Carrier Question for AT&T Customers Upgrading to 5s

[adam044]

So my biggest dilemma in getting the 5s is not having an available upgrade for next year when the 6 comes out. (Assuming that it does) I know I can add a line for $10 a month but then that's still $120 for the year.

My main question is for those of you who bought the iPhone 5 last year with a new 2 year contract and now 1 year later are now buying the iPhone 5s where you are not eligible for an upgrade how much is it going to cost you? Looking for people with AT&T because that is who I have.

 

[yanki01]

won't it be the unsubsidized price since you're not eligible?

 

[billycuth]

So my biggest dilemma in getting the 5s is not having an available upgrade for next year when the 6 comes out. (Assuming that it does) I know I can add a line for $10 a month but then that's still $120 for the year.

My main question is for those of you who bought the iPhone 5 last year with a new 2 year contract and now 1 year later are now buying the iPhone 5s where you are not eligible for an upgrade how much is it going to cost you? Looking for people with AT&T because that is who I have.

Early upgrade pricing (6 months into a contract) is $250 over full upgrade:

16GB - $449
32GB - $549
64GB - $649

 

[Blorzoga]

So my biggest dilemma in getting the 5s is not having an available upgrade for next year when the 6 comes out. (Assuming that it does) I know I can add a line for $10 a month but then that's still $120 for the year.

My main question is for those of you who bought the iPhone 5 last year with a new 2 year contract and now 1 year later are now buying the iPhone 5s where you are not eligible for an upgrade how much is it going to cost you? Looking for people with AT&T because that is who I have.

You basically have to pay a $250 premium to early-terminate your contract. The original ETF is $375, which is reduced by $10 per month.

If I were you, I'd wait and get a 6 for the upgrade price. The 5 to 5C is not worth it.

iPhone 5S : 16GB
iPhone 5S : 32GB
iPhone 5S : 64GB
Before Sep 15, 2014
$449.00
$549.00
$649.00
After Sep 15, 2014
$199.00
$299.00
$399.00

 

[Gjwilly]

AT&T isn't showing any pricing yet on the iPhone 5S but they're offering me the 5C for $350 ($200 off).
I assume the 5S will also be $200 off for early upgraders.

 

[mjcxp]

You are better off buying it outright this year and doing a full upgrade next year.

2 16 GB iPhones early upgrade $449 x 2 = $898
2 upgrade charge $36 x 2 = $72
Total with early upgrades = $970

1 16 GB iPhone no contract $649
1 upgrade charge $36
1 16 iPhone full upgrade $199
Total with no contract and full upgrade $884

 

[adam044]

Early upgrade pricing (6 months into a contract) is $250 over full upgrade:

16GB - $449
32GB - $549
64GB - $649

Okay this is what I was looking for. I knew there was some type of "discount" or early upgrade fee. It's actually better than I thought. If I was to get the 5s and then sell it for say $400 when the 6 comes out I would only be paying $149.

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You are better off buying it outright this year and doing a full upgrade next year.

2 16 GB iPhones early upgrade $449 x 2 = $898
2 upgrade charge $36 x 2 = $72
Total with early upgrades = $970

1 16 GB iPhone no contract $649
1 upgrade charge $36
1 16 iPhone full upgrade $199
Total with no contract and full upgrade $884

I've got my upgrade fee removed from my account each of the last 5 phones I've got.

I think it makes sense to buy on contract for $299 this year, once the 6 comes out I can sell it for $400 and then buy the 6 for $149. Unless I'm missing something

 

[CrAkD]

Its all going to depend on how much money i have come friday. if im doing ok ill pay outright for a 64gb. if im cutting it close ill do the early upgrade for $650. i think of it like this. either $850 and $400 next year or $650 and $650......only saving $50 by buying it outright this year.....is a year loan of $250 worth losing $50? possibly haha.

 

[mjcxp]

Okay this is what I was looking for. I knew there was some type of "discount" or early upgrade fee. It's actually better than I thought. If I was to get the 5s and then sell it for say $400 when the 6 comes out I would only be paying $149.

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I've got my upgrade fee removed from my account each of the last 5 phones I've got.

I think it makes sense to buy on contract for $299 this year, once the 6 comes out I can sell it for $400 and then buy the 6 for $149. Unless I'm missing something

Yeah I have had my upgrade fees removed too but it took 3 chats and 2 phone calls to get them removed last year.

 

[Gjwilly]

I think it makes sense to buy on contract for $299 this year, once the 6 comes out I can sell it for $400 and then buy the 6 for $149. Unless I'm missing something

I don't know how likely it is but AT&T could always change their early upgrade rules. That would be one reason for buying it outright this year.

 

[moldy lunchbox]

Pretty sure the reps have cracked down now on the avoiding upgrade fees, I got them to do it in Jan 2013, then had my phone stolen in June and got a replacement and they wouldn't budge at all on removing the fee.

 

[adam044]

I don't know how likely it is but AT&T could always change their early upgrade rules. That would be one reason for buying it outright this year.

Yes they could but I guess that's the risk I would be taking. I either can buy outright this year or use my upgrade this year and hope they dont change their policy so that way next year it only costs me around $150. Right now it is much better for me to buy on contract.

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Yeah I have had my upgrade fees removed too but it took 3 chats and 2 phone calls to get them removed last year.

That's brutal took me 1 10 minute chat session.

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Pretty sure the reps have cracked down now on the avoiding upgrade fees, I got them to do it in Jan 2013, then had my phone stolen in June and got a replacement and they wouldn't budge at all on removing the fee.

Had it done last month. All depends on who you talk to really.

 

[billycuth]

How do people get ATT to waive the $36??

 

[mjcxp]

How do people get ATT to waive the $36??

Keep calling them or chatting with them until some clueless rep will waive them.

 

[bunnicula]

How do people get ATT to waive the $36??

Have a corporate discount that waives them.

 

[GadgetGeek407]

We can come back to this thread and my post in a year but I am almost 100% certain when the iphone 6 comes out next year the base configuration will be 32gb and they will have a 128gb option so that will help you sell early and pay 50 bucks for new phone