To upgrade, or not to upgrade

Mon Jun 9, 2008 10:30PM EDT

See Comments (77)

Finally, the long awaited iPhone 3G is out, but will it be worth upgrading to one?

It's been a year since the original iPhone was released, so many of us were expecting the new iPhone to at least incorporate features that are currently available on even the most basic phones, like the ability to shoot video, MMS, extra storage (is 32GB too much to ask for?), and Bluetooth audio. Unfortunately, none of these were addressed in the latest iPhone, which touts built-in GPS capabilities, 3G, and black and white back covers.

We've been clamoring for 3G for a long time, but are we willing to pay the price? Those of us who currently own an iPhone will want to sell it before upgrading to a faster iPhone 3G, but who's going to buy them? Auction sites are expected to be saturated with first-generation iPhones in the coming weeks, and only those smart enough to sell theirs now are likely to get some money back.

On the bright side, there's still a great demand for unlocked phones out there, with some still selling for over $300. But once the new iPhone 3G hits the market, you'll be lucky to get $150 for the old model.

The new iPhone's $199 price tag (for 8GB) looks good in comparison to the first model, but is it really? According to The New York Times, the low cost of the iPhone doesn't mean you'll end up paying less over the two years you're tied into a contract. As some of you already know, AT&T has raised the pricing of its 3G data plans, which will now cost $30 per month, and $45 per month for business users.

That's a $10-per-month increase, or an extra $240 over the life of the contract that current users don't have to pay. So at first it may appear that you're saving yourself $200, but in the long run you're paying more.

Show of hands (or comments): How many of you will be upgrading? Why or why not?

Related:
How the half-price iPhone 3G actually costs you more
What's there, and what's missing
iPhone 3G questions and answers
Killer applications coming to iPhone

Comments on To upgrade, or not to upgrade

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  • 1 Posted by mmeeker69 on Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:39AM EDT Report Abuse

    It is if it saves you time running over a faster network. I cringe at how long I wait for webpages to download. It's faster to CALL Moviefone! I don't think upgrade is major enough for average people. But for power users they will be all over it.

  • 2 Posted by marianorenteria on Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:16AM EDT Report Abuse

    Finally here in Mexico we will be able to buy one without having a cracked iPhone, the price seams great, but the 3G plans that offers the carrier (Telcel), which are new, are very expensive, I think maybe a lot of people here will have an iPhone, but a very few with 3G capability. The absense of Bluetooth and MMS is something that I can't understand. We will have to wait and see, here the 3G contract plans with Telcel are really expensive

  • 3 Posted by jonjon19752001 on Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have to wait & see before I upgrade. I can't believe AT&T has to raised there 3g data plans. I'm paying like $75 a month for my bill. $10 of that are from Federal, state, & local utility taxes. Ridicilous!

  • 4 Posted by mwbudd on Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    If the new iPhone doesn't have Bluetooth then why is Apple selling a Bluetooth Headset http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html#accessories for it? I agree it will cost a few dollars more but it also allows me to not carry a PDA and not carry an Ipod. This may be the tipping point for me.

  • 5 Posted by nefarias on Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    Not anytime soon though the GPS sounds neat... I have another year on contract and I would like to see how the competition is stacking up in a year...

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