Iphone
May 15, 2009 8:45 AM Subscribe
iphoneforsalefilter: My buddy will sell his 8gb non 3G iphone to me for $150. Is this a good deal?
You can get an 8GB iPhone 3G from AT&T for $99 (and often 16GB ones for $150, although they're currently out of stock) - but it will come saddled with a two-year contract for service costing at least $70/mo and may not be unlockable. With your friend's phone you don't need to pay for phone service, and if it hasn't been updated to the very latest software you should still be able to unlock it if you want to use it abroad or on T-Mobile in the US.
If you're planning on taking it straight to AT&T and getting a standard iPhone contract, you're better off with the 3G refurb. If you aren't getting an AT&T contract, then it's actually a pretty good deal (unlocked 2G iphones still go for $300-$400, if not more) and I'd say go for it.
posted by agentmunroe at 8:54 AM on May 15, 2009 [3 favorites]
If you're planning on taking it straight to AT&T and getting a standard iPhone contract, you're better off with the 3G refurb. If you aren't getting an AT&T contract, then it's actually a pretty good deal (unlocked 2G iphones still go for $300-$400, if not more) and I'd say go for it.
posted by agentmunroe at 8:54 AM on May 15, 2009 [3 favorites]
It's widely rumored that Apple will release (or at least announce) updated iPhones at the Worldwide Developers Conference, which starts June 8th. I would consider waiting until then.
posted by jedicus at 8:57 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by jedicus at 8:57 AM on May 15, 2009
@jedicus Actually, it seems the updated iPhones will not debut on the 8th, but rather later in June: link.
posted by spherical_perceptions at 9:05 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by spherical_perceptions at 9:05 AM on May 15, 2009
And in case you're not an Apple fan and thus don't automatically make the connection - if they do release a new iPhone, then refurb 3G iPhones will likely take a nice price hit, at which point you will feel robbed for paying $150 for a 1st gen non-refurbished iPhone.
posted by lunasol at 9:26 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by lunasol at 9:26 AM on May 15, 2009
spherical_perceptions, John Gruber at daringfireball disagrees.
Anyway, yeah, it depends on what you want to do with the phone. If you aren't going to sign up with AT&T, then buy it from your friend.
posted by rtha at 9:26 AM on May 15, 2009
Anyway, yeah, it depends on what you want to do with the phone. If you aren't going to sign up with AT&T, then buy it from your friend.
posted by rtha at 9:26 AM on May 15, 2009
FWIW T-Mobile in the USA uses a nonstandard 3g band, so the 3g phone, even if unlocked, can only work with AT&T in the USA as far as 3g connectivity is concerned. The band can't be changed. Tmobile and at&t are the only GSM/Sim card style providers here.
Internationally, it will work on almost all 3g networks as AFAIK at&t is using standard bands for 3g. So, if you want to use TMO you have to buy the EDGE (pre 3g) used one, if you want at&t the 3g phone is a much better deal.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 9:50 AM on May 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Internationally, it will work on almost all 3g networks as AFAIK at&t is using standard bands for 3g. So, if you want to use TMO you have to buy the EDGE (pre 3g) used one, if you want at&t the 3g phone is a much better deal.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 9:50 AM on May 15, 2009 [1 favorite]
Oh, the 3g iphone can probably fall back to EDGE, so might work on TMO, but you'd never get to use the 3g features.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 9:53 AM on May 15, 2009
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 9:53 AM on May 15, 2009
The 3g iPhone need not fall back to edge; you can easily turn off 3g in settings. The battery life is waaaay longer on edge.
And yeah 150 is a pretty bad deal for the buyer. Check eBay for pricing on this kind of thing.
posted by shownomercy at 11:20 AM on May 15, 2009
And yeah 150 is a pretty bad deal for the buyer. Check eBay for pricing on this kind of thing.
posted by shownomercy at 11:20 AM on May 15, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ttyn at 8:53 AM on May 15, 2009