It happens every time Apple produces a new iPhone : Current iPhone users and owners of other smartphones start prepare plan to ditch their older devices and upgrade to the new simulation . Unlike with moving from one version of MacBook Air to the next , though , there are complications to upgrading your iPhone — and they come in the form of multi - year commitment to wireless carriers .
The iPhone 4S add a new wrinkle to the mixture . There are nowthreewireless partner offering the earpiece — Sprintjoins old iPhone 4 carriersAT&TandVerizonto provide service for the 4S mannequin .
The iPhone 4S becomes usable on October 14 , with preorders beginning Friday . A 16 GB iPhone 4S cost $ 199 , while the 32 GB poser sells for $ 299 and a 64 GB earpiece will set you back $ 399 . Those prices feign you ’ll sign a two - year contract with one of the three carriers mentioned above , however — and that you ’re eligible to get a phone at that subsidised cost .
How do I determine if I’m eligible for an upgrade?
Generally speaking , once you sign your two - year declaration for sound servicing with a carrier , you ’re locked into that patch of hardware for the duration . you may check your eligibility with your bearer — more on that in a mo — but Apple offers an soft fashion . Over at Apple ’s internet site , type in a few details about your account , and you ’ll quickly see when you are eligible for an upgrade , along with what price you ’d pay if you choose to upgrade early instead .
At AT&T , you’re able to be eligible for an “ early upgrade ” as little as a class into your last contract bridge ifyou’ve purchased the top - flight voice and data plan . There are four ways to check your eligibility : you’re able to dial * 639 # into your iPhone ; you’re able to go toAT&T ’s upgrade websiteand go into your account info ; you’re able to call the party ’s customer service line at 1 - 800 - 331 - 0500 ; or you canvisit one of the AT&T storesin your sphere . AT&T toldMacworldthat it expected to unloose a young AT&T Upgrader App this calendar week that would let users gibe their eligibility and pre - order the novel phone set out Friday ; as this article was put out , the Upgrader app had not been bestow to the App Store , however .
If you own an iPhone 4 with Verizon , you ’re not eligible for an upgrade — at least not at the subsidized prices of $ 199 for the basic 16 GB modelling . Verizon has been selling the iPhone only since February , which think that its Apple - loving customers have n’t finished one yr on their two - year contract . If you use Verizon ’s service for another smartphone but need to jump over to the iPhone 4S , you could check your upgrade eligibility atthe company ’s website .
Since Sprint is new to the iPhone game , there are no existing iPhone customers with that mail carrier . But if you own another earphone through Sprint , you could see your upgrade eligibility through thecompany ’s site . Sprint requires that it be 20 month since your last contract bridge start before you ’re eligible for the climb .
( While Sprint wo n’t take preorders for the iPhone 4S until Friday , bargain huntsman can get their hands on a $ 99 iPhone through the carrier right now — Sprint start convey iPhone 4 Holy Order on Thursday . )
Is there a fee for upgrading?
AT&T charges a one - prison term fee of $ 18 to upgrade your phone ; Verizon does n’t rouse a fee to upgrade phones after a contract has been completed , but does charge a one - time $ 35 energizing fee for new military service .
How easy is it to change carriers?
If you ’re in the middle of a contract , it ’s a costly proposal . If you buy an iPhone with AT&T and require to leave the declaration early , you’ll pay a $ 325 fee — minus $ 10 per month completed of the contract . The same situation at Verizon resultsin a $ 350 fee , minus $ 10 per completed calendar month of contract bridge . leave Sprint early — if you ’ve purchased an “ advanced twist ” as part of the contract — also cost $ 350 .
Because the iPhone 4S is a universe phone — meaning a single fashion model is compatible with both GSM and CDMA web — one might assume that you ’ll be able-bodied to easily switch carriers at the remnant of your contract bridge while maintain your current hardware . One would assume incorrectly : Apple ’s fine print on the iPhone 4S discourage that “ the iPhone model you leverage is subject to your wireless Robert William Service supplier ’s policies , which may let in restrictions on switching service providers and roaming , even after conclusion of any required minimum service contract . ”
What if I’m not eligible for the upgrade, but still want to buy the new iPhone?
The tilt price of $ 199 for the canonic 16 GB framework is actually a “ subsidized ” price — it assumes you ’ll bless a new two - yr declaration with a wireless sound bearer . If you desire to upgrade your iPhone before reaching upgrade eligibility , you could always bear the unsubsidized price . And how much is that ? Tough to say . Apple announcedonly the subsidise pricesof the iPhone 4S at its Tuesday event . So it ’s worth noting that the unsubsidized monetary value of a 16 GB iPhone 4 was , at the clock time of its tone ending , $ 599 . If you need the new phone and you ’re not eligible for an rising slope , you ’ll plausibly have to pay a unconscionable cost .
What do I do with my old iPhone?
Apple offers aReuse and Recycling Programin which you’re able to get credit in the chassis of an Apple endowment card in interchange for your “ softly used ” smartphone . Wireless carriers have their own programs as well . Verizon ’s craft - in programlets you get an online appraisal on your current phone ; the troupe will ante up you that time value in the form of a Verizon gift card . AT&T , meanwhile , has its ownReuse & Recycleprogram — that company asks you to bring in your one-time phone to one of its stores .
We go into greater detail onyour options for repurposing an undesirable iPhoneelsewhere on Macworld.com .
