Wondering what to do with your old smartphone when the iPhone 8 & X comes out? While you can certainly sell your old phone immediately after Apple announces the new model, there are plenty of ways to repurpose your iPhone. In general, it’s a good idea to keep an old smartphone as a backup in case your shiny new model breaks for any reason, but you can certainly reuse it elsewhere in your life at the same time.

Here are 20 creative ways to use that old iPhone or Android smartphone that’s collecting dust in a drawer:

1. VR Headset

Utilizing stereoscopic imagery, you can use inexpensive, third party VR head mounts like Google Cardboard, View-Master Virtual Reality or any of the knockoffs sold on Amazon to create a budget VR helmet. While it certainly won’t hold a candle to advanced systems like HTC’s Vive, there’s plenty of fun apps for both iOS and Android users.

2. Dash-mounted Navigation / Camera

While built-in navigation systems have become much more prevalent in new cars, there are plenty of older cars that could use the upgrade. In addition, having a dash-mounted version is likely safer when attempting to pull your smartphone out of your pocket while driving to check Google Maps. If you want to use your phone’s camera, you also have a dashcam.

We really love the MagGrip CD Slot mount, mainly because few people are using physical CD’s anymore. It places your phone in a perfect spot on the dash, elevated above the radio and below your rearview mirror. Some add-on software / hardware you may want to consider:

• ForeverMap 2 on iOS, Scout on Android: Offers offline maps, ideal when you drive into areas without consistent cell phone coverage.
• HUDWay (iOS & Android): If driving in poor conditions, this app uses reflections to create a semi-HUD on your windshield.
• Automatic Pro (hardware): Utilizing a car’s standard diagnostics (OBD-II) port, the Automatic app can display a ton of information related to usage of your vehicle.
• GasBuddy: Helps located the least expensive gas prices in your immediate area.

3. Smart Home Controller

If you are interested in investing in a smart home hub like the Samsung’s SmartThings Hub or the Logitech Harmony Hub, you can use an old smartphone as a controller for all your smart home devices. That’s ideal for guests that want to control smart home functions, specifically because the homeowner doesn’t have to hand over their phone for control.

You also may want to consider wall-mounting your smartphone in a central location around the home. There are a number of options on Amazon. Just be sure to place it near an outlet in order to keep the device powered up.

4. Secondary Home Phone

Utilizing the Wi-Fi calling functionality that was added in iOS 8, you can link it to your new phone over Wi-Fi to transfer calls. Basically, both phones will ring relatively at the same time if on the same Wi-Fi network. This can be useful if you live in a large home and want to dock a phone at a central location for anyone to answer.

5. Universal Remote Control

With select new 4K HDTVs packaged with small tablets to control television functions, utilizing an old smartphone for the same purpose can be cost effective for anyone with an older television. Some of the more popular software options include Peel, iRule and Simple Control.

While the software is free, you will likely want to add an IR blaster to make sure commands are always entered. Pronto makes a popular model, usually between $30 to $40 when on sale. LINK

6. Bedside Alarm Clock / Sleep Tracker

Utilizing a decorative shell, you can insert your old phone into the shell and use an app to display a clock all the time. There are a number of options on Amazon. If you are having trouble sleeping during the night, you may want to use a sleep tracker app like Sleep Cycle (available for iOS and Android). Sleepbot is another good option.

7. Dedicated Skype Station

If you like to use video conferencing apps like Skype to chat with friends and family, creating a specific place in your home to video chat can be very useful. You should probably consider purchasing a smartphone dock to keep the phone charged. You can also find docks with speakers built-in, ideal for hearing the folks you are video chatting with.

8. Baby Monitor

Definitely cheaper than purchasing a dedicated Wi-Fi baby monitor, utilizing an old smartphone to keep an eye on the crib is a smart idea. Likely utilizing a powered smartphone dock (similar to the Skype station above), look at apps like Cloud Baby Monitor for iOS or Dormi for Android.

9. GamePad for Mobile Games

Adding a decent gamepad frame to your older smartphone can be accomplished for less than $10. Look at options like the Logitech Powershell (which comes with additional battery power for charging your mobile device). You can also consider stepping up to a full-sized gamepad, like this Powerlead option, for roughly $30 to $35.

