What's the best way to buy this phone without contract?

[boxta]

So I keep seeing people say they have the S3, or the N4.. and now upgrading to this... I don't get it.. do all these people pay full price for the phone? or is there a cheaper way I don't know about?

I signed up for ATT last Oct with S3 with 2 year contract... accidentally cracked the phone, sold it and bought the N4.. but still only 6 months into the 2 yr contract.. now i'm tempted with the HTC one...

but is the best price really 579 or 649 (unlocked / developer edition)??? that's a lot of money.. and i am worried that by Google I/O.. i might like my N4 more again (with 5.0)

Also.. assuming I only need 32gb.. should i go for the unlocked version? or go with developer edition still assuming it would get update faster? Would the 32gb unlocked version be locked out from the new updates meant for developer edition? (though I suppose you can root / unlock and flash anything)

(disclaimer.. i can say i'm a power user and have flashed rom on every single android phone i had for the last 3 yrs.. but never actually developed anything)

I am also with ATT premier (for being my school's alumni) .. is there advantage to be had there to buy the phone out right?

I will buy the one if the price is right.. or just stick with the N4 for now if not

thanks

 

[cmersman]

We sell our old phone and then pay full price.

For example, I just got rid of my iPhone 5 -- I sold it for $550 on eBay and will upgrade to the Galaxy S4

 

[scorpiodsu]

Some are using upgrades and others are paying full price. There is no workaround LOL. As above stated, sell your current phone to offset the price of a new. That's what most do, upgrading or full retail.

 

[aokusman1]

Why would you buy 32gb when 64 is only $50 more

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

[atrixfll]

I buy phones all of the time...full price


then I sell them on ebay.. I loose approx 100.00 or more on each phone

I have the N4 and wont be selling it.. by the time I loose my 100.00 plus fee`s makes sense to keep it..

 

[scorpiodsu]

I buy phones all of the time...full price


then I sell them on ebay.. I loose approx 100.00 or more on each phone

I have the N4 and wont be selling it.. by the time I loose my 100.00 plus fee`s makes sense to keep it..

Yup. The more and more people do this, they lose money. But for many it's a small amount compared to the joy they get with their new device LOL. It also doesn't help that Android phones depreciate so fast. This phone will be in the $400s in 2 months and the iPhone 5 will sell be selling for more.

 

[cmersman]

Yup. The more and more people do this, they lose money. But for many it's a small amount compared to the joy they get with their new device LOL. It also doesn't help that Android phones depreciate so fast. This phone will be in the $400s in 2 months and the iPhone 5 will sell be selling for more.

It's hard to compare an iPhone to an Android device. There's many many android devices, and theres only one iOS phone.

 

[scorpiodsu]

It's hard to compare an iPhone to an Android device. There's many many android devices, and theres only one iOS phone.

I know and that's exactly why it depreciates so fast. But I can compare cost of ownership and resale of devices. That's perfectly fine and shows the disparity and some people do make decisions based on what they can do down the line i.e. buy 64GB vs 32GB for reseal value. So I'm fine with my comparison as we are talking about the ownership of phones that start off costing the same. I didn't say it's good or bad. Just pointing it out. Regardless of the factors, that's what it is.

 

[paul-c]

Full price and I don't even sell most of my old stuff. Keeping up with Android phones is definitely an expensive habit.

Sent from my Huawei Ascend P1

 

[GadgetGator]

but is the best price really 579 or 649 (unlocked / developer edition)??? that's a lot of money.. and i am worried that by Google I/O.. i might like my N4 more again (with 5.0)

thanks

If you don't mind being on a Sprint MVNO, Ting will soon be taking preorders for the One at $525 so that's a little less or you could always wait for the price to come down, but that doesn't sound like an option for you if you like the latest and greatest. That's the price of that expensive hobby! As for Google I/O it's always a possibilit they could announce something you like better, but that's the diliema you'd have every single year. So the choice each year is to wait until everyone lays their cards on the table or take a chance on something. Only you can answer which one is the right choice.

 

[EggoEspada]

If I were you, I'd wait for Google I/O. That way you can see if you want to stick with your Nexus 4. And if you don't the price of the HTC One should be a tad cheaper by that time.