,000 customers.
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Still, despite the record number of departures, the company did exceed both revenue and earnings estimates in the first quarter of 2025. This suggests that it’s doing some things right. But it undoubtedly needs to solve the problem of so many customers leaving for other carriers if it wants to continue to meet or exceed its revenue goals.
Verizon may be trying to address this problem now, and to earn some kudos from its user base and potentially improve customer loyalty. The solution: a new Verizon phone offer that's crazy good.
The new offer is so good that Reddit users have actually expressed doubts as to whether it is a real deal or is too good to be true.
New Verizon phone deal is so good that it’s hard to believe it is real
Verizon’s new deal is an unbeatable one because it includes a totally 100% free iPhone 16. Not only that, but you do not have to do a trade-in to get the free phone, and you do not have to change your plan by upgrading to a more expensive one.
Of course, this sounds hard to believe, because being simply handed a new phone with no strings attached seems too good to be true. That’s why a Reddit user who was invited to take advantage of the offer felt the need to post a thread on Reddit about the deal
Related: T-Mobile makes AT&T and Verizon customers a great offer
The Reddit poster said he received a text message that said, “As a way of saying thanks, a line on your account can upgrade to the iPhone 16. No trade-in required, and you can keep your current plan. Call 800.922.0204. Add'l terms apply.”
He was obviously interested, but he wanted to make sure that the offer was legit.
Fortunately, other posters were quick to respond and say that the deal was actually valid. They pointed out it was from the official Verizon number, and others posted replies to say they had received the same offer, or a similar one that they took advantage of for a different free phone.
A free phone with no strings attached doesn’t come along every day
With Verizon simply making a phone available for free, most people who can access this offer will probably want to take advantage of it.
However, it is also worth noting that, like with most “free” phone offers, this typically comes in the form of a monthly statement credit for 36 months. So, if you get the free iPhone based on this deal, you’ll effectively be committing to staying with Verizon for the next three years until you’ve earned enough credits to “pay off” the free phone you were given.
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If you are planning to stay with Verizon anyway, this definitely should not be a deal breaker since most phone deals are structured this way and, the bottom line is, you are still being given a free phone with a starting price of $800 per month – and without having to get a new plan or give up your old device.
Of course, you likely will have to pay the tax on the new phone, but that’s also a small price to pay if you have an older device and have been waiting to upgrade.
If you’re hoping to take advantage of this great deal, watch your phone for a text from Vierzon to see if you get a targeted offer, or you can contact Verizon to see if you’re eligible.
More Retail:
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- T-Mobile pulls the plug on generous offer, angering customers
- Kellogg sounds alarm on unexpected shift in customer behavior
The deal appears to be targeted to current long-term customers or those with multiple lines, so it is likely part of Verizon’s efforts to reduce the number of customers leaving and turn those numbers around for the next quarter.
And what if you aren't a customer or offered the targeted deal? Verizon is offering a number of other deals worth looking at, including a free phone on any plan (with an eligible trade-in) as well as a 3-year price lock guarantee. So, you won't be left out in the cold.
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