Mistake, or Not?

June 27, 2010 7:20 AM

I'm thinking of switching from Verizon to AT&T and getting an iPhone. I have the iTouch and I love it. However, to save some money, I'm thinking of getting the iPhone 3GS ($150); nothing the newer iPhone ($200) has interests me. Am I making a big mistake?

Background: I'm not poor but I tend to be cheap. Some of this might be the urge to get it now - will prices on the 3GS come down soon? Currently, on the iTouch, I read (iKindle), visit favorite web sites, listen to music, and use productivity apps such as Evernote.

What do you think... mistake, or not?

posted by Rad_Boy to Technology (23 answers total)

Mistake. $50, over the time you'll have the phone (at least a few years), is not that much. And it's likely that new apps will come out that do awesome things that depend on the new phone's hardware.
posted by spaceman_spiff at 7:21 AM on June 27, 2010

What do you think... mistake, or not?

The increased performance and battery life of the new phone is worth $50, no? If you're a power user, having the battery die on you has got to be a major concern, and a small investment over the life of the phone (think $17-25 per year, or $1-2 per month) for a better battery life seems like a no brainer.
posted by Hiker at 7:25 AM on June 27, 2010

Mistake. Have you checked out the iPhone 4 in person? It's one thing to look at a list of features, but it's another thing to have the thing in your hands. The screen is unreal, so it'll definitely have a positive impact on your reading and browsing. If you can afford it, go for it. You'll have it for at least a year--and over the course of that year, it's likely that you'll miss it.
posted by litnerd at 7:25 AM on June 27, 2010

Yeah, don't cheap out--that $50 amortized over 24+ months isn't all that much. It gets you a far superior display, much better processor, and twice the RAM. Those will make your browsing and app experiences snappier and smoother, and the display will be great for reading. I can't imagine reading on my 3G, but I could on the 4.
posted by The Michael The at 7:26 AM on June 27, 2010

AT&T has a minimum data plan for smartphones of $15/month. Over the contract period, that's $360 (the fact that they lowered this is the reason I'm getting it). The 3GS is actually $99 (isn't it?) but I would still splurge for the iphone 4. I agree, there's nothing significantly new about the 4 (although the screen is luxurious, the extra movement sensors may aid GPS-free navigation, and the extra battery life is key), but you don't want to be left behind.
posted by tintexas at 7:28 AM on June 27, 2010

I stopped reading your question after you said I read on my iPod. Get the iPhone 4, your eyes will thank you.
posted by glenno86 at 7:32 AM on June 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

720p video recording is worth it. Also, the iPhone 4 is one year more future-proof than the 3GS (hopefully).
posted by puritycontrol at 7:47 AM on June 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I bought two iPhone 4s after getting in line at 3am on Thursday. Returned them to the store on Friday when i discovered how terrible the sound quality was for voice calls. When talking to my girlfriend (each of us on an iPhone 4 with full signal strength) we each sounded to the other like we were in a cave. The sound quality on my iPhone 3GS is infinitely better (the best of any cell phone I've owned).

The display on the iPhone 4 is even better than advertised though so if you read more than you talk, get the iPhone 4.
posted by santry at 8:01 AM on June 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Also, the iPhone 3GS is listed at $99 on the Apple web site, not $150.
posted by santry at 8:04 AM on June 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm pretty happy with the iphone 4, it's worth the extra $50 (I had a 3G before)
posted by disclaimer at 8:04 AM on June 27, 2010

I don't know where you live, but AT&T's cell service is much worse in than Verizon's in at least New York City, San Francisco, and Washington DC. For example, AT&T dropped one cell call of mine on an iPhone three times in fifteen minutes in downtown Washington. Phone calls would routinely go directly to voicemail without the phone ringing, and I would not be notified of the voicemail for hours.

I like gadgets, but I also like my phone to work as a phone. I suggest looking into one of the Android phones on Verizon.
posted by exogenous at 8:05 AM on June 27, 2010

I would spring for the new model, but also, talk to any friends you may know who are on AT&T and try to make sure you'll be happy with the network coverage.

Since Verizon is CDMA, you're probably accustomed to a much wider coverage area than the average AT&T user. Check to see if it will be likely to affect you.
posted by Fleebnork at 8:13 AM on June 27, 2010

My vote is to spend the extra money, since this is arguably the biggest 'jump' between iPhones. As others have said, it's worth 50-100 dollars to get the high res video, front facing camera, faster processor, superior display, and 'future-proofing.'