10. Document Scanner / Data Storage

Ideal for turning paper documents into a digital format, there are plenty of apps that can use digital smartphone photos to scan documents. Look at apps like CamScanner or Evernote Scannable to scan all your important documents.

In general, utilizing an old iPhone or Android device as an offline data storage solution could be a great idea for private data. Similar to keeping important paper documents in a safe deposit box, having a digital backup could be very useful. Look at apps like USB + WiFi Flash Drive on iOS and File Manager on Android. For additional security, you may want to consider a Safe Inside locking smartphone case to keep that device secure.

11. Dedicated Voice Recorder

Rather than spending $75 to $100 on a popular voice recorder, just utilize your old smartphone to record your notes. Voice Record Pro is popular on iOS and Easy Voice Recorder Pro is popular on Android. You also may want to consider purchasing an additional microphone, assuming you prefer higher quality recording or have an interest in podcasting (higher quality mics).

12. Kitchen Cookbook

If you spend a ton of time in the kitchen cooking meals, having a dedicated mobile device to watch cooking YouTube videos or read recipes can be extremely useful. You can also consider photo scanning in those old recipes that your grandmother passed down to you, ideal for a digital backup. If you are looking for solid kitchen apps, here’s a great list for shopping helpers, timers and recipe organizers.

13. Upgraded Digital Camera / Camcorder

While having a mobile device in your pocket is great for capturing the right moments, you can really step up your photography game with aftermarket lenses and flash attachements. Photojojo is a great spot to pick up items like lenses, improved flashes and tripods. If you want to your your DSLR lens on your smartphone, there are plenty of clip options on Amazon.

14. Vehicle / Bike Tracker

Creating a makeshift LoJack system for your car or bicycle, just reactive your phone with a cheap pay-as-you-go account and securely attach it on your ride. Then just use apps like Find My iPhone to locate the device if you ride ever gets stolen.

15. Barometer / Weather Center

If you have a an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, it includes an internal barometer sensor. If you are upgrading to the 7, you can definitely use your old phone as a mini weather center. Many Android phones offer a similar sensor. For Android, check out the Barometer app and DS Barometer. On iOS devices, check out Thermo-Hygrometer and Bar-o-Meter.

16. Home Security Cameras

Rather than purchasing a $200 Nest camera for internal home security, using an old smartphone for recording areas around your home is a less expensive option. Check out a cloud recording option like ManyThing (iOS or Android) for this purpose. In addition to live streaming video as well as motion alerts, you can setup up to five smartphones as security cameras and record up to 30 days of video.

17. Portable Recording Studio

If you are a musician, the ability to record your music anywhere is extremely useful. Look at apps like GarageBand and KORG Gadget (electronica) on iOS as well as Walk Band and FL Studio Mobile on Android. Of course, you also may want to consider some studio quality microphones to get the best audio.

18. Digital Picture Frame

Ideal when paired with a powered dock, using an old iPhone as a photo frame for guests to check out or browse through images is better than handing them your personal phone (in case you have some inappropriate photos in your stream). Of course, you will need to disable dimming as well as screen lock. A fantastic iOS app for this is Picmatic. It includes options for framing photos as well as transition effects and filters.

19. E-Reader

Rather than spending money on a Kindle, you can easily turn your old smartphone into an e-reader with apps like Marvin Classic on iOS or Moon+ Reader on Android.

20. Wireless Music Hub

Great for parties, using a smartphone as a dedicated music controller is definitely handy. Of course, you will need a Wi-Fi connected receiver or standalone speaker system to take advantage. Beyond apps like Pandora or Spotify for listening to streaming music, check out Tune-In Radio for access to live radio stations.

20 Creative Ways to Reuse Your Old iPhone

Smartphones are the most rapidly evolving space in the consumer tech world these days. It’s always, but…what’s around the corner?

2020 will be the year of the foldable phone (for reals this time), so you’ll need to wait a little longer. Sure, the $1,980 Galaxy Fold crashed and burned, but smartphone makers seem determined to get it right. The just-announced next-gen Motorola Razr is on the horizon at a cool $1,500 (pre-orders begin December 26), and yes, shockingly, the Galaxy Fold 2 is rumored to appear next year. Even Apple may join the fold (sorry).

