Help: Cheap way to buy new iPhone every year

lovepub on 19/09/2021 - 10:40

I am wondering what is the cheapest way to do this

I am coming from a mid range android all my life . And now I am being made to use iphone…let's not get into the reasons.

I enjoy getting a sub$500 phone every half year or year… No need to deal with worn battery, cracked screen, dents, lost stolen, drowned …

But with iPhone, I will be going pro max 512GB as I need the storage and screen size.

Wondering anyone who repeat this each year with new phone announced.

How do you get it refreshed every year?
Pre order? Trade in? Gift cards? Sell on FB Gumtree? Give it to kids? When is best time to rinse and repeat?

Just curious if anyone has ideas on the best ways to do it annually as I think $2400 for a mobile is a bit silly each year.

How do I loose less money with a new phone every year?

In this case, is Apple care essential?

Mobile Apple Mobile Phone

Comments

  • Presence on 19/09/2021 - 10:44
    +72

    as I think $2400 for a mobile is a bit silly each year.

    Yep, thats probably why people keep them for 2-3 years these days.
    Put a case on it and dont loose and youll be fine.

    • FireRunner on 19/09/2021 - 13:34
      +43

      I'd expect 5 years for an iPhone at over $2000

      • ChadHominem on 22/09/2021 - 13:01
        +1

        There’s no reason it won’t last 5 years

        • capslock janitor on 22/09/2021 - 13:22

          Apple resale was quite good wasn;'t it?

        • sauce2k on 22/09/2021 - 19:35
          +2

          Most modern phones (at least past 2 years) are designed to last way longer. iPhones can easily last more than 5 years especially iOS support older generations (prob one of the main advantages over android phones).

          You may need to replace battery in between but definitely can last longer.

        • Hahuh on 23/09/2021 - 03:37
          +2

          Battery. You will need to swap out the battery at least once if you want to keep it that long. Otherwise, it will last until Apple decides to push some update that'll make work like ass.

    • Krankite on 21/09/2021 - 08:05
      +3

      Better yet find 3-4 Relatives to pass them onto so you get full value for your 2nd hand item, only real way to do it.

      It may not be the best for your back pocket but your Nan will love a year old iPhone that has been well looked after.

      • capslock janitor on 22/09/2021 - 13:21

        uh 3-4 relos?

        • Krankite on 23/09/2021 - 07:47
          +1

          Flagship phones have a 4-5 year life so you need to find 3-4 people to pass them onto if you want a new one every year.

  • SF3 on 19/09/2021 - 10:45
    +21

    Salary sacrifice if you can, so you are less out of pocket.

    Buy new and sell old. Remember cash on collect.

    Then rinse an repeat.

    Otherwise an iPhone should last you a few years.

    • CheapAddict on 20/09/2021 - 21:34
      +6

      This is the best way. I’ve been doing this for the past 5 years. After salary sacrifice and selling my old phone, I’m only out of pocket $100-$300 for a brand new iPhone.

      This work especially well for iPhone due to their high resale value. there was one year I paid nothing since I was able to sell my old iPhone for a good price.

      • Member 0230 on 21/09/2021 - 18:35
        +4

        THIS.

        Also salary sacrificed Macs a while ago, and there were years when I paid nothing out of pocket, precisely because of resale value.

        • jrjr on 22/09/2021 - 09:14
          +1

          I thought salary sacrifice just meant you didn't pay income tax on the amount you paid for the phone

          How does it work?

          • no not me on 22/09/2021 - 11:13
            +2

            @jrjr: If you’re in a high tax bracket salary sacrifice can be very good. For example, let’s say your salary is $200K p.a., so you’re in the top tax bracket (45%). You buy a $2000 phone. Your taxable income is now $198K.

            Annual income before buying phone: $135,333.00.
            Annual income after buying phone: $134,273.00

            Difference: $1060

            Thus, you got a $2000 phone and it ultimately resulted in your post tax income being reduced by $1060.

            • Intoxicoligist on 22/09/2021 - 13:19
              +1

              @no not me: As someone who just broke 100k I'm about to go on a salary sac rampage. And I'm not even the highest bracket.

              • Eeples on 28/09/2021 - 18:06
                +1

                @Intoxicoligist: Aim for 45K before tax and you will get down to 13% effective income tax rate.

                Super: $25K or so is a great start.

                • Intoxicoligist on 29/09/2021 - 07:19

                  @Eeples: Thanks, yeah super is where I'm starting, next up is trying to salary sac my rent.

