Best way to buy multiple iPhones/iPad?
January 31, 2018 10:09 AM Subscribe
What is the best/most cost effective way to buy 3 Apple products at once? And what model iPhone?
My twin daughters are turning 12 (!) in March, and for their birthday they are each getting an iPhone. My birthday is coming up in February (much less exciting) and my present is a replacement of my beloved 6 year-old iPad, which is on its last leg.
We currently use Verizon (and no plans to change). Not interested in switching from Apple to another brand, since we have a number of Apple devices already and use the Family plan for oversight etc.
My questions are:
1) whether there are any savings to be had since I'm buying 3 Apple devices at once?
2) what model iPhone you would recommend? I do want to get them a new phone (not used), but don't have much of a sense of whether it's better to get the 6, 7 or 8 (besides the price). My kids are not into having the newest/shiniest model, thank god, and they don't like the larger size Plus phones.
3) would you recommend getting a protection plan? We never get them for ourselves for this or anything else, really, but one of my girls can be clumsy and it might make sense?
Thank you so much for your help as always!
My twin daughters are turning 12 (!) in March, and for their birthday they are each getting an iPhone. My birthday is coming up in February (much less exciting) and my present is a replacement of my beloved 6 year-old iPad, which is on its last leg.
We currently use Verizon (and no plans to change). Not interested in switching from Apple to another brand, since we have a number of Apple devices already and use the Family plan for oversight etc.
My questions are:
1) whether there are any savings to be had since I'm buying 3 Apple devices at once?
2) what model iPhone you would recommend? I do want to get them a new phone (not used), but don't have much of a sense of whether it's better to get the 6, 7 or 8 (besides the price). My kids are not into having the newest/shiniest model, thank god, and they don't like the larger size Plus phones.
3) would you recommend getting a protection plan? We never get them for ourselves for this or anything else, really, but one of my girls can be clumsy and it might make sense?
Thank you so much for your help as always!
Best answer: 1) As far as I am aware, not really, no. At least not through Apple, but maybe something is available through your cellular provider? I'm not sure if this would come with any "must sign a two year contract for that iPad that you may not want" strings attached.
2) Sorry if this is punting a bit, but the Wirecutter has a guide for this exact thing, which might be useful. The Wirecutter recommends good stuff, I feel good deferring to them for pretty much anything they bother to check out, even if it's just to get a temperature check on some popular options.
3) I've never gotten them on any of my phones but I'm basically the opposite use case for what you're referring to. In general, for these things I agree with Rock Steady above.
posted by daisy55 at 10:24 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
2) Sorry if this is punting a bit, but the Wirecutter has a guide for this exact thing, which might be useful. The Wirecutter recommends good stuff, I feel good deferring to them for pretty much anything they bother to check out, even if it's just to get a temperature check on some popular options.
3) I've never gotten them on any of my phones but I'm basically the opposite use case for what you're referring to. In general, for these things I agree with Rock Steady above.
posted by daisy55 at 10:24 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you're considering the 6, have you looked at the SE? I believe it's essentially the same guts as the 6, but in a smaller form factor, at a noticeable discount. Might actually work better with twelve-year-old girls' hands...or possibly might be deemed tiny and uncool by twelve-year-old girls' friends, I don't know.
posted by praemunire at 10:41 AM on January 31, 2018
posted by praemunire at 10:41 AM on January 31, 2018
Definitely don't get the 6. My 6 is barely functional now (it's in perfect shape: it's just extremely slow). I can't imagine the model has more than a year of life left (I wouldn't be surprised if the next iOS version didn't support it). The SE is probably going to get updated this spring, maybe in time for the March birthdays but I wouldn't count on it. The 6S may be good enough, but If I were looking for something to last two years, the earliest model I'd get is the 7 at this point.
posted by General Malaise at 10:58 AM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by General Malaise at 10:58 AM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: 1. Right now there are some two-for-one deals on iPhone 8 from the carriers.
2. iPhone 7 ($550) or SE ($350) might be your sweet spot. eBay has 32GB 7's for $430 and 64GB SE's for $235. As someone who is hard on phones myself, I worry about used phones.
3. On insurance, be aware:
posted by troyer at 11:56 AM on January 31, 2018
2. iPhone 7 ($550) or SE ($350) might be your sweet spot. eBay has 32GB 7's for $430 and 64GB SE's for $235. As someone who is hard on phones myself, I worry about used phones.
3. On insurance, be aware:
- AppleCare+ can be less hassle - stop into Apple Store, get stuff fixed, generally good customer service and willingness to make things right, $29 screen fixes - BUT does not cover lost/stolen phones
- Carrier insurance can be a hassle - provided by 3rd party, mail phone in, etc - BUT usually covers lost/stolen phones as well
posted by troyer at 11:56 AM on January 31, 2018
Response by poster: Thank you everyone so much. The Wirecutter review that daisy55 linked to is exactly what I was looking for - and based on that + the feedback in here, I'm going to get them iPhone 7s. And thank you troyer for the insurance info - very helpful.
Unfortunately the 2-for-1 deal for the 8 is only with a trade-in. But at least Verizon has $250 off an iPad with the purchase of a phone, so at least there's that. Thank you!
posted by widdershins at 12:15 PM on January 31, 2018
Unfortunately the 2-for-1 deal for the 8 is only with a trade-in. But at least Verizon has $250 off an iPad with the purchase of a phone, so at least there's that. Thank you!
posted by widdershins at 12:15 PM on January 31, 2018
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2. My wife and daughter are hanging on to their 6s's for dear life, as they hate the thought of losing the headphone jack. It makes no difference to me, but I thought I'd mention it. That said, if you expect them to keep the phones for over two years, the 6s will be getting a bit long in the tooth by then, performance-wise.
3. In my opinion, you are better off putting whatever you would spend on a protection plan into a savings account. That way, if the phones never break, you still have the money. If you get a plan and they never break, you get nothing.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:21 AM on January 31, 2018