Checking Upgrade Eligibility Ahead of Friday's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Pre-Orders

[mike1123]

THERE WE GO.

You have to be getting a 10Gb plan or larger to get some discount.

Taking a while to get through the smoke and mirrors.

Certainly, some scenarios are more cost-effective than others. Depends on:
1. How often you like to upgrade your phone
2. Whether you like paying for some of the phone up front
3. How much data you use
4. How many lines are on your account

Other stuff, too. It's not the total ripoff it's made out to be, though.

 

[zioxide]

Nowhere does it say that. My only other option is to go and checkout the purchase.

So tell me what would be monthly cost be if I got Next with a 2GB data plan and a 128GB iphone 6 plus?

$40 (data) + $25 (line) + $47.50 (phone) = $112.50 + taxes

 

[archer75]

Sorry man but with Next you have to return the old iPhone if you are going from a 2-year contract to the Next program.

That's what AT&T is telling me.

ONLY when upgrading at 12 or 18 months. That's because the phone isn't paid off. If you pay it for the full 20 or 24 months then it's yours to keep.

 

[4Apples]

You DO realize that the cost per month is $15 or $25 higher on a 2 year contract vs. buying it outright and not being on contract?

$25 a month for contracts 6 gig or less, $15 a month for contracts 10 gig or higher.

So, your $749 is actually $749 + (15 x 24 = 360) = $1099, or $749 + (25 x 24 = 600) = $1349.

A no-brainer in the opposite way than you were thinking.

AT&T Next is really a scam! Do your research people.. you will end up paying more with the Next plan. Just look at the review videos on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdBuiDrook4

 

[iPhil]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I haven't found a definitive answer: If we preorder online Friday at midnight, will we get the iPhone 6 / 6 Plus on our doorstep on the 19th, or will it leave the factory in China on the 19th?

iphone 5 / 5S orders -- some people got their orders day or 2 days earlier than "Official" release day just by Pre-ordering via Apple or Carrier

 

[mike1123]

ONLY when upgrading at 12 or 18 months. That's because the phone isn't paid off. If you pay it for the full 20 or 24 months then it's yours to keep.

Or if you are upgrade-eligible from a 2 year contract within the timeframes I listed.

 

[archer75]

$40 (data) + $25 (line) + $47.50 (phone) = $112.50 + taxes

Or $39.50 if you do the 18 month upgrade option dropping the bill by $8/month.

I have also heard from best buy that when you are on the next plan your line charge drops to $15/month. But I don't see that on AT&T's site.

 

[4Apples]

ONLY when upgrading at 12 or 18 months. That's because the phone isn't paid off. If you pay it for the full 20 or 24 months then it's yours to keep.

So what's the point on the Next plan?

 

[Gjwilly]

AT&T Next is really a scam! Do your research people.. you will end up paying more with the Next plan. Just look at the review videos on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdBuiDrook4

That review came out before AT&T lowered the monthly plan rates for Next customers.
It used to be a scam, yes.
Now it's a good deal if used responsibly.

 

[archer75]

Or if you are upgrade-eligible from a 2 year contract within the timeframes I listed.

Yes, from a traditional 2 year contract. However for those on the mobile share plans those are no longer an option.

 

[jclo]

There is an error in the article:
"For example, an AT&T user who purchased an iPhone 5s on release day on a two-year contract would be able to purchase an iPhone 6 for $649 on pre-order day, but would also be eligible for an early upgrade on September 21, which provides a $200 discount. This option also displays what Next monthly fees would be."

That should read "eligible for an early upgrade on September 21, 2015"

Someone who bought an iPhone 5s (aka me) in 2013 on release day is eligible for an early upgrade on September 21, 2014, and eligible for a FULL (not early) upgrade on September 21, 2015.

 

[4Apples]

That review came out before AT&T lowered the monthly plan rates for Next customers.
It used to be a scam, yes.
Now it's a good deal if used responsibly.

I think you work for AT&T lol

 

[Gjwilly]

So what's the point on the Next plan?

The point is paying the same price as buying it off contract but paying in 20 interest-free payments instead of paying all at once up front.

 

[archer75]

So what's the point on the Next plan?

AT&T doesn't subsidize the phone. You pay full price for it, interest free, over a period of time.
If you choose to upgrade after 12 or 18 months AT&T is getting the phone back and your remaining balance is waived. So you get to upgrade sooner and they don't have to subsidize anything and you get a lower monthly bill on average.

 

[thewebb]

I signed a 2 year contract last november with Verizon/iPhone 5s and Verizon is telling me I'm not eligible to upgrade until November of 2015

Sad news lol

Same with me. I really want to try switching to more everything and Edge but it says you can't sign up for edge until you're eligible for an upgrade. Does anyone know if you can negotiate with them? I have 1 year until my next upgrade but will they let me switch to Edge if I trade in my device?

 

[iChrist]

i'm in the same boat as you! i just know that it will be sold out if i wait till the 19th.

i think i might just go with the 4.7", there will always be the 6S+.

Even if it's sold out it only delays availability for 3-5 days. Not a big deal when compared to regretting your decision.

 

[iPhil]

Or $39.50 if you do the 18 month upgrade option dropping the bill by $8/month.

I have also heard from best buy that when you are on the next plan your line charge drops to $15/month. But I don't see that on AT&T's site.

10GB or more - share plan is $15 a line under 10GB is $25 a line ..

 

[/dev/toaster]

What a shock, AT&T screwed up my eligibility date *AGAIN*! When I bought the iPhone 5s I paid full price for it out of pocket. For reasons unknown they reset my contract date!

After 45 minutes of arguing with them, they said they can't do anything about it and I need to bring a receipt to an AT&T store. The supervisor said they might be able to fix it. *might* ?!

Seriously, I am getting sick of going through this every single year. I have 2 lines, upgrade one and pay full price for the other.

 

[Peace]

no you don't
you only return it if you have a NEXT phone and you upgrade to another NEXT phone before you pay it off. going from 2 year contract you keep the phone

ONLY when upgrading at 12 or 18 months. That's because the phone isn't paid off. If you pay it for the full 20 or 24 months then it's yours to keep.

Ok brainiacs. Which one of you is right ?

 

[archer75]

10GB or more - share plan is $15 a line under 10GB is $25 a line ..

Yes I know. But I was told that $25/month for 10gb or less would drop in price when you get a phone on that line on the next plan. Though best buy employees aren't the most knowledgable.

 

[KPOM]

With the iPhone 5S the T-Mobile phone purchased in the Apple Store was unlocked with a T-Mobile SIM. If you purchased it in a T-Moblie store, it was locked but 50 bucks cheaper.

It says on Apple.com for this on the 5S, BUT not the 6? It says "contract free" T-Mobile = unlocked? I'm not sure about that.

Anyone know about the unlocked offering?

The SIM-free offering usually goes on sale a few weeks later. You can get the T-Mobile version from Apple and it will be unlocked. Unfortunately, that's the version that usually sells out the quickest on the website for that reason. Also, note that if you purchase the T-Mobile phone directly from T-Mobile, it will be locked, and they will not unlock it for you until you have used their service for 40 days (even if you paid full price for the phone upfront).

Or you can take your chances in the Apple retail store. You can get the full-priced AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon version and they will work with any GSM carrier. All Verizon models and the full-priced AT&T and T-Mobile phones purchased directly from Apple are unlocked as they are never added to Apple's locked database.

 

[Gjwilly]

I think you work for AT&T lol

When Next came out it was a scam.
No other word for it.
CNET review is right.
People were paying for the phone twice.
Once in the monthly phone installments and again in the monthly plan subsidies.
But when they lowered the plan costs they leveled the playing field and let people choose:
2-year contract and pay through subsidy.
Or no contract and pay for phone, by itelf, through installments.
The difference after two years is very, very minor but one means paying $200 up front and one doesn't.

 

[archer75]

Ok brainiacs. Which one of you is right ?

Both. You return it if you don't pay it off. That pay off period is either 20 or 24 months depending on what you sign up for.

If you upgrade sooner, at the 12 or 18 month you signed up for, you trade it in.

 

[street.cory]

AT&T used to be reasonable and give you the full discount every 2 years, and let you pay extra to upgrade in the off year. But now AT&T wants to screw me 3 years in a row. This means they are making more money off me than someone who waiting a full 2 years to upgrade. AND if I pay full price now, they will STILL lock me into another 2 year contract. So screw those *******s. It will cost me less to pay their ETF (which I shouldn't even have!) and go with someone else. So now which carrier is best?

AT&T Next is a ****ing joke for sucker who can't count.

I don't understand how a doing a Next plan while on mobile share is a joke.

 

[puckhead193]

i'm not due for an upgrade till 10/15.
Does anyone remember when stock of the 5 or 5S became readily available or at least a few days not weeks/months?