iPhone 4, Droid Incredible, Evo 4G and Nexus One hardware all cost about the same. But this chart shows exactly how much each will put you out of pocket – data/voice included – over the course of a two year contract.
The iPhone 4 fares well here, particularly in the Minimum Plan Total Cost category, but it’s important to remember that AT&T is the only carrier currently offering tiered data in the US. So that $US2000 is maxing you out at 200MB per month – not exactly a fair comparison to the unlimited plans found elsewhere. Even the “unlimited” plan caps you at 2GB, which is probably enough. But if it’s not, you’ll have to shell out $US10 per 1GB per month extra.
Fine print aside, it’s also impressive how closely all the phones spec out. And for those of you who have to wait a bit for iPhone 4 availability, it’s a good chance to do some cost-benefit analysis in the interim. [BillShrink via The Next Web]
Ward Paterson
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:41 AMThe hardware itself would be at a different price point (eg, prices of hardware components). You should be saying (rather than refering to hardware) that on a comparitive plan, the phones all cost about the same….
Jono Ward
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 12:27 PMThis is for America though, so they don’t get any choice for network if they want a specific phone. similarly if they want a network they have to choose the phones on it. 74.99 as a minimum cost is a joke. i’m hoping virgin mobile in australia releases iphone 4 on the same plans as the 3gs. 55 bux a month for a 32 gig iphone!
Nathan Holmes
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 10:33 PMLol, You wish.
Definitely $79/m for the 16gb version free.
Jono Ward
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 6:58 PM@nathan holmes definitely got my iphone 4 32gb on virgin for 64 bux a month with 190 call credit, unlimited text and 1.5gb data. very awesome deal
Batiu-Drami
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 2:06 PMIt amazes me how expensive phone service is in the US. USD$75 is the cheapest plan you can have an iPhone on, and even then it costs you $200 up front? Crazy.