NewImageA couple weeks after dropping the price of the iPhone 4S to $149, Sprint has further slashed the price to $49 after a mail-in rebate for a $100 American Express gift card. Apple will price-match Sprint's offer, giving buyers in retail stores a $100 Apple Store gift card. All these purchases require agreeing to a new two-year contract.

This may be the lowest price for the iPhone 4S yet in the U.S., less than a month ahead of the rumored launch of the next iPhone. Sprint is being particularly aggressive moving the soon-to-be out-of-date iPhones -- perhaps because Sprint has "bet the company" on the iPhone, agreeing to pre-purchase agreements for millions of iPhones.

Update: Sprint has reached out to MacRumors with clarification on the promotion. The ad is an online web special, for new customers only, and is in place for all smartphones, not just the iPhone. The promotion is in place to drive traffic and purchases through Sprint's website.

Top Rated Comments

Born Again Avatar
176 months ago
I don't get why people buy a $50 phone over a $199 phone. You're locked in for 2 years. Get the best phone! That's barely over $8 a month for the newer phone.

The truth is your paying close to $2000 for that cellphone for 2 years.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applesith Avatar
176 months ago
Yeah, but it's on Sprint's network. That's the gotcha part.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dur Avatar
176 months ago
I ate at Applebee's in 2008 and didn't like it. I went back this year for the first time and liked it. Guess what? Things change! :eek:

If I didn't have a company provided iPhone on AT&T's network I would have an iPhone on the Sprint network right now.


- Joe

Why would you choose the 4S on sprint over AT&T? The 4S operates much faster on AT&T than on sprint.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
monaarts Avatar
176 months ago
I used Sprint for a year in 2008. Never going back.


I ate at Applebee's in 2008 and didn't like it. I went back this year for the first time and liked it. Guess what? Things change! :eek:

If I didn't have a company provided iPhone on AT&T's network I would have an iPhone on the Sprint network right now.


- Joe
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dukebound85 Avatar
176 months ago
that is a little tempting

Did they also change the price of the non-contract one? I wonder if the gsm carriers dropp the non contract price as well
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...