How does upgrading every year with AT&T Next work?

@updeau22 I would wait for the black friday sales at this point. As long as you're happy with a $200-$300 gift card for some store, that's better than nothing...

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@updeau22 wrote:
I knew I would still owe the $216, so I planned on paying the upgrade fees
or the remaining balance I owe depending on whatever route I went to
upgrade to the iPhone 8 would be most advantageous. Since I owe, the plan
we was to pay and then use any trade in or value in the phone towards the
new NEXT installment plan/taxes. There is no way to escape that I still
will owe my balance. Or am I missing a better route? I want to be able to
upgrade without having to add a second line, unless something better comes
along for Black Friday from some seller.

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Not paying off the phone is your best option, unless you plan on keeping or selling yourself.

If you are eligible to upgrade with Next installments with trade in, they wipe remaining payments of $216.  Its only worth $119 - $165 if you trade it in after paying it off.  

If you can upgrade with return and bag a Black Friday cash back from Best Buy, that would really be great.   

Math is your friend.   😄

I really don’t see the benefit in this “trade in” option... For instance if I paid 750.00 retail for 6s, and I’ve made 80% of payments totaling 600.00. If I “trade it in” for iPhone X ,I’m losing a phone I paid 600.00 for to “save” 150.00 by not having to pay remaining installments? Your not “trading” anything,that’s insane logic... they should at least give you some kind of trade in value for what could be a perfect condition phone. Not sure who in their right mind would do this and not just pay the remaining 150.00 and sell it yourself, assuming you can sell the 6s you paid 600.00 for for more than 150.00.

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@GronkSpike89 wrote:

I really don’t see the benefit in this “trade in” option... For instance if I paid 750.00 retail for 6s, and I’ve made 80% of payments totaling 600.00. If I “trade it in” for iPhone X ,I’m losing a phone I paid 600.00 for to “save” 150.00 by not having to pay remaining installments? Your not “trading” anything,that’s insane logic... they should at least give you some kind of trade in value for what could be a perfect condition phone. Not sure who in their right mind would do this and not just pay the remaining 150.00 and sell it yourself, assuming you can sell the 6s you paid 600.00 for for more than 150.00.

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@GronkSpike89

with the 30 month plan I agree with you.  But with the 24 month plan its well worth it..  Pay half the phone off and trade it in for the next model.  I do it with the wifes phone because she wants a new phone all the time lol.

The savings to buyout from AT&T than reselling are not that great vs. simply trading for new.

As you know, you’re essentially renting the device(s) from the carrier-- monthly fees vary based on selected plan (i.e. ATT Next year divides by 24 with option to upgrade every year). To use my own upgrade as an example-- buyout on my iPhone 7s Plus was approx. $385 per device and I had 2 to offload. Online buy sites offered quite a bit less and same from various Craigslist tire kickers. In the end, the convenience of swapping for new is attractive to some. 

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@GronkSpike89 wrote:

I really don’t see the benefit in this “trade in” option... For instance if I paid 750.00 retail for 6s, and I’ve made 80% of payments totaling 600.00. If I “trade it in” for iPhone X ,I’m losing a phone I paid 600.00 for to “save” 150.00 by not having to pay remaining installments?

No one here has generally been recommending doing that. Definitely not for iPhones!

Your not “trading” anything,that’s insane logic... they should at least give you some kind of trade in value for what could be a perfect condition phone. 

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They're giving $150 for it. I'm not saying it's enough, but they are giving you something.  

For an iPhone you'd probably even be better paying it off and selling it to AT&T as a used phone trade in.

Not sure who in their right mind would do this and not just pay the remaining 150.00 and sell it yourself, assuming you can sell the 6s you paid 600.00 for for more than 150.00.

It's a convince issue, you could say the same about people selling old cars to the dealer when they could get more on their own.

@GronkSpike89 wrote:

The savings to buyout from AT&T than reselling are not that great vs. simply trading for new.

In the end, the convenience of swapping for new is attractive to some. 

Convenience is worth a lot to some people. And then they can whine later about it too, that's worth something to some!

