iPhone 6 Price With Contract: The Pros and Cons of a Tied Up Unit

By Arvin Donguines, Christian Post Contributor Monday, October 06, 2014

It cannot be denied: buying a new iPhone 6, either or both of its newest versions, could seriously put a dent in anyone's pocket. Fortunately, there's another option to acquire one without spending a large amount of money upfront, and that is signing a contract with wireless carriers.

As reported, there are four wireless carrier firms that offer a lower selling price on these popular smartphones in the US, namely: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile.

The 16GB iPhone 6 is offered with a 2-year contract for $199 while the off-contract is sold for $649.

Sprint, on the other hand, has this plan named "iPhone for Life Plan." It's quite inviting, as it offers customers the option of not having to pay anything, but instead, they will be billed monthly for $70. $50 of that is for the unlimited data plan, while the remaining amount goes for the unit itself.

Other deals offer various arrangements that could fit well for someone's budget and needs.

However, the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a contracted model from a provider are continually being weighed by users and critics ever since such services were introduced.

ZDNet revealed in their reports that customers are often found complaining for the excessive fees and hidden charges that these mobile carriers attached to their contracts. Often not included in their advertised rates, these costs often include the network's usage plans and activation fees.

In the case of AT&T, plan holders will likely have to pay around $700 to $800 (around $200 more than the shelf price of the unit). Verizon is slightly higher with payables that could amount up to $830. The mentioned Sprint rates could total up to $920. Meanwhile, those who are planning to lock in contract with T-Mobile are reported to pay a sum of at least $660.

Considering the said rates, the disparity iPhone 6 contract-based pricing from major network providers vs prices of the unlocked versions could prove to be much higher than what is expected.