Walmart may be kicking off an iPhone price war. The retailer is getting ready to offer deep discounts on the 5s and the 5c. Starting on Friday the 13th, the 16 GB 5c will be $27 at Walmart. That means the phone will actually cost less than one of its colorful cases – Apple sells those for $29. The offer is good for phones purchased for use on AT&T or Verizon’s network, with a two year contract. Those carriers sell the 5c for $100 with a contract.
Here in the U.S., the iPhone 5s has been far more popular than the 5c, and Walmart is cutting prices there as well. It will sell the 16 GB 5s for $127, or $72 less than the price AT&T and Verizon are charging.
Walmart’s move may prompt others big box retailers to cut iPhone prices. A good guess at who might be next is Best Buy — the struggling company undercut carrier iPhone prices shortly after the devices were launched.
Carriers did offer discounts on many high-end Android smartphones over the Thanksgiving shopping weekend, but not on the new iPhones. So far only third party retailers have discounted the iPhones that are compatible with AT&T and Verizon’s networks.
