Nexus S for free today or SGS2 for 200 in a month or so

[Nvidiaguy07]

Been waiting forever for a new phone, have tried to hold out for the S2, but this deal at best buy might just be too good to pass up.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/nexus-s-Best-Buy-Free-Sale-Google-Phone,news-12073.html

What would you do?

 

[poofyhairguy]

I would wait. The Nexus S is nearly a year old phone, obsolete by modern standards. It is a great deal if you love stock Android and you want OS updates without messing with custom ROMs. Otherwise I would wait.

 

[Tristicus]

SGS2 easily.

 

[gorcorps]

Unless you're going to be hurting to pay for it I'd wait.

 

[Zivic]

I would take the freebie.... the SGS2 isn't going to be here soon... I would guess a few months. at that time, you will likely want to just wait for the the nexus prime.

I think the pure android is a big winner for the nexus line of phones. I have seen a few side by sides with the SGS2 and it doesn't look 'that' much better/faster to wait for -> especially when no real release dates have been set for t-mo or ATT.

My advise would be to get the S or wait for the holiday season and pick up the next nexus phone

 

[Oyeve]

Neither, Hercules for me when it hits tmo.

 

[poofyhairguy]

My advise would be to get the S or wait for the holiday season and pick up the next nexus phone

If history is a guide the next Nexus will be available this year, but won't come subsidized with a contract till next year (for AT&T). Only wait for the next Nexus if you afford to spend $600+.

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

If history is a guide the next Nexus will be available this year, but won't come subsidized with a contract till next year (for AT&T). Only wait for the next Nexus if you afford to spend $600+.

Well whats the resale value of a used nexus S 4 months from now. If i can get ~400 for it, then ill be spending 200 for the new nexus and will have a decent phone in the meantime.

The stock experience and a reliable phone is what im after. Coming from a captivate, its been hit or miss.

The phone is crap without a custom rom. The first one i owned was great, but eventually started having problems after about 8 or 9 months. Since then I have been through about 4 different captivates and all have weird problems. Not mentioning the GPS.

So although the SGS2 looks awesome on paper, Id take a nexus phone with slightly worse specs, since i would know its better quality - even though the nexus S is made by samsung........

 

[poofyhairguy]

Well whats the resale value of a used nexus S 4 months from now. If i can get ~400 for it, then ill be spending 200 for the new nexus and will have a decent phone in the meantime.

Well, the Nexus S already goes for under $250 on ebay unlocked. By the time the next Nexus hits it might not even be worth $200. Last Nexus was $530 when new, that would mean you fill in a $300+ gap.

Coming from a captivate, its been hit or miss. The phone is crap without a custom rom. The first one i owned was great, but eventually started having problems after about 8 or 9 months. Since then I have been through about 4 different captivates and all have weird problems. Not mentioning the GPS.

Um, the Nexus S is basically your Captivate without a SD Card slot, plus a NFC chip, and without Samsung's software. If you had hardware problems (GPS) then those problems might also occur with the Nexus S.

So although the SGS2 looks awesome on paper, Id take a nexus phone with slightly worse specs, since i would know its better quality - even though the nexus S is made by samsung........

Don't kid yourself- every Nexus has been simply the flagship phone of that maker tweaked for Nexus. The Nexus S is a SGS1, the Nexus One was a HTC Desire. There is no higher or lower build quality- the only distinguishing feature is the stock software.

 

[pm]

The poll made me smile. 100% (as of right now) to wait for an SG2 (that was my response, obviously too).

 

[smartpatrol]

Wait for the SGS2 for sure. You're going to be stuck with this phone for 2 years, don't settle for a device that's already outdated.

And the specs aren't just "slightly" better on the SGS2 than the Nexus S. It's a pretty huge difference.

 

[s44]

Depends what you have now.

 

[boomhower]

SGS2 without a doubt. Two year contract on a Nexus? No way.

 

[jpeyton]

SGS2 without a doubt. Two year contract on a Nexus? No way.

Two year contract on any phone? No way. Not unless your job or school is subsidizing it.

Buying an off-contract phone is easy as pie, and I'd much rather spend an extra $300 on a phone vs. committing to a 2-year $3000 smartphone contract.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

but most people stick with carriers anyway? especially if you're going GSM, it doesn't really matter.

i renew my 2 year contract all the time for promotional stuff that I sell off. the idea is that I'm gonne on AT&T anyway, so I might as well pick the GSM phone I want. I'm saving this renewal for iPhone 5 though because it has the biggest profit margin.

 

[gorcorps]

but most people stick with carriers anyway? especially if you're going GSM, it doesn't really matter.

i renew my 2 year contract all the time for promotional stuff that I sell off. the idea is that I'm gonne on AT&T anyway, so I might as well pick the GSM phone I want. I'm saving this renewal for iPhone 5 though because it has the biggest profit margin.

This.

I don't understand the "it'll actually cost you XXX dollars because you're stuck with that contract". So? I have to pay somebody for the service anyway. That cost is pretty much equal across the board for what I have. Being "tied" to a carrier for 2 years isn't a cost... that's just how it is and how I'd do it naturally anyway. Avoiding contracts just to avoid them is IMO the most fiscally irresponsible thing you can do in the smartphone world unless you switch carriers every year. There's absolutely zero point in paying 3x the subsidy cost of the phone just to have the freedom to go to another carrier at will... ESPECIALLY if you never exercise that freedom.

 

[lothar]

This.

I don't understand the "it'll actually cost you XXX dollars because you're stuck with that contract". So? I have to pay somebody for the service anyway. That cost is pretty much equal across the board for what I have. Being "tied" to a carrier for 2 years isn't a cost... that's just how it is and how I'd do it naturally anyway. Avoiding contracts just to avoid them is IMO the most fiscally irresponsible thing you can do in the smartphone world unless you switch carriers every year. There's absolutely zero point in paying 3x the subsidy cost of the phone just to have the freedom to go to another carrier at will... ESPECIALLY if you never exercise that freedom.

Depends...
I know someone who's been paying out of pocket for Verizon phones.
The person went from one of the first smart phones/Windows Mobile to OG Droid to Droid X(I'm sure I missed other phones he had in between but those are the major ones I remember).
He pays $10/month unlimited data plan since 2006(?) and has been using 3G on his Droid X with no problem with Verizon.
That person saves $20/month x 24 months by not renewing his contract.

The same can be said for a lot of people with grandfathered smartphone plans.

 

[tonygeor]

Not one vote for the Nexus S