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iPhone 4 or iPad 1?

T

ThatsMeRight

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 12, 2009
2,400
480
Well, that's the problem. I'm an iPhone 3GS user and it always served me fine, but I really like the iPhone 4 with it's retina display, improved camera, new design etc.

Problem is, that the iPhone 4 will launch here this month (unless Apple moves it up to August). I still have one year to go with my contract, but that's no problem: I'm allowed to renew my contract early for $90 (administration, lol). I only have to pay extra for the phone, since I get a FULL refund for the contract.

I can add +1 year, but than I have to pay $500 extra for the iPhone 4 32 GB or $384 for the 16 GB (so no iPhone 5) [+ $90 administration]
If I add +2 years, I have to pay $257 for the iPhone 4 32 GB or $128 for the iPhone 4 16 GB (so not iPhone 5 and 6). [+ $90 administration]
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Monthly price: $38.55 for unlimited internet at 2 Mbps and a few hundred call minutes, sms, free acces to thousands of WiFi hotspots (I do not have to pay this thanks to a full refund).

Well +2 years is out of the option because I won't be able to hold it out that long: maybe in 2 years I'll find another phone I'll like more.

What I also can do is buy a 32 GB 3G iPad which is $899 (699 euros). And than in june 2011 I can buy the iPhone 5.

Buying iPhone 5 in june 2011:
1 year: $500 for the phone (32 GB) [no administration costs]
2 year: $257 for the phone (32 GB) [no administration costs]
Click to expand...

So the two problems: if I renew now, I will get an iPhone 4 but will only be able to get a new phone in february 2012.
Second problem: it's not certain yet if I will get a refund if I buy the iPhone 5 in 2011. It's 100% certain I do not have to pay for the minutes, internet etc. if I renew now.

How I see it is: new awesome iPhone with retina display now, no new phone before february 2012 OR keep iPhone 3GS but miss out on new camera, display etc. but than I will have an iPad. I might be able to sell the iPhone 3GS 32 GB for $550 (simlock free, completely new) and than the costs for the iPhone 4 are covered (and than I can still buy a iPad!)

Pff, it's just so diffecult. Everything depends on the chance of probability: will I be able to sell the simlock free 3GS for $550 (which means I can buy an iPad)? Will I still get a full refund in 2011? So many questions...
 
What I also can do is buy a 32 GB 3G iPad which is $899 (699 euros). And than in june 2011 I can buy the iPhone 5.
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This. Your phone is at most 13 months old, serves you well, and is problem free. The 2011 revision of the iPhone will likely iron out any kinks of the radical design change.
 
The iPhone 4 is good. If you upgrade from a 3Gs to a 4, you are only upgrading -- albeit a nice upgrade -- but it's still a phone.

If you keep what you have, and then purchase an iPad, you now have something with different capability and functionality.

BTW, I'm in the same boat. Wait listed for both (iPhone 4 32GB and iPad 3G 64GB). If I had to choose today, I would go with the iPad as my 3Gs works great and the iPad will provide me new functionality. One thing that is swaying me in the direction of the iPad is that iOS4 works well on my 3Gs. YMMV.
 
sushi said:
The iPhone 4 is good. If you upgrade from a 3Gs to a 4, you are only upgrading -- albeit a nice upgrade -- but it's still a phone.

If you keep what you have, and then purchase an iPad, you now have something with different capability and functionality.

BTW, I'm in the same boat. Wait listed for both (iPhone 4 32GB and iPad 3G 64GB). If I had to choose today, I would go with the iPad as my 3Gs works great and the iPad will provide me new functionality. One thing that is swaying me in the direction of the iPad is that iOS4 works well on my 3Gs. YMMV.
Click to expand...
I was thinking the exact same thing, but on the other hand. If I can get $550 for my 3GS I can completely cover up the price for the iPhone 4. And than I can get an iPad for the money which I was already planning to use.
 
ThatsMeRight said:
I was thinking the exact same thing, but on the other hand. If I can get $550 for my 3GS I can completely cover up the price for the iPhone 4. And than I can get an iPad for the money which I was already planning to use.
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In your case, it sounds like what you can sell your 3Gs will have a definite bearing on which option is best for you.

You mention $550. That seems a bit high to me. But who knows?

