Getting a 6s. Any point in shopping around?

[silvarios]

graylocks wrote:
[quote=Microman]
If you want a 6s 64 gig at Apple, walk in and pay the $820. Get the sim free model, and you can go anywhere and SIM it up. And sell your iPhone 5s.

It will be unlocked. And it will be all yours. All you will need to do is pay for Service.

i thought the 64GB was $749. are you including tax or is there a more expensive sim free/unlocked model? i'm with ATT and quite happy to stay there at the present time.
Any reason not to simply pay the monthly installment plan? You get the phone for retail price divided into a number of interest free payments?

[OWC Jamie]

(vikm) wrote:
semi-related question regarding the different phones... Back in the day there were reasons some didn't like the Verizon iPhones (other than not being able to jump from carrier to carrier a la tmobile to ATT) like they "crippled" the phones, etc. is that still the case or are the Verizon phones pretty much identical software-wise now, too? Thanks. I ask because I'm also in the market for an upgrade and am free to go with anyone plan-wise. Thanks.

They're all the same ( right now) hardware-wise except for the AT&T version comes with an extra 2.3 gHz band (LTE 30 ) and the sim-free model supposedly does too. (6S A1633 and 6S+ A1634 )

except for gift cards the only "deal" I've seen is T mobile's where if you sign up for a Jump plan for 18 months the 6S-16GB ends up costing $525 instead of $650 ( with a buy out or turn in at the end ) . Dunno what early termination is nor if the offer is expired.
I don't want a locked phone.

I've been without a smartphone now for 3 years (I used to have a personal flip phone and a business paid 4 ) and was considering upgrading to a couple of used 5S but have been contemplating 6 and 6S too.

[Bimwad]

(vikm) wrote:
semi-related question regarding the different phones... Back in the day there were reasons some didn't like the Verizon iPhones (other than not being able to jump from carrier to carrier a la tmobile to ATT) like they "crippled" the phones, etc. is that still the case or are the Verizon phones pretty much identical software-wise now, too? Thanks. I ask because I'm also in the market for an upgrade and am free to go with anyone plan-wise. Thanks.

Software has never been an issue with iPhones; it was hardware compatbility that prevented the CDMA Verizon phones from working with the GSM carriers.

And beginning with the iPhone 5, even that ceased to be an issue, as they contained unlocked GSM radios as well as the CDMA radios.

Now, with the 6S, Apple has cut it down to three versions of hardware, one model for the Chinese market that works for their special version of CDMA, and two GSM/CDMA models for the rest of the world, one with the extra LTE Band 30 ("AT&T" A1633/34), and one without ("Verizon/Sprint/T-Mo" A1687/88).

Apple is selling the A1633/34 as the "SIM-Free" model, so if you want to cover all the bases, that is the one to get, whether you wanted free and clear at full price, or bundled with an AT&T SIM.

Verizon has relaxed their policies toward "non-Verizon" devices, and will whitelist them, so even they are an option now if you didn't purchase a "Verizon" phone originally.

[graylocks]

silvarios wrote:
Any reason not to simply pay the monthly installment plan? You get the phone for retail price divided into a number of interest free payments?

i considered apple's installment plan but decided a SquareTrade plan costs less with a smaller deductible. i just finished off paying for AT&T Next on my 5s and i didn't want the new phone tied to my AT&T bill. i just pulled the trigger on on a 64GB 6s paid for with Amex so i'll get 1% back plus 90 day complete theft/damage replacement. yes, the warranty will be doubled by Amex but i'll also have ST so that doesn't matter as much and besides i'm not sure what is happening with my Costco Amex come April 2016. i will move the phone balance to another card with as small a transfer fee as possible and no interest and pay it off in installments.

[(vikm)]

billb wrote: ]

They're all the same ( right now) hardware-wise except for the AT&T version comes with an extra 2.3 gHz band (LTE 30 ) and the sim-free model supposedly does too. (6S A1633 and 6S+ A1634 )

except for gift cards the only "deal" I've seen is T mobile's where if you sign up for a Jump plan for 18 months the 6S-16GB ends up costing $525 instead of $650 ( with a buy out or turn in at the end ) . Dunno what early termination is nor if the offer is expired.
I don't want a locked phone.

I've been without a smartphone now for 3 years (I used to have a personal flip phone and a business paid 4 ) and was considering upgrading to a couple of used 5S but have been contemplating 6 and 6S too.

Thank you bill.

Bimwad wrote:
Software has never been an issue with iPhones; it was hardware compatbility that prevented the CDMA Verizon phones from working with the GSM carriers.
.

Thanks. I was aware of the differences in the hardware due to the different networks. I swore there were those that complained about Verizon blocking some features unrelated to hardware and putting their own software on that was limited. It doesn't sound like that's the case now, if it ever was.

[OWC Jamie]

(vikm) wrote:
[quote=billb]]

They're all the same ( right now) hardware-wise except for the AT&T version comes with an extra 2.3 gHz band (LTE 30 ) and the sim-free model supposedly does too. (6S A1633 and 6S+ A1634 )

except for gift cards the only "deal" I've seen is T mobile's where if you sign up for a Jump plan for 18 months the 6S-16GB ends up costing $525 instead of $650 ( with a buy out or turn in at the end ) . Dunno what early termination is nor if the offer is expired.
I don't want a locked phone.

I've been without a smartphone now for 3 years (I used to have a personal flip phone and a business paid 4 ) and was considering upgrading to a couple of used 5S but have been contemplating 6 and 6S too.

Thank you bill.

Bimwad wrote:
Software has never been an issue with iPhones; it was hardware compatbility that prevented the CDMA Verizon phones from working with the GSM carriers.
.

Thanks. I was aware of the differences in the hardware due to the different networks. I swore there were those that complained about Verizon blocking some features unrelated to hardware and putting their own software on that was limited. It doesn't sound like that's the case now, if it ever was.
There are ( right now ) 3 versions of the 6S and 3 versions of the 6S+ (1 of each you can't get in the states )
http://www.techwalls.com/iphone-6s-plus-...fferences/

http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembe...iginal.jpg

I had a better explanation page a couple days ago but I couldn't find it again.

[sekker]

Pay using AmEx to extend your warranty.

[NewtonMP2100]

....yes, 'cause...my momma told me.....you better shop around....

[Kate]

I buy my phones using the Apple Barclay card. No interest for a period of time (depends on how much you spend) and they give you Apple gift cards for every so much that you spend. May not be the best price, but it works for me.


Kate