Your Complete Guide to Finding iPhone Clearance Deals at Walmart

Scoring a deal on an Apple iPhone can feel like a major win, and Walmart is often a key destination for shoppers looking for a discount. This guide provides the useful information you need to navigate Walmart’s clearance offerings, covering which models to look for, what pricing to expect, and how to find them.

Understanding How Walmart iPhone Clearance Works

Finding a true “clearance” iPhone at Walmart requires a bit of strategy and understanding. These deals typically happen for a few specific reasons, and they aren’t always widely advertised. Knowing why a phone is on clearance helps you know when and where to look.

The most common reasons an iPhone will be marked down are:

  • New Model Releases: The best time to hunt for deals is in the weeks following Apple’s annual September event. As Walmart makes room for the newest iPhone models, older generations are more likely to see price reductions.
  • Refurbished & Restored Stock: Walmart has a robust program called Walmart Restored. These are not new devices. They are pre-owned products that have been professionally inspected, tested, and cleaned by approved sellers. They are a primary source for discounted iPhones on Walmart’s website.
  • Open-Box or Returned Items: Occasionally, an individual store will have an open-box model from a customer return. These are often sold at a discount but are rare and depend entirely on luck at your local store.
  • Carrier Promotions: Sometimes, the discount is tied to signing up for a specific mobile carrier’s plan, like AT&T or Verizon. These are technically promotions rather than clearance, but they result in a lower upfront cost for the phone.

Which iPhone Models Can You Find on Clearance?

You are highly unlikely to find the latest iPhone model on clearance. The deals are almost always on previous generations. Being realistic about which model you’re looking for is key to a successful hunt.

Models to Keep an Eye On:

  • iPhone 12 & iPhone 13 Series: As these models are now a few generations old, they are prime candidates for clearance and refurbished deals. They still offer excellent performance, great cameras, and support the latest iOS updates, making them a fantastic value.
  • iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd Generation): The budget-friendly iPhone SE is already a great value, but refurbished or clearance versions offer one of the cheapest ways to get into the Apple ecosystem. These are very common in the Walmart Restored program.
  • iPhone 11: While older, the iPhone 11 is still a capable device. You may find significant discounts on these models, especially from third-party sellers on the Walmart Marketplace. Be sure to check battery health if purchasing a refurbished model.

You will typically not find the iPhone 14 Pro or any iPhone 15 models on clearance unless it’s part of a specific carrier promotion. The focus for deep discounts is on models that are at least two years old.

What Kind of Pricing Should You Expect?

Prices fluctuate based on the model, storage capacity, condition (new vs. refurbished), and seller. However, you can use these general guidelines to know if you’re getting a good deal.

  • Refurbished Models: Expect to see prices that are 20% to 40% lower than the original retail price. For example, an iPhone 12 that originally sold for \(699 might be available in the Walmart Restored program for around \)350 to $450, depending on its condition.
  • In-Store Clearance: These are the rarest but can be the best deals. An end-of-life model being cleared from a specific store could be marked down by 50% or more. This is often indicated by a yellow clearance sticker.
  • Carrier Deals: These deals can sometimes offer a “free” phone or a discount of several hundred dollars, but the savings are spread out over a 24 or 36-month contract. The upfront cost is low, but you are committed to that carrier for the term of the agreement.

Always compare the clearance price to the current price of a new model. Sometimes the savings on a very old model aren’t worth it when a newer, more powerful iPhone SE is available for a similar price.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Availability

Now for the most important part: how to actually find these deals. A combination of online and in-store searching will give you the best chance of success.

Step 1: Check the Walmart Website and App

Start your search online, as this is where the largest selection, particularly of refurbished models, will be.

  1. Go to Walmart.com or open the Walmart app.
  2. Use specific search terms. Instead of just “iPhone,” search for “iPhone refurbished,” “iPhone unlocked clearance,” or “Walmart Restored iPhone.”
  3. Filter your results. On the left side of the screen (or in the filter menu on the app), you can narrow your search. Filter by model (e.g., “iPhone 13”) and, most importantly, look for the “Retailer” filter and select “Walmart.” This separates official stock from third-party marketplace sellers.
  4. Visit the Walmart Restored section directly. This section of the website is dedicated to refurbished products and is the most reliable place to find discounted iPhones online.

Step 2: Check In-Store Inventory (The Secret Weapon)

Many of the best clearance deals are never advertised online. They are specific to each store’s inventory.

  1. Visit your local Walmart. Go directly to the electronics department.
  2. Look for yellow clearance tags. Scan the glass display cases where phones are kept. Clearance items are marked with bright yellow stickers that show the original price and the new, lower price.
  3. Check end caps. Often, clearance items from various departments are grouped together on an end cap aisle. It’s worth a quick look.
  4. Ask an associate. Politely ask an employee in the electronics department if they have any open-box, returned, or clearance iPhones. They might know about stock in the back that hasn’t been put out yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Walmart clearance iPhones new or used? They can be both, but most significant discounts are on refurbished or pre-owned phones sold through the Walmart Restored program. True clearance on a brand-new, sealed iPhone is very rare and usually happens in-store only.

When is the best time of year to look for iPhone deals at Walmart? The period from late September to November, right after Apple announces its new models, is often the best time. You can also find deals around major sales events like Black Friday.

What is the difference between “Sold by Walmart” and a Marketplace seller? “Sold by Walmart” means the product is coming directly from Walmart’s own inventory. Marketplace sellers are independent businesses that sell their products on Walmart’s website. For high-value electronics, it’s often safer to stick with items sold directly by Walmart or from the official Walmart Restored program, which vets its sellers.