Offered trade in by att vs upgrade?

It means you have reached the upgrade with trade in point of your Next installments, but have not finished paying off the phone.  

As opposed to paying off the phone in full by finishing your installments. 

You probably owe 6 more payments.   Your phone is probably worth more than the remaining installments.

Can you clarify what you mean by “trade in points”? Is it more expensive, less expensive, or the same price if I trade in now vs after my phone is paid off? Are there advantages or disadvantages to trading in now?

@lampdl When you reach your “trade in point”, the only credit you get for trading it in is you don’t have to finish paying it off. Your credit is the remaining Next payments you don’t have to make. 

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@lampdl wrote:

Can you clarify what you mean by “trade in points”?  Not ‘points’, point, as in a place in time, but in this case it’s a number of required installments At&t requires before you can trade to upgrade.  

Is it more expensive, less expensive, or the same price if I trade in now vs after my phone is paid off?

No difference in cost of new phone.  The difference is you put $$$ into a phone, it may be almost paid off, and rather than keep it, you’re giving it back to At&t.  You can always pay it off and keep it, then upgrade.

Are there advantages or disadvantages to trading in now?   Depends on when ‘now’ is, and what phone.  iPhones are worth more than the remaining payments.  After 50% a Samsung is a break even, and I might consider it a fair.  I use phones one year, then sell them.  But that my choice, it doesn’t work for everyone. 

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Thanks so much for the details. So if I’ve got an iPhone 8 it seems like it would make the most sense to sell it on my own. Would you agree? The phone is in perfect shape with the exception of a small crack in the bottom of the glass on the BACK of the phone. The screen is in perfect shape. 

So if I’ve got an iPhone 8 it seems like it would make the most sense to sell it on my own. Would you agree?

Yes and make sure you get it unlocked. Unlocked phones are worth even more.

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@lampdl wrote:

Thanks so much for the details. So if I’ve got an iPhone 8 it seems like it would make the most sense to sell it on my own. Would you agree? The phone is in perfect shape with the exception of a small crack in the bottom of the glass on the BACK of the phone. The screen is in perfect shape. 

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Had you mentioned the physical damage before I would have told you, you cannot trade that phone in. Any physical damage even a tiny crack means the phone could not be returned to AT&T.  (or any other carrier).   It also effects resale value.  
https://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/wireless/KM1011886