Best time to buy iPhone

CheckDigit

Hello,

I am looking to purchase a new (not refurbished) iPhone, as my current one (6s) is on it's last legs. I am considering buying the iPhone 13, which is currently priced at £499. However, I anticipate that the price may decrease in the future. Is there a pattern to when iPhone prices typically drop, and if so, when would be the best time to buy the phone?

Thank you.

Wonka_2

Why specially a new rather than refurbished one ? Especially if warranty given is the same. 

I’m sure others will share a pattern (should one exist) but I’ve always checked Apple Outlet store on their website, CEX ‘A’ grade phones or of you have a local John Lewis then their in-store clearance often features returned phones still with 2yrs warranty 

oldernonethewiser

The best time to buy is when you want to buy it. You can wait and who knows it might drop massively in price or there may be no availability. 

I haven't bought a new phone in years, just refurbished ones and always from people that offer returns if I don't like it for any reason. 

Bought my 13 pro about year after it was launched and I reckon it will do me another year at least. Current battery health 88%

PHK

For the last few years when the new iPhones are announced the previous years Pro models are immediately discontinued. 

The previous years standard model has about £100  off and becomes a mid-ranger. The year before that’s had about £100 taken off and becomes the lower mid-ranger. Anything earlier is discontinued. 

So when the iPhone 15 was announced the 14 Pro models were discontinued, the 14 and 13 were reduced and the 12 discontinued. 

Those are official prices. You might well find that if a retailer has stock of the discontinued models they will sell them off at a small discount. 

With that in mind some retailers might choose to get rid of their stocks over the summer as it’s an easier sell than when a newer model has just come out. 

This is a long winded way of saying you might get the 13 cheaper in the next month or so but definitely will in the Autumn IF there is stock left. 

CheckDigit

Thanks. I don't want a refurbished phone as I have had bad experiences previously with them. I bought a new iPhone 6s over 4 years ago from Argos and it has served me well so want to do the same again. 

I'll try the autumn and see if the iPhone 13 is cheaper then.

DullGreyGuy

The core iPhone models have been released each September/October for the last 12 years so it's fairly safe to say the same will apply this year. There are plenty of sites like MacRumors which speculate the exact date beforehand and tend to be fairly close. 

The iPhone 13 (non-pro) is the oldest phone currently in production and so will inevitably cease before the new ones are announced. Apple themselves run down stock well and what few are left are moved and sold as refurbished even though they are brand new or used for warranty replacements. 

Other retailers will generally further discount them to get rid of the old stock but it's always going to be a bit of gamble on when they hit rock bottom and when they are sold out. 

MoneyDany

I used to be all about brand-new phones too. But a couple of years back, I took a chance on a refurbished model and honestly, I'm never going back to buying brand new. The savings were pretty sweet, and the phone was practically new. I’m not aware of any pattern when the iPhone usually drops prices because I am on Android, but you might want to try on Black Friday. If you're really itching for an upgrade, it might be worth just going for it. Whatever you decide, hope you end up with a phone you love. Let us know what you go with!