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Next vs buying phone outright

shelliewnj

shelliewnj

Android Expert
My phone is dying. I got my first smartphone in June of last year, and got the "free with plan" phone, which was a pantech burst. well, it's shot. great for a starter phone, but didn't last. I mean, it turns on and makes calls - sometimes. and sometimes not. so anyway, i digress.

they tell me i'm eligible for the Next program. initially it sounded wonderful to me, as my phone lasted just about a year. so a new phone every year like a lease sounded pretty good. but then i got to thinking...

if i just bought a cheaper phone outright, would it be better than stringing along on Next? So for example, maybe the Nexus 5 slated to come out sometime soon would be about the same cost (assuming the cost of the phone from leaks) as paying next for 14 months on a samsung s4.

any thoughts welcome :)
 
When a new phone comes out, the last one in that line (Nexus, S, Note, etc.) drops in price.

Wait for the next one in the line you want. Then see what an outright buy would be, versus the 14 month cost of the Next program for that phone. In most of the cases I've looked at, buying any phone outright is cheaper. (And consider that you're locked into the contract with Next. Something bettermay come up in a few months. Or you may decide that a no-contract situation is better for you.)

There's no single definitive answer for all phones for all people here. You have to look at the comparative prices for the phones and plan you want. What might be cheaper for you might be more expensive for me.
 
Rukbat said:
When a new phone comes out, the last one in that line (Nexus, S, Note, etc.) drops in price.

Wait for the next one in the line you want. Then see what an outright buy would be, versus the 14 month cost of the Next program for that phone. In most of the cases I've looked at, buying any phone outright is cheaper. (And consider that you're locked into the contract with Next. Something bettermay come up in a few months. Or you may decide that a no-contract situation is better for you.)

There's no single definitive answer for all phones for all people here. You have to look at the comparative prices for the phones and plan you want. What might be cheaper for you might be more expensive for me.
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Actually, the Nexus doesn't typically drop in price -- particularly since it is priced at a lower price that the "older" flagship phones at launch. The price of the Nexus from Google, paying full price, has typically been in the $300 to 400 range, about half of what it would cost to buy a comparable phone.

To the OP, yes, buying the Nexus 5 when it comes out should be a better deal than paying for the Next program. Basically, with Next you are likely to pay (over the next 12 months) at least what you will pay for the Nexus, and you'll have to give the phone back in a year to AT&T to upgrade. If you just buy the Nexus, the cost will be about the same but, at the end of the year, you should still be eligible for a new phone but will still own the Nexus, as well.
 
Thanks guys. I'm thinking after I buy the first one, I'll start just putting what I would have paid into next into a phone savings :-) that way I will have the money in a year if it crashes. Although I am figuring that a better phone won't go down quite as quickly?
 
With the next yo u are NOT extending your contract. Also you are buying your phone out right, it is yours to keep if you so choose, you Only exchange it if you choose to get a new phone in 12 months rather than an upgrade in 2 years that does extend your contract 2 years. Its an awesome program!
 
I bought my samsung galaxy sgh-I437P for $250.00 I then got the pay as you go through AT&T for $64.80 a month this included free calls within the UNITED STATES and 2.3 gig of 4G internet access a month. So I own the phone and just pay for the use.
 
Next, jump, edge are all good if you like getting new phones often. If you get a phone and use it for two years, then its best just to sign up for the normal 2 yr deal.

Again those programs are for those who like to upgrade every 6-12 months. You could also buy a phone full retail then sell it and use the money to put towards your next phone. You don't make or save money, but you get to switch phones a lot that way as well.
 
timelord65 said:
Next, jump, edge are all good if you like getting new phones often. If you get a phone and use it for two years, then its best just to sign up for the normal 2 yr deal.

Again those programs are for those who like to upgrade every 6-12 months. You could also buy a phone full retail then sell it and use the money to put towards your next phone. You don't make or save money, but you get to switch phones a lot that way as well.
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It's still more cost efficient to buy full retail and use a prepaid plan. Though with AT&T now offering subsidy free plans, it makes AT&T Next a little better to stomach. Verizon Edge is still really dumb.
 
Actually t-mobile has at&t and Verizon running scarred. Verizon is now offering a $45 plan just as AT&T has now done. These plans are actually quite respectable for us light data users. I'm not sure if the Verizon plan includes signing a 2 year contract, but the AT&T one is $45 with byod.

I'd might switch from t-mobile to at&t if I find I'm not getting the coverage I need from t-mobile. before the $45 plan, AT&T was just not an option.
 
timelord65 said:
Actually t-mobile has at&t and Verizon running scarred. Verizon is now offering a $45 plan just as AT&T has now done. These plans are actually quite respectable for us light data users. I'm not sure if the Verizon plan includes signing a 2 year contract, but the AT&T one is $45 with byod.

I'd might switch from t-mobile to at&t if I find I'm not getting the coverage I need from t-mobile. before the $45 plan, AT&T was just not an option.
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I know what you mean, I had Verizon and couldn't wait to leave them for T-Mobile. T-Mobile has the perfect plan for me and the coverage is more or less the same. I think the only difference is that AT&T has more options than just the 45 dollar contract plan for data while Verizon only has two options. Either way, it's definitely looking like T-Mobile is accomplishing what it has set out to do. We just have to see if that trend continues.
 
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