Can I make money selling the iPhone 4G?

[SLCentral]

So I'm eligible for an AT&T upgrade on my account, but don't need it since I bought the Nexus One. Is this an opportunity for me to buy the 4G when it comes out for $199, unlock/jailbreak it, and then eBay it for major profit?

 

[Phobic9]

I'd guess that depends on the demand for the 4th gen iPhone. Unless it's something *cough* magical, I'd imagine most people won't be looking to upgrade here in the states.

 

[SunnyD]

Yes. Unfortunately the withering masses of Apple lemmings will likely pay a hefty premium for the 4G when it comes out, even if it ends up being technically inferior to this:

 

[TheWart]

I imagine the demand will be on par or higher (given the probable much improved screen and speed) than the last iphone, and the resell value of those was/is pretty high, so I think you could do pretty well for yourself (especially if the intl roll-out is delayed and you are comfortable shipping overseas).

btw, glad to see the android fanboys out trollin after the long weekend

 

[CTrain]

You can sell the iphone 4g for $500+ easy.
When the 3gs came out, they were going for $450 on craigslist.
Considering the small improvement from 3g to 3gs VS 3gs to 4g, you can get alot for the 4g.
If it was jailbroken and unlocked, it'll worth even more.

Heres the logic.
The HD2 without a contract is $450+tax and most people considered that cheap.
Buying an iphone off market is the same thing as buying off contract so if the HD2 is considered cheap by standard, the iphone 4g will sell for $500+ easy.

 

[CTrain]

I'd guess that depends on the demand for the 4th gen iPhone. Unless it's something *cough* magical, I'd imagine most people won't be looking to upgrade here in the states.

Its going to be quite the opposite.
Let me just say I hate apple but even I have to admit the iphone is a genuis device.
If you look at the iphone from 2g to 3g to 3gs, its not that much of a difference.
Same design, the components inside didn't change that much.
The iphone 4g is a drastic change.
Different design and the inside components are much much better.
From the higher resolutions, faster cpu, front facing camera, better back camera, its a big step forward.
Even had apple just change the design, people would upgrade in bunches just to be different.
Add that to better components inside, the iphone 4g will sell like hotcakes.
I won't be one of them but it will sell.

 

[Phobic9]

Its going to be quite the opposite.
Let me just say I hate apple but even I have to admit the iphone is a genuis device.
If you look at the iphone from 2g to 3g to 3gs, its not that much of a difference.
Same design, the components inside didn't change that much.
The iphone 4g is a drastic change.
Different design and the inside components are much much better.
From the higher resolutions, faster cpu, front facing camera, better back camera, its a big step forward.
Even had apple just change the design, people would upgrade in bunches just to be different.
Add that to better components inside, the iphone 4g will sell like hotcakes.
I won't be one of them but it will sell.

I agree with you here but I was looking at the perspective of people being locked into their contracts. I just saw some things about AT&T making it easier for people to upgrade though.

Everything else being said, I've owned every version of the iPhone and I'm probably going to be buying the next one.

 

[QueBert]

You will clean house, I sold my 1g iPhone last month for what people are selling Moto Droids for. And I sold it the 1st day I had it on craigslist. A 4G will easily go for $500, yes I said easily.

 

[slightlyhuman]

yes, you will. i have an ATT account with both my rents on it. we are all due for upgrades. i picked up a 16gb for $97 last week. could sell it for for $500+ easy on ebay. might keep it at an mp3 player for cheap. it is jailbroken.

was going to pick up a few more under my parents upgrades but am waiting on the 4g iphone to do that. i convinced them them to pick up 2 G1s i found online for $300 shipped that are already unlocked/rooted.

win all around.

 

[pm]

Moderator comment: the latter half of the original post feels an awful lot like a price check... which aren't allowed under forum rules. So if this starts to diverge into a discussion of prices for selling iPhones on Ebay/Craigslist/etc, I'll lock the thread.

See rule #14:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=60552

 

[boomhower]

Are you sure you will be happy with the N1 for the next two years? It's a solid phone but I would be careful burning the upgrade just to make a quick buck. If google doesn't replace the N1 and in a year your itching for an upgrade you may regret it. But, if since you dropped the dough on the N1 that may be a non-issue.

 

[Raduque]

I'm sure you can. There's always some apple dumbass willing to pay well over retail for it.

 

[uli2000]

Biggest problem would be you would be stuck with the new iPhone data plans that arn't unlimited anymore, and you would have to keep that data plan for 2 years. Can you live with 2gb or less per month data?

 

[corkyg]

An unlocked 4G iPhone may not be as jailbroken as you think - they require a new micro sim card not readily available. But, it's a free market economy - try it and see.

 

[zerocool84]

I'm sure you can. There's always some apple dumbass willing to pay well over retail for it.

I wouldn't go as far to say they are dumb, just a little slow.

 

[CTrain]

An unlocked 4G iPhone may not be as jailbroken as you think - they require a new micro sim card not readily available. But, it's a free market economy - try it and see.

You can turn any regular sim card into micro sim card.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/how-to-create-your-own-micro-sim-card-using-a-chef-knife-and-som/
And if micro becomes really popular(probably will with the iphone 4g), someone will sell a tool to chop off old sim ==>> to micro with ease.

 

[CTrain]

Well, I spoke too soon.
There is tool now to trim your sim.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/cut-my-sim-does-as-its-name-commands/