Choosing the right time to buy an iPhone will help you own your dream phone at a reasonable price.
New iPhones come out seasonally, and like most electronics, older models will change in price when new ones come out. Knowing this can save you money when you want to buy the phone you want at a reasonable price.
Buying a new iPhone as soon as its successor is released isn’t a smart move. Even if you’re not interested in owning the latest and greatest technology, there are still good reasons to wait.
Traditionally, Apple introduces new iPhones in mid-September, with sales starting the week following the product's launch event.
Apple doesn't change its pricing structure very often, it's carriers and retailers that offer trade-in discounts throughout the year.
However, fall is often a smart time to buy a new iPhone. Waiting until the new version is released allows you to make an informed decision about whether to upgrade or keep your current phone for another year.
According to CNET, users should upgrade if their phone is more than two generations old. But it's also important to remember that the new features Apple just announced as part of Apple Intelligence will only be available on iPhones with new processors like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
If you want to upgrade to the latest iPhone, you might consider waiting until it's been on the market for a few weeks or months if possible.
Waiting can make it easier to get your hands on the color and storage you want, as demand is often high right after a new iPhone launches.
Waiting also ensures you'll know more about any potential bugs or issues before upgrading, like the iOS 17 overheating issue that affected some iPhone 15 Pro devices last year.
When choosing to buy a phone, budget is the most important factor because it will limit your choices. Besides, you need to clearly define your usage needs to choose the most suitable iPhone. If you often use your phone to take photos and videos, requiring a good camera, then the iPhone Pro line is the ideal choice.
Screen size is also a factor to consider. Depending on your personal preferences and needs, you may want a phone with a large screen for reading emails as well as playing games and watching movies. In this case, consider the iPhone Plus or Pro Max models.
Buying a previous year's iPhone model is also a good option if you want a larger screen without spending extra money on the latest large-screen iPhone models.
Apple typically supports software updates for their phones for about five years, so you should still be able to get a few years out of a previous-generation iPhone.