Well... rumors about it have been going on for quite a while now. Market analysts privvy to Google's Master Plan for world domination have been hinting at their phone service. Word is that google participated in a federal auction for network bands for that service.
That phone service being a very plausible motive for the development of Android. I mean... its not like a giant like Google would design a mobile OS just for fun and no money.
But that service...A phone service where your minutes, texting and data will be free. Well, not totally free, you have to spend some time on their targeted ads in exchange for those "free" services. Amazing though, isn't it?
Just think about the implications of it.
To put it in perspective, let's play around with a few numbers.
In 2006, the number of wireless subscribers in the US was about 236 million people. A massive customer base. Being conservative, on average, about $40 a month was spent on that service. Do the math...
About $8.5 billion monthly.
About $25 billion quarterly.
About $100 billion annually.
What would a free phone service do to that? Google rocking that industry is obviously an understatement. With current economic conditions, the number of people that would move over to Google would obviously be enormous.
Let's be generous and assume Google takes half the market share. Simply put that's $50 billion a year put back in consumers pockets. $50 billion that simply moves from those corporate giants like At&T and Verizon over to anywhere and everywhere else.
The layoffs by those companies would be enormous, but the growth of Google would rival that deterioration.
Giants recede, but one succeeds.
Wow I <3 google
this has been talked about for over a year now. It would be nice. And I could see it happening. And with google voice service that is going public soon, it seems to be on track. But you never know what they plan on doing.
APrinceAmongMen said:
Well... rumors about it have been going on for quite a while now. Market analysts privvy to Google's Master Plan for world domination have been hinting at their phone service. Word is that google participated in a federal auction for network bands for that service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google's involvement in the auction is OLD NEWS and hardly a secret as you seem to think it, this was well publicized for months. Further, you're a tool for spreading FUD by using any absurd terms like 'world domination'.
You also didn't follow the REAL news that came during the auction lead-up. It was well documented that Google's involvement in the auction was purely to ensure that the network bands would be left open instead of closed off for proprietary use only. They were also encouraging a higher cost of entering the bidding to ensure more money came from the final winner. They never had any intention of winning the auction. ALL of this was publicized before they even submitted their bid.
APrinceAmongMen said:
That phone service being a very plausible motive for the development of Android. I mean... its not like a giant like Google would design a mobile OS just for fun and no money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right here, Google wouldn't design a mobile OS just for fun (actually, they might, but that's another story). Fact is, that OS is so heavily oriented towards using Google's various services, all of which give them more chances to push ads through their network, which equates to money. It's just like Microsoft creating a web browser that defaults to MS's own search and home pages, or any OEM adding another company's software (ie. AOL) to a pre-build computer.
Additionally, Google will make money on their App Market...much like Apple makes more on their app store.
APrinceAmongMen said:
Just think about the implications of it.
To put it in perspective, let's play around with a few numbers.
In 2006, the number of wireless subscribers in the US was about 236 million people. A massive customer base. Being conservative, on average, about $40 a month was spent on that service. Do the math...
About $8.5 billion monthly.
About $25 billion quarterly.
About $100 billion annually.
What would a free phone service do to that? Google rocking that industry is obviously an understatement. With current economic conditions, the number of people that would move over to Google would obviously be enormous.
Let's be generous and assume Google takes half the market share. Simply put that's $50 billion a year put back in consumers pockets. $50 billion that simply moves from those corporate giants like At&T and Verizon over to anywhere and everywhere else.
The layoffs by those companies would be enormous, but the growth of Google would rival that deterioration.
Giants recede, but one succeeds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
<shudders> Gawd where did you get this garbage???
First, why did you use numbers from 2006? Updated numbers from 07 or 08 are readily available.
Second, the math is far too optimistic, and it also ignores how many of those cell phones belong to corporations who would rarely if ever decide it was better to force their employees to stare at ads in place of doing work.
