Sprint's new 'iPhone for Life' Plan Lets You Upgrade Every Year
Sprint continued its rollout of new plans and services Friday with the announcement of a new iPhone-specific plan that lets customers upgrade their iPhone every year.
Sprint customers will be able to opt for the new "iPhone for Life" program starting Nov. 14. The plan allows customers to lease a 16GB iPhone 6 for $30 a month and be eligible to upgrade to a newer model the next year. The only caveat is that Sprint requires the purchaser to sign up for a $50 unlimited talk-text-data plan, bringing the total monthly total to $80. Monthly payments are more for more internal storage, and the 16GB iPhone 6 Plus starts at $35 a month.
Sprint claims that its plan is a better option than Verizon's recently announced upgrade policy in which customers can pay off 75 percent of the phone's balance within 18 months and go for a fresher model. Of course, this doesn't take into consideration the strengths of the two carriers' networks (hint: Verizon's is larger by far).
The annual-upgrade iPhone for Life plan isn't the only one consumers can choose from. Sprint also offers a cheaper iPhone for Life plan, during which the buyer only pays $20 a month with $0 down to pay off the phone in two years.
According to research analyst Jonathan Atkin from RBC Capital Markets, Sprint is possibly the best deal on the market for those looking to pick up a new iPhone. A 16GB iPhone 6 under the $20-a-month plan would cost around $1,680 including phone and service payments. By Atkin's estimate, this is thousands cheaper than AT&T and Verizon, and hundreds cheaper than T-Mobile.
Why is the new iPhone plan so appealing? Simple. Apple unveils a new iPhone every year, on the dot, during the fall. New iPhones tend to trend as the hottest item on the market during the holiday shopping season, but many customers are unable to make the leap due to contracts and high prices for unlocked models.
Despite a move away from contracts, many U.S. consumers are still locked into contracts with major carriers like Verizon and AT&T because they subsidize the cost of the phone, making it affordable at $200 or $300 instead of having to shell out more than $600 at once. High-tech gadgets are among the most popular gifts and personal purchases, and the option to only pay $30 a month for the security of being able to pick up the next iPhone will sure be enticing.
What do you think of Sprint's aggressive iPhone strategy? Let us know if it has you convinced to switch over in the comments section below.
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