How to Get Your Ideal Smartphone for Less
Have you had your eye on a certain smartphone model for a while, but you don’t want to pay full price? Maybe you’ve been thinking about the new iPhone 16 but can’t justify the cost of a brand-new device. It’s frustrating when you need to consider a smaller budget than what you’d like, but there are ways you can get exactly what you want for less than the full retail price.
See if you qualify for a phone upgrade
The first option you have is to get an upgrade from your mobile phone provider. Some providers offer upgrades after one or two years that will give you the latest model, like the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, at a discounted price. For instance, the retail price might be $1000, but you’ll only pay $650. You can pay even less if you sign a multi-year contract.
Be careful about paying monthly installments to pay off your phone over time because, in the end, you’ll pay more for the phone. If you don’t mind paying more in exchange for the convenience, then it’s fine. However, make sure you protect your phone, especially if it’s a new iPhone 16, because you don’t want to have payments for a broken phone and a repair will just cost you even more.
Wait several months for the price to drop
Smartphone prices usually drop by around $100 a few months after the official release, so it’s worth waiting to see what will happen. There’s no rush to get a new phone anyway, so you may as well see if there’s going to be a significant price drop. In the meantime, you’ll be able to save a little more money and you could end up not wanting the phone after all.
If you’re willing to trade in your existing phone, your phone service provider might be willing to give you an even bigger discount on a previous year’s phone.
Wait for Black Friday or Cyber Monday
Black Friday and the following Cyber Monday are the best days to get a great deal on just about anything. If you can wait for those deals, you’ll get a good discount on a new phone.
Buy a refurbished device
Refurbished smartphones are always better than used devices because they’ve been tested and parts have been replaced. With a used phone, you never know what you’re getting. Check out available stock from a reputable company that refurbishes devices. If you didn’t know, you can find them on major sites like Amazon, eBay, and even Walmart.
Regardless of a seller’s star rating, check the reviews before you purchase to make sure customers aren’t getting stuck with phones that won’t charge, batteries that aren’t being recognized, and other similar problems. This is a sign that the refurbisher is using cheap parts to save money.
Search online for a used phone
While it certainly feels good to open a box and pull out a brand-new device, there’s nothing wrong with used devices, provided they don’t have any major flaws. A used device in good condition will function just like a brand-new one and will save you quite a bit of cash.
Search for a used phone on eBay, Amazon, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and similar websites. Even if you don’t buy from a particular seller, you can at least do some research to find out which models are within your budget, and you can get all the specs for each model pretty quickly. If you’re not sure about a particular phone beforehand, ask to try it out before you buy it when you meet. You should always at least test your device before making a purchase, but don’t be afraid to ask the seller how to use certain features.
Get an older smartphone
You don’t have to go back too far to get a good phone. For example, if you want the iPhone 16, but it’s too expensive, get an iPhone 15. After each new lineup is released, the previous year’s models drop in price significantly.
You can even go further back than that if you want. Some older flagship models are as good as some current models. For example, plenty of people are still using phones that are six or more years old. It all depends on the features you find important. If you don’t care about AI tools and you’re happy with basic pictures, then you might be happy with an upgrade that doesn’t involve the absolute latest model.
Smartphones are overpriced
Even with a deal, smartphones are expensive, sometimes costing as much or more than a laptop computer. However, if you need one, these tips will help you get your optimal phone at the lowest possible price.
