What is the cheapest way of upgrading your iOS devices?

[Silly John Fatty]

Most of you have probably noticed, that iOS deviced are quickly dated. Suddenly, all kinds of bugs appear, and you need to upgrade to a new version of iOS. That, however, means that your device will be slower. Apple knows their strategy and want you to buy their newest products.

For people like me, who use these iPhones and iPads for the functions they actually provide, and not for what they stand for or what "image" they have, this is extremely annoying, because spending money on a new device every year is actually a waste of money.

So what are the cheapest way of upgrading to the next iPhone or iPad? I figured this here out: Buy device, buy Apple Care+, when new iPhone/iPad comes out, destroy your device, receive a new one, and sell it as new (you can sell it for more if it's new).

Has anyone come up with something even better?

 

[HPLouis]

So....you buy an iPhone X for $1150, then pay $200 for AppleCare. With tax, you're probably in for $1500.

Now you destroy it and pay how much.....$100 for a new phone. Now you're in $1600.

You sell it for $800 because who's going to give you big money when the new one will be coming out soon. Also, you will be selling a 'refurbished phone' and people feel a certain way about those, even if they are Apple refurbished. You can't say it's new since it won't be new at the time. It's a refurbished phone. Let's just say someone is dumb enough to believe that it's new, you won't get back your $1600, not even enough to make it worthwhile.

You're at a loss for $800, let's say.

Now you pay another $1600 for a new phone. Rinse and repeat, you lost another $800. In two years, your loss would have paid for a phone outright.

 

[Menel]

Totally unethical.

The lowest cost method is to get a second hand, 2year old device every year.
The original owner already took the brunt of value drop for you. You get in very low, on a device that will still perform.

I’ve migrated from the 2year cycle to the 3-4yr cycle. I can afford the shiny new, and apple devices are lasting longer and longer. Also spend less time sink wiping and restoring and dealing with activation and all the headaches.

 

[maflynn]

For people like me, who use these iPhones and iPads for the functions they actually provide,

If you use it as a tool, which you imply you do, then there is no need to buy a new phone annually.

because spending money on a new device every year is actually a waste of money.

Yes agreed, there's no need.

So what are the cheapest way of upgrading to the next iPhone or iPad?

Simple not upgrading

destroy your device, receive a new one, and sell it as new (you can sell it for more if it's new).

Seems like an unethical way and I couldn't look at myself in the mirror. I'd rather no want to get the latest and greatest that way.

 

[HPLouis]

If you want a new phone every year, get on one of those carrier payment plans like AT&T's Next.

For a 256GB X, You pay the $100 in tax and then pay $48 per month (48x12=588). With your taxes you're in $688. You give back your phone, don't have to worry about selling phones, eBay buyers, a glut of phones on the market, dealing with scammers, or shady people on craigslist, eBay fees, PayPal fees, etc.

 

[fischersd]

What you're talking about is insurance fraud. Pretty much the same thing as burning your own house down (only that is also arson) and collecting the insurance money. My guess - the underwriter of the insurance will keep tabs and eventually people like you will be flagged as ineligible for coverage.

On the plus side, people like you are also the reason that AC+ costs so much. So, thanks for that!

 

[DNichter]

Carrier yearly plan for iPhone, sell my iPad each year and spend about $200-$300 for the latest. That's about it. I spend probably $700-$800 per year to have the latest.

 

[rui no onna]

The lowest cost method is to get a second hand, 2 year old device every year.
The original owner already took the brunt of value drop for you. You get in very low, on a device that will still perform.

I’ve migrated from the 2year cycle to the 3-4yr cycle. I can afford the shiny new, and apple devices are lasting longer and longer. Also spend less time sink wiping and restoring and dealing with activation and all the headaches.

Prior to the A9, not really. Used to be 2 years worth of iOS updates could really bog down the device.

As you mentioned though, nowadays, Apple devices are lasting longer. At this point in time, I'd be more than fine with A9/2GB on a lower cost device. Currently have the iPhone 7 (A10) and I'd probably just do a battery replacement when the battery on that starts to go.

 

[HPLouis]

I'm going under the assumption that he doesn't know what he's doing. Maybe he needs education on what's insurance fraud and how it affects others.

OP, everyone is correct. What you're planning is unethical so try to find another way to upgrade every year. Or, just don't upgrade. There really is no reason to pay the extra $300 for AppleCare and to destroy a phone just to sell it. You won't make back that money you spent. It's better to just upgrade through your carrier, or if you can't, really take care of your phone, get screen protector and case, don't use the accessories, and save the box. That will make it more desirable to the new owner.

 

[44267547]

OP, there are other viable alternatives to upgrade your device versus creating a loophole to AppleCare by Destroying the iPhone. I would highly suggest you rethink your methods, as it's a poor solution to your answer.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

It's not insurance fraud. Apple Care is not an insurance in the traditional way (at least not here in Europe from what I've read), it's just a service that you can purchase which allows you to get a new phone if your old one is broken - not matter HOW it was broken, because none of how it happened is covered in Apple Care policies.