All of this post was based on old news and theories that were thrown out by even the most fanatical of the tin-foil hat crowd. I'm curious why you're posting it at all. I also seem to remember a post almost identical to this a few days ago, though it may have been from another user. Please stop spreading FUD.
Somehow, I doubt that Google is going to move into the physical service providers market. They already provide many online services that lure customers, number one being their search engine. Search, Gmail, Youtube, Calendar, Maps, Tasks, Voice Mail, there's not much you can't do with Google and internet access.
I don't see why they'd need to move into providing physical services, such as phone, cell, 'net or tv. It doesn't seem like that would fit Google's personality well. They seem to prefer to operate in the virtual environment, let another company provide access (internet, in this case) while they provide the service.
Take Android. Google is not a hardware company, nor did they dive into the hardware market. Much less could they have viably made a handset that could have punched such a hole into the market as the G1/Dream already has. No, instead Google focused on making a software OS that could perform well on multiple hardware platforms, and provide a modern, multi-tasking OS for smartphones. They orchestrated the Open Handset Alliance to push Android forward, and now we're seeing the introduction of multiple Android handsets this year from HTC, Samsung and presumably Motorola.
It seems uncharacteristic, given their method of pushing Android to the consumers (letting manufacturing companies and service providers step in rather than creating their own hardware and carrier companies), that they would be entering the phone service market. I can't see how Google would benefit in the end. What would they do, give you free phone service by forcing you to listen to an ad at the beginning of all your calls and voicemails?
I don't see it happening in the near future. If it did, I'd expect Google to purchase an existing carrier, rather than try to forge a new customer base out of nothing. With Android intending to hit multiple carriers in the same region (much like the WM and Blackberry platforms do), it seems unlikely that Google could carry Android exclusively to make their carrier profitable. Not even Apple took this route, preferring to let carriers carry their phone exclusively rather than trying to enter the market on their own.
Google Voice is now taking advanced invitations, go sign up now!
https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/
They say on the site that we are only a couple weeks away from it going live.
thats been there for a couple of months now. I signed up the first few days.
Signed up. Looks like a full fledged phone service might not be too far away. Also seems as though calls could be made via the website, could be a mis-understanding on my part. I can see making calls from my g1 browser and talking through my phone. possibilities are endless.
At $300 for 8GB of storage and $350 for 16 GB of storage, the Nexus 4 is an incredible piece of technology for a very reasonable price. Compare this to the unlocked Galaxy S4 at $650 or the HTC One at $600, also available from Google Play. The hardware differences in the more expensive phones are:
- Super AMOLD LCD (vs. IPS LCD on Nexus 4)
- Polycarbonate body (vs. glass on Nexus 4)
- More built in storage (32 GB on S4, 16 GB on HTC One, although you can get a 16 GB N4 for $50 more)
- Better camera on the S4 (13 megapixels while HTC One and N4 have 8)
- MicroSD slot (no MicroSD slot on N4)
- Stereo speakers on the HTC One
- LTE 4G on S4
I don't see how the above list could explain nearly the nearly double price difference from the Nexus 4 to the S4 or the HTC One. Sure, the MicroSD slot, extra memory, and probably the polycarbonate certainly account for some of the price difference, but not double. I'm also skeptical that any custom software/skins on the S4 or HTC One would make up the difference.
Maybe Google is undercutting the others in its own store to drive customers to its own device. Or maybe Samsung and HTC purposely "enforce" a high retail price to work with carriers who offer subsidized phones with two year contracts. Do all S4 and HTC Ones come with radios for both GSM and CDMA? I can see the radios being an expensive piece of hardware, so maybe only including a GSM radio is helping to keep costs low.
I'm pretty sure that the production cost of these phones are quite similar. Probably around the $200 range.
So is Google taking a loss at selling the N4 at $299/$349? Probably not. They're probably not making much profit per device compared to Samsung or HTC though.
Is LG taking a loss by manufacturing the N4? Definitely not. LG has no reason to effectively give Google a phone to sell at a loss. They definitely have some sort of contract in place such that LG profits from this relationship. Besides, outside of Google Play, the price of the N4 is marked up.