5G is also on the near horizon, with the next slate of iPhones rumored to have it. The soon-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy 11 is expected to have a screen with no bezels. That’s right, just a floating display in your hand! Plus, you will see crazy high display resolutions on flagship phones across the board.

For now, we must make do with the current technology in smartphones, and we’ve seen some great advances, especially on the camera side. Black Friday will make that “bitter” pill easier to swallow since it’s definitely the best time to buy a phone.

As in previous years, many retailers, like Walmart, Target and Costco, will be offering huge gift cards for popular phone purchases. Walmart will give away $450 gift cards for the Galaxy S10, S10+ or Note 10+ and $300 gift cards for the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. See our Black Friday ads for more details!

Now let’s check out what smartphones wowed us in 2019… and won’t go obsolete in 2 months. Watch for price drops and deals on Ben’s in the coming weeks (set deal alerts here)!

The Big Kahunas

People Pleasers

Penny Pinchers

Niche Bros.

2019 Gift Guide: The 10 Best Smartphones of the Season

You’ve probably tried putting yourself on the the Do Not Call list, asking to be taken off call lists and even blocked specific numbers on your phone. Of course, nothing seems to be foolproof. Robocallers and telemarketers ignore what you want and just keep calling. It happens quite a bit when you are shopping around for something, like a new car or a new house. All of a sudden you are inundated with calls about lower interest rates or other special offers.

While Apple has always had Do-Not Disturb mode to keep your phone silent during specific times of day, they company hasn’t invested much time in helping you block robocallers and telemarketers. Previous to iOS 13, you would have to trick your phone into ignoring calls, like creating a “No Caller ID” profile in your phone to force blocked numbers into voicemail.

Available as a free update for iPhone users, iOS 13.1 will help you ignore all those pesky robocallers and telemarketers with a new feature called Silence Unknown Callers. After updating to iOS 13.1, you can find this option under Settings -> scroll down to Phone -> click the “Silence Unknown Callers” toggle.

Any call that’s from an unknown number will be completely silenced, no ringing, no vibrating. Just straight to voicemail. You will get a notification about the call, but your phone won’t vibrate to alert you. The calls that will continue to ring / vibrate when received are calls from your contacts, recently outgoing calls (like calling a repairman, then they call you back) and Siri’s suggestions.

Other popular iOS 13 features include a dark mode for higher contrast browsing, mouse support (for iPads), full page screenshot support, a new subscription manager, and a faster way to connect to Bluetooth devices.

iOS 13 helps you ignore robocallers and telemarketers

While there’s always been a market for budget smartphones in the U.S., Google’s new contender for that market segment is likely going to be one of the most secure phones (as well an extremely good budget option for photographers).

The Google Pixel 3A smartphone was announced by Google this week, a less expensive version of the the Pixel 3. The 64GB base model starts at $399, a steep drop from Apple’s $749 “budget” option, the iPhone XR.

The  Pixel 3A includes one of the best features of the Pixel 3, the 12.2MP dual-pixel rear camera. That camera includes an impressive Night shot mode for taking pictures in dark lighting situations (without using flash), a depth editor & color pop selector, a portrait mode and unlimited photo storage with Google Photos.

The Pixel 3A comes in two screen sizes, 5.6-inch or 6-inch OLED models. It offers up to 30 hours of battery life as well as USB-C quick charging. It doesn’t not have wireless charging, but that would have been extremely unlikely at this price point.

Regarding specs, the phone is outfitted with a Snapdragon 670 processor, 4GB of RAM, active edge sensors, a headphone jack and Android 9.0 Pie (with a minimum of three years support on operating system updates).

You can find more information on Google’s site about the new phone here or watch the announcement video below:

Shut Up And Take My Money: Google Pixel 3A Smartphone

One of these years, the Apple-Samsung hegemony in the smartphone marketplace will end, but it’s certainly not this year. Meanwhile, phone displays don’t show any signs of getting smaller, although manufacturers are figuring out clever ways to shrink the overall size of the phones. (Rollable, foldable screens one day?)

