If you buy a phone thru T-Mobile, you are correct - you'll pay the full price if the phone one way or another by the end of the payment plan term. Each month you pay days charges plus $20 or $25 towards the phone.
The difference is that one the phone is paid off, your bill will drop by that $20-25. Every other carrier will just keep that extra cash as profit on their pockets.
And if you byod, you pay less every month from day 1. Every other carrier will soak you for the handset costs even if you didn't buy one from them.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using AC Forums mobile app
Each person should do an analysis of the plans available to see what is the best for them. While it is generally true that unsubsidized is cheaper, it is not always the case. My situation is certainly in the minority, but I have 5 lines of service with 2 smartphones, one with unlimited unthrottled 4GLTE, and 3 dumb phones on Verizon 550 minute family share plan and pay $140/mo total for 5 lines before taxes, fees, and discounts. The closest plan on T-Mobile's Unsubsidized option would be $130 per month before taxes, fees and discounts. T-Mobile does offer more than Verizon does, but on stuff that I don't need. Note that I am on a legacy plan, which is not available for new customers, however, you can assume liability of legacy plans, which may cost a bit up front, but may be worth it in the long run, depending on your usage. Just to do a comparison of what I use, T-Mobile costs $1,860 MORE than Verizon over 2 years.
Verizon
$3,360.00 =$140.00/mox24(Monthly Fee for 5 lines for 24 months)
$1,000.00 =$200.00X 5(Cost of Subsidized iPhones for 5 lines)
$150.00=$30.00X 5(Cost of Upgrade fee for 5 lines)
$4,510.00Verizon Total for 2 years with 5 phones
T-Mobile
$3,120.00 =$130.00/moX24(Monthly Fee for 5 lines for 24 months)
$3,250.00 =$650.00X5(Cost of Unsubsidized iPhones for 5 lines)
$6,370.00T-Mobile Total for 2 years with 5 phones
$1,860.00Total Savings by using Verizon Over T-Mobile
Also with subsidized, you can get better deals in phones if you buy at the right time. For example I bought the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 for $90 on contract on release day, which is $210 off. I got the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II for $37 back in February, which is $263 off. I got my iphone 5s for $50 (or $70 if you count the no contract phone cost that I used for trade in). With tmobile, correct me if I am wrong, but the most I have seen is $80 off of no contract retail price.
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro