Pre-Paid Apple iPhone 5 Heading to Cricket Earlier than Expected

It seems the new A6 processor is not the only thing that is faster about the iPhone 5, as the handset will be hitting pay-as-you-go retailer Cricket much earlier than many probably expected.

This is actually quite surprising, considering that the iPhone 4S took 6 months to become a non-subscription option. Consumers will not have to wait that long this time for an option, as Cricket is scheduled to offer the iPhone 5 on Sept. 28, just one week after major retailers.

The iPhone 5 was revealed this week and houses a number of improvements over its predecessor the iPhone 4S. The major highlights of the device include a larger 4-inch display, a fast A6 processor (which Apple claims doubles the speed of most processes), full 4G LTE support, iOS 6, and a new connector dubbed Lightning.

Cricket is in the process of adding 4G LTE to its network, but so far is offering it in only on city, Tuscon, AZ. Therefore most subscribers will be connecting via the carrier's 3G EV-DO network.

And the Price Is...?

While there is a date regarding Cricket's debut the iPhone 5, there has been no word on what consumers can expect in terms of pricing. Previously with the iPhone 4,S Cricket offered the device for $500, compared to what most retailers sold for $200 with a two year agreement. The higher price makes sense, as Cricket does not require a service contract.

Considering that the iPhone 5 is being priced similarly to the iPhone 4S by most major retailers, it's probably safe to assume that Cricket's price range for the iPhone 5 will most likely rest somewhere around $500. However, the price will remain merely an estimate until Cricket sets a price, which shouldn't be too long considering the product is only two weeks away from release.