If you’re a budget-conscious buyer, smartphones aren’t the best buy, especially when a lot of the top phones ($750 to $1000 range) are more expensive than a lot of laptops, but their ubiquity and near necessity make them must-buys. When you can work out trade-in or upgrade deals with your carrier, you’ll find the best options for purchase.

The holidays are a great time for smartphone deals. For example, on November 10, Sam’s Club will offer up to a $300 Gift Card with activation of select iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones. This Black Friday, Target will be offering a $250 Gift Card with qualified activation of the iPhone XS or XS Max and a $300 Gift Card with the Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ or Note9.

Apple iPhone XS Max 6.5-inch iOS Phone (2018)

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus 6.2-inch Android Phone (2018)

Apple iPhone XR 6.1-inch iOS Phone (2018)

OnePlus 6T 6.41-inch Android Smartphone (2018)

Moto G6 5.7-inch Android Phone (2018)

Check the latest Smartphone deals on Ben’s

2018 Gift Guide: The Best Smartphones of the Season

If want to get six more months out of your old iPhone before the next upgrade cycle, the latest version of iOS is going to make your older device just a bit more responsive. Released today, iOS 12 is a solid improvement for older iPhone devices like the 5S and 6 as well as older iPad models.

According to these tests performed by Arstechnica, there are launch time improvements up to 26% on the iPhone 5S (compared to iOS 11.4.1) and improvements up to 21% on the iPhone 6 Plus. Most of the tests were performed on common apps like Safari, Camera and Mail as well as cold boot tests.

The full list of iOS 12 supported smartphones includes the 5s, SE, 6, 6 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and X (as well as all new models). For iPads, the full list of supported tablets includes:

• iPad mini 2, mini 3 and mini 4
• iPad Air and Air 2
• iPad 5th generation (2017) and 6th generation (2018)
• 9.7-inch iPad Pro, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, 12.9-inch iPad Pro 1st generation and 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2nd generation.

While the update will automatically install at some point, you also have the option of forcing the update. To install the update, go into Settings and select General -> Software Update to download. If you don’t have enough space, Apple will automatically uninstall apps to make space, then reinstall those apps after iOS 12 is installed.

If you are shopping for budget iPhones, pricing is significantly better this week as well. We featured a deal last week for a $240 iPhone 6S (64GB). The MSRP for the base iPhone 7 has dropped to $449 and you can find refurbished models sold by Apple for $379. Check our smartphone deal feed for more options.

If you are looking for information about new features in iOs 12, you can find that here on Apple.com. A review of iOS 12 can be found below:

Money Saver Tip: iOS 12 makes older iPhones a little faster

Since Apple will announce the new iPhone this week, it could be time to start thinking about selling your old smartphone. While Apple has a trade-in program to pay customers for older iPhones, you will likely make more money by selling it through a third-party company or simply unloading it on an auction site.

To help you along with this process, we’ve compiled a set of helpful tips for getting the most green for your old smartphone.

1. Your old iPhone will start dropping in value each week after the new iPhone is announced.

According to research conducted by USell.com, the previous generations of iPhones fall in value by 5 percent the first week after new iPhone model(s) are announced. That figure increases to 12 percent in the second week and up to 20 percent within a month. Selling your phone this week as opposed to next month will allow you to recoup as much money as possible. Selling it prior to the announcement would have brought even greater monetary value.

Basically, this is due to falling demand and increasing supply. As retailers start taking more trade-ins and third-party resellers start paying out for more older iPhone models, the supply significantly increases. Those companies are competing against the supply on auction sites like eBay, as well. The cash value of an iPhone 8 could easily plummet by 33 to 50 percent over the next few months due to massive supply.

2. If your iPhone is unlocked, you will automatically make more money.

If you are currently an AT&T subscriber and you have fulfilled your contract, check out the device unlock page to read how to have your smartphone unlocked. Once the iPhone has been unlocked, you are generally looking at a 40 to 60 percent markup in value when selling it on eBay, Craigslist or another auction site. (Verizon’s policy, Sprint’s policy)

A few years ago, I did this with my iPhone 4 a couple months after getting the iPhone 5 and ended up making $250 on the sale. That’s $50 more than I originally paid for the smartphone in 2010!

