Owning the latest smartphone model sounds nice in theory. After all, you have access to the latest technology, the latest features and all of those irresistible bells and whistles. And let’s face it, when you’re the first person in your friend group or family to own a brand-new version of a phone or device (especially one that has been highly anticipated), it can garner a lot of attention.
However, it doesn’t take long to realize that buying a new smartphone can be a super expensive undertaking. In fact, this purchase can be even more expensive than purchasing a decent laptop at your local electronics store. Brand new smartphone models can reach prices of $1,000 – or more! (The new iPhone 13 Pro with 1TB2 begins at $1499.) If you’re on a budget, suddenly owning the latest and greatest cell phone can lead to a serious case of sticker shock.
If you’re willing to be patient and wait for the right moment, however, there are other ways to buy the new phone you want. Sales are available throughout the year, depending both on the season and how often new cell phones come out. When is the best time to buy a new cell phone? Our handy guide will help you determine how to find the most affordable options that are doable within your budget.
A Look at Price Trends: When Do New iPhone Prices Drop?
Apple has historically released a new iPhone model about once a year. Various Android models tend to come out more often. Once you begin to understand smartphone companies’ patterns, you’ll find that price drops are usually fairly easy to predict.
If you take a look at Apple’s habits, for instance, you’ll notice that they typically release their latest iOS model each year. When a new phone comes out, they lower the prices of their older models by about $100. When the iPhone 8 hit the market back in 2017, for instance, the lowest price for a 64GB version of the device was $699; the release of the iPhone XS in 2018 reduced the iPhone 8’s cost to $599.
Following this pattern means that you would need to wait a year (or nearly a year) to purchase your desired model at a decent discount. However, this strategy will ultimately save you money, while allowing you to get more use out of your older device. Alternatively, you can pick up a gently used iPhone from an online store (like our eBay store) to save even more money on newer iPhone models.
Android devices also tend to drop predictably. For example, new smartphones from Samsung’s Galaxy series come out often and tend to drop in price by 30% or more within two or three months after release. If you’re in the market for one of these Samsung models, you can buy the phone you want at a more affordable price if you’re willing to wait just a few extra months.
When Can You Find Smartphone Sales?
In addition to price drops due to new model availability, there are other times during the year when you may be able to catch various sales and discounts on high-quality devices. These times include:
- When companies are competing: If there is buzz about a major smartphone manufacturer that is getting ready to release a new model, other manufacturers may adjust their marketing strategy by offering sales on their own models. So, if Apple has just released a brand-new iPhone, check the market for sales on devices made by other companies, such as Google or Samsung, to see if you can get a better deal.
- When upcoming devices go on pre-order: If you know you’re looking forward to a specific device, signing up to pre-order it as early as possible can work to your advantage. By pre-ordering a phone, you may gain access to impressive discounts that you would miss out on if you waited until after its release to order.
- When you buy a used or refurbished device: Purchasing a refurbished phone is different from investing in a new one. However, if you’re looking for smartphone price drops, this is one of the most affordable ways to go. While a smartphone decreases in value as soon as it leaves the package for the first time, a refurbished phone can function just as well as a new one for a fraction of the cost.
- Black Friday Sales: Black Friday is the one time of year when almost everything is on sale. This shopping holiday starts immediately after Thanksgiving and rolls right into the following week with Cyber Monday. You can find deals on almost any phone brand at retail stores and online during this time. As an added bonus, many of these sale prices that begin on Black Friday weekend will continue to affect phone prices after Christmas and into the new year.
Take Advantage of Price Drops
Smartphone prices continue to increase as storage space grows. Additionally, hardware and operating systems continually improve and cutting-edge new features are regularly released, driving up the new smartphone cost. There are still plenty of affordable ways to buy a high-grade device. There are many different times that could be considered the “best time” to buy a new smartphone. Taking advantage of the rather predictable patterns of retailers and electronics companies throughout the year will help you get the deal you want on a device you’ll love.
If you’re interested in saving money on the latest iOS and Android devices, check out The Whiz Cells eBay Store. We offer significant discounts on all phones, including iPhone and Android. We also offer great deals on tablets and phablets.
Are you ready to trade in your older phone or tablet? Want to take advantage of the phone prices after Christmas or the other “best” times to buy a new smartphone? The Whiz Cells can help! We offer top dollar for your devices. In addition, we make it super-easy for you to determine how much your phone is worth. Begin by creating a free account at The Whiz Cells. Then, check out our selling process to see just how easy it is to make some money on your old, unused devices.
Reach out to The Whiz Cells today for information on the devices we’re buying and selling.