For me, the end result is important more than funds. Is it better to have an improved phone, or to have new capability and functionality that the iPad provides? Hard decision.
 
sushi said:
In your case, it sounds like what you can sell your 3Gs will have a definite bearing on which option is best for you.

You mention $550. That seems a bit high to me. But who knows?

For me, the end result is important more than funds. Is it better to have an improved phone, or to have new capability and functionality that the iPad provides? Hard decision.
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That's about 425 euros which is reasonable for a 32 GB 3GS simlock free (which usually costs somewhere around 650 euros). Well, iPhone 4 provides new functionality. The most exciting thing about the iPhone 4, I think, is the camera which can record in HD. I really missed a good 5 megapixel camera and HD video recording with flash. I always use my phone as a camera, so I really think that's a pro.

I'm just hoping I can do both if I can sell my 3GS for a nice price so I can buy both!
 
Go get the iPhone 4 and enjoy it, worry about what to do next year, next year.......when you know more about the new iPhone, what is going on with the networks, if the at7t contract is over etc. the iPhone 4 is a great phone, go enjoy it.

live your life like is the last day everyday, who could be dead next year and no have enjoy the new phone... go for it..

I am all for planning head of time, but plans are only good if they can change.!

just my $0.2 cents...

PS: forgot to tell you, don;t get an ipad yet, they should revised it before the end of the year (take advantage of the holiday rush), it will have front facing camera for Facetime and possible better display.
 
You haven't said what you would want to use the iPad for?

Personally I'd get an iPad, but that is because I use the iPad for work. When ever I'm out and about with work, I find the 10 hour battery life and the form factor invaluable.

I only use my iPhone 3GS to make and receive phone calls, and for text. since purchasing the iPad, I don't seem to use the iPhone for apps anymore

If I wasn't using the iPad for work, then I would probably be inclined to go for the iPhone 4. But that's because I'd be carrying it with me, where as the iPad wouldn't be something I'd take out of the house with me on a regular basis if it weren't for work.
 
ThatsMeRight said:
I'm just hoping I can do both if I can sell my 3GS for a nice price so I can buy both!
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It sounds like it might be doable for you.

In my case, since I am a technology addict and trying to cut back, I decided to limit myself to one or the other but not both.

maturola said:
PS: forgot to tell you, don;t get an ipad yet, they should revised it before the end of the year (take advantage of the holiday rush), it will have front facing camera for Facetime and possible better display.
Click to expand...
Do you have any facts, or is this speculation on your part?
 
I currently don't have an iPhone but plan on getting one. I will say that ever since I got my iPad I only use my BlackBerry to make phone calls. My iPad handles all my email, calendar, web browsing, etc. I'm really glad Inpurchased one.
 
sushi said:
It sounds like it might be doable for you.

In my case, since I am a technology addict and trying to cut back, I decided to limit myself to one or the other but not both.


Do you have any facts, or is this speculation on your part?
Click to expand...

Pretty much speculation, but based on resent news, Supplier have ramp up order for new ipad device and the IOS 4.1 beta have Facetime linked to email address which oint to a non-cellphone device supporting it, that is the iTouch for sure, but a really good chance the ipad will join the pack real soon.
 
I hate telephones. Thank God the Ipad doesn't have one built in as it would have ruined it for me. I guess thats all I have to say......:cool:
 
1.) I love my iPad
2.) I don't think I could go more than a year without upgrading my phone.
3.) If you buy the iPad and after using it for a few days decide that you would prefer an iPhone4, you could probably resell it for at least what you paid for it.
4.) I know this guy who bought an iPhone4 and didn't think it was worth all the hype so he listed it on ebay and got over $1,000 for it.

So my point is that personally I would get the iPad over the iPhone but it really doesn't matter because if you regret whatever decision you end up making it seems like a pretty easy fix with minimal cost.
 
I have a 3GS iPhone and an iPad. Great combo. Not planning to get the iP4 any time soon since the iPad does so much more for me.
 
Both!

This year I've upgraded my first gen iPod touch to first a 64GB 3G iPad and now the iPhone 4 and love them both (that's not counting my new MBP either). I'm using my iPad unlimited sim in my iPhone for constant connectivity and VOIP calling (WHISTLE for US calls, SKYPE for international, iCALL for incoming - with push it rings like a regular phone. Will drop iCall when WHISTLE or SKYPE get multi-tasking.)

