IPhone 4 on contract or bought outright?

singingsister

Hi people,

I'm contemplating making the move from Android to IPhone (gulp!).

However I can't decide whether to go contract and pay less for the phone outright and more per month or buy the phone direct from Apple and then get a sim-only tariff.

Contract will prob be £99 for the phone and £35 a month. If I buy it outright it will be £510 from Apple and then probably £20 a month.

Can't decide the best thing to do!

pinkpig08

Calculate the total cost for both options, and if it were me I would go with whichever turned out cheaper. That's assuming the contracts are giving you the same allowances.

baby_frogmella

The handset cost will roughly be the same, so if you can afford buying the iphone upfront then that is what you should do; simply because you will get more minutes on a sim-only plan and you can go on a 30 day contract. This provides you with peace of mind that you can sell your iphone on ebay at any time (eg to upgrade to next iphone) or cancel your sim only contract with only 30 days notice. Will make you sleep easier at night:p

Exhortation

Are you sure you want an iPhone 4, because in about 4 months its replacemnet will be out and then you'll want that. Personally, I'd wait.

jayme1

Exhortation wrote: »

Are you sure you want an iPhone 4, because in about 4 months its replacemnet will be out and then you'll want that. Personally, I'd wait.

that's the best thing about buying outright you are free to sell it on to cover the upgrade costs, and whereas you could if you were on a contract you can also change tariffs and networks to the cheapest at anytime if you buy outright.

OP how much mins/ texts/ data would you use? it will even be cheaper if you are able to replace texts for email, esp if the ppl you would text already have a smartphone with a data add on.

marksyx

how much do you reckon an iPhone 5 will be when it comes out, sim free?

jayme1

marksyx wrote: »

how much do you reckon an iPhone 5 will be when it comes out, sim free?

very likely the same price as they are now (ie the highest memory one the same as the highest one now), but it is possible (due to currency changes) it may be say £20 more, or just because apple feel like it.

Wintermute

Don't do it!!

If you must, I'd buy the handset outright or if you find that too expensive go for a 12 month contract or take out Apple Care within the first year. Your contract is separate from your mobile phone, the standard warranty for the iPhone is 12 months, if you enter into a 18 or 24 month contract just to get the latest shiny phone you're going to be stuck with that contract even if the phone goes wrong after 12 months or if the latest software update slows the phone down to a halt *cough* iPhone 3G *cough*

Joniboy

I decided to buy my handset outright. I worked out that even if I got the iPhone for free (which you will find hard) on a £35 a month contract over 24 months it would cost £840. (With the cost of the iPhone on that tariff the total is £990).
Buy the iPhone for £500 and then use giffgaff as your provider. They offer a very nice £10 a month package with 250 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited web usage. Over 24 months that is £740 including the purchase of the phone. You can make further savings if you buy an iPhone 4, which is still a very very good phone. Make the move from Android to iOS - you won't regret it.

chrispafc

What's wrong with Android? If you load a custom rom onto your Android, you will enjoy a better mobile life. I ditched the HTC rom on my Desire and have never looked back.

scottishblondie

I bought my iPhone outright so I could have flexibility on my contract - I don't really want to be tied to one provider/tarrif for 2 years.