Is it better to purchase an iPhone from Apple or Verizon?

If you intend to stay with Verizon then you can get your phone there - there is no difference in the sets sold by either and the Verizon phones are GSM unlocked so you can use them on T Mo or AT&T if at some point down the line you want to switch

If you have a legacy unlimited data plan from Verizon that you want to keep - then getting your new device from  may be the way to go

If there were one correct answer, then everyone would choose that method. Your question is sort of like "Should I buy a Ford or a Chevrolet"?

I am an AT&T customer. I have owned all nine generations of iPhone since the original. I bought one (the iPhone 3G) from AT&T, and all the rest directly from Apple. I would recommend buying directly from Apple because they get the iPhone part of the purchase exactly right ... every time. My purchase from AT&T had some issues with setup that I had to resolve myself and was able to do that because I happen to understand Apple products fairly well.

These days, however, you may or may not be able to get the same cellular plan from Verizon depending on where you make your purchase. For example, when buying the iPhone 6S, AT&T did offer a 2 year contract at a reduced price if purchasing through AT&T, but not if purchasing through Apple.

The carrier that you intend to use might not support the particular iPhone that you buy. For example, In the US, the GSM version of the A1549 is sold unlocked and does NOT support CDMA networks. Starting on Jan.6 2015 Apple also started selling the A1586 "Global" "unlocked". There are China models too. Buying one from Apple to support the carrier that you use or buying one directly from your carrier is the way to go. If you buy it from your carrier you will have to pay for it outright if you have and intend to keep a "legacy" plan. Apple does offer financing.

donsjgm wrote:

The carrier that you intend to use might not support the particular iPhone that you buy.

Verizon supports any version of the iPhone 6/6+ or 6S/6S+ except for the China versions. So, the global unlocked version would work just fine for the original poster.

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Not really - now with either Apple or Verizon - you can sign up for the installment plan or buy the phone outright - whatever suits your budget. The price is the same for @ both places

Link opens as unauthorized?

John Mcgoldrick wrote:

Link opens as unauthorized?

Yes.

Links and the rules underlying them do change sometimes when fourteen months have elapsed.