Is the Atrix 2 worth the off-contract price?

[runukraine]

I'm a current HP Veer user. I've been a big webOS fan since I got the Pre as my first smartphone back in the halcyon days of 2009. Unfortunately, HP has effectively killed webOS.

I had been planning on sticking with the Veer (love its size, build quality, OS, etc.), but recently I picked up a new car with the Toyota Entune system installed. The Veer does a good job with Bluetooth for voice and streaming audio, but does not have the Bluetooth MAP profile to read/send text-messages through the head unit. Also, the Entune internet services aren't compatible with webOS.

I'm debating whether to pick-up a new phone which supports the Bluetoooth MAP profile and Entune. Unfortuantely, I'm well away from any upgrade. Any purchase would have to be off-contract.

AT&T is selling the Atrix 2 for $449 off contract which seems to be a good deal compared to other devices.

I guess that's a long lead-up to a simple question... do you feel that the Atrix 2 is a phone worthy of the off-contract price?

 

[916x10]

I don't think so, not because it's not a good device but because I think those off contract prices are bs and ridiculously bloated. I wouldn't pay off contract prices for any phone.

 

[TimmyB]

Have you checked to see if you are upgrade eligible? I just came over from a Pixi+, which was only 15 months old, but ATT's computer said I was eligible for a free upgrade, so I took it. $49 at Best Buy. What an amazing phone. Everything our webOS devices should have been all along.

 

[katamari201]

Well I've been trying to bid on eBay for the Atrix 2 for a few days. There was a batch that came along yesterday and they averaged $360-390 for a brand new one. The main problem now is finding more sellers, since no one knows about this phone and thus the pickings are scarce and prices still high. It should fall to the $300-350 range in a week or two. I've bought mostly top tier Samsung devices for a little under $400, so paying close to that for a phone with an MSRP of $449 seems kind of pointless unless I can save a good $100 on it. The thing that sucks is HTC phones. They are ALWAYS expensive, even aging phones like the Nexus One. I also don't know anything about warranties with no-contract phones.

 

[runukraine]

Have you checked to see if you are upgrade eligible? I just came over from a Pixi+, which was only 15 months old, but ATT's computer said I was eligible for a free upgrade, so I took it. $49 at Best Buy. What an amazing phone. Everything our webOS devices should have been all along.

Yeah, unfortunately I am upgrade eligible in December 2012... That's 18 months from when I purchased the phone.

I like AT&T's service in my area (vast improvement over what I was getting from Sprint in terms of call quality and data speed), so it isn't worth it to break the contract and pay the ETF.

That leaves me stuck at whether to go off-contract. For the right phone it might be worth it, but at the same time $450 is a tough pill to swallow.

 

[runukraine]

Well I've been trying to bid on eBay for the Atrix 2 for a few days. There was a batch that came along yesterday and they averaged $360-390 for a brand new one. The main problem now is finding more sellers, since no one knows about this phone and thus the pickings are scarce and prices still high. It should fall to the $300-350 range in a week or two. I've bought mostly top tier Samsung devices for a little under $400, so paying close to that for a phone with an MSRP of $449 seems kind of pointless unless I can save a good $100 on it. The thing that sucks is HTC phones. They are ALWAYS expensive, even aging phones like the Nexus One. I also don't know anything about warranties with no-contract phones.

Good to know that eBay is a viable option. I've never bought a phone off eBay because I'm afraid of getting screwed. What sort of things should a neophyte eBayer keep in mind when purchasing phones from eBay sellers?

The advantage of buying direct from AT&T is that it gives me 30 days to evaluate the phone and return for a full refund (less $35 restocking fee) if I'm not satisfied with the phone.

 

[planoman]

Although 450 is a a good price off contract for a phone like the Atrix 2, I would not recommend buying a phone off contract for a first time android user. That is a lot of money when you may not stick with the OS. Unless you can use gift certificates at best buy or something like that. Lots of ways to get them if you belong to rewards programs. I got the Atrix 2 off contract and preserved my upgrade. Just a thought.

 

[TimmyB]

Yeah, unfortunately I am upgrade eligible in December 2012... That's 18 months from when I purchased the phone.

I like AT&T's service in my area (vast improvement over what I was getting from Sprint in terms of call quality and data speed), so it isn't worth it to break the contract and pay the ETF.

