How to buy a cheap iPhone: Top 5 tips to help you save money

The Apple iPhone is very expensive, but it is also very much coveted by all. So, for all those people who want the handset but don't want to pay the full price, here is how to buy a cheap iPhone.

Buying an iPhone is an expensive affair. But you can save money by using these 5 tips. Just check out how to buy a cheap iPhone (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)

The iPhone stands above all other smartphones when it comes to the combined value of style, performance and its position as a status symbol. Everyone wants to own an iPhone, but its exorbitant price makes it very difficult for the masses to afford it. For instance, the latest iPhone 13 Pro Max price is a whopping Rs. 1,29,999! For most people that amount is probably equivalent to quite a few months of savings at least. But do not be disheartened. If you really want to purchase a cheap iPhone, there are some ways to make it happen. Read on, to know how to buy a cheap iPhone. Just remember that these recommendations are for brand new iPhones only, except for the last one, which is for refurbished iPhones.

How to buy a cheap iPhone: Top 5 tips to help you save money

Step 1:

Go For iPhone SE: Unlike the flagship iPhone devices, iPhone SE is intended to be a budget-friendly smartphone. While it does not have a large enough screen or all of the functionalities of the flagship iPhone, it is still a great device to experience the Apple ecosystem and enjoy all of iOS technology. The latest iPhone SE 2020 will cost you only Rs. 39,900 at the Apple store. 

Step 2:

Pick an older model: While it would probably feel great to buy the latest iPhone in the market, if you are tight on your budget, you can easily go for an older model for a much cheaper price and not that significant difference in performance. The best time to buy an iPhone is right after Apple releases a newer model. Because after that, the older models drop in price and make for a great bargain. Right now, you can purchase the 128GB variant of iPhone 12 at just Rs. 60,999 on Amazon. iPhone 11 128GB model is even cheaper at Rs. 54,900. Both of these devices cost half of the price of iPhone 13 Pro Max. So, don’t make the mistake of going for the latest iPhone. Be smart and buy an older cheap iPhone model.

Step 3:

Buy during a sale: Save money on your iPhone by buying it during a sale. Platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and others have multiple sales throughout the year. These sales always offer some discount on iPhones. To buy a cheap iPhone, you should wait for these sales and then make the purchase to make it easier on your pocket. 

Step 4:

Trade-in your older smartphone: A good way to get an instant discount on an iPhone is to use Apple’s trade-in. Apple allows buyers to hand over their old smartphone in return for a discount on the iPhone they’re buying. While a number of terms and conditions apply and the newer and better your smartphone is, the better your trade-in offer will be, you can still manage to save quite a bit of money using this feature.

Step 5:

Buy a renewed iPhone: While many do not prefer to own second-hand smartphones, a good way to save money on an iPhone is to go for a renewed model. Unlike second hand models, these do go through checks, damaged part replacement and a thorough cleaning to ensure that while the device was still pre-owned, it does not carry the feel of it. It is also a great way to buy a cheap iPhone. 

Amazon says a renewed product is like-new item that’s either refurbished, preowned, or open-box. Pre-owned products have been owned by a previous customer. Refurbished products are used products that have been restored to new or like-new condition. Open-box products are unused but without the complete original packaging, which may have been damaged in a warehouse or opened by a customer. However, they may have returned within the trial period.