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Yikes AT&T deals this year sucks. Was really hoping for the BOGO so my kid could get an upgrade.
Saving $800 per phone is much better deal than bogo. Using the standard 12 as an example You would pay $800 for 2 phones if it’s bogo vs paying $0 for both phones under their current deal. Add $200 for each pro if that’s your thing and it would still work out far more in your favor than bogo.
 
Wait, did I read right? I can trade in for $800 off a 12 Pro, but only $700 off for a 12 pro Max (assuming same trade in phone)? Can't say I am happy about that.
 
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There is barely any benefit in these "offers", you have tu turn in your previous phone (which is by no means old) and sign a contract for 2 to 2.5 years... on top of that you have to pay for an unlimited plan which is around $75 to $95 dollars a month for 1 line (my case).

None of them are good offers, I am trading in my iPhone with Apple ($500 off) or a third-party company ($550 cash) and continue with my unlimited prepaid Verizon plan for $35 a month. No contract, no locked phone and better price.
There is actually a lot of benefit to the offers for most people. You have to remember, the world doesn’t revolve around you and you aren’t the only one in it
 
Wait, did I read right? I can trade in for $800 off a 12 Pro, but only $700 off for a 12 pro Max (assuming same trade in phone)? Can't say I am happy about that.
Yes, you read that right. The $800 launched with the iPhone 8/8pro. It’s being reduced to $700 for all iPhones across the board on the 5th. Either way, $700 off an upgrade is not something you see every day at AT&T.
 
Im still rocking the 6s plus. I ended up buying an unlocked iPhone 8 64gb on Amazon for $250 to trade in with AT&T. That way I can get the $700 off a 12 pro max. It’s a better deal than sending in my old 6s plus.
 
If T-Mobile's iPhone 12 Mini deals match their iPhone 12 deals it's hard to pass up that $215 trade-in offer.

Unfortunately I won't be able to pre-order it online as my iPhone SE is unreliable due to battery wear; I fear that if I ship it in for trade it may get rejected if the battery loses a charge between it leaving me and being inspected.

Hopefully iPhone 12 Mini stock is decent on launch day so I can do the trade-in process in-store instead and have it checked out then and there.

If that deal isn't available I guess I'll just purchase it direct through Apple. Their trade-in offer is only a measly $30 so I'll likely just sell it myself on eBay at that point.
 
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If you are a frequent upgrader, it would be best for you to stay away from trade-in credits. I created the chart below to illustrate the effects of upgrading early and how it relates to the total you will receive for the device you traded in. These numbers are for trading in a 256GB iPhone 11 Pro Max for a 256GB iPhone 12 Pro Max on AT&T but the numbers will be similar for other devices and carriers.
Screen Shot 2020-11-02 at 1.30.58 PM.png
 
Yes, you read that right. The $800 launched with the iPhone 8/8pro. It’s being reduced to $700 for all iPhones across the board on the 5th. Either way, $700 off an upgrade is not something you see every day at AT&T.

Thanks, and while I dont want to look a gift horse in the mouth, $700 doesn't seem bad until you realize its spread out over 30 months. If I was the sort that kept a phone that long, I wouldn't have last years model to trade in now would I? LOL. It makes the Apple flat $500 off right from the start, upgrade next year with no worries plan seem a bit more interesting. Complications. First world problems lol.
 
If you are a frequent upgrader, it would be best for you to stay away from trade-in credits. I created the chart below to illustrate the effects of upgrading early and how it relates to the total you will receive for the device you traded in. These numbers are for trading in a 256GB iPhone 11 Pro Max for a 256GB iPhone 12 Pro Max on AT&T but the numbers will be similar for other devices and carriers.View attachment 977718

Great for putting into numbers what I feared intuitively... but with Apple you dont have to spread it out do you? you can apply the $500 right off the top if you pay for the whole device on day 1 right?
 
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Great for putting into numbers what I feared intuitively... but with Apple you dont have to spread it out do you? you can apply the $500 right off the top if you pay for the whole device on day 1 right?
Yes, I believe that you are right. Looks like Apple will give you credit for the ful trade-in amount on day one, unless you are paying in full. In that case, they credit you upon receipt of the device.
 