How do we justify the cost of the Google edition S4 and HTC1 versus the N4?
Easy. The prices are simply marked up by Samsung and HTC. They happen to want more profit per device than the N4. So at the end of the day, is the S4 or HTC1 $300 better than the N4? Definitely not. It's just a matter of Samsung and HTC wanting more of your money.
HTC One is now $49 from AT&T with 2 year contracts.
lopri said:
HTC One is now $49 from AT&T with 2 year contracts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a pretty solid deal for the One. However I don't believe it's Google's stock edition. That can only be found on the play store.
It's really do believe that they are selling it close to a loss, if not at a loss. There's just so much hardware there.
The thing you need to ask yourself is why. Why would Google sell such a great phone for SO cheap? Well, for one, it's not doing it solely for the profits like the other guys so the prices aren't insanely inflated. They do it to promote development on Android, to show what pure AOSP looks like (now the Google Edition phones also do this), and also to bring more end users into the Android environment. Make a high-end, affordable smartphone and more people will be willing to switch OS's. Plus, they don't spend millions upon millions promoting this phone like those other competitors do.
There are many reasons why it's cheaper and why Google continues to sell it. I just hope they continue with the Nexus line. Those new Google Edition phones have me worried about the future of the Nexus line. I hope it's not an indicator that they will stop making Nexii (?) in a few generations.
Economic Yourern
Johmama said:
They do it to promote development on Android, to show what pure AOSP looks like (now the Google Edition phones also do this), and also to bring more end users into the Android environment. Make a high-end, affordable smartphone and more people will be willing to switch OS's. Plus, they don't spend millions upon millions promoting this phone like those other competitors do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed! This is what I was thinking about this morning as well. The price is compelling enough to even have iOS fan boys and developers to give it a try. And yeah, their advertising is much less. I probably wouldn't have heard of the Nexus 4 if one of my friends hadn't told me all about it. Google probably isn't taking a loss, but the margin can't be all that great either.
I'm just happy there is an affordable unlocked phone on the market with great hardware. I've never been a fan of the subsidized two-year contract. What other service locks you in for two years? With the affordable yet powerful Nexus 4 and T-Mobile (one of the "Big 4" carriers) doing away with contracts, the other carriers will be forced to adapt sooner or later.
Google doesn't need the money from selling Nexus devices. They can make it back from advertising.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
In demand smart phones have historically garnered lots of money from subsidies. It is the main reason why they are a major cash cow for Samsung and Apple. Their other products have no where near the margins of an iPhone or S3/4. As long as people keep paying $100/month cell phone bills in order to get their next to free flagship phone every two years, I doubt this will change.
Kudos to folks like Google, T-Mobile, and a number of MVNO's that are trying to bring more fair pricing to consumers than the AT&T's and Verizon's of the world, but the reality is that most folks are still paying way too much for devices and service.
Solutions Etcetera said:
In demand smart phones have historically garnered lots of money from subsidies. It is the main reason why they are a major cash cow for Samsung and Apple. Their other products have no where near the margins of an iPhone or S3/4. As long as people keep paying $100/month cell phone bills in order to get their next to free flagship phone every two years, I doubt this will change.
Kudos to folks like Google, T-Mobile, and a number of MVNO's that are trying to bring more fair pricing to consumers than the AT&T's and Verizon's of the world, but the reality is that most folks are still paying way too much for devices and service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is $100/month a genuine possibility or an exaggeration? Either way, the US carrier monopoly is extremely messed up. Over here in the UK you won't find very many carrier exclusive/branded phones at all, and the same goes for most other parts of the world. I feel sorry for anyone who has to carry around a device with a Verizon, AT&T or Sprint logo placed anywhere on their devices. The entire idea of it just seems stupid to me.
