Verizon upgrade advice

[jmk32]

My S23U is finally paid off after 3 years, so I'm clear to upgrade whenever I want, but currently torn between getting the S26U and waiting to see what's coming from foldables for the Z Fold 8 and the upcoming Motorola Razr Fold.

Verizon sent me a great deal to upgrade to the S26U that's only good till release date next week, but is another 36 month contract.

My question is what is your experience with Verizon upgrades? If I get this deal but then went to get the Fold8 this summer (if it has much improved camera and battery than the 7), I know the terms say I'd have to pay off the full retail price of the S26U (not the $14/month times x number of months left), so well over $1000, which is a deal breaker for me.

Does Verizon usually offer upgrades on new phones where they pay the balance of your old phone to get you into a new contract on a new phone?

Or am I screwed getting on another 36 month contract with Verizon?

 

[VidJunky]

Have you watched any videos on the S26? More specifically, have you seen any of the comparison videos?

Anyway, I got the my kids the S24U through Big Red's give away, 36 month plan and I saw that they were doing it again for the S26U. It's too much of a downgrade for me to trade my S24U for it even if it's free. Plus the version that Verizon is offering is their carrier branded phone. Personally, I'd say get the S24U, it still has 5 years of updates left and has all of the bells and whistles still. It doesn't have the special screen but that's pretty much all the S26 has to offer. We're all going to get the horizon lock, that's software that will come with One UI 8.5.

But don't take my word for it.