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Can you use iPhone without a data plan? Best value used iPhone ?

GoodEnough

GoodEnough

Golden Member
A friend has an add-on Verizon account for $12/mo. They have an ancient flip phone for calls/texting. I suggested they at least get a used smartphone (they'd prefer iPhone) and just hook it to wifi. That way, at work and home, you can still have a proper wifi internet enabled computer in your pocket. Plus, Facetime, etc. Does this make sense? If so, what is the best bang for buck used iPhone model to buy used?
 
I see iPhone 4 is like $75 and is probably too old.
Is iPhone 5 the best bet at $150 or so?
Is iPhone 5S at $200 worth the premium?
 
you have to get a data plan (can be lowest level) if you put a verizon sim into a smartphone

i would stay with 5S and above... anything lower isn't worth it. should be cheaper than $200 once the SE models come out

maybe an iPod touch if they don't care about the cellular part of it
 
I ran a Fido plan without data with an iPhone 3G. I had the carrier block data on the plan to avoid inadvertent data usage. Dunno how it works on Verizon.

iPhone 5 works fine on iOS 9.

iPhone 5S is faster but not necessary. Depends on how cheap you can get it for. If only $50 more then get it. TouchID is great and the camera is much nicer.

iPhone 4 is way too slow, and does not have LTE. Plus it is stuck on iOS 7. Also, the screen is too small. The camera is also poor.

P.S. I have owned all of these phones and I'm currently using the 5S.

BTW, the iPhone SE is a great deal IMO, but you won't find it cheap on the resale market. It lists for $399 and up.
 
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Ok, so to even just use the iPhone as a cellular phone, you still need a data plan.
Looks like this is all a moot point if they plan to stick with her $10 Verizon plan.

Can you buy an iPhone and not actually activate it?
Just use it as a "pocket tablet" with wifi? Like a mini iPad mini !
I guess that's an option, but then you're carrying around 2 phones.
 
Get an iPod Touch or an unlocked iPhone. The current gen iPod Touch is plenty capable and fast, and it's not too expensive at $199 starting price.
 
GoodEnough said:
Ok, so to even just use the iPhone as a cellular phone, you still need a data plan.
Looks like this is all a moot point if they plan to stick with her $10 Verizon plan.

Can you buy an iPhone and not actually activate it?
Just use it as a "pocket tablet" with wifi? Like a mini iPad mini !
I guess that's an option, but then you're carrying around 2 phones.
Click to expand...
Absolutely. For that matter, you can get any smartphone (iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone/Mobile) and just use it as what I call a "WiFi toy." You don't have to activate the phone (no need to put in a SIM), but you do have to carry two devices. Just connect it to Wi-Fi, and you basically have a handheld computer.

There are cheap data plans out there. T-mo. has a $30/mo. plan for 100 minutes, unlimited text, 5 GB of data. There's Project-Fi which is from Google (uses Sprint/T-mo) and you pay for the data you use essentially.
 
I have several iphones scattered throughout the house. None have cellular, I just add to my wifi. This way wherever you are you can just use one to connect online. I probably should have sold them all long ago. 🙂
 
GoodEnough said:
Is iPhone 5S at $200 worth the premium?
Click to expand...

No, but you really dont have a choice. The iphone 5 is getting close to 4 years old. This is ancient in smartphone terms. I think 3 years is about all you can realistically expect with some notable exceptions. The LG G2 will be 3 years old come september, and I would expect it to still be completely viable.
 
You can't use a flip phone calling plan with an iPhone. It won't work.

You can get a prepaid SIM for around that price though.
 
Oyeve said:
I assume this is only for new out of box iphones?
Click to expand...

The phone has to be activated once in order to use it. If you wipe the phone, you have to activate it again. You don't need the SIM anymore once it's been activated if you only plan to use wifi.

Just buy an activated SIM off ebay for 99 cents.
 
GoodEnough said:
I see iPhone 4 is like $75 and is probably too old.
Is iPhone 5 the best bet at $150 or so?
Is iPhone 5S at $200 worth the premium?
Click to expand...

The 5s is probably the best choice. There's a huge difference in performance and responsiveness and it's reasonably future proof for the price. I'm seeing them for around $180.
 
I had no idea that iPods were still a thing!
But, paying $150 to $200 for an 2012 iPod touch 5th gen. seems insane.
considering what you can get in the 'droid market for that money. (2014 phone)
 
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I think you guys are missing the point. They have a flip phone and don't want to get off their current plan. You can use an iPhone 4 on their current plan, as it's a 3g phone (Which they don't care about), and does not use a SIM. Do an ESN change and call it a day.
 
cardiac said:
I think you guys are missing the point. They have a flip phone and don't want to get off their current plan. You can use an iPhone 4 on their current plan, as it's a 3g phone (Which they don't care about), and does not use a SIM. Do an ESN change and call it a day.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.
 
I'd go with iP5S now, fingerprint sensor, faster CPU, and most importantly, newer battery are worth it. Just haggle a little harder. Got wife a iP5S for $150 on CL, using it on PagePlus, no issues. Before that she was on iP4, also no issues. We like to get 2 gen old iPhones at $150-200, best value.
 
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