How much do you pay for your phones?

[gray2018]

Hello all. I was wondering recently how much do you guys pay for your devices, and how do you purchase them?

I always finance my devices. I used to finance through my carrier, but now I generally use Samsung directly as it is much more hassle free with better trade-in prices. Regardless of the price, I don't have the kind of money that phones cost these days.

Last phone I purchased brand new that was financed was the Galaxy Note 9. It was 800 bucks. I generally like to try to stick to the 700-800 dollar range personally as that can net you a pretty decent device without breaking the bank. I don't think I have ever spent more than that on a device.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

I finance from Verizon, usually save $400-$500 without trading in a phone. Got my Note 9 for $600 in 2019 that way. Forget what my Note 20 Ultra is financed for but I saved $450.

 

[Sedp23]

im not paying more than 500-700 i tend to stick with asus or oneplus phones

 

[mustang7757]

I like to stay in the 500 to 800 bracket through trade ins , the fold 3 was first one i paid full price since my pixel 3xl which was 960.00 at that time .

 

[B. Diddy]

I'll pay up to about $1000. My work allows me claim it as a business expense, so it's like having a discount of about 40%.

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

The most I spent was £916 for my Pixel 4XL. I got my S10+ ceramic for £699 instead of £1200 on sale through my catalogue. I will pay up to £1000 for the Pixel 6 Pro in the New Year and finance through the Google Store directly.

 

[Morty2264]

What a great topic - thank you for posting!

I usually hop back and forth between buying my phones online, unlocked, for full price (between $700 -$1000) or finance through my carrier ($1200 I believe, which was what the S10 retailed for when I bought it new).

I prefer buying my phones unlocked and online, so I can control my payments and pay things off faster. I hate being a slave to my carrier, and payment plans. At least if I buy outright, I can make bigger lump sum payments on my credit card.

I know there are positives and negatives to both buying options, but I prefer the freedom of buying unlocked - especially since I loathe my carrier (Rogers) and like the idea of being able to just approach a new carrier instead of having one extra hoop to jump through.

As far as pricing goes, I think spending $1000 max is my comfort zone. Spending over $1000 makes me squeamish. This is a pricy addiction, though!

 

[bkdodger2]

I'm usually selling my phones or trading in to get deals...but I've had a few phones where I've paid full prices such as iPhone $1200 and Fold 2 $1300...but offset some of them with resales and such.. It's a never ending cycle here lol

 

[tadpoles]

I finance through my carrier. Most expensive phone I purchased was the Fold² at $1900. This year's Fold³s were cheaper for me at $900 each. My iPhone 12PM was $1100.

 

[anon(50597)]

I always buy used, save a ton of money and never finance. That’s just me though.

 

[tadpoles]

I always buy used, save a ton of money and never finance. That’s just me though.

Saving money is good. If I could trust that a used device (and it's battery) was going to be like-new I would be more open to it.

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

I like to get my new phones in a sale if possible or with offers. So the 4xl cmae with a £250 Chromebook free which my husband loves. I got my S10+ almost half price new and I got £100 off my 4a 5G and paid just £399 for it. I paid for my S10+ through my catalogue interest free. Same with my 4a 5G but on a store card interest free. Both are paid off in full. I will try and repay the Pixel 6 Pro quicker than the 24 months I want to finance it over. But again it will be interest free, so no nasty surprises.

 

[cknobman]

I got my S20 for $300 brand new from ATT last year.

Only catch is the $10/30 months with no way to pay off early unless I pay full price.

 

[tadpoles]

I got my S20 for $300 brand new from ATT last year.

Only catch is the $10/30 months with no way to pay off early unless I pay full price.

It's because AT&T wants that forever monthly payment. I do it too with them but it keeps me phone-happy.

 

[Morty2264]

I'm usually selling my phones or trading in to get deals...but I've had a few phones where I've paid full prices such as iPhone $1200 and Fold 2 $1300...but offset some of them with resales and such.. It's a never ending cycle here lol

At least if you sell or trade in your prior device, you technically *aren't* paying full retail value to get your new phone... Or, at least, that's how I choose to look at it, anyway!

 

[bkdodger2]

At least if you sell or trade in your prior device, you technically *aren't* paying full retail value to get your new phone... Or, at least, that's how I choose to look at it, anyway!

Yes exactly.... It's only the initial cash headed out my account that stings lol

I'm usually selling something around that same time to offset...

 

[Morty2264]

Yes exactly.... It's only the initial cash headed out my account that stings lol

I'm usually selling something around that same time to offset...

I feel you on that! It definitely stings!

 

[cbreze]

I once paid $1059(most ever)for a phone 2 weeks ahead of its U.S release. Paid a premium to get it early. A Nokia E90. Bear in mind this was 2007 and I was quite addicted to having the latest and greatest first. Nokia was releasing phones multiple times per year and at that time they were the top phone manufacturer. (before apple blew them apart)
These days Phones don't have the weird innovations they used to, slab after slab with the occasional folding device now, but other than that they all have a similar appearance and all have good cameras. My latest phone was the bargain Pixel 4a, paid $350 for it and it is serving me well. I spend my money on other things now. Phones have lost their excitement. I would never pay the cost of a fold 3 or even a flip.
https://www.engadget.com/2007-02-12...WicWMkJvBX3UASPAmTvbplJqwoDfouE0BggFOvmrKn0Q2

 

[gray2018]

I was considering purchasing the Note 20 Ultra recently... And I was able to get it a short while ago for 770 dollars, but now it's up to 820 dollars. My wife wants an upgrade from her S10e. I financed my Note 10 + for 690 dollars back in April which I didn't think was too bad. But now I can get another one for 490 dollars with trade in. I was going to give her my N10+ and get the N20 U for myself, but I can't push myself to pay an extra 330-350 dollars for something that's just an incremental upgrade IMO.

 

[Inders99]

Swappa only. I get mint condition phones at a great price, some haven't even been used. I'll never buy from a phone company nor will I ever finance a phone, you can get a fully functional and capable phone at a great price without the finance charges or being roped in to corporate serfdom.