That leaves me stuck at whether to go off-contract. For the right phone it might be worth it, but at the same time $450 is a tough pill to swallow.

I am confused. You are on ATT right now, correct? The ETF is $325, less $10 for each month used, which would be $285. Add $49 for the phone (best buy price, which att will match, if uinsist on buying from them) and you are at $334. Not great, but better than $450.

 

[ywuncha]

Honestly, Web os? I don't know a single person who uses Web os. My brother got a tab and it now has cm7 on it... Android vs. Web os......... Is like George Foreman vs. Elton John!

Yeah, I void warranties.. What of it!?

 

[ywuncha]

Sound like someone works for att... All except the fact that Att will only match their own online pricing! Just a little fyi.

Yeah, I void warranties.. What of it!?

 

[runukraine]

I am confused. You are on ATT right now, correct? The ETF is $325, less $10 for each month used, which would be $285. Add $49 for the phone (best buy price, which att will match, if uinsist on buying from them) and you are at $334. Not great, but better than $450.

Hadn't thought of that... Certainly better. I need to talk to AT&T and see if they'd let me break the contract and hop right back on.

 

[TimmyB]

Honestly, Web os? I don't know a single person who uses Web os. My brother got a tab and it now has cm7 on it... Android vs. Web os......... Is like George Foreman vs. Elton John!

Yeah, I void warranties.. What of it!?

So, since you don't know of anyone, it must not be any good? Is that what we're reading here?

 

[lsutigers03]

I am confused. You are on ATT right now, correct? The ETF is $325, less $10 for each month used, which would be $285. Add $49 for the phone (best buy price, which att will match, if uinsist on buying from them) and you are at $334. Not great, but better than $450.

One thing to remember is if you do this you'll lose your number.

 

[markbc]

I have had the Atrix 2 for about three days, I rooted it and replaced the moto blur with ADB Ex and it is a really nice phone. I like it for $49 dollars (Best Buy, I was not under contract), but really at BB you have to pay additional tax on the retail price --so it is closer to $100. . .
Would I pay full price on the web or at the store? NO. There is nothing wrong with the Atrix 2 for me. I have tried the phone and it works I have pulled the battery and restarted it a dozen times and never lost an app (yet!) it is a nice phone.
BUT for about the same retail money you could probably get a Samsung Galaxy Nexus when it comes out in a short while. (weeks). That will be running ICS (android 4) and will be more easily customizable. (I am still a bit unclear whether /when I will be able to load another ROM on this phone).

So for $49 is it great -for full price it is still a nice phone -but there are even better one's for that cost.

 

[TimmyB]

I have had the Atrix 2 for about three days, I rooted it and replaced the moto blur with ADB Ex and it is a really nice phone. I like it for $49 dollars (Best Buy, I was not under contract), but really at BB you have to pay additional tax on the retail price --so it is closer to $100. . .

Wow, where do you live? Even with our 6% MI sales tax, it was $52 out the door.

BUT for about the same retail money you could probably get a Samsung Galaxy Nexus when it comes out in a short while. (weeks). That will be running ICS (android 4) and will be more easily customizable.

While the Nexus looks like a nice phone, we are talking ATT, here. There has been NO announcement of this phone arriving on them at all. Coming from the HP/Palm world of "in the coming months..." (which meant never! :'( ), I would not be willing to wait for something that might be available and for (probably) much more money.

I DO agree with you, though, on not spending full retail. That hardly ever makes sense to me, unless you get a steal of a deal, somehow. This is my first Android phone, and I am using it stock. No root, no custom ROM, not even very many apps installed, and I am absolutely delighted with what a great piece of hardware this is. I'm even shocked at how well Motorola's music management software works with iTunes. This was never as easy on webOS!

Either way, I hope that we ALL find our phone that fits our lifestyle. I think I finally found mine!

 

[runukraine]

I think I might investigate the cost of adding a line to my existing plan. If it's $10/month, I come out ahead of buying off-contract and I get to keep using my HP Veer for day-to-day life (with the Atrix 2 serving as a bridge to start getting into Android and my car's internet service provider).

Tim, thanks for the link to Milomindbender's Android for WebOS users thread.

 

[TimmyB]

I think I might investigate the cost of adding a line to my existing plan. If it's $10/month, I come out ahead of buying off-contract and I get to keep using my HP Veer for day-to-day life (with the Atrix 2 serving as a bridge to start getting into Android and my car's internet service provider).