                  • coffeeinmyveins on 01/10/2021 - 21:11

                    @Intoxicoligist:

                    Salary sacrifice my rent

                    That's….not how it works. You do realise that salary sacrificing is between you and your employer, and you can't just salary sacrifice whatever you want like rent or groceries for no reason?

      • Pelicannn on 22/09/2021 - 21:53
        +1

        Can confirm, however I have usually been ahead $100-300 each year, as in free money and get a new iphone haha..

    • dm on 22/09/2021 - 01:23
      +3

      Excuse my ignorance but how do you actually do the salary sacrifice? Do you just go to payroll and tell them I want to purchase a phone and to get it deducted from my pay?

      • no not me on 22/09/2021 - 11:14

        You have to speak to payroll and ask if they do salary sacrifice. If they say yes, they should be able to tell you how to proceed. You should confirm that the item you want can be salary sacrificed.

  • stirlo on 19/09/2021 - 10:49
    +13

    If you have a credit card with one of the old price protection plans (not available to new customers) you can buy on launch day and then claim against the cheapest price it sells for in the next 12 months. Then if you want to upgrade, sell the old phone on FB marketplace (you'll get around half the price you paid for the high end models). This means you're out of pocket a few hundred every year.

    This strategy also works way better with the mid range/lower capacity models which retail for $1500 or so. When you get over $2k no one wants to buy last years model (regardless of storage capacity) and spend that kind of money. Ultimately buying a flagship each year will cost you a lot, which is why people don't do it anymore.

  • deme on 19/09/2021 - 10:51
    +30

    made to use iphone

    Who is forcing you to use an iPhone?

    And finally, why do you need a new one each year? Is someone forcing you to do that too?

    • Hvrd on 19/09/2021 - 10:54
      +39

      Tim cook

      • Geoff-bargain on 20/09/2021 - 08:13
        +14

        I think you mean Tim Apple

      • cosmos on 20/09/2021 - 15:14
        +1

        Perfect 😂😂👍🏼

      • deme on 19/09/2021 - 11:09
        +2

        Would this be the reason?

        "make Apple ecosystem even more sticky"
        "- tie all of our products together, so we further lock customers into our ecosystem"

        https://www.scribd.com/document/216405190/Apple-outline

        • SF3 on 19/09/2021 - 11:38

          Could be TikTok.

      • sauce2k on 22/09/2021 - 19:37

        Wow gtfo here lol. U came here for help these guys are trying to help.

    • cisco on 23/09/2021 - 11:54

      @deme
      Society
      Culture
      Partner
      Friends and Family

  • pharkurnell on 19/09/2021 - 10:52
    +21

    Why would you need to replace it every year? Are they that crap?
    My old dropped numerous times S9 still does everything

      • deme on 19/09/2021 - 11:12
        +49

        Screen replacement is too expensive

        And now you want a new iPhone pro max 512GB every year?

      • pharkurnell on 19/09/2021 - 11:22
        +6

        So why do you need a new phone every year? Is that to keep up with the Jones'?

          • ChadHominem on 22/09/2021 - 13:06

            @lovepub: So this is like you bought a new bicycle every 6 months and now you’re changing to a car you want ozbargain to help you find a way to still afford a new one every year because regularly upgrading was a bad habit you developed with bikes…

            Just accept that it’s a ridiculous cost and update every 2-3 years instead. Also treat your expensive iPhone with 4 times more care (or whatever the relative cost is) than your poco and you should be fine

            • lovepub on 22/09/2021 - 13:10

              @ChadHominem: Yes. Need to break the cycle .
              But I think it's the feel of trying out different phones that I enjoy(after current one is badly damaged and not worth fixing).
              Obviously you can't do that with Apple. There is just so many choices with Android. (I want to try them all)

      • RockyRaccoon on 19/09/2021 - 20:29
        +5

        If you are that clumsy, get AppleCare, and have them replace the screen, then it will be like new and no need to upgrade each year. Simples

        AppleCare+ for iPhone includes up to two incidents of accidental damage protection every 12 months.1 Each incident is subject to the service fees listed below. In addition, you’ll get Express Replacement Service and 24/7 priority access to Apple experts through getsupport.apple.com.

        Service fees at a glance
        Incidents covered
        Screen or back glass damage:A$45
        Any other accidental damage:A$149

  • stirlo on 19/09/2021 - 10:53
    +5

    I think $2400 for a mobile is a bit silly each year.

    I don't think the changes from flagship to flagship justify that much investment just to have a slightly better phone.

    But spending $2400 for a device you use many hours a day compared to say a TV, car, sports gear for your hobby, or holiday house which costs more and you use less hours is not a terrible idea.

