Used iPhone in Two Years

**Mark Lindstrom** · 06-08-2012, 04:45 PM

Sorry, if this is in the wrong place. How much do you think a used iPhone 4 or 4s on virgin mobile will cost in two years?

**Sepurb** · 06-08-2012, 04:54 PM

probably like $200-$300.

people are still selling 3GS for $150-$200 so yeah...

**mfrerkes** · 06-08-2012, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Mark Lindstrom

Sorry, if this is in the wrong place. How much do you think a used iPhone 4 or 4s on virgin mobile will cost in two years?

If I had to guess, about $150-$200 depending on the model. Two years is an eternity in the world of cell phones. Given that the 4S is just three months away from becoming old news, the $650 entry price is going to drop quickly by next year. Going another 18 months beyond that, I'd think the 4S will be something of a relic.

**agianne** · 06-08-2012, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

Going another 18 months beyond that, I'd think the 4S will be something of a relic.

Probably, but it depends on just how amazing the next iPhone is. They made the 4S sound like the greatest thing ever, but it's just the old model plus some dopey lady yammering at you and a better camera. Those things are much less amazing than the marketing suggests. It's a lot of hype on useful, incremental improvements. I imagine the next iPhone will be LTE compatible - that's a legitimate step forward, but it's not unique to iPhone.

**Sepurb** · 06-08-2012, 05:30 PM

it will be unique FOR iPhone though. for an iOS consumer it's like "finally" lol...

**mfrerkes** · 06-08-2012, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by agianne

Probably, but it depends on just how amazing the next iPhone is. They made the 4S sound like the greatest thing ever, but it's just the old model plus some dopey lady yammering at you and a better camera. Those things are much less amazing than the marketing suggests.

I agree, which is why I think the 4S is already over-valued at $650. This phone is going to be marked down drastically over the next year due to its planned obsolesence. In two years, I'd be surprised if it's fetching more than $200 on Ebay.

The original iPhone was special during its AT&T-exclusivity period. It could command a higher resale value because no other carrier had the device. Now that there's a glut of carriers (including VM) with the phone...that large increase in supply will surely drive down the resale value over the next couple years.

I feel sorry for anybody who pays $650 for the 4S later this month. It is a good phone, but it is definitely over-priced.

**Sepurb** · 06-08-2012, 07:33 PM

realistically, the postpaid happenings are non-compliant in the prepaid world.

VM isn't going to offer the 2013 iPhone in three months, so I don't see why they'd feel obliged to lower prices.

the iPhone 4S is their new iPhone. it may be blown out the water by the new one but it's all part of the two worlds ecosystem. who knows tho, because the HTC One line is baffling the shi*t out of me lol.

I totally understand what you're saying but I'd actually be surprised if the price went down just because the new one is out. maybe a mail in rebate if VM does that.

**JDubTrey** · 06-08-2012, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by Sepurb

realistically, the postpaid happenings are non-compliant in the prepaid world.

VM isn't going to offer the 2013 iPhone in three months, so I don't see why they'd feel obliged to lower prices.

the iPhone 4S is their new iPhone. it may be blown out the water by the new one but it's all part of the two worlds ecosystem. who knows tho, because the HTC One line is baffling the shi*t out of me lol.

I totally understand what you're saying but I'd actually be surprised if the price went down just because the new one is out. maybe a mail in rebate if VM does that.

The market will be flooded with 4s's when the new iPhone comes out. The VM iPhone will have to compete with that on some level, even if it means going with another carrier. I prefer VM over ST and Simple Mobile...but if I could put an iPhone on one of the others for $150, that's really hard to beat.

I'm an android guy (I'm really not interested in the 4, 4s or the new one) but for those who are iOS fans, the price should definitely come down a bit in October.

**Ric** · 06-08-2012, 07:55 PM

An iPhone 4, which is now two years old, averages about $320 on eBay.

**Sepurb** · 06-08-2012, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by JDubTrey

The market will be flooded with 4s's when the new iPhone comes out. The VM iPhone will have to compete with that on some level, even if it means going with another carrier. I prefer VM over ST and Simple Mobile...but if I could put an iPhone on one of the others for $150, that's really hard to beat.

I'm an android guy (I'm really not interested in the 4, 4s or the new one) but for those who are iOS fans, the price should definitely come down a bit in October.

see that's the thing too, say a person is selling their VM 4S because they are getting the iPhone Whatever on Verizon. VM customers shopping on CL or Amazon who want the VM iPhone are going to have to pay what they will go for in like three months which will still be at least $400. again like you said, bouncing to another carrier would be the best resolve but I imagine the preowned prepaid landscape getting real nasty with the iPhone available now. this is coming from an Apple fan.

people on hear moan(no offense) about GF'ed plans all day and for some keeping 30 a month for throttled unlimited will still be a better deal than suspended unlimited. a preowned VM 4S for $400(which I still think would be the price near the middle of 2013) would still be yummy to an iPhone fan.

again, it all depends of if you plan to remain a VM customer.

**JDubTrey** · 06-08-2012, 08:20 PM

I forgot to even mention the iPhone 4. That should be no more than $250 when the new iPhone comes out.

There will be all kinds of downward pressure on VM's SRP for these phones come October. However, if you could cut your bill by $30-50 by going with a VM iPhone now, it still might be worth the risk.

**mfrerkes** · 06-08-2012, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Ric

An iPhone 4, which is now two years old, averages about $320 on eBay.

There has been a glut of iPhones on the market since Verizon and Sprint joined the iOS game. Once those start trickling into the "used phone" market, I think you'll see average prices for an outdated Apple device start to drop.

When AT&T held all the cards, the supply-demand ratio was much more favorable to sellers. The tide should begin turning on that, especially once pre-paid carriers cut into the post-paid iPhone market share.

**SillyTA** · 06-08-2012, 11:42 PM

I expect to see a significant drop in price for all small display size iphone models - after the medium display size iphone model is out.

**phonemagician** · 06-09-2012, 12:53 AM

mod edited: there is already a thread for iphone vs. _____ discussion. Your opinion on the matter does not need to be posted every single time the iPhone is mentioned, especially when it is off topic.

**aurora40** · 06-09-2012, 07:37 AM

The iPhone 4 still sells new, for $100 less. Same thing Apple did with the iPad 2. Not a huge price drop for something that became "obsolete". I doubt the 4S will be any different when the 5 comes out.

The same is true of screen size. The iPad 2 has pretty terrible resolution (honestly, text always looks slightly fuzzy, it's not just in comparison to "retina") yet people still buy that for fairly hefty money. Or at least hefty when compared to a non-Apple equivalent.

Unless that changes, I would expect a 4S to still bring decent money in two years. Plus a VM version will likely be rare, as it won't have been around long, and it is very expensive with no contract offsetting it.