No longer buying flagship phones...

[TridenT]

Well, it seems the carriers in the USA have dropped phone subsidies. I'm not gonna buy a flagship phone anymore. I have twice. (iPhone 4, iPhone 5S) I wanted to buy a iPhone 6S+ but at $850 for the 64GB version... no fucking way. I'll stick with my scuffed up iPhone 5S until it breaks completely and then I'll buy some cheap Android phone.

Also, I think we'll be switching to T-Mobile soon enough. AT&T isn't competitive on price or features /at all/. Why bother being with AT&T if they're going to charge you full price for the phone now?

I don't really understand why this is a good move for AT&T. I feel the only reason we stuck with them was because of the phone subsidy. Without it, why stay?

 

[MongGrel]

I still use a free phone and try to avoid using it.

Go figure.

 

[maddogchen]

you can still get a 2 year contract iphone for 199 if you buy directly from AT&T

 

[JEDIYoda]

some people are just cheap....lol

 

[Imp]

Still sporting my $50 Samsung dumb phone from 2010.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Put it this way, when you get a phone for "free" it's not really free, you are paying for it multiple times over through the contract. Just get a Nexus 4 or other cheaper phone and get a lower end plan that wont cost as much per month. You'll save a lot of money in the long run.

 

[pcgeek11]

It is a phone. I like my Samsung Convoy flip phone for $15.00.

Just a personal opinion, why in the hell would any sane person pay $850.00 for a cell phone. Really.

 

[JimmiG]

It is a phone. I like my Samsung Convoy flip phone for $15.00.

Just a personal opinion, why in the hell would any sane person pay $850.00 for a cell phone. Really.

Well, it's more than just a "cell phone". It's essentially a pocket-sized computer, as powerful as full desktop systems from several years ago. Not refering to the iPhone 6S+ in particular, but all high-end smartphones. They're impressive pieces of tech. For most users, a mid-range Snapdragon 6xx-powered device is enough, though.

 

[DaTT]

I am usually the first person to go out and get a new phone, flagship phone, as soon as my contract runs out. This time, however, I did not. I have been out of contract for 5 months now and am still quite happy with my HTC One M7.

 

[skull]

I never have needed the latest and greatest phone always get a free motorola android on upgrade. Except for that one time I strayed from motorola and got a samsung galaxy I was miserable never again.

I'd get cheaper service but I run a business with my cell and every one I know that doesn't have verizon or att gets dropped calls and such. I can't have that. Verizons service is damn near perfect here.

 

[TridenT]

you can still get a 2 year contract iphone for 199 if you buy directly from AT&T

I don't see this option on AT&T's website. From articles I've read, AT&T doesn't subsidize the iPhone 6S.

I understand a lot of you don't use smartphones for their actual capacity. Some of us do and would like to have the nicest phone available. However, I don't want to spend $850+ to get it. That's fucking ridiculous. Phones shouldn't be more than $500, ever.

 

[Rakehellion]

I don't see this option on AT&T's website. From articles I've read, AT&T doesn't subsidize the iPhone 6S.

I understand a lot of you don't use smartphones for their actual capacity. Some of us do and would like to have the nicest phone available. However, I don't want to spend $850+ to get it. That's fucking ridiculous. Phones shouldn't be more than $500, ever.

What's wrong with using AT&T's payment plan?

 

[skull]

I don't see this option on AT&T's website. From articles I've read, AT&T doesn't subsidize the iPhone 6S.

I understand a lot of you don't use smartphones for their actual capacity. Some of us do and would like to have the nicest phone available. However, I don't want to spend $850+ to get it. That's fucking ridiculous. Phones shouldn't be more than $500, ever.

I use mine for on the go emails, web searches and google map searches. What else is there? Too much on the thing and the small screen drives me nuts no matter how fast the thing is.

 

[XavierMace]

I don't see this option on AT&T's website. From articles I've read, AT&T doesn't subsidize the iPhone 6S.

I understand a lot of you don't use smartphones for their actual capacity. Some of us do and would like to have the nicest phone available. However, I don't want to spend $850+ to get it. That's fucking ridiculous. Phones shouldn't be more than $500, ever.

Ridiculous like a $200 trash can ridiculous? Or ridiculous like a $1,000 vacuum?

 

[skull]

I vote all 3

 

[lxskllr]

I understand a lot of you don't use smartphones for their actual capacity. Some of us do and would like to have the nicest phone available. However, I don't want to spend $850+ to get it. That's fucking ridiculous. Phones shouldn't be more than $500, ever.

That's a bold statement. I paid $1700 for my first IBM compatible, and it took just about everything I had to carry everything at the same time. A computer that trounces that, but fits in your pocket can't be worth more than $500?

Phones have gotten good enough, as long as you aren't gaming, which is a joke on a phone. A flagship from a couple years ago is more than adequate for doing real work. Well, as real work as is possible poking a screen like a chimp.

 

[John Connor]

Are they called smartphones because people are so dumb to pay that kind of money to make a phone call?

Flip phone user here yo!

 

[StrangerGuy]

Same, I see no point buying Android flagships. Lame user support and lack of iOS exclusivity compared to Apple, and whatever high end specs is also undermined that the fact the vast majority of apps already runs fine on low end hardware released since 2 years ago.

 

[skimple]

1 - Stop buying Apple
2 - Buy used phone
3 - Use until broken
4 - Profit

 

[pcgeek11]

Well, it's more than just a "cell phone". It's essentially a pocket-sized computer, as powerful as full desktop systems from several years ago. Not refering to the iPhone 6S+ in particular, but all high-end smartphones. They're impressive pieces of tech. For most users, a mid-range Snapdragon 6xx-powered device is enough, though.

Most people do not need and 850 dollar computer in their pocket to watch you tube videos or to send text messages. I can do that on my 15 dollar flip phone.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Look at the Lumia phone, very capable devices that cost around $150 for their lower end models.
Phones simply don't excite me anymore.

 

[YBS1]

Asus ZenFone 2, Straight Talk AT&T compatible sim. $299+45 monthly for 5GB, much happier with this than with Verizon.

 

[edro]

Flip phone users still exist?

I am 1 year in on my iPhone 6. I guess I will have to make that decision at some point.
I heard Verizon/ATT were getting rid of the $200 credits, but assumed they were reducing their plans to compensate.
Is it really as bad as it sounds? They basically increased the cost of all phones by $200?

 

[Fritzo]

If you're an existing customer, Verizon still has subsidies. They just claim they no longer have them. Just got my daughter the iPhone6s for $199 and her old iPhone6 is getting a $300 trade-in, so we're making $100 on the deal

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I happily buy a new flagship phone every year. My wife gets the hand me down, and we sell the 2-yr old one for a couple hundred bucks. Net cost is about $400/yr which is less than my whiskey habit.

I like paying full price up front so I can get an unlocked device for traveling and cheaper service (3 smartphone lines for $130/month). I realize this may be due to a favorable financial position, but that wasn't handed to me, might as well enjoy what I work for.