Wait! Before You Buy That iPhone
WalletHub Says The Wrong iPhone 15 Plan Could Cost Individuals $981 And Families $1,995
2 in 5 Americans plan to buy the new iPhone in 2023, according to the personal-finance website WalletHub’s new 2023 iPhone Survey. However, as the iPhone 15 release date approaches on September 22, WalletHub found that people can save $981 - $1,995 over two years by picking the right plan.
Here is what WalletHub was able to determine from the study:
· A no-contract individual plan from Walmart Family Mobile is the best way to get the new iPhone, beating plans from all three major carriers.
·For even more savings, keep your old phone. Individuals can save up to $1,708 and families can save up to $2,723.
·More than a third of Americans say that their phone is their most important belonging.
·More than 1 in 5 people think that the new iPhone is worth going into debt for.
Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzalez had her own take on the matter as well. “The best way to save money on a cell phone is to buy a phone that’s at least one generation behind, rather than getting the latest model. There is relatively little difference in phones from one generation to the next, so waiting at least two years will be more cost-effective and bring more dramatic improvements,” she said when asked if she had any advice on for saving on a cell phone during this difficult economic period.
She also gave her view on why she thought 2 in 5 Americans think it’s better to buy a cell phone in installments: “One major reason why nearly 2 in 5 Americans think it’s better to buy a cell phone in installments may be that inflation has made it hard to afford the entire cost of a phone upfront. Since it’s often possible to get 0% interest when you pay for a phone in monthly installments, the cost gets distributed into smaller payments that are much more manageable. Other consumers may want to have full ownership of their phone from the start, though, rather than having to make payments for years to come. In addition, they may want to avoid being locked into a contract with a certain carrier that will last until the phone is paid off.”
WalletHub encouraged readers to use their calculator to help determine the overall costs of their phone plans. “WalletHub’s Cell Phone Savings Calculator lets users input their upfront and monthly costs to compare the true cost of two-year contracts, installment plans and no-contract plans from all of the major carriers,” they said.
Check out the calculator here: https://wallethub.com/cell-phone-calculator/.
The full iPhone study can also be accessed here: https://wallethub.com/blog/iphone-survey/39379
