iPhone 4 Sales Take Off Before iPhone 5 Release

In preparation for the impending iPhone 5 release, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has been dishing out deals for previous versions of its smartphone. AT&T (NYSE: T) dropped prices on the iPhone 4S (16 GB) to $199.99 brand new and $149.99 refurbished. The 32 GB version is now $299.99, while the 64 GB is $399.99 ($349.99 refurbished). All AT&T phones are priced with a tow year contract and new activation is required.

Verizon’s (NYSE: VZ) dropped in-store and online purchase prices on the iPhone 4S as well. However, if the model is bought from a third-party retailer, the discount will skyrocket. For Verizon, the prices are with new two year activation and a data pack required.

Cult of Mac reported in late July that while shopping at RadioShack (NYSE: RSH), consumers can, “[Get] a 16GB iPhone 4S on AT&T or Verizon for $100 off Apple’s $200 retail price, and there’s also a $100 discount for the 32Gb iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4 is also being offered for free on both carriers." Each discounted model comes with a two-year contract.

Sprint (NYSE: S) prices are even lower than AT&T and Verizon. The 16GB iPhone 4S is $149.99, with pre-owned versions retailing for just $99.99. The 32GB device is $249.99, ($199.99 refurbished). Finally, the 64GB phone is $349.99, selling pre-owned for $299.99.

Third-party retailers other than RadioShack offer roughly the same prices. For instance, Deals2buy.com sells the iPhone 4S 16GB for $199 on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon networks. 

Recently, Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) cut $50 off the price for an 8GB iPhone 4 for At&T and Verizon, selling the device for just $49.99. Refurbished iPhone 4's with 8GB of memory are now free for both retailers with a two-year contract.

Virgin Mobile’s price are the highest of them all. The 16GB 4S is $649.99,and the iPhone 4 8GB is still priced to sell at $549.99. The phones are sold with Virgin Mobile data plans.

The iPhone 5 is expected to be released sometime in early September. Rumors indicate that AT&T is gearing up for the big release, along with other technological secrets that include LTE connectivity and eight pin docking. 

Despite all the deals going around, perhaps it is better to wait until the iPhone 5 is released to determine which version of the smartphone is worth the cost.