millerman
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- Aug 29, 2014
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Buy direct from Samsung UK with a decent trade-in hopefully.
How do you guys purchase your phone? Directly from Samsung or from carrier?
- Thread starter blueyzfr6
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runfar262
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- Aug 17, 2019
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I normally buy my phone directly from Samsung unlocked. When I got the S24Ultra, I did have to go to the T-Mobile store to get it working with my plan, but it was a simple procedure. I like having the unlocked phone. Looking forward to March 11 and the delivery of the S26 Ultra.
joeldf
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- Dec 19, 2011
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bhatech
Trusted Member
- Nov 21, 2012
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Always unlocked/unbranded direct from manufacturers, I'll not buy from carriers even if they paid me 
donm527
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- Aug 21, 2014
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Always unlocked/unbranded direct from manufacturers, I'll not buy from carriers even if they paid me
I prefer not to get a carrier phone either because I hate they force some bloat on you which you can disable but still hate it.
But when they will give you $1300 for an old iPhone for a $1299 256 Ultra. Close enough to paying ya for one
Because I've said here often as far back as when I had a Note 8 and every phone I bought whether carrier or unlocked. I will never pay full price or anywhere close for these phones and never had to pretty much a couple hundred at most.
InstaGoogleTweetFace
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- May 15, 2019
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Always unlocked directly from Samsung, never from a carrier.
donm527
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If you like to jump carriers often then being locked in a 3-year contract is a consideration.
But just because you are in a 2-3 year contract doesn't mean you can't find a way to upgrade your phone early if you want.
Had a Samsung on contract with AT&T. Couple of years later new Ultra is announced and wanted to preorder but still few months left in my contract and told Samsung.com. They don't care. Took my trade-in for $1000 and rocking a new phone while i finish out my contract. Maybe others like OnePlus or Google take phones under contract for trade too??
Rock the phone for a couple of years and now I can get a new 26U through AT&T and they'll give me $1100-1300 for my phone it cost me less to nothing than going with Samsung. Why give that same phone to Samsung for less than the carrier offer and pay $400-500-600+ out of pocket?
But it would put me in a 36-month contract true. But doesn't matter to me.
In one or two years if a new Ultra comes out and want it, I can trade in my carrier phone with Samsung and pay whatever difference, put the sim in the new phone and rock it while again finishing my contract. In a couple of years after that, if a new Ultra comes out and carrier is offering $1300 trade in for a $1300 phone, I just go back to a carrier phone.
That's just my scenario because I've pretty much rocked Samsungs and iPhones and always worked out for me because deals have always lined up for me going back and forth between Samsung and carrier from note 8, 10, S20U, S22U, S23U and never paid more than a 200-300 if any at all per jump.
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If a person keeps their phones for 3 plus years the carrier deal is the way to go for sure. Not so if you want to upgrade yearlyI prefer not to get a carrier phone either because I hate they force some bloat on you which you can disable but still hate it.
But when they will give you $1300 for an old iPhone for a $1299 256 Ultra. Close enough to paying ya for one
Because I've said here often as far back as when I had a Note 8 and every phone I bought whether carrier or unlocked. I will never pay full price or anywhere close for these phones and never had to pretty much a couple hundred at most.
joeldf
Well-known member
- Dec 19, 2011
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That's what I do. I typically keep my phones 3 to 4 years. The one time I had to get a new one early was because I dropped an S8 I had and shattered the screen. My wife keeps her phones even longer. She's still on an iPhone 12 mini. Only reason she hasn't updated yet is because there are no newer phones that size. Even our son's regular S25 is too big for her hands to be comfortable with.
chamomiami
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- Jan 25, 2014
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I wanted the s26U unlocked but the carrier gave me $1100 for the trade-in... Oh and the answer is: I bought it in the Samsung app.
IslandGuy
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- Apr 26, 2013
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I was trying to go thru Samsung but their trade in offer at $900 for my S25U compared to T-Mobile's offer of $1300 trade in value (for my plan), is just too low. Guess I'm going back thru carrier.
joeldf
Well-known member
- Dec 19, 2011
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I keep telling her that.Your wife could be in for a long wait to get a new small phone like that.
BijouVixen
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- Feb 10, 2024
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Not for nothing I have fairly small hands but the larger sized phones is still my preference. Yeah I guess bigger is better in my box haaaaaa!?!?
If I were to upgrade I'd definitely would not hesitate getting the S26U. Ohhh I can only imagine feeling the heft of that in my little hands
I tried an Ultra a few versions ago and my hands actually cramped up while holding it!! Wanted to give it a shot but had to return.
qnet
Well-known member
- Jan 21, 2011
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I usually buy it unlocked like most on here at Samsung.com. This year I cancelled my Samsung order and bought it through Google FI. I think all phones bought on FI are unlocked but I’m not sure. They’re not a traditional carrier.
Unlocked from direct. Though I strangely miss the T-Mo jingle startup routine and have it set up to play on bootup lulz. 
durandetto
Trusted Member
- Dec 3, 2009
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My last 4 or 5 phones have been Samsung direct. I've actually spent a small fortune on their site the last year. 25 ultra, fold 7, watch ultra, gb5 pro 360, galaxy ring and now the 26u and buds 4 pro. I couldn't switch brands if I wanted to at this point. I love the Samsung ecosystem.
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