I want a new phone but the cost has me thinking...

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: qdeezie
With regards to monthly costs, I go through my options about every 3 months to ensure that I have the best plan possible based on my usage. I don't see how people can spend over $100 a month on a cell phone unless they don't have any access to the internet/wifi, which would be strange in this day and age.


You don't have internet/wifi when you're on the road. I'm paying over $100 a month for Verizon, but then I'm grandfathered in with unlimited data. Reason I have Verizon is because of better coverage. In sales, there's the story of the $5,000 or $10,000 lunch or whatever, you don't get the call and you miss the sale. When you're on commission sales, you don't want to lose a potential 5-10k call over a few dollars a month.

 

[surfstar]

Cricket again FTW (I'm switching this week)
Moto G LTE for $25 after rebate.
5 lines for $100/month. 2.5g of high speed data, then unlimited slow speed data. Higher data plans avaialbe too.
After 2016 the 5 lines will be $110/month.

Leaving my VZW grandfathered unlimited data plan (RAZR M user too) for this. The 4.5" Moto G is a near identically sized phone, by the way.

I'll save over $400 a year, and my plan with VZW was "cheap" by many standards!
If anyone is switching, PM me and we can get a refer a friend bonus ($25 for each customer - referrer and referee)

 

[surfstar]

OP - my first "smartphone" was $50/free after rebate.
Last one I bought second-hand (to not loose VZW unlimited plan) for $180.
Next one is $25 after $75 rebate.

$600 phones just do not exist in my world. Neither do $120 phone bills. Do people not realize how much money that is over 1-2 years!!!

 

[Brons2]

Originally Posted By: Wolf359
Your other option is to get last year's model. Typically you can get them for $200-$300, so basically on your $600 phone, you have $300-$400 depreciation in just one year. and they are good for at least 3-4 years. Same thing as buying a new car. It's why lots more people buy used cars than new ones. Not that common with phones that's all. Or you can wait a year and the phone you're looking at will be down to $200-$300 used/refurbished.


Yeah, that's why I got the LG G2, the G3 is now the latest thing and you can get the G2 pretty cheap...saw them on eBay for $219 this week. They're 2.3 quad core, 2GB RAM, 32GB internal, 5.2 HD screen, etc, etc. The G3 has a laser focus camera and a 5.5 screen, plus the processor is a little faster (2.5 vs 2.3), but otherwise they're pretty similar, other than the G3 costing $600+.

I've got mine rooted with CM12 unofficial and Android 5.0.2, loving it!!

 

[zoomy]

If you use your phone as an every day camera it might be false economy not to upgrade regularly if you have the money. Because people catch a lot of life's special moments on their cell phones and I know I wouldn't want to get that one in a million shot only to realize it was blurry or too low of a resolution to be used for anything serious. Yes, I have a DSLR but I don't always have it when I need it. And the camera phones just keep getting better.

My one year old Lumia Icon just gained the ability to shoot 4K video with a simple over-the-air-software update.

 

[qdeezie]

I ended up finding out about a brand called BLU and I bought one of their phones for $150 and it has been wonderful. No complaints whatsoever and an excellent value.

The original $600+ phone I wanted has decreased to $500, but even then it is still not worth it.

 

[rjundi]

The BLU phone may fall into the 2 year throw away. I hope not, but report back on it, always good to get updates on the oddball brands out there.