Buying iPhone 5s help

[charlienhill]

Hi guys, new to the forum and new to Apple. I just bought my wife a MacBook Pro and we are making the transition to the light / dark side... however you see it.

I successfully got out of my Verizon contract after a recent military move, and need to move to AT&T because they are the only ones who offer decent service in my area.

However, I'm getting confused on what option I should go with. Bottom line up front: I'd like the cheapest option to get an AT&T plan with two iPhone 5s's and still have the option to upgrade to the iPhone 6 in one year.

My math:

AT&T Next
Upfront - 123.5
Monthly - 205 (prior to military discount)
1 year cost - 2583.5
(I understand that I would still owe approx $520 if I decided not to continue Next, and if I did continue Next, that I would essentially kick this $520 can down the road)

AT&T Regular plan with early upgrade
Upfront - 472 (includes activation)
Monthly - 170 (prior to military discount)
Early upgrade out of pocket at 1 year mark - ~400 (450 x2 - 250? x2 resale)
1 year cost - 2912
(this option is based on the assumption that early upgrade will be available)

AT&T Regular plan with early termination
Upfront - 472 (includes activation)
Monthly - 170 (prior to military discount)
Early term at 1 year mark - ~382 (205 x2 - 250? x2 resale + 472 to start new 2 year contract)
1 year cost - 2894

AT&T Regular plan with iPhone 6 straight-out buy
Upfront - 472 (includes activation)
Monthly - 170 (prior to military discount)
iPhone 6 out of pocket at 1 year mark - ~800 (650 x2 - 250? x2 resale)
1 year cost - 3312

Please check my math and offer recommendations, I appreciate your time.

 

[kupkakez]

If you go with Next or buy your 5s's off contract you also get $15 off your bill per line. Not sure if you factored that in or not.

Right now I'm doing Next for the $15 off the bill and will be paying off my phone I just got at Xmas time at the end of this month.

 

[charlienhill]

It's already factored in.

 

[blarivee]

The regular plan with early upgrade is missing the upgrade fee ($36 x 2).

With Next, you have the $520 that needs to be factored in your calculations. Remember that Next has saving only if you upgrade every year. When you wait to upgrade after 2 years, it is a very bad deal. Which means at some point you will return back to the two year cycle. So you would want to factor the $520 into your calculations assuming you return back to 2 year upgrade cycle after 1-year.