@HPLouis The idea would be to get a new phone obviously, not the repaired old phone. This happened to me already once, with my iPhone 4 back then, and I had received a completely new one. How would someone pay 800 for a new iPhone X? You would probably sell it for a little less than Apple does. I see this happening all the time here, but then again I am from Europe and the market is a different one here and things work differently as well so perhaps it's not comparable. Also I wouldn't be buying an iPhone X. I'm not buying any half-finished products.

@maflynn Yes, I do need it, because I sync a lot of things with iCloud and all of Apples default apps, and it's very frustrating when some of it doesn't work, which is often the case with Apple.

 

[tromboneaholic]

It's not insurance fraud. Apple Care is not an insurance in the traditional way (at least not here in Europe from what I've read), it's just a service that you can purchase which allows you to get a new phone if your old one is broken - not matter HOW it was broken, because none of how it happened is covered in Apple Care policies.

I’m not sure what you’ve read, but you should find a more reliable source.

From AppleCare+ legal terms of service in Europe:

AppleCare+ is an insurance policy covering the risk of damage to your iPad, iPhone, iPod, or Apple Watch and the need for technical assistance.

5. Exclusions

5.1.2. damage caused by:

5.1.2.1. abuse or misuse, meaning intentionally-caused damage including knowingly using the Covered Equipment for the purpose or in the manner for which it was not intended;

 

[silverblack]

There are no cheaper ways!! Just pay for it like everyone else. People buy things with money they earn. Europe or not.

 

[largefarrva]

Want to know why insurance (AppleCare + in this case) keeps getting more and more expensive? A big reason is because of people like you. Don't sugar coat it....what you're advocating is downright unethical and wrong. The insurance is there for accidents and other unfortunate things that can happen....not for you to intentionally destroy the product just to get a new one to sell. Pathetic.

 

[Silly John Fatty]

I’m not sure what you’ve read, but you should find a more reliable source.

From AppleCare+ legal terms of service in Europe:

AppleCare+ is an insurance policy covering the risk of damage to your iPad, iPhone, iPod, or Apple Watch and the need for technical assistance.

5. Exclusions

5.1.2. damage caused by:

5.1.2.1. abuse or misuse, meaning intentionally-caused damage including knowingly using the Covered Equipment for the purpose or in the manner for which it was not intended;

Okay, it seems you are right …

Want to know why insurance (AppleCare + in this case) keeps getting more and more expensive? A big reason is because of people like you. Don't sugar coat it....what you're advocating is downright unethical and wrong. The insurance is there for accidents and other unfortunate things that can happen....not for you to intentionally destroy the product just to get a new one to sell. Pathetic.

Well, you can be sure that in this case, people like me have no influence on Apple's prices. Apple is expensive because it wants to attract people who are attracted by price tags and not by what something actually is. They would still largely survive with all of their products at much lower cost, but that's another pair of shoes.

 

[Gryzor]

Cheapest way to upgrade each year is to buy outright up-front and sell privately. But, if you want to not spend money, don't upgrade.

 

[tromboneaholic]

Okay, it seems you are right …



Well, you can be sure that in this case, people like me have no influence on Apple's prices. Apple is expensive because it wants to attract people who are attracted by price tags and not by what something actually is. They would still largely survive with all of their products at much lower cost, but that's another pair of shoes.

Apple can’t afford to sell their products at lower cost. They should charge more if you compare them to their US competitors:

Apple’s profit margin last quarter was 25%

While

Google’s profit margin last quarter was 28%
Microsoft’s profit margin last quarter was 31%
Facebook’s profit margin last quarter was 49%

 

[Gryzor]

Apple can’t afford to sell their products at lower cost. They should charge more if you compare them to their US competitors:

Apple’s profit margin last quarter was 25%

While

Google’s profit margin last quarter was 28%
Microsoft’s profit margin last quarter was 31%
Facebook’s profit margin last quarter was 49%

If you have profit margins at 25% you can afford to sell products at a lower cost. Why should they though if people are prepared to pay what they do charge? It's simple supply and demand, and I actually agree, they should charge more - $1000 for a pocket computer like the iPhone X is chump change for what it does.

 

[tromboneaholic]

If you have profit margins at 25% you can afford to sell products at a lower cost. Why should they though if people are prepared to pay what they do charge? It's simple supply and demand, and I actually agree, they should charge more - $1000 for a pocket computer like the iPhone X is chump change for what it does.

Because their competitors in the US have higher profit margins. The stock analysts would go crazy if Apple profit margins dropped, and the shareholders would complain.

 

[Aibocyrus]

If you want a new phone every year, get on one of those carrier payment plans like AT&T's Next.

For a 256GB X, You pay the $100 in tax and then pay $48 per month (48x12=588). With your taxes you're in $688. You give back your phone, don't have to worry about selling phones, eBay buyers, a glut of phones on the market, dealing with scammers, or shady people on craigslist, eBay fees, PayPal fees, etc.

