Get a refurbished iPhone 3G for $149.99 shipped

Save $50 on an iPhone 3G when you go the refurb route.

(Credit: CNET)

Here's something you don't see every day: refurbished iPhones. Nevertheless, over at AT&T you can score a refurbished 8GB iPhone 3G for $149.99 with free overnight shipping. (You can get the 16GB model, in either black or white, for $249.99.)

You will, of course, have to sign up for a 2-year contract, which costs $70 per month at a bare minimum. Going the refurb route saves you 50 bucks, so it's almost like getting one month free. (Yeah, I'm reaching--that monthly tab is mighty painful for cheapskates like me.)

So, how does a refurbished iPhone differ from a new one? Here's the description AT&T provides: "Refurbished phones are previously owned devices that have been unused or lightly used and returned during the 30-day trial period. Each refurbished phone is independently quality tested and loaded with the latest software to meet current factory standards. Some refurbished iPhone 3G devices will have minor scratches."

That's true of most refurbished hardware. My bigger concern is the warranty: It's 90 days instead of one year. (Actually, AT&T says it's "90 days or more," which is confusing. I'd check with the company and/or Apple for clarification.)

What do you think? Is saving 50 bucks worth the risk of a shorter warranty? Or is this just the nudge you need to finally pull the trigger on an iPhone? I've mine for a couple months now, and while it's not perfect, I love it madly. In fact, I lurve it.

(Sorry for the back-to-back iPod/iPhone posts. Sometimes the timing just goes that way.)

[myles taylor]

It's not worth the shorter warranty. If you can afford the monthly payments, you should be able to swing $50 for a new one. When it comes to something that's only $200 to start, $50 isn't worth it for me.

[Topspin14]

Can't you just get insurance for it?

[cabrillo24]

No you can't. $50 extra is worth the year warranty. I've returned two first generation iphones over the year. My 3G is working fine, but I like knowing if this ever messes up I can get it replaced for free. 90 days won't cut it.

[uduran10]

Might as well fork out the extra $50 and get a brand-spanking new one. Just my opinion.

[Screwyluie]

what they are trying to tell you is, as with all used/refurb products, the mfg warranty holds through, but if the device has no mfg warranty left they still warranty it for 90days

[AppBeacon]

I wouldn't go for that discount either. $50 is not really worth it.

@Topspin14 - I may be wrong, but I don't think there is insurance coverage for the iPhone. I seem to recall that being the case when they were first sold. Maybe that's no longer true.

[aztec92154]

They need to get the price down to $99 for refurbs... The $150 price point is too close to $199, for $49 you get 9 more months of warranty and an iPhone thats never been returned to the store....

[perkler]

when i baught the first iphone refurbished from at&t it was 250 down from 400 dollars. Now there's a deal, come on at&t, times are even harder now then they were last year, cut us a break.

[brianban]

sweet!

[tcr071]

I would rather have a brand new one with a one year warranty than a refurbished one with only 90 days. $50 not worth the hassle that could ensue.

[skellener]

Get the refurb and save $50. Then extend your warranty to 3 years with AppleCare which is $69 - so apply the $50 you would have spent and you'll have 3 years of coverage for $19.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB594LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA2Mg&mco=MjQzNTc5MQ

[Plano1]

New or refurb, the monthly service is still too expensive for me. It starts at $69.99 for a lousy 450 voice minutes and requires an additional $20.00 for unlimited texting. Add at least another $10.00 for taxes and surcharges, and your monthly out of pocket bill comes out over $100.00 - minimum.

If you can get your employer to pay that it's one thing. Otherwise, it's one expensive toy to maintain.

[dtoombs]

The warranty questions/concerned raised in the comments so far are valid. However, the last time AT&T did this, the "refurbished" units came with a 1-year warranty.

However ... the units weren't so much "refurbished" as merely having the data wiped, and you had to fax in your purchase receipt to Apple to get the warranty dates corrected in their system. I documented everything that happened last time around in my blog entry:

http://dougtoombs.com/2008/03/27/the-att-refurbished-iphone-deal-may-not-be-as-good-as-you-think/

[ken.c.cheng]

Are you sure that the benefit is only $50? What if you don't qualify for the $199 and $299 pricing of the new iPhone 3G, but have to pay $399 and $499? Then this $150 refurb deal reminds me of the refurb deal AT&T offered on the old EDGE iPhone.

[vocalbass]

Except you still have to sign a new two year agreement to get one. That's where I'm stuck... I'm not eligible to upgrade until march...

[xxkiwipinkxx]

Buy the full price $199 8g at best buy. Big whoop its $50 more but then you have a NEW iPhone plus the option of buying INSURANCE on it. Yeah its $14.99 a month, but if anything happens to my iPhone (besides it being lost or stolen) I'm fully covered.

Plus I've heard that some of the refurbished phones apple gives out are not of the best quality.

[FeelGoodInc7]

Very true. I have an iphone and i have the insurance on it. It's a bit expensive, but considering it's a replacement plan (meaning they wont ship it out for service) i feel confident, and not worried when I drop it because I know I can just walk in to Best Buy and I'll get a brand new one right out of their cabinet. I'm satisfied. Plus I can cancel it at anytime.

[SinghGurkaran]

Can you buy the Apple Care for the Refurbished Iphone? Or is it not valid for the refurbished iphone?

[dshunj]

AT&T is now offering the iphone 3g (8g) for $99.00 and the 16 g for $149

[bttam78]

I am Bui Thi Tam, from Hanoi city, Vietnam. I want to buy 02 Refurbished Iphone 3G 8Gb and 16Gb. Could I buy from Vietnam? and if I can buy them, How much does they cost?