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If you are a 2-line user, T-Mobile is cheaper. Other than that, AT&T is cheaper. (Limited unlimited plan, trade-in, carrier switch, 2~2.5 year contract)
 
A loyalty promotion should be a better offer than a new customer promo. Otherwise, it’s just hand waving.
I mean it's $200 on top of any existing offer. So not terrible.
If you are a frequent upgrader, it would be best for you to stay away from trade-in credits. I created the chart below to illustrate the effects of upgrading early and how it relates to the total you will receive for the device you traded in. These numbers are for trading in a 256GB iPhone 11 Pro Max for a 256GB iPhone 12 Pro Max on AT&T but the numbers will be similar for other devices and carriers.View attachment 977718
Unsure about AT&T, but T-Mobile will continue to give you the trade-in credits even if you pay off the device early and trade it in. There are folks that have multiple trade-in credits going simultaneously. They won't give you the balance, however, if you leave for another carrier.
 
PSA: If you blowing money on one of the big carriers in the US, consider MVNOs like Mint Mobile. You still run on whatever network they buy their data from (T-Mobile for Mint) but save a ridiculous amount of money.

The catch - you must buy your phone and plan up front (but at least then it is yours). That being said, it has saved me approximately $1k/yr for two phones.
Thanks- I am always curious- how is the network performance when using a MVNO? I always entertain the idea of using MVNO since you an really save a lot.
 
It’s always better off reselling the phone privately than trading it in, regardless of how new it is.

We switched from AT&T to T-Mobile, and I'm expecting them to give me $380 in bill credits for an iPhone SE trade-in. Seems like a pretty good deal to me.
 
Thanks- I am always curious- how is the network performance when using a MVNO? I always entertain the idea of using MVNO since you an really save a lot.

Since Mint Mobile runs on the T-Mobile network, performance is how I expected T-Mobile to be in my area. Maybe not as good as Verizon or AT&T but completely acceptable for my uses especially considering the savings. I think it will really depend on the coverage map for your area and usage. I tend to bounce between destinations that all have WiFi (work, home, etc.) so I don't seem to use a ton of data. Just set your data hungry apps to only download on WiFi and good to go. If you are someone that relies on your carrier for work and in a rural area or dead zone, it might not be for you. Of course, there are MVNOs for AT&T and Verizon but they cost more per month than Mint.

I will say it feels very nice to pay about $200 up front and then not to have to worry about a phone bill for another year.
 
I mean it's $200 on top of any existing offer. So not terrible.

No - it's not bad in itself. But, it is still less than being a new customer. For me that's the issue. After 5 years you are still worth less than a new customer.

Remember that T Mobile has followed blue and red and started offering different promotions to new and existing customers.
 
Since Mint Mobile runs on the T-Mobile network, performance is how I expected T-Mobile to be in my area. Maybe not as good as Verizon or AT&T but completely acceptable for my uses especially considering the savings. I think it will really depend on the coverage map for your area and usage. I tend to bounce between destinations that all have WiFi (work, home, etc.) so I don't seem to use a ton of data. Just set your data hungry apps to only download on WiFi and good to go. If you are someone that relies on your carrier for work and in a rural area or dead zone, it might not be for you. Of course, there are MVNOs for AT&T and Verizon but they cost more per month than Mint.

I will say it feels very nice to pay about $200 up front and then not to have to worry about a phone bill for another year.

There are so many MVNO's. Besides Mint some of the big ones include Cricket (ATT), Xfinity (Verizon), and Walmart, Boost, and Metro (T-Mobile). Then there are the combo MVNOs like TrackFone (ATT, VZW, and US Cellular), Straight Talk (ATT, TMobile, Sprint, Verizon), and Google Fi (Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular).

There are probably a few dozen more that are exclusive to groups. The biggest one that few on MR would know is i-wireless. It's better known as LifeLine, a state funded mobile service for low income customers. You can join this network by buying phones from your local Kroger owned supermarket under the Kroger Wireless brand.
 
I have an 256gb 11 Pro Max bought and paid for. My son has a 256gb 8+ paid off not on my AT&T account (just uses it as iPod touch since he’s 7).

Thinking of trading my 8+ in for the $800/$700 credit on the 12 Pro Max and then giving him the 11 Pro Max but have questions...

1. Can I begin the trade-in process now to get the $800 credit instead of $700 and still pre order the 12 Pro Max Friday?

2. If I choose to pay the phone off early, do I still continue to get the 30 months of trade-in credit as they received the phone?
 
Seems a little strange not even any official information about these deals on sites such as Verizon just a day before order opening.
 
Hmm... I was hoping to hear some deals for the iPhone 12 PM and Mini from T-Mobile just like the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro... but i guess not? No trade-in deal?... I think the loyalty credit still remains active for these phones...
 
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