Smartphones: A Guide to Cheap Purchases and Smart Investment Choices
Written by: Omar Amanat
Summary: Smartphone models come out on an annual basis. Before you wait hours in line, consider the alternate options that are available to you.
Since the original launch of the smartphone over a decade ago, it’s become an essential part of daily life. Whether you’re a child, teen, a tech-savvy college student, or even a senior citizen, you’re probably reading this article on a smartphone right now.
However, when the time comes, you’ll want to upgrade your current phone to the newest, shiniest, largest phone there is on the market. After all, technology is nothing short of exciting. If you’re planning on making this an annual investment, here are some tips that will help you save the max amount of money.
Trade-In Programs
Many carriers are now offering trade-in programs that allow you to obtain a significant discount on the newest smartphone out there by swapping out your old one. If you already have an old smartphone wasting away in your cabinet drawer, don’t just toss it in the trash, trade it in! On a side note, if you do go decide to rid of your old phone, recycle it – it’s full of toxins that you don’t want rotting in a landfill.
Back on topic, many of these programs are available in-store at major retailers. Just receive a quote, trade it in, and pay the difference for the new model. It’s rather simple, but be sure to compare around beforehand.
Consider Buying Refurbished Smartphones
Refurbished phones aren’t just pre-owned models that are error-prone, they’re a major discount for individuals that are looking to get a deep discount on the latest phone. Refurbished models are sent to the manufacturer where the memory and data is wiped and the components are checked, repaired, and cleaned. In most cases, refurbished phones are difficult to differentiate from it’s brand-new counterpart and are often old hundreds of dollars less than the fresh out of the box model. It’s worth considering and it could potentially last you another year until yet another smartphone model comes out on the market.
