New smartphone advice

[kiddiedoc]

which droid?

Maxx. Battery is phenomenal. Screen is awesome. Call clarity is superb. Google Now is better than Siri. And, I paid exactly zero dollars with an ancient Droid trade-in.

 

[BenGrimm]

My all time favorite.

Well probably because the bill back then was only $20 a month.

Pros: Battery on that beast lasted a month and you could drop it from three stories and it would still work fine.

Cons:Couldnt browse VolNation.

 

[Wylo]

My all time favorite.

Well probably because the bill back then was only $20 a month.

where were the nudes kept? ?

 

[YorkVol]

bumping this thread because I need some help!

I'm with verizon. My S3 was dropped, kept working (but with a majorly cracked screen), but now I think the digitizer or something is about shot as the screen doesn't always come on (and if it does (when I apply pressure to the bottom of the screen area), it's hard to read, etc.)

Point being, I need a new phone, and I am not eligible to upgrade for another few months

I've always waited the 2 years and gotten a phone at a "discount" with verizon, but was going to ask yall if I could jsut buy one on amazon as an "upgrade" and sign a new 2 year contract and get that cheap price. I just want to make sure I won't have to pay an ETF (though I wouldn't think so since I'm signing a new contract)

HTC one is only $30

S4 is $50

You can buy a phone off Amazon and just put your simm chip in it. Just make sure to check the compatibility before you buy.

 

[milohimself]

Some clarification:

Carriers only offer the subsidized price every two years. Att and verizon no longer do standard upgrade dates before the contract is up; you typically must wait until then.

That said, if you've been with verizon for a while, it's worth a call to customer care to see if they can change your upgrade eligibility. They definitely have the power to do that.

If you can't get a two year eligible upgrade, then yes, your option is only to pay full retail value for the phone. That's not to say it's the price you see at the verizon store, sometimes you can find better prices on non-contract (read: NOT unlocked, but verizon specific phones) at places like amazon. Craigslist and eBay are also good option for used phones, you can typically find used for half of what they cost new.

If you're on the verizon share everything plan, it may be worthwhile to look at the edge program. You still pay full price for the phone, but it's with free financing and they at least shave $10 a month off your bill while you're financing. That means you'd essentially be buying a brand new phone at a $240 discount.

As far as phones, in Verizon's case, it's in your best interest to buy a verizon specific phone. Be wary of unlocked phones, they are typically built for GSM networks (ATT, T Mobile). Verizon uses a proprietary CDMA network. This is ultimately good because it means markup in the used verizon phone market is typically not as bad as it is with GSM carriers.

Hope this helps.

 

[milohimself]

Also, if this experience has you looking at insurance, go with square trade. Covers all physical damage and defects, and they don't do refurbished phones. And it's basically half the price of carrier options at $100 for two years, as opposed to $8 a month. Note that you can't do this if you're an edge customer.

 

[DocVOLiday]

thanks for the advice guys!

Bought a razr maxx on ebay that got here today and I already activated it so I'm good for a while