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Walmart Slashes iPhone 5c, 5s Prices

 & David Murphy Freelancer

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Walmart is offering Apple's colorful iPhone 5c lineup for less than $1, but before you run to your local Walmart and start buying all the 5c phones you can find, it's not simple.

It's true, Walmart is indeed selling the iPhone 5c for $0.97. But that super-low price requires a two-year service agreement for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or U.S. Cellular.

Previously, the smartphone was selling for $29—a fairly good deal itself, given that the iPhone 5c starts at $99 if you're buying it directly from Apple (with the same two-year service deal).

An unlocked, contract-free iPhone 5c costs $549 directly from Apple directly, but you might want to hold off given that Apple is rumored to be launching new devices (and probably dropping prices on its existing lineup) within weeks.

Walmart is also offering the speedier iPhone 5s for a discount. It's not as eye-opening of a price drop as the 5c, but Walmart is cutting $20 from the $99 asking price for the iPhone 5s. Like before, the promotional pricing requires a two-year contract.

Both of Walmart's deals can only be found in stores; there's no way to order either iPhone online for a lower price and have it shipped your way. And, to note, none of the iPhones can be bought for T-Mobile's network (likely given the carrier's aversion to multi-year contracts).

About Our Expert

David Murphy

David Murphy

Freelancer

David Murphy got his first real taste of technology journalism when he arrived at PC Magazine as an intern in 2005. A three-month gig turned to six months, six months turned to occasional freelance assignments, and he later rejoined his tech-loving, mostly New York-based friends as one of PCMag.com's news contributors. For more tech tidbits from David Murphy, follow him on Facebook or Twitter (@thedavidmurphy).

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