All that said, I recommend waiting at least another month for Apple to get the kinks worked out of the iPhone 4. Weird problems with the display, reception, sound quality (e.g. santry's problem), and even the volume buttons and SIM cards are causing a lot of headaches for early adopters, plus Apple stores are chaotic right now because of the recent release. I'm in a very similar situation as you (switching from Verizon, which has terrible coverage here compared to AT&T, with a contract up in August), and my plan is to go month to month until the tech blogs (MacRumors, Gizmodo, etc) indicate that things are going smoothly again.
posted by farishta at 8:13 AM on June 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

talk to any friends you may know who are on AT&T and try to make sure you'll be happy with the network coverage.

This is great advice. Whatever the general complaints about AT&T, if you don't travel often you should only be concerned with local coverage. In big cities with a lot of iPhone users AT&T service is terrible. Here in Carrboro, NC, on the other hand, my Verizon phone drops calls constantly and burns through battery life trying to get a signal, while my friends with AT&T report no problems at all.
posted by farishta at 8:18 AM on June 27, 2010

Nthing mistake. This is definitely a situation where you would be penny wise, pound foolish to go with the less expensive option. The difference in the two handsets is really remarkable, and the price, when amortized over the two-year term of your contract is insignificant.

I have the iPhone 4, and it is an amazing piece of tech. The screen is astonishing for a phone.
posted by dam1975 at 8:18 AM on June 27, 2010

Phone coverage in NYC, as someone said above, is awful. I love my 3GS, but I'm not interested in the iPhone 4 right now. I always like to wait for them to work the bugs out before I buy something that will have to be returned/repaired.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 8:22 AM on June 27, 2010

Would you use the 720p camera, max out the battery life, or run a bunch of apps at the same time? You have to be honest about what you plan on using it for. I would bet a lot of the iphone 4 is overkill for many people. It's just like people buying a desktop with a 1TB HD, 8 gigs of ram, and a 1gb video card and all they want to do is surf the net and use MS office.
I think ATT allows for an upgrade after 1 or 1.5 years of service and the 3GS is only $99 versus $199 for the 4.
Does it seem like I'm biased :)

Either way, you probably won't make a bad decision. They are both great phones.
posted by WhiteWhale at 8:48 AM on June 27, 2010

If you decide to stick with verizon, you might look at the HTC incredible. My girlfriend has it and, while I love my iphone 4 more, it's a wonderful device. She says she wouldn't trade it for an iphone. She's lying to herself, but at least she's happy with it.
posted by yeoldefortran at 9:07 AM on June 27, 2010

No question - if you use your iPhone for reading you should get v.4. The screen is SO much better. Perhaps the Apple stores have display models out now that you could try?
posted by bchaplin at 9:13 AM on June 27, 2010

BTW this was also just covered here

http://ask.metafilter.com/157634/This-years-iPhone-or-last-years
posted by bitdamaged at 9:23 AM on June 27, 2010

I considered the iPhones, but stuck with Verizon and picked up a Droid for $99 (upgrade price) at Best Buy..

I love it... I can't imagine what an iPhone would offer that would be that much better...

Also, Verizon offers unlimited data plans... I don't think ATT still does.
posted by HuronBob at 10:43 AM on June 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I called AT&T up and cancelled the 3GS in favor of the iPhone 4 when it comes out. Thanks, everybody, for the reality check.
posted by Rad_Boy at 5:51 PM on June 27, 2010

I called AT&T up and cancelled the 3GS in favor of the iPhone 4 when it comes out. Thanks, everybody, for the reality check.

Good choice. The money difference really isn't that much. Though if you could wait a little while until the kinks are worked out I'd suggest you do so (but if you need it NOW that wouldn't stop me.

I can't imagine what an iPhone would offer that would be that much better

Far better looking, better screen, better battery life, takes better pictures and video, front facing camera if you want to video chat, more memory, much better app store.

Other than that not much.

Regardless, if the poster had went to android the same type answer fits. Don't get a droid, get a droid X (or something similarly new).
posted by Dennis Murphy at 12:07 AM on June 28, 2010