My 5S is dying, so I've been thinking about getting a new phone. I know we're just weeks away from new models being introduced, but I'm not terribly interested in them and they will certainly be outside of my budget. I want a bigger screen, so the SE is out. I was thinking about a refurb 7+ from Apple, but even that is more than I want to spend, so I've been looking at a 6S Plus on Swappa. It has everything I'd need from a phone, and the price is right. My question is, what happens to the used market after the new phones are launched? Will the price of a used 6S Plus shift in a significant way (say, more than $50US), or would it be safe to buy one now? What do you think the price of a new one from Apple would be after the new phones launch?
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iPhone 6(S)/Plus Bad idea to buy a used 6S now?
- Thread starter rzod
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I agree. The price difference is small for how much more you get from the 7 over the 6s.
Any time new iPhones are announced, [which will be here in a few weeks], older model iPhone models devalue more. That’s just the nature of tech in general when something is superseding an older device. But I still think the 6S is a great phone for what it’s worth, it just matters what you find value in and what you can afford.
Can you elaborate? Everything I've read seems to indicate they are pretty similar.
I’ve never owned either, but I have seen it said on here many times that the 7 has a bunch of upgrades over the 6s. I know the prices are pretty close, also. Better camera, Touch ID and maybe waterproofing? Someone else can chime in, but I’d go 7 for sure.
For your first question, in my experience prices don't immediately plummet by a noticeable amount, it can take several weeks. So it will happen if you wait, just be prepared to wait much longer than release day.
However, I tend to look at Apple refurbs, Ebay, and Craigslist. I don't know about Swappa. I think they have a way to see historical prices, so maybe you can look that up.
Apple won't necessarily continue to sell the 6S Plus, so I don't know that you can count on getting a new one from them. Apple has changed their low-cost phone strategy a few times, so I don't think anyone can predict with certainty what will happen.
All that being said, you should wait anyway. We're getting really close now, and even if used prices don't go down immediately, it's not like used prices will go up, so there's no harm in waiting to see what happens.
Wait until the new phones are announced. There will be a huge uptick in phones hitting the secondary market. More supply, less demand (everyone's focus will be shifting to the newer phones). Economics 101
Don’t buy an iPhone right before an Apple iPhone launch event, this is because their second hand values can go up slightly.
Wait till after the event and they should drop. You may be able to look at a 7 Plus even then?
If the 7 is $450 used right now (hypothetically) and will drop to $400 after the new phones come out, is it really worth waiting to save $50 or $100? If it was at full msrp and would drop $300 then I could see waiting. If someone needs a phone now I don’t see why they would wait a month or more to save $50?
Get a 7. It will run very well with iOS 12. I think there is a real chance the 7 will disappear from the refurb store after the launch as well. 
What hoops did you have to jump through? It wasn’t just $49 free and clear.
Edit: I googled it. You have to sign up for a $50 per month plan, stay for 6 months and bring over a current number. This is meaningless for the vast majority of people.
Not true just ported my # and i can switch carrier anytime i want.i got the sim off ebay to unlock but i dont plan on going anywhere yet
But you did have to bring your number over. Good deal for someone looking to change, but for someone on Tmobile or Verizon looking for a cheap phone as a backup this wouldn’t work.
My opinion would be to go for a used 7 or 7 plus, whichever fits your budget. and buy it a week or so after the new iPhone launch.. I’ll give you my reasons for not getting a 6s:
1. Battery issue: even after Apple fixing the battery, I have seen the 6s fail more than other iPhones.
2. It’s a 2015 phone, meaning 3 years old. It’ll get iOS updates probably for another 2 years (you never know how Apple does their updates.)
3. The processor efficiency on the iPhone 7 is superb, considering it has the efficiency cores. Which is a huge plus point.
4. The home button getting flawed or wobbly etc issue on iPhone 6s, won’t be a possibility on the 7 because 7 has a illusionary button, with the Taptic Engine.
5. iPhone 7 though only a gem greater than 7, will probably get atleast 3 or 4 iOS updates
6. It’s got a bigger battery and a much stable one too..
So I guess, if you can get a little more on your budget, it’ll be a worthy investment for the next 2-3 years.
1. Battery issue: even after Apple fixing the battery, I have seen the 6s fail more than other iPhones.
2. It’s a 2015 phone, meaning 3 years old. It’ll get iOS updates probably for another 2 years (you never know how Apple does their updates.)
3. The processor efficiency on the iPhone 7 is superb, considering it has the efficiency cores. Which is a huge plus point.
4. The home button getting flawed or wobbly etc issue on iPhone 6s, won’t be a possibility on the 7 because 7 has a illusionary button, with the Taptic Engine.
5. iPhone 7 though only a gem greater than 7, will probably get atleast 3 or 4 iOS updates
6. It’s got a bigger battery and a much stable one too..
So I guess, if you can get a little more on your budget, it’ll be a worthy investment for the next 2-3 years.
I would also add a few things: Dual speakers,water resistance and OIS in the 4.7 in. ( does better in low light than the 6s.)
The 6s is a great phone, however it is what the iPhone 6 should have been and a year late ( but that is for another discussion).
I have both a 6s and a 7. I wasn’t planning on getting a 7, but it was gifted to me by a family member after they got a X. The 7 I received turned out to have some logic board issues so I got a replacement from Apple for free.
Having used the 7 for almost a year now, and also having used the 6s for over a year, if you can swing it I would get the 7 instead of the 6s.
The above posters have all mentioned the reasons why, and for myself I find to like the 7 more than the 6s because it is waterproof, has a better camera, the screen is nicer, and it just feels faster all around. I also feel it will fare well with updates going forward, so I plan to use it for another year or two at least.
If you can, I’d get the 7 as it is a better phone. But if you can’t, the 6s is still a great phone as well.
Having used the 7 for almost a year now, and also having used the 6s for over a year, if you can swing it I would get the 7 instead of the 6s.
The above posters have all mentioned the reasons why, and for myself I find to like the 7 more than the 6s because it is waterproof, has a better camera, the screen is nicer, and it just feels faster all around. I also feel it will fare well with updates going forward, so I plan to use it for another year or two at least.
If you can, I’d get the 7 as it is a better phone. But if you can’t, the 6s is still a great phone as well.
I'm still using my iPhone 6s and is as fast and fluid as the day I bought it. Best phones hands down. Have dropped it several times and it still hasn't broken.
I'm buying the new iPhone x though just for giggles even though I don't need it.
I'm buying the new iPhone x though just for giggles even though I don't need it.
Get a 6s, it'll be dirt cheap. And the processor is still fast, ios 12 will make it more smooth and last long. so get the 6s update to ios 12 when it comes out and leave it like that, itll last you really long. If the battery starts getting worn you can replace it yourself like i did with my 6s and its still running solid. The 6S is the last best iphone with the headphone jack, you wont really see a difference between a 6s, 7 and 8. the only difference is processor power but you will barely notice it tbh. Only reason i havent upgraded because i need the headphone jack lol
sold my iPhone X two weeks ago, bought a in-a-good- state (minor hairline scratches) secondhand €169 iPhone 6S with 64Gb storage, downloaded and installed the iOS 12 beta. I can tell for sure people with an iPhone 6S will be very, very happy.
iOS 12 gives the 6S almost a complete new life; things are very fast and fluid.
iOS 12 gives the 6S almost a complete new life; things are very fast and fluid.
