iPhone 4S, 3GS, 4 Off-Contract Pricing Revealed
So you've got the prices for all the device on-contract, yes? Now we've got the real numbers for you if you plan on running away from the store with a device that's on no contract at all as well. Can you guess what they might be? Let's start with the iPhone 3GS – this device now only comes in one iteration, 8GB, and on-contract you can get it for free if you also commit to a 2-year contract. Sounds like a deal! If you'd like to get this phone OFF contract, you'll be paying a total of $375. An interesting thing to note here is the fact that the "free" model is in stock today while the off-contract model will be delivered and in stores on the 14th of October. Strange!
The unlocked version of the one and only iPhone 4 (in its only iteration, the 8GB size,) will cost you $99 on a 2-year contract in either its white or black casing. If you'd like to pick up either one of these plain ol' iPhone 4 units completely off-contract, you'll be dishing out a total of $549 USD. Similar to the off-contract ship date of the 3GS, both on-contract and off-contract models of this iPhone 4 will be delivered and in stores on the 14th of October.
At the moment, there is no such thing as an unlocked iPhone 4S. On the other hand, wording on the Apple site for tech specs on the iPhone 4S reveals the following sentence:
For those who are not qualified customers, are not eligible for an early upgrade, are purchasing an unlocked iPhone (for supported GSM wireless service provider networks only), or wish to buy an iPhone as a gift, see your carrier, an Apple Retail Store Specialist, the Apple Online Store, or an Apple Authorized Reseller for pricing.
Thusly there WILL BE an unlocked version of this World Phone, and if we can use the same pricing scheme as the iPhone 4 previously had (this being a pretty good bet, if I do say so myself,) we can GUESS at the following, and remember this is only an educated GUESS:
iPhone 4S 16 GB : $649 USD
iPhone 4S 32 GB : $749 USD
and the last, the 64 GB version being somewhere in the $850 range.
We shall see!
Also note that there's a brand new bit of coverage if you add AppleCare+ to your iPhone purchase. Applecare+ is a sort of insurance plan you can purchase with your iPhone, it adding all sorts of support if you feel like you'll need it anywhere in your iPhone owning experience. The most interesting bit of this coverage is the following: "Coverage for up to two incidents of accidental damage from handling, each subject to a $49 service fee." Note that this includes the following stipulations:
Service coverage is available only for the iPhone and its original included accessories for protection against (i) defects in materials or workmanship (ii) battery depletion of 50 percent or more from original specification, and (iii) up to two incidents of accidental damage from handling, each incident being subject to a $49 service fee. Replacement equipment that Apple provides as part of the repair or replacement service may be new or equivalent to new in both performance and reliability. See terms at http://www.apple.com/legal/applecare/applecareplusforiphone.html for full details.
So there you have it – could you possibly need any more information on this newest set if iPhones? If so, let us know, we'll dig it up!