Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Do you buy your phone off-contract or with contract?
- Thread starter EbookReader
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Off contract iPhone 5 32gb since the first week of launch.
I used to pay around £200 for the phone then £45 for 24 months on contract = £1280.
I paid £550 for the phone and £11 per month for unlimited data, texts and enough calls that I need total cost over two years would be £814.
I have the freedom to change providers when I like and resale values of factory unlocked phones tend to be higher.
The best thing about buying sim free from Apple is switch between my English and German sim with ease.
I used to pay around £200 for the phone then £45 for 24 months on contract = £1280.
I paid £550 for the phone and £11 per month for unlimited data, texts and enough calls that I need total cost over two years would be £814.
I have the freedom to change providers when I like and resale values of factory unlocked phones tend to be higher.
The best thing about buying sim free from Apple is switch between my English and German sim with ease.
Off contract iPhone... $30/month prepaid for 5GB LTE Data... TMobile can't be beat.. (unless you live out in the country, then its awful)
----------
Only a minority in this thread... Most people (at least in the USA) still sign contracts or utilize the new upgrade systems which are essentially contracts anyway..
I typically go on contract, but for the 5C, I paid full price to get off the Edge program. That was a mistake and I regretted it. The upside of it, though allowed me to try out a Nokia (a nice phone but I missed iOS too much).
Now that I'm back on sequence, I can buy the iPhone 6 5.5" if and when that's released. If there is a delay in the larger form factor, no worries, I'm rocking with a great phone
Now that I'm back on sequence, I can buy the iPhone 6 5.5" if and when that's released. If there is a delay in the larger form factor, no worries, I'm rocking with a great phone
In the future it will be off-contract only. If I cannot afford it without a contract then I don't need a new phone.
I usually just purchased mine full price from Apple but since Tmobile EIP is 0% interest I might as well go that route for my next iPhone.
I will sign a two year contract for as long as they let me.
If I pay $400 up front for the 64gb iPhone on AT&T and $15 extra month (for being on contract, I pay $40 a line instead of $25/line for 6gb shared data plan so the tax for having a subsidized phone is $15/month), then I've essentially paid 400 + (15*24) = $760 for a 64gb iPhone that retails for $849. I imagine that is why AT&T is pushing next so hard.
I'll buy a $849 phone for $760 everyday of the week. I don't ever plan on not having a cell phone, so a contract is nothing to me when it comes to cell service.
I'm failling to see how Next is even a remotely better deal unless you have a greater than 10gb plan where you would see a $25 discount per line.
Buying off contract I can understand, because that opens you up to the possibilities of using significantly cheaper partner plans, but Next is a straight rip off to me unless you have a 10gb plan or greater which is overkill for the 2 lines I have.
If I pay $400 up front for the 64gb iPhone on AT&T and $15 extra month (for being on contract, I pay $40 a line instead of $25/line for 6gb shared data plan so the tax for having a subsidized phone is $15/month), then I've essentially paid 400 + (15*24) = $760 for a 64gb iPhone that retails for $849. I imagine that is why AT&T is pushing next so hard.
I'll buy a $849 phone for $760 everyday of the week. I don't ever plan on not having a cell phone, so a contract is nothing to me when it comes to cell service.
I'm failling to see how Next is even a remotely better deal unless you have a greater than 10gb plan where you would see a $25 discount per line.
Buying off contract I can understand, because that opens you up to the possibilities of using significantly cheaper partner plans, but Next is a straight rip off to me unless you have a 10gb plan or greater which is overkill for the 2 lines I have.
Last edited:
Next only makes sense if you get the 10GB plan or higher. It's more expensive compared to 2-year contracts otherwise. For families of 4 or more, it's a pretty good fit.
Do you buy your phone off-contract or with contract?
Out of contract, biggest reason, $20 in fees n taxes! Per month!
Out of contract, biggest reason, $20 in fees n taxes! Per month!
Last edited:
Thanks for confirmation. I thought I was going crazy trying to make the numbers work.
Agreed, most people in USA (especially family plan members) are in post paid contracts and are used to subsidized models.
Same here. My first off-contract phone is my current one: the Nexus 4. Love the freedom and lack of bloatware. If I replace it with an iPhone, it will be off contract, too.