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This is the time of year when smartphone manufacturers introduce their new products to encourage you to spend your hard-earned money on the latest and most expensive devices.
The gadget craze began last month, when Samsung started selling its $ 1,000 Galaxy Note9, a luxurious device with an extra-large screen that could be converted to a personal computer if it was connected to a screen. . Next month, Google is also organizing an event where its new Pixel smartphones will probably be presented.
And this Wednesday, Apple should launch a trio of new iPhones, some models with larger screens and higher starting prices.
According to a person informed of new Apple products, who asked not to be identified because the plans are confidential, the changes will include:
• A new entry-level phone to replace the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, with a larger screen, at 6.1 inches.
• The 5.8-inch iPhone X, which Apple retired last year and priced at $ 999, will be updated to be faster.
• The introduction of a high-end phone with 6.5 inches screen, the biggest product of Apple.
In what has become an ever clearer trend, the prices of some of these new iPhones should also increase. The new entry-level iPhone could start at $ 749, with the iPhone 5.8-inch at $ 949 and $ 1,049 for the giant-screen model of 6.5 inches, according to analysts . In contrast, Apple iPhones began a few years ago to 649 dollars for the small model and 749 dollars for the largest.
A spokesman for Apple declined to comment on the prices of the new phones.
The growing number of higher-priced, widescreen smartphones has become a popular strategy for phone manufacturers. Because many people around the world – especially in developed countries – already own a phone and upgrade it at a slower pace, phone providers are trying to spend more money on each device.
So where are we? If you want to upgrade some of the latest devices without breaking the bank, here are some tips for doing this.
Exchange your old phone
The easiest way to save money on your next phone is to exchange your current cell phone. In recent years, wireless service providers and retailers have expanded their exchange programs to make them more transparent and inclusive.
Here is an overview of how some of them work.
• Apple offers a recovery program called Apple GiveBack. On the Apple webpage, you can select the device you want to exchange, including iPhones or other brands of smartphones such as Samsung, HTC and BlackBerry. You then answer a few questions about the phone's model and status to receive an estimate of what you can receive in the Apple Store credit. From there, you can bring your phone to an Apple store or ask the company to send you an expedition kit to send it by mail.
• Carriers have similar programs. AT & T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint each accept a wide range of phones of different brands, which can be sold for credit that can be used to purchase a new phone through the operator. .
• Gazelle has a vast buyback program. The online reseller will allow you to sell smartphones, tablets and Macs. Similar to Apple, Gazelle will send you a shipping kit to post in your device, or you can simply send it with your own packaging. The advantage of using Gazelle – which is one of the reasons I prefer it – is that it will offer money while others do not. offer only in-store credit linked to specific traders.
• Best Buy offers a gift credit in exchange for many used devices. These include smartphones, tablets and video game equipment. This is perhaps your most flexible takeover option: Best Buy buys more types of devices from a wider range of brands than other buyback programs that I have tested. In addition, the retailer sells phones that work with each of the major carriers.
After exchanging your phone, you can use credit in several ways.
For example, suppose you sell an iPhone 7 to Verizon Wireless. The Verizon webpage offers a $ 185 credit for this phone and you accept it.
Now imagine that the next iPhone costs $ 1,049. If you buy the device directly from Verizon, you could get $ 1,049 off, for a total of $ 864.
Or you could choose to pay for the new iPhone with a payment plan and spread the cost of the phone in monthly payments. If Verizon presumably requires a $ 300 down payment for the new iPhone, your $ 185 credit would reduce the amount you pay immediately to $ 115. From there, you would pay $ 31.20 a month for 24 months to cover the remaining $ 749.
Sell your old phone
You could sell your old device directly to another consumer for a chance to get more money than through a recovery program. This is similar to how selling a used car in a private sale usually brings in more money than selling to a dealership.
There are many sites to list your phone and sell it directly to another person, including: eBay, Swappa and Glyde. I've sold my used phones on eBay about twice what I've listed in a device exchange program.
But there are trade-offs: some buyers can be a nuisance and bombard you with many issues or take a long time to send the payment.
You can also ask your friends and family if they want to buy your used phone. Do not offer it to merchants among them.
Upgrade
There is of course a low cost extra option: keep using your old phone and skip the upgrade. Smart phones require periodic maintenance to keep running smoothly, but a little attention will be needed.
If your phone is slow, there are methods to speed it up. These include hiring a repair shop to replace your phone's battery, disposal of the device's storage and the new operating system installation.
Taking care of your gadgets takes time. But with the rising costs of phones, the benefits are greater now that you will save even more by staying true to reality.
Brian X. Chen, our leading consumer technology reporter, writes Tech Fix, an article on solving technology-related issues. What's bothering you or making you angry about your technology? Send your suggestions for future Tech Fix columns to [email protected].
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