Amercians, would you pay $968 for a 32 GB iPhone 5 unlocked?

[iSayuSay]

People are saying here that they wouldn't like to pay so much money on a phone. People, wake up, you pay even more than $968 through your ridiculously expensive contracts with AT&T/Verizon/Sprint. Unlimited text, call, and text costs 50% less in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, comparing to the US.

Yes, but with contracts you also get their cellular services. Text, calls, data. Might not be the cheapest plan, but bring my own iPhone doesn't help either.

And paying $968 upfront for the phone alone gets you nowhere. You still need to buy cellular services and plans, pre or postpaid.

 

[alent1234]

People are saying here that they wouldn't like to pay so much money on a phone. People, wake up, you pay even more than $968 through your ridiculously expensive contracts with AT&T/Verizon/Sprint. Unlimited text, call, and text costs 50% less in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, comparing to the US.

Most people in the us are on family plans. They are cheaper

That's why to see 9 year old kids with iPhones here

 

[Moshe1010]

Yes, but with contracts you also get their cellular services. Text, calls, data. Might not be the cheapest plan, but bring my own iPhone doesn't help either.

And paying $968 upfront for the phone alone gets you nowhere. You still need to buy cellular services and plans, pre or postpaid.

Yes you need to buy a cellular service that would cost you $25/month for 5GB DATA, unlimited call and text. That's $300 Vs. $1200 (or something like that) from AT&T. You can buy a new iPhone every year in that way.

Most people in the us are on family plans. They are cheaper

That's why to see 9 year old kids with iPhones here

No, it's not cheaper. US is the maybe the only country that's counting incoming calls as part of your minutes package, so you actually getting twice less. In Europe and the Middle East for example (places I travel regularly) you can get 5 lines for $100, with 5GB Data (later throttled ) and unlimited text and call. 5GB Data for each line by the way, not a shared crap like they do here in the US.
The only downside that these countries don't have LTE. Most of them work on HSDPA+, but that would change in the next couple of months.
P.S. Some of these countries banned contracts from the law, carriers don't have the ability to sign a contract with you, so you can change companies every week.

 

[ChrisTX]

Yes, but I believe in US you CAN'T get any cheaper plans by using your own device, or paying it upfront. It doesn't help bring down the cost just like you can in UK.

So .. there's no really good reason to get an off contract iPhone here in US. It doesn't save you money over short/long term. In fact, you choke on your wallet by paying it upfront. Even paying an early termination fee is still cheaper than doing it.

It won't be any cheaper if you pay the full price up front or not. I've always wondered why people always said it's cheaper to pay the full unlocked price over the long term. You still have to pay the same per month for data if I'm not mistaken. No discount as you say for a bring your own device.

 

[iSayuSay]

It won't be any cheaper if you pay the full price up front or not. I've always wondered why people always said it's cheaper to pay the full unlocked price over the long term. You still have to pay the same per month for data if I'm not mistaken. No discount as you say for a bring your own device.

I believe my post you quoted stated the same idea .. You don't save money by paying upfront with US carriers

 

[pragmatous]

yes and i have. thinking of trading it in for the 64gb for an extra $100

this is the price in the UK for an unlocked iPhone 5 32 GB - £599

not sure if you can even buy it unlocked in the us?

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you do if you're on an old plan that's cheaper than the current plans such as unlimited data that pays for itself.

I believe my post you quoted stated the same idea .. You don't save money by paying upfront with US carriers

 

[Applejuiced]

Some would pay, others wouldnt or couldnt afford it.
Look at your own financial situation and decide accordingly.
What others do with their money would make no difference to what you should do.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Almost a thousand dollars for a phone (regardless if its unlocked) is not something I'd be open too.

Agreed. There is no way I would pay that.

 

[cambookpro]

Yes, but I believe in US you CAN'T get any cheaper plans by using your own device, or paying it upfront. It doesn't help bring down the cost just like you can in UK.

So .. there's no really good reason to get an off contract iPhone here in US. It doesn't save you money over short/long term. In fact, you choke on your wallet by paying it upfront. Even paying an early termination fee is still cheaper than doing it.

No, but I was saying that was why I bought one off contract, even though it costs whatever $$$, because it's cheaper in the long run here in the UK.

 

[erratikmind]

To answer the basic question, no. That is rediculous.

 

[Twixt]

And 32 GB is not even most pricey's one...
I did check pre orders in Switzerland and for 700 chf, thus less than 600 EUR i can get Note 2 with 64 GB!

 

[All Taken]

And 32 GB is not even most pricey's one...
I did check pre orders in Switzerland and for 700 chf, thus less than 600 EUR i can get Note 2 with 64 GB!

Just enough money saved to get some bigger pockets for that hideous over sized pos.

 

[sagar4995]

AED 4,600 in Dubai, UAE (i5 32gb)... thats US$1,260 when converted.

 

[ChrisTX]

I believe my post you quoted stated the same idea .. You don't save money by paying upfront with US carriers

I know you stated the same, I was just agreeing with you

 

[ANMA dojo]

Is the iPhone 5 32gb worth $500 more than the 64gb ipod touch for cellular support and the A6? Personally not at all. In fact you could get 2 ipod touches with double the capacity and have a little over 100 to buy accessories with.

where are you getting that $500 figure?

**looks at Apple site right now**
64gb ipod touch = $399+tax
32gb iphone 5 = $749+tax

= difference of only $350+tax, and certainly not 2 ipod touches + $100 for accessories

-------

btw, some people prefer carrying less devices
2 devices (ipod touch + phone) vs 1 device (iphone)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK55ElsVzxM
"are you getting it?"

 

[Twixt]

Just enough money saved to get some bigger pockets for that hideous over sized pos.