The point is they're both awesome devices and compliment each other. The iPad is the most fun to use. If I have anything computer related to do, I reach for the iPad first. It also has some specific advantage that works for me in my job in a way that no other device really can.

The iPhone is my "always in my pocket" mobile device. For me, it's a little difficult surfing on the iPhone, or using maps after the larger, more pleasant experience of the iPad. But let's face it, the iPad isn't going to be with me ALL the time. It's not going to the gym with me, it's not going to the store with me, and it really doesn't need to go with me to pick my daughter up from school. So, having my iPad mini, er, ummm, I mean iPhone, for the functionality is terrific. It's also great to have the quality camera with me all the time. Something I've never had. No phone I've ever had has had an acceptable camera, let alone come close to the quality, iPhone 4.

Having said all that, I think you can see that I would choose an iPad over upgrading a phone. As a previous poster said, you've already got a perfectly working phone. I think you could get more bang for your buck out of getting a completely different device.

But, of course, depends on your usage. To each his own.

Good luck with your decision.
 
Personally I wouldn't swap my iPad for an iPhone 4. I'm actually thinking about swapping my iPhone 3GS for a dumb phone, as they tend to have better call quality and 90% of my phone usage is now calls. My iPhone battery now lasts two days, because I barely use it. Nothing about the iPhone 4 makes me think that I would use it more than I use the 3 GS now.
 
ThatsMeRight said:
I'm just hoping I can do both if I can sell my 3GS for a nice price so I can buy both!
Click to expand...

Me too! Have just bought the iPad and was going to forget the iP4 since my 3gs contract runs til november but made the mistake of going to play with it last week and just have to have the camera and HD video - I was blown away by both. I can more or less cover costs of early upgrade fee and the phone by selling the 3GS. However only have till 24/7 to catch the early upgrade offer (here in UK on O2)
 
Wow, thanks for all the responses! I appreciate it very much.

troubleonline said:
Me too! Have just bought the iPad and was going to forget the iP4 since my 3gs contract runs til november but made the mistake of going to play with it last week and just have to have the camera and HD video - I was blown away by both. I can more or less cover costs of early upgrade fee and the phone by selling the 3GS. However only have till 24/7 to catch the early upgrade offer (here in UK on O2)
Click to expand...
Pff, the people above you almost convinced me to certainly go for an iPhone 4 but after reading this I begin to hesitate again. I use my iPhone as my camera for like everything, but what I really hate with the 3GS is that the quality is not so good (well, it's good for a 3 mp camera, but still...) and that it doesn't record video in something higher than VGA.

Well, I think I should just take the risk: get an iPhone 4 for $500, than sell my 3GS (after sending it to the insurrance company, so I get a completely new one) for $550 (someone has already offered that for a new 3GS 32 GB). Than I've got the money I was already planning to use + $50.

Some of you made very good and valid points about the iPad, but hey, with a bit of luck there's a good chance I'll be able to buy both without losing too much money.

As I said, you guys made some valid points. I think I'd really love to use the device just the browse the web, or watch some videos. Or to use some of those amazing applications which are available. Or what about mail, or using iWork for iPad. Wow! It's just... I've always got my iPhone with me. I won't have my iPad with me all the time.

So, my plan is...

Buy the iPhone 4 (32 GB) for $500 (yes, that's the exact price). Than I'll say to the insurrance company my iPhone 3GS is malfunctioning. Battery empty very quickly, or camera doesn't work sometimes, or touchscreen sometimes doesn't work. Something like that: something which is hard to check ("sometimes"). So I get a replacement (or at least refurb) which is as good as new. Than I'll sell that one for $550.

Than I'll have my original budget + $50. With my original budget I'll buy the iPad. It's risky, since I will never be sure if the person who offered $550 is still willing to offer it and than I'll have to look for someone else. But well, if that's the case maybe someone else will offer something lower like $450. Well, a $50 loss than. Than I can still buy the iPad.

Hope it works. Going to try it out this month or August (depends on when Apple launches the iPhone 4 over here, they said July, but I'm not so sure about that).
 
Buy both and ebay the one you don't like, you may even make some money if your judgement is fast enough. iphone 4 is still around $800 for 32G on ebay.
 
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