Also, don’t forget to check the iOS version of your iPhone and list that in the auction. Anyone that’s interested in jailbreaking the device may want a specific firmware. That’s something that can also increase the value of the device significantly, albeit within a smaller subset of users.

3. Compare gift card value against cash value.

When you are upgrading to a new smartphone, check the retailer where you are purchasing the new phone for gift card deals. Retailers are generally more liberal about store credit in order to bring more people into the store. For instance, the gift card value of an iPhone 7 in good condition at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Apple ranges from $225 to $300. Alternatively, cash value from a third party site like Gazelle hovers around $153 to $202 at the moment.

While you have to apply that gift card value to a new smartphone purchase, you can end up coming out ahead. Also, it will save you the hassle of selling the device on an auction site. If you don’t regularly use sites like eBay or Craigslist, jumping right in to sell a high value smartphone can be tricky.

4. When selling on iPhone on an auction site, be as descriptive as possible.

People into Apple devices are notoriously (and perhaps stereotypically) image conscious, particularly about the condition of their Apple gadgets. If you never protected the smartphone with a case over the last two years, you probably ended up with some nicks and scratches on the rear panel, sides or front of the device.

Be sure to include an exact description of every blemish. Also list out the specs. How much memory does it come with? What carrier networks does it work on? Does it come with the original packaging? What’s the condition of the earbuds or charging cable? Does the Home button stick at all when pressed?

5. Leverage social media when selling your iPhone.

Very often, people forget about social media when attempting to sell an iPhone. However, you probably have plenty of friends that are simply in between phones or are looking to replace a smartphone that was smashed or perhaps dropped in the toilet.

Leave off any info about the price you want and just let interested friends contact you over private message or email. If you have posted the phone on Craigslist, you can also just post a link to the ad if you want.

6. Don’t forget to wipe everything, fingerprints included!

This goes double for anyone who’s attempting to sell the iPhone with a specific iOS version intact. If you need to keep the version intact, use the “Erase All Content and Settings” in the Reset section of the General menu and be sure to scour that phone repeatedly to remove all personal information from the device. This includes email account information, text messages, Apple Store account information, etc…

If you don’t need to keep the version of iOS at a specific firmware version, run the factory wipe on the device. It will return the iPhone to the original factory condition as if you never used it.

7. Even if you drove over your iPhone with a monster truck recently, it’s worth something.

If you have a nonworking phone, don’t throw it in a drawer or the trash can. It’s worth something to someone. You may be able to sell it for parts on eBay or you can simply sell it for $15 to $25 to a recycling company. Either way, you can make a small bit of cash on your broken phone.

Also, if you only smashed the glass screen on your iPhone and it still works, consider replacing the glass yourself or having it replaced. If you are a DIY type of person, you can purchase the kits for $10 to $20 on eBay.

You can also pay someone who specializes in those repairs, costing you approximately $60 to $100. Either way, you stand to make a bit of money on the resale of your iPhone after it’s fixed.

Buying the New iPhone? 7 Tips on Selling Your Old iPhone

For the last several years, if you’ve been in the market for a smartphone, there were really two choices: an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy. In 2017… that hasn’t changed. Still, the competition between the two standard bearers has produced the most quickly evolving product category in tech.

Since this is Ben’s Bargains, we’ve thrown in a mid-priced phone and a budget phone. Each will give you the most bang for the buck, if you’re not willing to shell out top dollar for the big dogs.

Apple iPhone X 5.8″ iOS Phone

Pros: New design…at last, Small form factor, Face ID, Wireless charging; Cons: Price | MSRP: $999 (64GB)

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for iPhone X Deals

The long-awaited 10th anniversary iPhone X (“10”) is so long awaited, consumers pretty much ignored the earlier fall release of the iPhone 8 / iPhone 8 Plus with their same ol’, same ol’ aesthetics.

iPhone X breaks out of Apple’s 5-year old form factor doldrums with a big evolutionary change in aesthetics and UI. The new flagship sports an edge-to-edge 5.8” display that’s bigger than the 8 Plus but in a total package that’s closer to the standard model. On the UI side, iPhone X has discarded the physical home button and uses Face ID, which literally scans your face to unlock your phone.

