Why You Shouldn't Bite on the $50 Apple iPhone 4S Discount
Without knowing for sure what it will look like, we can't say for sure that it will be worth the wait, or the extra $50. But consider this: The difference between $150 and $200 isn't nearly as big as it seems when you consider that it's attached to a pricey two-year contract. And when the total cost of the phone and contract are considered together, $50 starts to look like a drop in the bucket. My own contract with Verizon, for instance, sets me back about $92 a month; when my two years is up, I'll have spent a total of over $2,400 for the phone and contract. If I'd instead purchased a previous-generation phone for $150 instead of $200, my total outlay would be $2,350 - a savings of just 2%. Suddenly the $50 discount doesn't sound like such a big deal.
And if your monthly budget is tight enough that the $50 savings is actually a big deal to you, consider this: In a little over a month, that discount on the 4S will be doubled. Whenever a new iPhone is released, the previous generation invariably comes down by $100, meaning that in mid-September the 4S will be starting at $100. Either way, it makes sense to wait a month.
So unless you just dropped your iPhone in the toilet and desperately need a new smartphone now, we suggest showing a bit of patience.
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--By Matt Brownell
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By Matt Brownell