Okay, scores of people choose to get their iPhones on incentive contracts, the sort of contracts from mobile operators that get you a free or low cost phone as well as a career plan. However, that is not the greatest idea for saving money in the long term. Basically, the phone that you get is not free or low cost at all, instead you will be paying for it in instalments over your monthly phone bill. And the problem is that during the course of your contract you will end up paying higher than the retail cost of your iPhone. Signing iPhone SIM only deals and buying your own phone is way cheaper in the long run. IPhone SIM only deals will get you the calling plan that you need, as well as your micro SIM card, so that you will have great service, but they will also save you money.
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Some people do need to sign an incentive contract, because they require a phone and they do not have adequate cash to pay for one up front. If this is you, then the best deals on incentive contracts are going to be among older iPhone models. An iPhone 4 is either of the best incentive contract deals that you can get, because there’s very little difference between the amount you paid on contract and the real price of the phone. An iPhone 4S is not quite such a good deal, but it’s even better than the iPhone 5. Depending on your operator and the contract you choose you can end up paying around a hundred pounds more for an iPhone 5 on contract than you would buying it up front. Basically, the older the iPhone model that you choose, the better your deal is going to be.
One great way to save money on buying a new iPhone is to take advantage of Apple’s trade in programme. If you have got an older model iPhone that you no longer need, then Apple will buy it from you. They give you store credit, not cash. This means that you will have to buy your new iPhone direct from Apple though. How much you get depends on how old the iPhone is and what type of condition it’s in. But you can have a healthy amount of money to put towards your new device. You can find more information about the trade in programme on Apple’s web site, or you can go to your local Apple store and ask for an estimate. This does only work with iPhones, Apple will not buy any other devices. If you have got another phone, some mobile operators also have trade in programmes, but you will have to ask your provider what their deals are.
The truth about refurbished phones is that they are either of the best deals out there. You can find refurbished iPhones on Apple’s web site, and you stand to save a fair amount of money if you buy refurbished rather than brand new, although you will be hard pressed to say to the difference between a brand new and refurbished iPhone. These are models that have been bought and returned, though they have rarely been used at all and they are usually returned simply because the buyer changed his or her mind. Apple gives returned models a complete technical inspection, so you can be sure that there is nothing wrong with the phone. Plus, they will get cleaned and rebooted as well. In look and functionality refurbished and new iPhones are identical. You even get the full two year Apple warranty on a refurbished model. The most common models are the iPhone 4S, although you can occasionally find an iPhone 5. Again, some mobile operators might carry refurbished models.
Another option with even bigger savings is to go for a reconditioned phone. Again they’ll be on Apple’s web site. These are basically second hand phones, though there’s less risk in buying reconditioned than there is in buying second hand. These might be rental phones that have been returned towards the end of their lease period, or they might be phones that have been traded in using Apple’s trade in programme. Wherever they came from, these phones will once again be completely technically tested by Apple before being resold. They’ll be cleaned and rebooted. They will be given a software upgrade if they need one. If parts are worn or broken, they will be replaced. Often the battery is replaced as well. You might see cosmetic faults on reconditioned phones, because they have been used, things like surface scratches, but the phone needs to be fully functional.
Some sellers keep records of a refurbished iPhone’s previous owners. The information listed may include the original purchases date and repairs made to the phone. When you buy refurbished iPhone Frisco TX, it normally means you are getting a phone that has been repaired at least once, with replacement parts. If you have a history of when the phone was fixed and what parts were replaced, if the phone suddenly stops working, owing to a faulty replacement part, you may be entitled to have it repaired for free.
If you do not want to go refurbished or reconditioned and instead want a new iPhone, then you are not going to see such great savings. In general, you will see better discounts more often on older models than top of the line. A good time to buy an iPhone is right after a new model has been released. The price of the second generation will drop dramatically when Apple announces a new iPhone. Depending on the new model you mightn’t be sacrificing too many features by going with an older one. There is very little difference between the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5, for example. Alternatively, the cheapest prices are usually found online, so try internet shopping. Or, if you wish to buy from a high street retailer, then wait for a sale. It’s best to avoid mobile operators, as their prices tend to get a little higher than the market average.
Tech Kaitlyn 