What's cheaper unlocked, Next, 2-year contract?

whyyou said:

I was finding that an unlocked iphone 6 is cheaper than doing an AT&T next or 2-year contract plan. I haven't ready to many articles advocating for this. Am I missing something?

An iphone 6 16gb is $649 unlocked and $880 with the cheapest NEXT plan.

http://attcalc.com/next/#calculate

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Your numbers are incorrect. If you buy a 16GB iPhone 6 using Next, you pay the same price as buying it outright, not $880 as you claim.

^^^this. ultimately, the contract phone is cheaper including the fact that you will pay more for your service. but if you buy outright or do the next 20 payment, you have some options to upgrade earlier.

Mr Kram said:

^^^this. ultimately, the contract phone is cheaper including the fact that you will pay more for your service. but if you buy outright or do the next 20 payment, you have some options to upgrade earlier.

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2 year contracts are only cheaper if you're not on a 10GB or higher mobile share plan.

T5BRICK said:

Your numbers are incorrect. If you buy a 16GB iPhone 6 using Next, you pay the same price as buying it outright, not $880 as you claim.

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He is looking at the monthly access charge as well which I believe you pay on mobile share plans whether you use NEXT or buy the phone outright.

mrkramer said:

He is looking at the monthly access charge as well which I believe you pay on mobile share plans whether you use NEXT or buy the phone outright.

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Either way, the numbers aren't right.

you pay even more ($15 -$25) if you're on contract...

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T5BRICK said:

2 year contracts are only cheaper if you're not on a mobile share plan.

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i'm on a mobile share plan. if i were to go on contract it would only cost me $15 a month more. 15 x 24 = $360 + $299 for the phone = cheaper...

Mr Kram said:

i'm on a mobile share plan. if i were to go on contract it would only cost me $15 a month more. 15 x 24 = $360 + $299 for the phone = cheaper...

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That's true for the mobile share plans below 10GB.

Mr Kram said:

you pay even more ($15 -$25) if you're on contract...

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i'm on a mobile share plan. if i were to go on contract it would only cost me $15 a month more. 15 x 24 = $360 + $299 for the phone = cheaper...

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That's true because you are already paying $25 a month for your access charge. If you are on a 10gb plan or higher it's only $15 a month.

Sometimes it ends up being cheaper to switch to the 10gb, or now 15gb plan if you have a few devices.

whyyou said:

Oh yeah, my mistake. I didn't include the $15 access charges when buying an unlocked phone.

It seems the best deal is Next 24 month plan if you are either a high or low gb data plan. The Next 24 plan appears to be new offering from AT&T

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I'm on the 20GB mobile share plan and I just upgraded last week using the NEXT 24 plan. The payment is only $25 for a 64GB iPhone 6, and you can pay it off whenever you want and get the phone unlocked.

AT&T should be shot for change the plans so much - basically throwing didn't discounts around and taking them away to push everyone to NEXT.

Spink10 said:

AT&T should be shot for change the plans so much - basically throwing didn't discounts around and taking them away to push everyone to NEXT.

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They do introduce new plans quite often, but all the carriers are doing the same. I wanted to be off contract so I upgraded via NEXT. I don't think they're pushing anyone towards NEXT. It's just another option.

whyyou said:

Oh yeah, my mistake. I didn't include the $15 access charges when buying an unlocked phone.

It seems the best deal is Next 24 month plan if you are either a high or low gb data plan. The Next 24 plan appears to be new offering from AT&T

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next will cost the same as buying full price. It's a 0% loan for the cost of the device. The different lengths let you upgrade more frequently. Next 24 is just and longer time period to pay for the device.

Whether you choose next or paying full price up front the access charger per device is $15 for plans above 10gb. If you want to sign a contract it's an extra $25 a month per device plus the subsidized cost up front. Or $800 plus tax for a $650 iphone 6.

whyyou said:

If you look at their calculator. You pay less when you get a phone under Next 24 compared to 12 or 18. You'd think paying it off faster would be cheaper, but that's not the case.

http://attcalc.com/next/#calculate

For a iPhone 6 128gb you $850 for Next 12 and 18 and only $680 on Next 24. I guess since you are a guaranteed customer for 2 years. It's basically a different version of a 2 year contract.

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The cost of the phone itself is exactly the same for Next 12, 18 or 24. It is a 0% loan on the phone.

I have a grandfathered 4 line plan each line has unlimited data. I can get a 6 plus/64GB at subsidized pricing for $399 or get on the Next and still keep unlimited data. I'm thinking paying $399 upfront is cheaper than the Next?

Buy full price and jump on any carrier that suits you. You could pay as little as $30 a month depending on your needs

macher said:

I have a grandfathered 4 line plan each line has unlimited data. I can get a 6 plus/64GB at subsidized pricing for $399 or get on the Next and still keep unlimited data. I'm thinking paying $399 upfront is cheaper than the Next?

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Since you are on a grandfathered plan, it would be cheaper to upgrade at $399.

whyyou said:

If you look at their calculator. You pay less when you get a phone under Next 24 compared to 12 or 18. You'd think paying it off faster would be cheaper, but that's not the case.

http://attcalc.com/next/#calculate

For a iPhone 6 128gb you $850 for Next 12 and 18 and only $680 on Next 24. I guess since you are a guaranteed customer for 2 years. It's basically a different version of a 2 year contract.

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That's because next 12 is actually a 20 month loan, 18 is 24 months, and 24 is 30 months.

So
$28.34*30= $850 for next 24
$35.42*24= $850 for next 18
$42.50*20= $850 for next 12

Read the print at the bottom:

AT&T NextSM: Requires 30-month, 24-month, or 20-month 0% APR installment agreement and qualifying credit.

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The next 12, 18, 24 numbers signify when you can get a new device. Not the payment term.

mrkramer said:

He is looking at the monthly access charge as well which I believe you pay on mobile share plans whether you use NEXT or buy the phone outright.

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I own all my phones.

Absurdly priced, but having little choice. First because I wanted the phone! Second because I got into acceptance years ago that all things Apple are substantially over priced.


I came out of pocket over a fat one thousand dollars cash money for my iPhone 6 Plus. That's including case and AppleCare and a couple extra charging cables.

On my AT&T Mobile Share Value Plan (Next) I pay $15 per each phone, per month, that I use with that plan.

I've carefully compared and double checked the costs on each of the four big carriers. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon. For My GSM centric selection of phones AT&T and T-Mobile offer the best coverage in my area, so I use them both.

whyyou said:

I was finding that an unlocked iphone 6 is cheaper than doing an AT&T next or 2-year contract plan. I haven't ready to many articles advocating for this. Am I missing something?

An iphone 6 16gb is $649 unlocked and $880 with the cheapest NEXT plan.

http://attcalc.com/next/#calculate

Click to expand...

It depends on the plan you select. I'm purchasing factory unlocked.The plan I select is one with no data, therefore unlocked is the way to go and is cost efficient compared to NEXT or a 2 yr.-contract.

You are either paying full cost up front for your phone or paying over time with NEXT. Either way you are going to pay full price. But, I did read if you upgrade a phone right now on NEXT, you get a $50 credit on your bill.

-Upfront you get an unlocked phone, no contract and no change to your bill. You can reserve a 6/6+ with iStocknow and pick up the next day if you find one.

-NEXT Locked phone until PIF, no contract, monthly payment for phone until paid off. $50 credit to your bill. You can't reserve for NEXT program.