    • Intoxicoligist on 22/09/2021 - 13:39
      +1

      Thats how I justified my S20 Ultra. But that being said I did everything to get the price down and I plan on keeping it for the next 3 years at a minimum. Put it in an otterbox the second I got it, and I'm certain it will be in near new condition when I go to sell it.

  • deme on 19/09/2021 - 10:55

    Get a real phone: https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/

    • dmbminaret on 19/09/2021 - 11:09

      I want one

    • lovepub on 19/09/2021 - 11:12
      -2

      Too bad….has to be on iOS

      • deme on 19/09/2021 - 11:14
        +13

        Why?

      • Daabido on 20/09/2021 - 21:51
        +2

        Blue bubble envy.

    • WhyAmICommenting on 21/09/2021 - 14:48
      -1

      Nah, I don’t wanna have to build it myself

  • Quantumcat on 19/09/2021 - 10:57
    +37

    One of the main reasons people choose iPhones is they are quality and don't need replacing every year like crap phones. If you buy a new model you shouldn't need to replace it within 4 or 5 years.

    • 87percent on 19/09/2021 - 11:12
      +7

      Agree.. most iPhone upgrades don’t warrant a new upgrade each year. Every 2-3 years is what I do, and that’s because work gives me one

    • bargainparker on 19/09/2021 - 20:09
      +3

      Oh, give me a break. I still have Huawei Y550 bought for $40 from here https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/188848

      Kept in cover, still looks like new and original battery. Phones don't just die after a year.
      Have Samsung S10+ and S10E, nothing wrong with them. Huawei Nova 3i, same thing, few others, still fine.

      On another note, what you say doesn't matter as OP said " No need to deal with worn battery, cracked screen, dents, lost stolen, drowned …"
      Which means, apart from the battery, regardless of the quality, they will have to buy/replace as it is a user fault, not manufacturing fault. So getting an iPhone has zero sense in OP's case.

      In majority of cases, longevity of a phone has more to do with how a user treats it, rather than the quality. Sure some phones are bad, but can't generalize that all are bad, iPhone is good.
      I'd say iPhone users are more buying into image, rather than thinking, iPhone -> quality.

      • RockyRaccoon on 19/09/2021 - 20:32
        +27

        Even an Android user would laugh at a $40 Android phone.

      • Quantumcat on 19/09/2021 - 20:32
        +1

        Just cause 1 non-iphone turned out to be quality doesn't make iPhones not quality. Point stands that with an iPhone OP should have no need to replace every year. No matter how badly he treats it.

        • bargainparker on 19/09/2021 - 20:36

          So, what you are saying is, they are indestructible?

          It's not just 1 non-iphone.

        • lovepub on 19/09/2021 - 21:31
          +1

          I do treat my phone with care, but disaster happens to mine all the time. I bad drop, it's gone. It's just luck if screens break or not.

          I don't believe all the crap every phone maker says there screen are tough like diamonds….all BS to me

          • xuqi on 20/09/2021 - 19:45
            +3

            @lovepub: Buy a decent case for your phone.

            Not some cheap crap but something like an Otterbox, Pelican, etc. so when you do drop the phone, it bounces off the surface without physically damaging the device.

            https://pelicanphonecases.com/

            • lovepub on 20/09/2021 - 19:50

              @xuqi: Had one of these before on my s9+ ,but had it falling face planted on the aggregated concrete driveway……worst landing angle ever….screens end up with bullet holes like crack.

              I think I need a military grade case.

              • Quantumcat on 21/09/2021 - 15:02

                @lovepub: I've dropped my phone at least a dozen times, worst it got was a chip taken out of the corner of the screen protector. Just a basic case and screen protector.

          • Slippery Fish on 21/09/2021 - 06:54

            @lovepub: Try a leather case. The only screen I've ever broken was when a friends daughter kicked it leg when we were mucking around. It had a big toe shaped crack 😂😂😂

            I dropped mine on the tiles in commercial kitchens for 10 years no broken screens.

      • OzBrogains on 20/09/2021 - 16:04
        +2

        I dare say your decision to get a $40 phone is to deliberately project a certain image about yourself? You're remind me one of my mates in uni who would deliberately dress like shit because he thought dressing properly was too mainstream. And he wanted that image.

        • bargainparker on 20/09/2021 - 20:05
          +5

          "I dare say your decision to get a $40 phone is to deliberately project a certain image about yourself? You're remind me one of my mates in uni who would deliberately dress like shit because he thought dressing properly was too mainstream. And he wanted that image."

