iPhone 6s Debut: 7 Tips For Buyers
There are more ways than ever to buy a new iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus. Here are some of the different angles to take toward smartphone nirvana.
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At 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, Apple will open its retail stores around the world to anxious consumers hoping to score a new iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus.
iPhone Launch Day is nearly always a frenzied experience full of early alarms, long lines, and the excitement of new bling. Even before the new iPhones hit retail stores, Apple reported that most of its launch supplies had run out, which helps the company further build the anticipation.
So far, early reviews suggest the iPhone 6s and its larger cousin, are a worthy upgrade thanks to 3D Touch and the improved camera. The Wall Street Journal called the new smartphones a slightly better upgrade over the iPhone 6, and noted that Apple made several small improvements that added up to a better experience.
Others have noted that new rose gold color is proving popular even before the iPhone 6s arrives.
The iPhone 6s is helped a great deal thanks to iOS 9, which Apple released last week. The new platform, which is enjoying swift adoption, brings plenty of consumer-friendly features to iPhones old and new.
[Read about all the tips and tricks you need to know with iOS 9.]
Apple added a wrinkle to the buying process this year with new pricing plans. Consumers now have the option of leasing an iPhone directly from Apple instead of buying the device outright from their carrier of choice. Sprint is taking it to the extreme with a $1 plan.
Despite some of the changes, this year's launch will mostly echo what's happened in the past. There are a few key changes, however, worth having in mind before you get out of bed at o'dark-thirty. Before you do anything, back up your old iPhone. Save your settings and apps to your PC or iCloud, and offload the pictures and any other files/documents you want to keep.
Here are seven tips from InformationWeek on the best ways to get your new iPhone -- and how you can pay for it. If you're planning on an upgrade, give us your own tips and tricks for getting your hands on the latest model. We want to hear from you in the comments section below.
As always, making a reservation is your best bet. Apple began accepting reservations for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in the wee hours of the morning on Sept. 12. If you haven't already made a reservation, chances are the launch-day stock at your local Apple Store is already spoken for. In fact, Apple has ceased taking reservations for launch day. It will re-open reservations Sept. 26.
Those who made reservations should have received a confirmation email from Apple with details about picking up the iPhone. Arrive on time. Let Apple know you've made a reservation. Apple says those who arrive late or miss their reservation window altogether may not get the iPhone they want. Bring two forms of ID and your current phone. Expect the process to take 30 minutes.
Enjoy your beauty sleep? Don't care to suffer through iPhone launch-day madness? Skip the store completely and order an iPhone online for delivery to your home (or office). This will require patience. Right now, delivery times are in the three- to four-week range. On the plus side, you won't have to deal with all the craziness and crowds, or the stringent ID requirements of in-store pickup. More to the point, you'll (eventually) receive the exact model you want.
Walk-ins are always welcome, but the selection may not be good. If you didn't make a reservation, but must have an iPhone on launch day, then head to your local Apple Store as early as you can manage. Based on experience, the golden time to arrive is between 4 and 5 a.m. The lines really begin lengthening after 5 a.m. If you arrive after 6 a.m., expect to see 100 or more people waiting in the queue ahead of you. A handful of diehards will probably arrive around 10 p.m. the night before. Don't compete with that. Get a good night's rest, bring a chair and a thermos full of coffee, and you'll be all set.
Apple generally organizes people into two lines: those with reservations, and walk-ins. People who have reservations will be given first dibs on whatever stock is available.
The gamble here is that the model you want will be gone before you even get into the store. Apple stores are generally well stocked with iPhones on launch day, but certain models sell out more quickly than others. Based on Apple's website, the gold and rose-gold colors in the 64-GB capacity were highly popular. You may have to settle for a second or even third choice in your color and storage combination.
Instead of queuing up at the Apple store, you can try the retail store of your preferred carrier. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon Wireless stores will open at 8 a.m. local time to sell the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. The queues at carrier stores will probably be shorter than at Apple stores, but carrier stores never have as much stock, and their quantities and/or selection may be limited.
One major benefit of heading to a carrier store, however, is that your carrier may give you a significant amount of cash for turning in your previous smartphone. That helps reduce the pain of paying for a new iPhone. Speaking of which ...
In June 2007, when Apple launched the first iPhone, consumers had to pony up $599 and pay for the phone in full. That was for the 4-GB model. If you wanted the 8-GB or 16-GB models, you had to shell out $699 or $799, respectively. It wasn't until later that Apple began offering the iPhone at the more-palatable $199, $299, and $399 price points, thanks to carrier subsidies, which meant you also had to commit to a cellular carrier contracts. Those prices are generally still available -- as long as you don't mind signing a two-year commitment to a wireless carrier.
If you're tired of ponying up significant sums every 18 months to have the latest gadget, you can now lease one instead. Apple's lease for an iPhone 6s 16 GB starts at $32 per month, and goes up from there. The lease program lasts 12 months. Next year, when Apple releases the iPhone 7, people who leased the iPhone 6s can hand over their smartphone and pick up a new one for a similar lease payment. It's pretty straightforward.
Sprint and T-Mobile are leasing iPhones, too. Each carrier has low monthly lease payments for the latest iPhones. As with Apple's program, Sprint and T-Mobile require customers to turn in their old phone to get the best lease prices. AT&T and Verizon don't technically offer leases, but they do allow you to pay for your handset over time in monthly allotments.
You can always break the piggy bank, or take out a loan against your 401K to buy a new iPhone at full price up front with no commitments to any carriers. Non-subsidized prices for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus range from $649 to $949, depending on model and storage capacity.
Are you buying an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus? Which option do you plan to try? What method has worked best for you in the past? Will you camp out, or wait for an online order? Do you like the idea of leasing? We want to know your plans, and your past iPhone buying experiences. Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
Are you buying an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus? Which option do you plan to try? What method has worked best for you in the past? Will you camp out, or wait for an online order? Do you like the idea of leasing? We want to know your plans, and your past iPhone buying experiences. Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
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