AT&T to Quietly Offer Refurbished iPhone 3GS Models to GoPhone Customers

Queue 12 pages of 'cheap plastic' bilge.

I have two - one has a shattered screen (though is completely usable) while the other has a fine layer of dust from not having been used in a few months, but I had been using it to test iOS apps. Going forward I'm doing iOS 7+ only, though, so I guess I don't need my 3GS anymore... Maybe I'll sell it now... Or maybe if I keep it for 10-20 years it'll be a collectible.

I still have mine! I might have to bring it back to life just to see what it can still do.

If you're that price-conscious, maybe a smart phone isn't for you.

Hmmm.... well if AT&T is aware of the iPhone 5C price point, I think this indicates the 5C will be more like $400+ rather than more like $300.

It doesn't really make sense to have a 4 year old iphone selling for... say $279 while having a brand new iPhone with signifcantly improved specs for like $300-$350. Just my opinion.

they should offer the iphone 5C instead of this - i mean, what's the difference

Mad Mac Maniac said:

Hmmm.... well if AT&T is aware of the iPhone 5C price point, I think this indicates the 5C will be more like $400+ rather than more like $300.

It doesn't really make sense to have a 4 year old iphone selling for... say $279 while having a brand new iPhone with signifcantly improved specs for like $300-$350. Just my opinion.

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True. Unless the 3GS is going to be much closer to the $200 mark. It's like a nostalgia purchase

MacRumors said:

The lack of support for Apple's latest iOS operating system is a concern...

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That's OK as long as its version of iOS has iCloud connectivity.
I'm sure Apple wants to build their iCloud user base as fast as possible.
iCloud is the key to Apple's next decade, the way iTunes was in the last decade.

H20 sells 3GS phones for under $200

https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/pageControl.php?page=bundleDetail&p_code=BUN004

just the phone is $170

Still too expensive to throw out every day before the cops can put a trace on the number. PASS.

ratigator said:

If you're that price-conscious, maybe a smart phone isn't for you.

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Maybe as a pay-as-you-go without a data plan (can always use WIFI). But then again, might be better to get it second hand... I might give mine to my son in 8 years...

The pre-retina devices just need to die and go away already.

Little bit of Nostalgia

I hate to say it but the 3GS was one of the most comfortable phones to hold in your hand. The new iPhones are too angular and smooth. They fit awkward in my hand and slip out easily (when not in a case). Kinda miss the 3GS form factor and actually think the cheap iPhone5C will be better to hold than the fancy coming Gold iPhone.

honestly.. for someone that just wants a very cheap smartphone that isn't laggy with a web browser and decent app support it's a good deal. Most developers won't ditch iOS >7 for a pretty long time.

I still have my 3GS. Can't wait for the 5S and to ditch ATT.

The 3GS is way past it's prime and isn't going to be supported with iOS7. I wouldn't recommend the 3GS to anyone unless they simply want a phone and iPod in the same device. Anymore than that and they should go with the 4,4S, 5 or 5C.

ratigator said:

If you're that price-conscious, maybe a smart phone isn't for you.

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Yup, I have to agree. I bought an iPhone thinking the costs would be justified by how I use it, but I was mistaken. Within the first month I was mainly using it for Twitter, FB, apps etc. It was more of a distraction if anything and I figured I was paying too much so I sold it and bought a regular, brick phone which is more than enough for me.

The 3Gs hasn't met the dodo yet?

there are way better android phones for way cheaper. Can't see any reason to buy this at this point when you could get a dual core android phone for under $200 brand new

ratigator said:

If you're that price-conscious, maybe a smart phone isn't for you.

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Why not? Only rich kids use the internet?

The GoPhone selections are just so stupid at AT&T. So I'm glad they're offering the 3GS. It's about time really. It's annoying that if I break my on-contract phone, I'm pretty much screwed. The only smartphones they have right now are the Huawei Fusion 2, and the Nokia Lumia 520.

I have the Fusion. It's the most stupid phone out of the box. It is literally a piece of crap. It takes a few seconds for a call to go through, and you get a spinning wheel of death between just about everything you open on it.

After rooting it and installing CyanogenMod 10.1, it is the best Android device I've EVER had. But it has no personality otherwise, besides the squeaking.

It's not that I wouldn't go for a Lumia, but replacing an Android with a Windows Phone is a dumb move, especially when your contract is almost up and you're about to move back to iOS. I have a good chunk invested into Android, and just to throw it out like that and spend A LOT more in alternatives, was not the solution I was looking for.

Got a 16 Gig 3GS from a member here a couple years back, CIB and in great shape - still using it, but not in great shape anymore (cracks at the connector). My original iPhone still perfect because of the better build.

Need at least a 4S as newer versions of Aviation Apps require a more powerful device.

I can't imagine paying more than $125 for a refurbished officially unlocked 8Gig 3GS....

I have been rockin my 3gs for a long time and have had to resuscitate it twice already (battery, dock port). The first 2.5 yrs it was extremely stable. Approaching its 4th year it is now up for another last life saving surgery (dock port again, those connectors seem to be weak links in heavy duty use). After that, should it break again, the nxt stop will be iPhone heaven, .

Wow- the Windows XP phone- the phone that won't die!

It really attests to their quality if they are still very useful after it is that old!

Mine's been sitting in my desk for a few years. Noticed recently that the plastic back has a few cracks and the glass on the front is starting to delaminate in one corner. Was a good phone in it's day.

I wonder if there's someplace I could actually get my unit fixed? I don't want to get an exchange unit. I'd use it as an iPod.