Tim, thanks for the link to Milomindbender's Android for WebOS users thread.

No worries. Your plan might have a problem, though. The line will only cost you an extra $9.99 per month, but both phones have minimum data plans of $15, so you are looking at $300 per year to do that.

Have you talked to your rep at the ATT store? Gotten down and begged? I mean, you purchased your Veer before HP trashed us all, right? Maybe they could somehow, someway allow you to upgrade because of this whole HP debacle. I mean, it's worth a try. It's not like they're losing a customer; they're keeping one. They know how much traffic has been through the door asking about the Veer in the past three months. Zero!

Hopefully, all of this works out for you. Like I said in an earlier post: I don't know how I was eligible for an upgrade on my Pixi+, because I only had it for about 15 months, but the computer said I was, so I took it. Maybe you'll be able to swing them on it.

Good luck.

 

[runukraine]

Wow... yeah. Talked to a representative. The cost of a second line is pretty huge vs. my current plan. I think I'll have to take the "HP really screwed me and what can you guys do to make it better" approach and see if I can get anywhere with that!

 

[katamari201]

Just an fyi if you were thinking of ebaying the atrix 2. I saw two $328 (free shipping) Atrix 2s sold yesterday (there might have been more from that one listing) and it was a buy it now, no need to wait or bid. The price is dropping and seeing more $350-360 instead of $390 prices. I should have gotten the $328 one, but I was too indecisive and actually looking at the galaxy nexus and the new htc vivid. The galaxy nexus isn't even out yet, will be very expensive when it first comes out, and most indications point to a verizon exclusive for a short time. Either way, it will be more expensive than the Atrix 2. Most phones also bottom out at a reasonable price, like the relatively old HTC Sensation is still over $300, but I'm getting the feeling the Atrix 2 will hit sub $300 for its bottom out price. Hell even last years Galaxy S is selling for $300 in some auctions so its really all about perception and people perceive the Atrix 2 as a budget phone so the prices will continue to drop even more.

For ebay buying tips, really the best ones are the ones with the best descriptions and they clearly state it is brand new or that it is used very little in mint condition and has NO scratches/dents/etc. Don't listen to the BS some people give about the less wordy the better. The wordy ones get the most views and the most confidence. Since the phone is still very new there shouldn't be a problem as long as the description says it is new or that it is lightly used with NO scratches/dents/etc. Ever since I bought my old Nokia n73 with a nasty scratch on the screen, I've stopped buying anything that says there is wear and tear in the description and only buy brand new in box or (i just took out my simcard and thats it) phones. I've had absolutely no problems ever since. In fact, I had two bad experiences with actual retailers online (for my Samsung Wave and my Nokia err something music phone) that made me go back to eBay. The shipping is also usually very prompt.

Also make sure to check the sellers ratings, see if they frequently sell phones or not. The guy that sold a batch of Atrix 2s the other day had a history of selling ATT stuff like Blackberries in batches so it seemed legit to me. Anyway once you start ebaying its not that scary and overall 99% of the stuff is as described. But once they claim there's a scratch or a dent its really hard to gauge how big a problem it is so I would generally just avoid those. However, many will literally drop the price by $100 for say a slight crack at the corner of the screen so its up to you if that bothers you or not. I need my phone perfect when it arrives though so yeah . Also there's those lame resellers that always say GOOD CONDITION in their titles and have a generic description in a heavy formatted page with colors and bars and stuff. I usually ignore those.

BTW don't worry about WebOS vs Android vs iOS vs Windows Phone. They are all freakin the same. Ignore all the fanboys. There's a screen. You tap it when you see a button and you want to do what that button says. You generally swipe to move things around, and tap on keys on a keyboard to write letters. It'll take the average person less than a day to adjust to it if you explore the OS beforehand and try doing stuff so you get familiar with it. They are all intuitive and copy each other heavily. I guess if you want to eat the $35 restock fee you could try it out for 30 days at ATT and then go eBay it afterward. But really, the differences between the OSs are negligible and the real factors are mainly the physical features of the phone and its stability, not the underlying OS.

 

[916x10]

Wow, where do you live? Even with our 6% MI sales tax, it was $52 out the door.

He must live in Cali. We have that stupid law here that calls for us to pay sales tax on the full retail price when buying a phone at a contract rate. I know AT&T price matches, but do they still charge tax on the full retail price? Hmm...