This!
Get on a payment plan with the carrier or Apple, you typically only end up paying 50% of what you would have paid for the full price of the device. Also, I use the carrier insurance instead of Apple care because Apple care does not cover lost or stolen. And when you’re carrying around a brand new iOS device, having full protection isn’t a bad idea. Sure you’ll pay monthly for it, but you pay monthly for any real insurance(health and car come to mind).

So this way you’ll always have a brand new phone and stay up to date.

 

[tromboneaholic]

I used a promo trade in offer and got $300 for my beat up iPhone 6.
With the taxes on it, iPhone X wound up costing me $769.99.

I will see what I can get for my iPhone X in a year, and decide if I want to upgrade or not.

 

[iOS XXX]

Apple does not make iPhones slower on purpose. They provide an update that is more geared to the latest iPhone. With that said, other previous iPhones may be updated as well but do to the old hardware technology in the old iPhones, those internals on those iPhones are going to work harder to keep up. Which in turns slows the old iPhones a bit and drains the battery a bit faster. It’s not Apple doing that, that’s every old device that takes a current software update.

 

[ApplePersonFreak]

This!
Get on a payment plan with the carrier or Apple, you typically only end up paying 50% of what you would have paid for the full price of the device. Also, I use the carrier insurance instead of Apple care because Apple care does not cover lost or stolen. And when you’re carrying around a brand new iOS device, having full protection isn’t a bad idea. Sure you’ll pay monthly for it, but you pay monthly for any real insurance(health and car come to mind).

So this way you’ll always have a brand new phone and stay up to date.

That is a good way to put it. I’m someone who likes to upgrade every year too but I like to own my phone and not have to worry about owing anything. That and having my bill go up to close to a hundred dollars is a lot for a single line and just one phone.

 

[BiggAW]

Aside from discussions about how to defraud AC+, let's look at how long iPhones are lasting. The actual hardware in the phones is now lasting longer than ever. I had my 4s for over 4 years, and it was a real dog by the end, but an iPhone 5s today doesn't feel nearly as slow as the 4s did at the end of it's life. Now, with the A11 chip being 2-3 years ahead of the SD 835, and iOS being more efficient than Android in the first place, the phone's own hardware has a very long life ahead of it.

The current limiting factor is the wireless technology in these things. For the first 5-10 years of smartphone technology, the phones were moving faster than the wireless technology, but the wireless technology is still moving at the same speed, and the phone technology has slowed way down. Further, while Apple is 2-3 years ahead of Android in the phone's processor and on part with the cameras, Apple is over a year behind on wireless technology due to their petty kerfuffle with Qualcomm. The current iPhones don't have 4x4 MIMO, which is useful even without network deployment due to antenna diversity offering better reception in fringe areas. The current iPhones also don't have B71, which is now standard for new phones on T-Mobile, as well as B14, which isn't standard on almost anything yet for AT&T, but will be much needed in a year or two as AT&T builds out FirstNet.

I'm hoping for a 5-year iPhone to come out next year. As an AT&T customer, I need B14 and gigabit LTE in my next phone to make it last, so I'm hoping that Intel can catch up in technology, as I doubt that Apple will do the right thing, and go all-Qualcomm. I'm also hoping that there is one more year of SIM-unlocked Qualcomm phones, since Intel's radios still aren't nearly as good as Qualcomm's. If I had to get a new phone now, I guess I'd get a Verizon X or a SIM-free 8 Plus, but I know I wouldn't be happy knowing that I'm over a year behind the Galaxy S8's wireless technology, even being 2 years ahead on the processor.

I really hope Apple catches up on wireless technology, as they have a bad history of being behind. They were 4 years behind on 3G on AT&T (since AT&T's 3G network predated the iPhone by 3 years, the OG iPhone should have launched with it), 18 months behind on LTE on Verizon, at least a year behind on B12 on T-Mobile, and now are over a year behind on B71 on T-Mobile. IIRC, they were behind on something on Sprint too, WiMAX, LTE, maybe B41?

 

[DiveKitty]

Putting aside the insurance fraud issues...

Just don’t upgrade every year. It is not necessary. That is just a want (and for some a hobby, which is fine, but that does not make it a need). I also use my devices for their “function”’ including work and business, and don’t need to upgrade to the “newest device” every year. It’s a mini computer...and like my desktop or laptop, it can serve me a few years.

After 2,3,4 years, sell or trade in old phone for a few bucks and get a new one. I bought my X on contract. Regular price here about $1500 CAD. I just kept my current plan and signed up for two years, so cost dropped to $1000 CAD upfront ($0 increase in my monthly plan payments...as long as I keep contract two years they just offset $500...but I can buy outright at any time of course). I will keep my X at least 2-3 years, making annual cost for device itself $333-$500. For a device I use so frequently, it is very justifiable! Until I got the X, I had managed just fine for the last few years on my 5s.