Having an iPhone is great. Having one with the best accessories is better. From conveniences like extra charging cables and wireless headphones to necessities like protective cases and screen protectors and splurges like wireless speakers and camera accessories, your iPhone experience changes based on what you’ve got to optimize it. Accessories can be expensive, however, which is why you should wrangle the best deals when shopping for them.
Wait Until a Holiday Sale
Image via Flickr by Vanderelbe.de
Got your eye on a must-have iPhone accessory? If you can stand it, wait until a holiday sale to buy that item. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are going to have some of the best deals on phone accessories, but other holidays often bring sales with them too. Labor Day and End of Summer sales may bring the discount you need to afford that fabulous item. Back to School, Memorial Day, and Independence Day are other times of the year when sales happen. Full price is so out, especially when you can save big on accessories to improve your phone experience.
Buy Accessories at the Same Time as Your Phone
Many carriers and phone providers offer bundles of accessories that you can buy when you purchase your phone. Other incentives, such as the Apple trade-up offer from Uncarrier, give you rebates or credits on your bill for trading in your old phone and getting the new version. Getting accessories for the iPhone 7 from T-Mobile is that much easier on your wallet when you save up to $300 for trading up.
Shop Around for Good Deals
Though you can get many fantastic accessories from traditional stores (such as your phone manufacturer or carrier), some only come from smaller companies that sell online. To find the best price on this type of accessory, do some shopping around. Different sellers on Amazon often list the same (or similar) items for different prices, especially depending on where they’re located and where you’re located.
Other times, you can find something that’s similar in design or function for a way lower price if you look around the internet. For example, a phone case featuring your favorite movie on Etsy might be a little out of your price range. Searching for phone cases featuring that movie online might turn up different designs that are equally cool but cost way less money.
Swap Accessories With Someone
Keep track of your friends and acquaintances who have the same kind of iPhone you do. Some people love to switch cases every other week or buy tons of gadgets for their phone (most of which they don’t really need). Others upgrade their phones regularly, leaving them with accessories that no longer fit.
Offer to swap something of yours, such as a piece of clothing or a different electronic device, for these discarded accessories. As long as things like cases and cables are still in good condition, you’re getting a great deal on something you want and getting rid of something you don’t.
Look for Older Technology
Having shiny new technology, like the newest version of a wearable, is tons of fun. But when new accessories come out, the old ones get serious price reductions. If you’re living on a budget, using last year’s model as your tech accessories is sometimes the smartest thing you can do. Many old models have great features, and unless you’re going to be using those shiny new additions that the new models have, you can make do with older technology. Plenty of people don’t upgrade their wearables or phone cases the minute something better comes out.
The right accessories turn your smartphone into more than a convenience; it becomes a health device, a camera, a music player, and so much more. Smart shoppers realize that accessories improve the phone experience immeasurably, whether you need it to perform in an office setting or for your own comfort at home. Keep your bank account healthy by seeking out smartphone accessory deals and always looking around for the next big sale.