Its funny cause iphone 5 is ugly to me...

 

[iEvolution]

where are you getting that $500 figure?

**looks at Apple site right now**
64gb ipod touch = $399+tax
32gb iphone 5 = $749+tax

= difference of only $350+tax, and certainly not 2 ipod touches + $100 for accessories

-------

btw, some people prefer carrying less devices
2 devices (ipod touch + phone) vs 1 device (iphone)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK55ElsVzxM
"are you getting it?"

The op's price of 968, which is really a 568 price difference.

 

[ANMA dojo]

The op's price of 968, which is really a 568 price difference.

difference compared to USA or European ipod touch prices?

ok nvm, so just looked at UK apple site:
64gb ipod touch = £329+tax
32gb iphone 5 = £599+tax

= difference of £270+tax... assuming 20% tax? = £324 = $522 (via google)
... or is that tax already factored in? (I dunno!)... in which case £270 = $435 difference

UK sucks.... but we're in the USA, so it's still only a $350+tax difference here

btw your numbers are still off given any of these calculations. you would not be able to get 2x 64gb ipod touches + $100 in accessories for the price of a 32gb iphone

 

[PeopleTheseDays]

I don't think it's a proper comparison by doing a straight currency conversion. Prices for items in the US and overseas are not all interchangeable. The only time it's relevant is when you buy things 2nd hand on eBay.

Take for example the Macbook Pro with Retina display, it costs 1,799 pounds. Converted to US it's 2900 dollars. In reality, it only costs 2,200 dollars for the same laptop in the US.

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro

There is no point in making these currency comparisons. Especially without getting into the differences in healthcare, wages, etc.

 

[OllyW]

difference compared to USA or European ipod touch prices?

ok nvm, so just looked at UK apple site:
64gb ipod touch = £329+tax
32gb iphone 5 = £599+tax

= difference of £270+tax... assuming 20% tax? = £324 = $522 (via google)
... or is that tax already factored in? (I dunno!)... in which case £270 = $435 difference

UK sucks.... but we're in the USA, so it's still only a $350+tax difference here

btw your numbers are still off given any of these calculations. you would not be able to get 2x 64gb ipod touches + $100 in accessories for the price of a 32gb iphone

The UK price already includes the 20% VAT so that should be taken off to accurately compare with the USA price.

So the 64 GB iPod touch = £274 + tax ($442)
and the 32 GB iPhone 5 = £499 + tax ($805)

 

[Moshe1010]

I believe my post you quoted stated the same idea .. You don't save money by paying upfront with US carriers

Let's take Cricket, a pre-paid service that uses AT&T network, costs $35/month: 1000 talk minutes, unlimited data&text. Let's take even T-Mobile, they charge you $70 for unlimited text, call, and data (5GB, then throttle).
Same plan at AT&T would cost you $120, that's $50 difference/month. $50X12 = $600 --> that's what you save a year. $1200 through the entire contract time (2 years). Now, Let's deduct $650 for an Unlocked iPhone 16gb, that would be a Net saving of $750 ($200 subsidized price is calculated here) and much more if you decide not to take the unlimited plan and go with something simpler (less minutes, maybe 2GB data). Basically, you can buy an unlocked iPhone every year with these savings, and maybe even gain more money because you will probably sell your old cellphone for at least 50% of its original cost (after 1 year of usage and in a pretty good condition ).

 

[d123]

I read somewhere that you can actually cut down a mini or micro SIM into a nano SIM. Quite a hit and miss since it doesn't always work. But some did.

I've cut 7 microsims down to nano now, with a 100% success rate.

Seriously a person must be very bad with scissors to mess up, or have the shakes bad. It really is simple to do.

 

[iSayuSay]

Let's take Cricket, a pre-paid service that uses AT&T network, costs $35/month: 1000 talk minutes, unlimited data&text. Let's take even T-Mobile, they charge you $70 for unlimited text, call, and data (5GB, then throttle).
Same plan at AT&T would cost you $120, that's $50 difference/month. $50X12 = $600 --> that's what you save a year. $1200 through the entire contract time (2 years). Now, Let's deduct $650 for an Unlocked iPhone 16gb, that would be a Net saving of $750 ($200 subsidized price is calculated here) and much more if you decide not to take the unlimited plan and go with something simpler (less minutes, maybe 2GB data). Basically, you can buy an unlocked iPhone every year with these savings, and maybe even gain more money because you will probably sell your old cellphone for at least 50% of its original cost (after 1 year of usage and in a pretty good condition ).

Assuming you can get iPhone 5 at exactly Apple's retail price, then yes. It saves money to get the phone at full price and pay your carrier independently. 2 years contract is including installment for the phone alone. There's this interest factor and all. So yes it costs more.

But in reality? How much an unlocked iPhone 5 costs in countries you mentioned? Does it exactly cost $649, $749, and $849 like Apple advertises?

Or more like $900 - $1500? Or even $1800?

In emerging countries (mostly Asians), iPhone is a luxury item. Getting the newest iPhone earlier makes you the boss, and this particular item comes with hefty marked up dollars. Strangely enough people would buy them.

So yes, at some narrow point, paying iPhone upfront may saves you a bit of dollars. But in reality, you hardly get a full retail iPhone at theoretical price. Renders your saving calculation obsolete.

Thus, to the main question.. Nope .. I wouldn't pay for a full retail iPhone more than Apple asks.

 

[XboxMySocks]

this is the price in the UK for an unlocked iPhone 5 32 GB - £599

not sure if you can even buy it unlocked in the us?

I bought my 32GB for $904. So no.

 

[pragmatous]

I got the 32GB with applecare and I bought an extra cable.

I bought my 32GB for $904. So no.