Nigeldg said:
Is $100/month a genuine possibility or an exaggeration?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heh heh... it is not an exaggeration. Most EU member agencies are far more consumer oriented than the US, who pretty much just lets capitalism reign supreme. The FCC is a joke when it comes to Cable and Cell providers (my cable/internet bill is $160/month... I watch three channels, ESPN, ESPN2, and GOLF from their lineup that I can't get OTA, but to have HD I have to sign for a hundred+ channel package).
Solutions Etcetera said:
Heh heh... it is not an exaggeration. Most EU member agencies are far more consumer oriented than the US, who pretty much just lets capitalism reign supreme. The FCC is a joke when it comes to Cable and Cell providers (my cable/internet bill is $160/month... I watch three channels, ESPN, ESPN2, and GOLF from their lineup that I can't get OTA, but to have HD I have to sign for a hundred+ channel package).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, $100/month for a phone comes out to twice what it would here in the UK. My dad got a GS3 when it was new for free on a £35/month ($50/month) contract, and even that's a bad deal to me. I'm currently paying £10/month ($15) for 250 mins, unlimited texts and 1GB of data which is pretty damn good compared to what you can get in the US. I'd assume the $100/month contracts at least have unlimited everything right?
Oh and OP sorry for the off-topic
Nigeldg said:
I'd assume the $100/month contracts at least have unlimited everything right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Minutes yes, data no (unless you have one of the coveted grandfathered data plans from before the point where the big three decided unlimited was a bad idea). Now a days, "unlimited" data plans mean vague "fair use" policies and throttling once you hit their cap. Sure you have "unlimited" data, but what use is it when they throttle it down to 3G or even 2G once you reach a given point.
Wow:
http://www.androidauthority.com/google-pixel-xl-bill-of-materials-724542/
CC
As much as I want to say, wow that is so cheap for materials compared to profit I can't. R&D is probably just as expensive and if you think you could source and make this phone yourself you sure could put Google out of money. That is a pretty big profit margin though!
If you think Google is greedy, check out apple: http://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-much-the-iphone-7-costs-to-make/
It costs less for an iPhone than pixel at base parts cost
Yep I'm okay with this... Maybe it will knock apple down a bit as this phone is solid AF.. My problem is the fact that Google or alphabet is absolutely dilusional if they think they can compete with Samsung or apple by going Verizon exlusive. Not bashing Verizon but this was decision had to have been made by a Walmart greeter or a fox news broadcaster based off "facts"
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Those components are cheap as hell. 50 for a SD 821 wowowow.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
cost
amcolash said:
As much as I want to say, wow that is so cheap for materials compared to profit I can't. R&D is probably just as expensive and if you think you could source and make this phone yourself you sure could put Google out of money. That is a pretty big profit margin though!
If you think Google is greedy, check out apple: http://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-much-the-iphone-7-costs-to-make/
It costs less for an iPhone than pixel at base parts cost
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I agree Apple is just as greedy! When will this come to an end. It used to be that we could get a good quality phone from Google (Nexus line) at a great price. Now everyone is a pig on profits. Who loses, we do.
CC
And yet I trust Google more than a lot of the cheaper Chinese phones that might have similar specs because of brands
These bills of materials are only a fraction of the cost of the phone to the manufacturer. First off, those totals represent the cost to build for HTC and Foxconn, not what Google and Apple pay them to be the ODM. R&D is a huge budget, advertising is a huge budget, setting up things with banks and insurance companies for financing and protection plans is expensive. I'm sure the uBreakiFix partnership is expensive, but nothing compared to the network of retail stores Apple has. Apple spends a ton on software exclusive to their devices. If Google really keeps Assistant exclusive to the Pixel line, then their most expensive software is also dependent on device sales. Then you have to throw in the payroll and benefits of the thousands of high paid employees that worked on these phones. Carrier partnerships. Network licensing. The list goes on and on. Materials are but a fraction.
