Cheapest way to get the iPhone 5

Hello SD!

I want the new iPhone 5 but I got the 4S last year through Verizon and don't have an upgrade till June 2013. I was wondering what would be the cheapest way to get the 5.

I thought about a couple of options, one is the obvious buying at full price and selling the 4S to make up some of the cost. But are there any cheaper way?

What about terminating my current contract after adding a new line (with the 5) + porting my old number? Some people suggested adding another line, and upgrading my old phone to a dumbphone and just add $10 per month. But I believe the cost of getting a dumbphone will offset any benefits.

I'm hoping someone here can provide a better idea, this is SD afterall. Perfect for these things!

No one?

I have some info, Chase has 5% cashback at Bestbuy right now, and I got an email from BB saying if I buy a phone through them then I'll get 2 years Premier Silver status. If I go for that then I'll finally have an ISF calibrated HDTV!

Anyone else?

Quote from buddybd : I have some info, Chase has 5% cashback at Bestbuy right now

That actually begins next quarter...

bestbuy has unlocked iPhone 5 listed @ $699+ for ATT model.
Apple Stores may charge $649. ref. http://tcrn.ch/OKmLAY

Find a friend or relative who has an upgrade they can give you.

I need to buy iphone 5

I can't believe that you would break contract and pay so much money to upgrade from the 4s to the 5. Take a deep breath, it's just an incremental update to the hardware. Don't get me wrong, I'll probably make the switch when my contract is up, but you're really just getting a slightly larger screen and the camera's panorama mode. Heck, even my girlfriend with the original iphone 4 isn't in a rush to upgrade, although next time we're out running errands and a store happens to have them in stock, again, she'll likely make the switch.

Instead, spend that few hundred dollars more productively. Heck, for the $350-$400 that it would cost you to upgrade, you could almost buy an ipad! Apple refurb store has the ipad 3, 16GB for $450, and they have a great deal right now on the ipad 2, 64GB for $500. Or, as mentioned, use a friend or relative's upgrade to get the iphone 5. Especially if they aren't really techie-inclined, as you can buy them a $200-$300 unlocked phone for their trouble. Then, you can sell your iphone 4s and upgrade for only about $150, and your friend can sell their phone and have money in their pocket.

Quote from AlstonM : I need to buy iphone 5

Well then, you "need" to pay $700 to Best Buy then.

I dont know about Verizon.. but I'm with AT&T.. I called last week after the announcement of the iPhone 5.. spoke to a lady and threaten to cancel my account to switch to verizon for better service and tried to get that $30 off for 6 months. She wouldn't do a damn thing for me. I also asked about the upgrade cost to why I will be paying $449 for an early upgrade versus $175 early term fees + the $199.99 (375 total) for the iPhone 5.. first she said I can only pay the ETF only if I'm leaving AT&T.. but she was okay with me paying the ETF if I'm trying to get my iPhone 4s unlocked which didn't make sense to me. but long story already, you can try to pay the etf which might be less plus your normal 199.99 versus your early upgrade price. that might be your cheapest way without bugging a friend. ps. I haven't paid a thing yet, I'm still trying to see if I should switch to verizon.. wish they would do the $100 rebate switch over like Sprint is..

Quote from iPak : I dont know about Verizon.. but I'm with AT&T.. I called last week after the announcement of the iPhone 5.. spoke to a lady and threaten to cancel my account to switch to verizon for better service and tried to get that $30 off for 6 months. She wouldn't do a damn thing for me. I also asked about the upgrade cost to why I will be paying $449 for an early upgrade versus $175 early term fees + the $199.99 (375 total) for the iPhone 5.. first she said I can only pay the ETF only if I'm leaving AT&T.. but she was okay with me paying the ETF if I'm trying to get my iPhone 4s unlocked which didn't make sense to me. but long story already, you can try to pay the etf which might be less plus your normal 199.99 versus your early upgrade price. that might be your cheapest way without bugging a friend. ps. I haven't paid a thing yet, I'm still trying to see if I should switch to verizon.. wish they would do the $100 rebate switch over like Sprint is..

I think they are doing some $50 credit when u bring in a used phone (think all it has to do is turn on)

think this is it:

http://slickdeals.net/f/5241290-G...-phone-100

Quote from shnitz : I can't believe that you would break contract and pay so much money to upgrade from the 4s to the 5. Take a deep breath, it's just an incremental update to the hardware. Don't get me wrong, I'll probably make the switch when my contract is up, but you're really just getting a slightly larger screen and the camera's panorama mode. Heck, even my girlfriend with the original iphone 4 isn't in a rush to upgrade, although next time we're out running errands and a store happens to have them in stock, again, she'll likely make the switch. Instead, spend that few hundred dollars more productively. Heck, for the $350-$400 that it would cost you to upgrade, you could almost buy an ipad! Apple refurb store has the ipad 3, 16GB for $450, and they have a great deal right now on the ipad 2, 64GB for $500. Or, as mentioned, use a friend or relative's upgrade to get the iphone 5. Especially if they aren't really techie-inclined, as you can buy them a $200-$300 unlocked phone for their trouble. Then, you can sell your iphone 4s and upgrade for only about $150, and your friend can sell their phone and have money in their pocket. .

Yea I know it sounds weird but I really like the 5 and will definitely get it, but of course that doesn't mean I don't have a plan.

I'll get it at full price, and I worked out how to sell my 4S for ~$450 (or slightly less), so effectively I'll be paying the usual upgrade price of $200 + activation. I'll just be short of the money for 2 months, after that I'll sell the 4S and recoup the cost.

Or you could wait until the contract is up and then pocket the money from the sale of the 4s, instead of paying it to the cell phone company . . . I played with an iphone 5 yesterday and compared it to my 4s. Seriously, stop drinking the kool-aid. It's a tiny bit larger screen, and a tiny bit thinner. Plus, with the current maps fiasco, plus the messed up purple-tinge on the camera, Apple's become just like every other tech company, releasing a product and letting the consumer be their test mules. fark that.

I'm in the same boat, luckily for me my Dad has an upgrade on his line hes not using

The best way is to sell your iPhone 4s and open a new line up.

$375-$120 ($10 for each month of service) + $35 activation fee + $199 iphone + tax
comes out to be around $500-$700; depending on tax and how the ETF is

Buying an iPhone straight is about $649 + tax = $700* depending on where you live

So the price is almost the same, give or take $100ish.

If you can buy the iPhone at BB you could get 5% back, but YMMV depending on where & when you can get it.

If I didn't have the upgrade, I would have just bought it straight up and save my upgrade for the next iPhone. I've learned that you gotta flip the iPhone before the iPhone is released other wise the price drops. It'd be better if you flip it before it's announced but yet again YMMV

It's not a huge jump from iPhone4s to 5, since the 4s can pretty much do everything the 5 can except for 4G. So just ask yourself if it's worth it for the 4G

Like I said, it's essentially costing me the same as an upgrade to the 5. I'll have the upgrade for the 5S but I'll save that for later and get something when the 6 or a very good Android phone arrives.

Value of the older generation of phones drop significantly after a major upgrade. The 4 was still worth more after the 4S released, but now prices are dropping because of the 5. I'm sure it'll be the same case when the 5S comes, so I'd rather absorb the loss now and have it cheaper in the long run.

It's my fault I'm in the 4S' cycle really, I really needed a smartphone, the 4S was just released and there really was no better alternative at that time.

And I'm sure I'll love LTE, yes I use the internet on my phone a LOT. As long as I don't upgrade to the 5S or anything else around that period, I should be good