What is the benefit of paying for a new phone via monthly payments??

[Patrick Chewing]

I'm looking for a new phone. Threatening to go to the dark side and try Apple for the first time ever. I will be buying one in the next day or two. But I'm confused on the whole pay the phone off via month to month basis.

What happens if I want to get another phone? What happens if I cancel my line? I'm sure there are still penalties that must be applied. So why would anyone pay for the phone outright when they can just get it at a discounted price and be locked in to a contract so long as they are happy with the service?

[Draz]

Long time android fan boy now apple guru here, Go for it

[KevinNYC]

I'm looking for a new phone. Threatening to go to the dark side and try Apple for the first time ever. I will be buying one in the next day or two. But I'm confused on the whole pay the phone off via month to month basis.

What happens if I want to get another phone? What happens if I cancel my line? I'm sure there are still penalties that must be applied. So why would anyone pay for the phone outright when they can just get it at a discounted price and be locked in to a contract so long as they are happy with the service?
Locked into a contract = subsidized phone price

Phone companies are giving up on this. They don't want to subsidize the price of phones any more.

So they either want you to lease a phone or buy it outright month by month.

If you look around, you can still find contracts, but most of the Phone Carrier stores want you to pay. Best Buy still does contracts. I bought from the sprint store around the corner from me, but I asked to match Best Buy's price which was a limited sale. They did, so I got a Note 5 for $200 with a contract. I kept my unlimited everything plan, but I had to haggle with them.

Sprint has a good deal on iphones.

[imdaman99]

Contracts suck. Don't get suckered into paying $100 a month for a phone made for ppl with no tech savvy.

[KevinNYC]

Contracts suck. You know what also sucks paying $720 for a new phone.

[Bosnian Sajo]

You know what also sucks paying $720 for a new phone.

But new phone for 700, use it for a year (with care, don't get scratches on that bitch). Sell it after a year or whenever a new phone of interest comes out (can usually get a good 500 bucks for a 6months-1year old phone in good condition, but new phone for full price. Will cost around $200 a year (depending on what phone you buy and if you get a good deal on it) but you always have the latest tech so that's cool.

[Draz]

But new phone for 700, use it for a year (with care, don't get scratches on that bitch). Sell it after a year or whenever a new phone of interest comes out (can usually get a good 500 bucks for a 6months-1year old phone in good condition, but new phone for full price. Will cost around $200 a year (depending on what phone you buy and if you get a good deal on it) but you always have the latest tech so that's cool.
My dumbass drops everything