          My decision to buy that phone had nothing to do with projecting myself. It was cheap and did all I needed it to do. Had no desire to spend a grand to have that image. And I certainly don't dress like shit. I look at practicality first, looks second. Of course if one can have both, even better.
          I don't see anything wrong with $40 phone image.

          Sorry to disappoint.

      • smartazz104 on 21/09/2021 - 07:51

        How many hours do you use your phone per day, 0.5?

      • Icecold5000 on 21/09/2021 - 22:57

        In majority of cases, longevity of a phone has more to do with how a user treats it, rather than the quality

        LOL. The gift of laughter

        • bargainparker on 22/09/2021 - 12:27

          The gift of laughter

          Yes, ice cold laughter.
          Plenty of broken mobiles for sale.
          Sure at times people would buy lemons and they broke down quickly or had other faults, but most phones don't just die out of warranty. You first, wouldn't buy it, if that was the case.

  • dmbminaret on 19/09/2021 - 11:11
    +10

    let's not get into the reasons

    awww c'mon?

    • lovepub on 19/09/2021 - 11:45

      Alright. Coz I failed miserably

      Failed to convert my complete family and friends who are ALL on iOS.

      No matter how much I tell them android is the king….

      Now I am going to be a iphone slave too …sad

      • silverrat23 on 19/09/2021 - 12:13
        +18

        Sounds like a "keeping up with the Joneses" scenario.

        Just buy that iPhone and keep for 2-3 years. Brag to your family and friends that you're saving money by not buying one every year and put that towards something better.

        • maniacfish on 20/09/2021 - 21:03
          +1

          i'd say the same if it weren't for imessage. If all your family use imessage you dont have much of a choice :(

      • dmbminaret on 19/09/2021 - 12:56
        +13

        Failed to convert my complete family and friends who are ALL on iOS.
        No matter how much I tell them android is the king….
        Now I am going to be a iphone slave too …sad

        That's dumb, not only for the principle but also the cost.

        I thought you were going to say for work or have to use a certain app not available on android.

        Why do you have to convert anyone to anything, or them you?

        As I said, dumb. Take some viagra eyedrops and have a long, hard look at yourself.

          • Mechz on 19/09/2021 - 14:15
            +17

            @lovepub: Unlikely, lol

          • Melencir on 19/09/2021 - 18:19
            +8

            @lovepub: Not if you are getting a new iPhone every year and she isn't…..

          • RockyRaccoon on 19/09/2021 - 20:33
            +2

            @lovepub: And how often has she replaced her iPhone

            • lovepub on 19/09/2021 - 21:34
              -3

              @RockyRaccoon: 3 to 4 years for her …
              I am different ..I use it constantly for work and social media

          • TheOtherLeft on 20/09/2021 - 08:59
            +11

            @lovepub: Not sure how you intend to get laid since your wife has your balls in her gucci handbag.

            • lovepub on 20/09/2021 - 16:50
              -1

              @TheOtherLeft: I have lost when I said "Yes" on THAT DAY

              • deme on 21/09/2021 - 12:54
                +4

                @lovepub: Are you trolling? This thread is pathetic.

      • ThithLord on 20/09/2021 - 07:54
        -2

        Android is a 'king pain to use? Gotcha

  • DannyC on 19/09/2021 - 11:20
    +7

    I enjoy getting a sub$500 phone every half year or year…

    Seems like an addiction buddy if you feel the need to replace at 6 months. But to each their own :-D
    When talking about iPhones, it ain't cheap to do it every release cycle.

    How do I loose less money with a new phone every year?

    Don't buy on release, plain and simple but Apple have always enjoyed steady value months after release whereas Android devices do not hold their value for long. Or purchase the previous generation every year. Like this year is the 13 purchase the 12 and vice versa.

    I usually upgrade every 2 years, purchasing outright for a decent price, usually ebay can find decent deals. Then when it is time for an upgrade I sell via gumtree or FB Marketplace as ebay takes a huge cut out then put that money towards the upgrade.

  • CaptainHoltisDad on 19/09/2021 - 11:30
    +6

    Ignoring the fact purchasing a new flagship each year is expensive and wasteful…again each to their own…

    I would browse Ozbargain for discounted gift cards. My preference would be JB Hi-Fi cards which can be found anywhere between 5-10% off. That's probably the biggest discount you're going to get for the newest release each year. Perhaps it would be more wise to revise your spending habits and consider if that phone could last two years at least.

    In terms of resell, you could trade it in to Apple if you purchase a phone through them directly. Alternatively ebay / gumtree / marketplace are all good places to sell second-hand stuff, but based on my experience the market for 512GB phones, especially the Max version, is fairly limited. YMMV.

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