In case you missed it see what’s in this section
We recommend
Whether you like to stay up to date with the latest tech and upgrade your smartphone handset frequently or prefer to be thrifty and only replace your handset when it’s absolutely necessary, it’s always quite tempting to think about treating yourself to the newest and best iPhone on the market. But the latest release from Apple is always going to set you back quite a lot, so is it worth it? And if you really want to get your hands on that phone or at the very least, one of Apple’s most recent releases, is there anything you can do to save money?
Deciding How Much to Spend:
First of all, it’s important to decide how much you want to spend and work out how much you can afford for the next Apple iPhone. If the latest model is well out of your budget, don’t get yourself in debt or financial trouble to get your hands on it – it’s just not worth it, considering how much smartphone value depreciates over time. After a year of use, you’ll probably be lucky to get half of what you paid if you sold your smartphone, so it’s a purchase that is definitely worth some careful consideration.
If the newest iPhone is out of your budget, you might want to consider a slightly older model that was released before, which will have significantly dropped in value due to the newer release, but this doesn’t mean that it won’t still be a good phone.
Work out your budget if you’re planning to purchase the handset outright or make monthly payments, and don’t forget to factor in the cost of getting your monthly allowances if you want to buy a SIM-free phone.
Saving On Monthly Use:
Many Apple iPhone handsets are available on a contract from a number of providers, but this can often be the most expensive way to get your hands on the newest iPhone. Contracts often require you to be signed up for a minimum of twenty-four months when you have a handset included, and this will cover not only the cost of your monthly allowances but also the value of the handset at the time of purchase, which will drop over the time that you are paying for it throughout the two years.
For the latest iPhone handsets, contract prices can be very expensive. For this reason, it is worth considering the option to save money by going for cheap SIM only deals instead. You can find cheap SIM only deals here at Lebara, which offers a range of thirty-day rolling plans that you are under no obligation to continue. Along with being much cheaper compared to getting a traditional 24-month contract, you also have the flexibility to change how much usage you would like to buy on a monthly basis, meaning that it’s easier to avoid paying for any minutes, texts and data that you do not need.
If you are trying to purchase a smartphone without it affecting your credit score, this is another great option to consider since there are no credit checks involved with signing up.
Do You Need the Latest iPhone?
As mentioned earlier, the latest iPhone is expected to be the most expensive option currently on the market. But Apple releases several new iPhones each year, and the one that was released last year is still going to be a great handset, but at a much cheaper price since the newer handset will have affected its value.
Due to the lower demand for last year’s iPhone that occurs when a new model is released, you can often get them at a much cheaper price compared to when they were first announced. Because of this, if you are looking to save money it’s often a wiser idea to go for the iPhone that was released before the latest one, or even the one before that. Apple often makes very small changes to their iPhone models as new ones are released and the handsets that came out a year or two ago are likely to be very similar to the latest one now, at a much cheaper price.
The iPhone 11, for example, was released just a couple of years ago and has a lot of similarities to the latest model while being available for much less in comparison. If you don’t need to get the latest model but still want to get a fairly new and modern smartphone, this is the way forward.
Refurbished iPhone Options:
Another way to save money on the latest iPhone is to wait a while until there are some refurbished options available. Refurbished phones are handsets that have been used in the past but repaired to a very high standard by either the manufacturer or an approved retailer. You can get refurbished iPhone handsets directly from Apple or from a range of Apple-approved websites. They come in different quality levels including excellent, which is comparable to a brand-new phone, to average, which will usually have some general signs of wear and tear that won’t affect the general running of the handset and can usually be covered with a case.
Once the latest iPhone has been around long enough for some users to have decided to return it or change it for something else, refurbished handsets will begin to become available. This will give you the option to save money by getting your hands on a cheaper phone while being kinder to the planet by reducing the demand for brand-new handsets and keeping unused handsets out of landfill.
Getting a Second-Hand iPhone:
It can sometimes be difficult to get your hands on the latest iPhone second-hand since most users won’t sell it until the next model comes out and they want to upgrade. However, if you are looking for the iPhone that was released the one before the latest one, you could be in luck. As new iPhone handsets are released and fans want to get their hands on it right away, they will usually sell their current one – often with absolutely nothing wrong with it, except for the fact that it’s not the newest option. You can save money by taking this route and checking second-hand selling sites in your area to see if there is anybody looking to get rid of a fairly new iPhone in good condition in order to upgrade.
Before purchasing, it is a good idea to ask if you can go and see the phone in person and try it out to make sure that it is in good working condition, works with your SIM card, and that all the components such as the speakers and the camera lenses are working as they should.
Getting your hands on the latest iPhone can be tempting, but also very expensive. Thankfully, with some savvy strategies and shopping around, you could get one of the latest iPhone handsets for much less.
In case you missed it see what’s in this section
Listings