Thanks to refurbishing, 3G iPhones get even cheaper

By Tim Conneally | Published July 13, 2009, 4:43 PM

When the iPhone 3G S debuted in June, Apple simultaneously announced that the iPhone 3G, the new device's year-old, 8 GB predecessor would be dropping to a scant $99. What the Cupertino computer maker didn't announce was that the price for refurbished iPhones (i.e., phones that were previously owned, but returned within 30 days) would also be dropping to a price less than 15% of the 3G device's original cost.

AT&T is now offering refurbished 8 GB iPhone 3G for only $79 with a two-year contract, a considerable drop from the $150 price tag from six months ago.

While it is the lowest priced 3G iPhone thus far, the $20 "Refurb discount" is by far the smallest offered by AT&T. A refurbished Samsung Blackjack II, a BlackBerry-style 3G device which was also replaced this spring, has $90 taken off its price. And the HTC Fuze, yet another year old touchscreen 3G device has $100 knocked off its price.

Comments

View comments by with a score of at least

because its cheaper and they work the same

Score: 0

|

Why would anyone buy a refurbished one for $79 when you can get a brand new one for $20 more?

Score: 0

|

If the refurbished iPhones are like other refurbished products Apple sells they should be covered by the same warranty as a brand new model would and you can still purchase Applecare on if you want. I don't really see any disadvantages to buying the refurb other from the fact that the refurbished model might have a few minor scratches.

Score: 0

|

...or you can get them on eBay, unlocked, for just a bit more. ;) (Still less than you'd pay for a new one with contract)

Score: 0

|

Comcast deal for NBC Universal is about content, not broadband

Although Comcast is certainly America's largest broadband provider, at least for PCs, in most regards, today's deal with GE may not impact the Internet at all.

The Black Screen Syndrome, or, Tech news in search of the apocalypse

Scott Fulton On Point: This is a story about something that should not have been a story, about something that at one time was a story.

Five compact digital camera myths and realities

This holiday 2009 primer offers tips on what and what not to look for in a compact digital camera.

Mark Russinovich on MinWin, the new core of Windows

The next version of Windows three years hence will likely build onto a significant architectural change implemented in Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2.

Android team updates 'Donut' and 'Eclair' SDKs

The Android SDK includes components which optimize app development for each version of the mobile operating system. Today, the 1.6 and 2.0 components got updates.

See ya later, WinMo: Microsoft's mobile strategy needs a reboot

Carmi Levy | Wide Angle Zoom: Hands up if you're considering upgrading to a Windows phone for the holidays...Anybody?

Online advertising evolves away from display, toward interactive software

Marketing departments and agencies are increasingly establishing positions for "creative technologists" who can steer designers and developers toward platforms that enable direct connections with consumers.

Google begrudgingly adjusts news crawling for paid publishers

If publishers want to make readers pay for news content, and thereby drive down its popularity and Google ranking, the company says, they can just go right on ahead.

Fee or free? Murdoch, Huffington square off over the cost of Internet news

Participants in an FTC workshop yesterday witnessed the two extremes of the Web news publishing debate, still centered on the issue of long-term profitability.

Security firm: Windows patches not responsible for 'Black Screen of Death'

On second thought, maybe that access control list thingie with the lockdown something-or-rather didn't trigger an alleged, perhaps non-existent, pandemic.

Apple settles with Psystar except for 'circumvention devices'

The fracas with the Florida clone computer maker might have ended today had Apple not have muddled the issue over a cheap piece of Psystar software.