Apple iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus Buying and Pricing Guide

With the products from Tier-1 brands, there is always quite some confusion about the pricing of the product, especially the smartphone because the pricing differs depending on several factors. Apple just announced the iPhone 6 and the larger iPhone 6 Plus, both to be available for pre-order from September 12th. The smartphones will be available both on-contract and off-contract through different network providers in the U.S., and the pricing again differs based on the storage capacity in the phone.

To start off, we already have explained how you can choose between an iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and to shortly explain, it all depends on how large a screen you need on your palm, because there is no serious difference between the two, except for the large screen in the iPhone 6 Plus, and for that, you are going to pay a hundred bucks extra.

[quote align=’right’] The off-contract phones are not unlocked, but the unlocked phones are off-contract. [/quote]The next question would probably be whether to go for a locked device on contract, or to choose a device and pay the complete off-contract price and be free from the contracts with network providers. This decision isn’t easy, especially because the iPhone that you are going to buy off-contract, is not going to be unlocked. This is very important to note, because you will be mistaken after paying over $600 for the phone and finding it still locked with the network from whom you are buying it. You are paying the hefty amount only not to bind yourself to the contract with that network provider. So, if you rushing to a T-mobile store to buy an iPhone 6 off-contract, you can still use only a T-mobile SIM card in it. This has always been the case with the iPhones – The off-contract phones are not unlocked, but the unlocked phones are off-contract.

The pricing of the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in U.S. is as given below.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Off-contract Pricing in US

Now, for those who don’t have much to worry about the monthly contracts with the network providers, check below for the price of the iPhones when you are binding yourself to a 2-year contract.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus 2-year Contract Pricing in US

The Upgrade and Simple Choice Plans from Network Providers

While the prices that we shared above are quite standard, and it has been Apple’s tradition to sell the new gen. iPhone with the same price tag as they did the previous year, the network providers try their own way to sell the new smartphones with even zero-down-payment.

Verizon Edge Plan

Verizon is offering the 16GB iPhone 6 for $0, and the customers are bound to two things here – 1. Locked iPhone with Verizon, 2. 20-month monthly payment of $32.49. The same plan is available with the iPhone 6 Plus too, where the customers need to pay $37.49 per month for 20 months.

AT&T – Next 12 Plan

In this plan, AT&T is offering the 16GB iPhone 6 for $0 down, and the customer will have to pay $32.50 per month, for the next 20 months. Keep in mind that these are installment prices, and not the monthly contract prices which we talked about, above in this guide. During this period, the customer can choose to trade the iPhone 6 with a new device, once 12 installments are completed.

There is also a “Next 18 Plan” with AT&T, where instead of 20 months, the plan is extended to 24 months and the monthly installment cost is $27.09. Here too, the customer can trade the iPhone 6 with any new device, but that is possible after 18 installments.

Sprint – iPhone for Life Plan

With the other carriers, you are at least buying the iPhone, but Sprint is offering a “iPhone for Life” plan where you are simply leasing the iPhone from them. This can be a really wise option if you look only at the monthly costs, and Sprint is calling this a cost effective option, as you are going to end up paying $20 per month while paying nothing initially. But there is a big catch here – the iPhone for Life plan is combined with the Sprint Unlimited plan, which is $50 monthly.

Still, this plan can be really beneficial for those who are already paying about $40-50 monthly with a carrier plan for calling and data usage, as $20 extra is only for the new iPhone 6.

T-mobile – Simple Choice Plan

No other special offerings, T-mobile is also going to give you the iPhone 6 for $0 where you are to pay $27.08 per month for the next 24 months. If you are looking for the bigger iPhone 6 Plus, you need to pay $31.24 for 24 months.

Note: While most of these network providers are offering the 16GB iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus for zero down payment, the 64GB and 128GB versions will be available with a demand of some down payment.

Should I sell off my current iPhone or Trade it in?

Every carrier tries to lure the customers with some gift cards or offers if they are trading in their current iPhone and purchasing the new iPhone 6, and that for sure is a wise option, unless you are someone who has some knowledge and experience about buying and selling phones earlier, and if it was easy enough for you to sell the device on stores like eBay or Craigslist. But, if you are seriously looking to upgrade, the best bet is to trade it in with the network provider, although it is a wide known fact that the money you get in return is lesser than what you would get if you are selling the iPhone on any store by yourself.