For iOS users, this is the phone to get. With its unprecedented $999 price tag, it’s also going to cause a lot of sticker shock . Expect to see some modest discounts on eBay and probably some trade-in offers or the like from carriers and big box stores like Best Buy. I predict the iPhone X will ultimately be the hottest selling phone of the season.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 6.3” Android Phone

Pros: Awesome display, Surprisingly useful stylus, Camera, Won’t blow up; Cons: Price | MSRP: $950 (64GB)

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for Galaxy Note 8 Deals

On the Android side, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the phone to get. Plus, it won’t blow up like the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7. Does anyone remember that? (Samsung hopes you forgot.)

The Galaxy Note 8 is packed with high-end features like its superb 6.3” OLED screen, dual rear cameras and new and improved S-Pen stylus.

Like the iPhone X, the biggest hurdle is the huge price tag ($950). Since so many of us now use these big smartphones more than our laptops, you have good reason to justify that huge price tag.

Samsung Galaxy S8 5.8” Android Phone

Pros: Palm-friendly form factor, Overall aesthetics, Top performance, Plentiful deals | MSRP: $750 (64GB)

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for Galaxy S8 Deals

I considered the Google Pixel 2 for this step-down slot under the big boys, especially as it’s $100 less at $650, but the Galaxy S8 is so popular that it’s going to get some crazy deals this holiday season from the likes of T-Mobile, Best Buy, Sam’s Club and others.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the Galaxy S8 is more appealing than the plain Pixel. Although to be fair, the Galaxy S8 might be—as many phone aficionados have observed—the best-looking smartphone, period, until the iPhone X arrived. (And arguably after, especially if you’re put off by that weird top “notch” on the iPhone X). The narrow, palm-friendly form factor of the Galaxy S8 is destined to popularize the new 18:9 aspect ratio for consumers.

If you’re looking for an awesome Black Friday deal on a flagship phone, this is the phone.

OnePlus 5 5.5” Android Phone

Pros: Flagship phone at sub-$500 price point, Fast processor; Cons: Not a household name | MSRP: $479 (64GB)

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for OnePlus 5 Deals

If you want to pay a lot less but still get a flagship-quality smartphone, you have to look out of the box. Or more precisely, China. Like perennial Ben’s Bargains favorite Huawei, OnePlus is another Chinese smartphone maker that’s having recent success in the States.

The OnePlus 5 packs a fast-performing  Snapdragon 835 chipset, dual-lens rear camera, fingerprint sensor, Gorilla Glass and USB-C connector in a thin metallic body that somewhat resembles the iPhone (join the club).

You won’t find this phone at your local Best Buy or Verizon store. The best place to buy is directly from their US online store. If you don’t want to follow the crowd and save some cash, this is one to consider.

Motorola Moto G5 Plus 5.2” Android Phone

Pros: Price point, Metal unibody design Plentiful deals; Cons: No Android Pay | MSRP: $230 (32GB)

Click Here to Buy on Amazon Or Search Ben’s for Moto G5 Plus Deals

While the Moto G5 Plus already falls into the budget category, it gets frequently discounted and like the Galaxy S phones, it’s very popular on Ben’s Bargains.

With its updated all-metal unibody design, the Moto G5 Plus doesn’t look as cheap as the price tag suggests. It also offers a fingerprint sensor, 4K video and a clutter-free version of Android. Like last year’s model, it’s not really waterproof (only “splash-resistant”) and doesn’t have NFC in the U.S. (and thus no Android Pay).

Around Black Friday, I think we’ll see the 32GB capacity model go below $150 and the 64GB under $200. The Amazon ads versions might go even lower.

2017 Gift Guide: Smartphones That Will Rule the Holiday Season

If you purchased an iPhone 6, an iPhone 6 Plus (or another smartphone) two years ago, you likely took advantage of the tail end of the two-year contract cycle. Phased out in favor of no-contract plans during 2015, large mobile service providers like Verizon and AT&T no longer offer subsidized prices on new phones.

