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 Sprint is being particularly aggressive moving the soon-to-be out-of-date iPhones -- perhaps because Sprint has "bet the company" on the iPhone, agreeing to pre-purchase agreements for millions of iPhones.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
175 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
175 months ago
Yeah, but it's on Sprint's network. That's the gotcha part.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dur Avatar
175 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
175 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
175 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 Creator Studio

Apple Introduces New 'Creator Studio' Bundle of Apps for $129 Per Year

Tuesday January 13, 2026 6:11 am PST by
Apple today introduced a new Apple Creator Studio bundle that offers access to six creative apps, as well as exclusive AI features and content, as part of a single subscription. In the U.S., pricing is set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. Here are the six apps included with an Apple Creator Studio subscription:Final Cut Pro on the Mac and iPad Logic Pro on the Mac and iPad Pixelmator...
Verizon New

Verizon is Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage [Resolved]

Wednesday January 14, 2026 10:18 am PST by
Verizon is experiencing a major outage across the U.S. today, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the network on the website Downdetector. There are also complaints across Reddit and other social media platforms. iPhone users and others with Verizon service are generally unable to make phone calls, send text messages, or use data over 5G or LTE due to the outage....
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

Wednesday January 14, 2026 7:09 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous...
iOS 26

Here's What's New in iOS 26.3 So Far

Monday January 12, 2026 1:15 pm PST by
Apple today seeded the second beta of iOS 26.3, nearly a month after the first beta. So far, the update includes a couple of new features for iPhones. iOS 15.3 through iOS 18.3 were all released in late January over the years, so it is thereby likely that iOS 26.3 will be released towards the end of this month as well. The update is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer. Below,...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...