Good Morning @updeau22,

You have so many good recommendations in reference to  upgrading to new phones.  I will be more than happy to give you my advice in regards to getting new phones. 

You are so close to Black Friday and if I was looking for a new phone, I would wait for the Black Friday advertisements.  I do know AT&T has an ad for Black Friday and I would also recommend going on www.att.com on Thanksgiving.  I would not be surprised if there were specials available on Thursday. 

I hope this helps.  Have a great day!

Donna V, AT&T Community Specialist

How do pick a plan to go with my phone. I cant figure it out

Chris, maybe you would look into my BOGUS AT&T BOGO for the 50" tv and $750 credit.

What I'm noting on this site are a whole bunch of "Solved Banners, that didn't answer just linked away, and thread closed.!

TYPICAL AT&T ....

Andrew Long

209-479-9249

Hi! I have a question. I currently have a S8+ running on AT&T network. I wanted to know if I can upgrade. The phone originally costs 849.99. I only owe about $270 on the phone. But I heard you have to have 80% paid off for AT&T Next (24 Months). I called and they told me I barely have 60% payed off🤔 So if I wanted to upgrade early,  can I trade in this phone and will that cover the 20% I have to pay off? Thanks in advance! 

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@MarioR7474 wrote:

Hi! I have a question. I currently have a S8+ running on AT&T network. I wanted to know if I can upgrade. The phone originally costs 849.99. I only owe about $270 on the phone. But I heard you have to have 80% paid off for AT&T Next (24 Months). I called and they told me I barely have 60% payed off🤔 So if I wanted to upgrade early,  can I trade in this phone and will that cover the 20% I have to pay off? Thanks in advance! 

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Something is NOT correct: 24-Month is 50% paid off (12-month) to trade into next (30-Month is 80% - 24 months).

Sounds like you're on Next 30, which is eligivle after 24-months.

80% of $850 is $680.

Turning in a next phone is required to trade up.  The phone cannot be used as "cash". 

If you need to be 80% then you owe 20% cash and the turning in the phone covers the last 20%.

How much has your monthly payment been?

$850/30 months=$28.33

or

$850/24 months=$35.41

Hi,

I was always hesitant to use AT&T programs/offers to upgrade my phone because there was always a hidden fee in the contact.  I remember back in the days when I upgraded my phone my line went from $20 to $45 every month for the next 2 years of the contract; this was on top of the phone that cost $500.  Basically in total it would cost $1100(did not add the $480 of the line because that mandatory since a line was $20 a few years ago now it’s like $25.. also the upgrade fee which was like $35) instead of just $800. 

Is AT&T next like this?  Where they may increase a phone line for the next 12, 24 or 30 month until you pay off the phone?

Thanks.

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@TooKrazy wrote:

Hi,

I was always hesitant to use AT&T programs/offers to upgrade my phone because there was always a hidden fee in the contact.  If you mean upgrade fee, still is, $30 one time fee.  It’s not hidden at all.  

 

I remember back in the days when I upgraded my phone my line went from $20 to $45

If you upgraded with a discounted, 2 year contract, you lose the discount and line fee is $40.  (Not $45 - never was). 

every month for the next 2 years of the contract; this was on top of the phone that cost $500. Thats the point, the phone didn’t cost $500, it cost 1,000+/-   

Basically in total it would cost $1100(did not add the $480 of the line because that mandatory since a line was $20 a few years ago now it’s like $25.. also the upgrade fee which was like $35) instead of just $800. 

AT&T offered 2 ways to buy the phone at roughly the same cost.  Period.  No tricks.  And all this was published multiple times since December 2014.

 

Is AT&T next like this?  Where they may increase a phone line for the next 12, 24 or 30 month until you pay off the phone?

Installments are a straight up deal as long as you don’t take the t-mobile copied early upgrade option.  There is no contract offer.    

It’s the same price if you buy on installments from a manufacturer.  It’s a no interest loan.  

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https://www.att.com/esupport/article.html#!/wireless/KM1106686?gsi=18k9sv

Read carefully.  The early upgrade option is a croc