As you near the end of your contract cycle this year, you will have the opportunity to upgrade to a new model, like the iPhone 7 or Samsung S7. However, that’s going to require you purchasing the phone outright, either at full price immediately (at least $650) or at full price spread over two years in your bill ($30+ a month for 18 to 24 months).

However, you have another great option; don’t upgrade at all, keep your current smartphone for another year and lower your bill by switching to a no-contract plan. There’s a item on your current cell phone bill called “line access fee.” During your two-year contract, you were paying $40 a month per smartphone (assuming you were on Verizon, AT&T or Sprint).

Now that your contract is completed, you have the option of switching to a no-contract plan and reducing that line access fee between 40 to 60 percent per month for each smartphone on your plan. (All smartphones on the plan have to be out of contract to get the price reduction across the board.)

Here’s how everything breaks down for the three major carriers:

Verizon: (Link)

• Monthly Access Fee under a two-year contract plan: $40
• Monthly Access Fee under a no-contract plan: $20

AT&T: (Link)

• Monthly Access Fee under a two-year contract plan: $40
• Monthly Access Fee under a no-contract Mobile Share Value Plan (300MB-6GB): $25
• Monthly Access Fee under a no-contract Mobile Share Value Plan (10GBB-50GB): $15

Sprint: (Link)

• Monthly Access Fee under a two-year contract plan: $40
• Monthly Access Fee under a no-contract Family Share plan: $15

To get these reduced prices, you can switch plans online or call your carrier to switch to a no-contract plan. Savings for a married couple could reach $600 per year with two smartphones. Families with mulitple smartphones will be able to save even more, potentially more than $1,000 per year if you have four or more smartphones on your plan!

Want to save $200+ a year? Don’t switch to the iPhone 7

Tacked onto the announcement of the already expensive $769 iPhone 7 Plus (base 32GB model), Apple announced a wireless version of the EarPods that may push your total cost over $1,000 (with tax) if you purchase the bundle.

Priced at $159 (roughly $130 more than the new wired version with Lightning jack), the Apple AirPods offer the same sound quality as the wired option, but at more than five times the price!

Destined to get lost in your couch cushions within the first week, Apple AirPods offer a 5-hour battery life (when in use), Bluetooth pairing and touch controls.

More expensive than a 32GB Apple TV, the AirPods include sensors that automatically stop music if one falls out of your ear. Of course, there’s no ‘Find My AirPods’ functionality built-in when you inevitably lose one.

After the insanely priced headphones were announced today, the Twitterverse had lots of fun.

Here’s a sampling of the funniest tweets:

Just saved myself $159 with these homemade #AirPods #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/5nG7eMAqf8

— Si (@Si_Bags) September 7, 2016

When I saw the price of the headphones. #AppleEvent #AirPods pic.twitter.com/rzJaTnVKGh — angie baby (@kindnessandfire) September 7, 2016

Worried about losing your wireless Airpods? For just $59.99, let me send you my new invention. #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/1wzW5u0DnB

— mah ree nah (@marinarachael) September 7, 2016

when u accidentally swallow those #airpods #appleevent pic.twitter.com/VJkFuPBVFb — Elliott Desai (@elliottdesai) September 7, 2016

The AirPods came a long way from that first prototype. pic.twitter.com/GbzLZ8Nwzr

— Kay Reindl (@KayReindl) September 7, 2016

only looking at the picture and I’ve already choked, died and got one lodged in my ear canal #AppleEvent #AirPods pic.twitter.com/lsl9HpZtjO — Ross Buchanan (@rossy) September 7, 2016

love the new apple #airpods pic.twitter.com/FlgGhNvN9r

— i am strikes (@iamstrikesmusic) September 7, 2016

Just saved myself $159… #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/WJQdh9f3CN — Lux (@Callux) September 7, 2016

#AirPods? I guess another name was taken. pic.twitter.com/DzI7xUGbbe

— josh groban (@joshgroban) September 7, 2016

Searching my #AirPods after #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/ymiHQvz0Lo — Amit Panchal (@AmitHPanchal) September 7, 2016

When you can’t find your AirPods anywhere pic.twitter.com/t6sUfLT1oA

— Super Deluxe (@superdeluxe) September 7, 2016

This Week in Ridiculous Prices: $159 Apple AirPods