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Don't Buy an iPhone Right Now

There's a new iPhone probably coming out in less than a month, so if you're thinking of buying an iPhone, wait.

August 20, 2012

Don't buy an iPhone right now. If you're interested in an iPhone, wait until Sept. 12.

Some of my readers might find this obvious, but I'm writing because I've had genuine reader questions from folks who need to buy a phone now, and who like the iPhone.

Apple is widely a new iPhone model on Sept. 12, with delivery starting Sept. 21. This isn't 100 percent sure, but it's what many reliable Apple watchers are saying. The new iPhone, which many people are calling the "iPhone 5" will probably have a bigger screen and faster 4G LTE Internet.

But even if you don't want the new iPhone model, you should still wait. For the past few years when a new iPhone has come out, the new model was priced at $199 and the previous model's 2-year-contract price dropped to $99.

So it may look like a deal that Sprint is offering the for $149, but it really isn't, because that phone will probably become $99 next month. We also expect the iPhone 4 to become free with contract, because that's what happened to the iPhone 3GS when the 4S came out.

Of course, there will be a huge rush to buy iPhones the moment they're announced. If you want to be one of the first, I'd suggest you check our website at around 2:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept. 12 to see whether you can order online yet. That date might change, because Apple hasn't made any official announcements yet.

What To Do Between Now And September 12
So that leaves the question: if your phone is broken or damaged and you want a new iPhone, what should you do between now and Sept. 12?

I suggest just getting the cheapest phone you can find, ideally with your current carrier so you don't have to deal with transferring your number. Later, you can flog the phone on eBay and try to get some of your money back, or keep it; it's always good to have a backup phone around. For once, it doesn't matter whether the phone is good or not. You won't be using it much.

Cheap backup phones for existing carriers include:

  • AT&T and T-Mobile: The Nokia 1661 unlocked simple phone costs $31.99 at JandR.com.
  • Cricket: The texting phone is $19.99 right now.
  • MetroPCS: Metro's cheapest phone is the Kyocera Presto ($49).
  • Sprint: It's hard to find a new Sprint phone for a decent price. Go on eBay and get a used one.
  • Verizon Wireless: Go for the Prepaid ($49.99) direct from Verizon Wireless.
  • Virgin Mobile: The Samsung Entro costs a mere $14.99.

Do You Really Want an iPhone?
If you're shopping for a phone this fall, also be aware that we're likely to hear about the first Microsoft devices on Sept. 5. Windows Phone 8 is a great-looking, easy-to-use operating system, and it's worth a look.

There are also dozens of Android smartphones on the market, of course, and the Samsung Galaxy S III is our current Editors' Choice on every carrier that offers it. Check out the slideshow below for more. The iPhone is an excellent device, but it's not the only smartphone out there. Read through our reviews to choose the best smartphone for you.