joshm.1219 said:
These bills of materials are only a fraction of the cost of the phone to the manufacturer. First off, those totals represent the cost to build for HTC and Foxconn, not what Google and Apple pay them to be the ODM. R&D is a huge budget, advertising is a huge budget, setting up things with banks and insurance companies for financing and protection plans is expensive. I'm sure the uBreakiFix partnership is expensive, but nothing compared to the network of retail stores Apple has. Apple spends a ton on software exclusive to their devices. If Google really keeps Assistant exclusive to the Pixel line, then their most expensive software is also dependent on device sales. Then you have to throw in the payroll and benefits of the thousands of high paid employees that worked on these phones. Carrier partnerships. Network licensing. The list goes on and on. Materials are but a fraction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plus support costs, customer service, product management, testing, manufacturing support, etc.
amcolash said:
And yet I trust Google more than a lot of the cheaper Chinese phones that might have similar specs because of brands
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC is from Taiwan.
That teardown is amazing!!!!!!
This means that the compass is not the same we had in the 5X and the 6P? (Bosch BMM150). That could finally solve the issues I had with three nexus 5X with the compass losing the calibration in a few hours or just getting crazy at some places!!
According to the teardown, the Pixel compass is: AK09915
This could partially solve my question about how good is the compass in the Pixel, at least I won't expect same terrible behavior as in 5X and 6P.
This is the part people don't understand. They say "oh it only cost 250-300 dollars to make... The phone is over priced, google is ****ing greedy!"
Bill of materials is a fraction of the cost. Customer service, research and development, advertising, supply chain management, employee salaries and benefits, etc. That's all budgeted out before they even determine a price which in turn determines the price... It's called business and economics which the general population doesn't understand...
Assuming you're not buying an international variant (or waiting until the official unlocked version releases in May) and using it in the US, where's the best place to pre-order your device?
I technically already pre-ordered mine at Best Buy, but if there's a better place listed, I might just cancel my current pre-order and order it elsewhere. For reference, I'm on AT&T.
And I thought this thread could be helpful for those haven't pre-ordered yet. I can update this post as needed, so it'll be easier to reference.
-------------------------------------------------
All pre-orders of the S8/S8+ will get a free Gear VR & Controller plus an Oculus game pack, but you can also add on a $99 package to also get a pair of bluetooth AKG over-the-ear headphones and a 256GB microSD card.
Must redeem before 5/21/17 through Samsung Promotions, unless otherwise noted.
Note: You can't actually redeem it UNTIL you receive your device, unless you order directly from Samsung. Seems like the only exception to this.
ADDED 4/3: No more than 350,000 bundle gifts and no more than 50,000 box gifts will be given out during this promotion. Will take 6-8 weeks to receive items.
If they run of of the pre-order bonuses, you'll be gifted a $129 credit. Not sure how this would affect the add-on package you pay for, but maybe a refund for that. (thanks to fcb1 for info on the credit and numbers on the bundle, updated 4/3)
-------------------------------------------------
Places to pre-order:
Will include any notes about anything I'm personally uncertain about, even after looking in the site itself. Will appreciate anyone who can clarify things.
Carrier-specific deals (see list below this section) should be able to be stacked at these locations as well, but ask them, just to be sure.
Unless you buy the device upfront, you only have to pay tax and activation fee (unless you have a corporate discount or other exceptions) when you pick up the device. Depending on the carrier, you may also have to pay additional money upfront, as a down payment.
List Updated: 4/3/2017 @ approx 1:20PM EDT
Thanks to LoliSmith, 954wrecker, eyc, & LoliSmith for contributing to the list thus far~
Best Buy: (Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint)
Save up to $100 when you pre-order the S8 & S8+
You save $50 on the S8, $100 on the S8+.
NOTE: You MUST choose a payment plan to get this deal as if you buy the device upfront, you will have to pay the full retail price (varies by carrier). The $50 or $100 discount is an overall discount, but you basically save a lil bit every month, over the course of the plan -- S8: save $2.09/mo for 24 months, AT&T Next 30 months - save $1.67/mo | S8+: save $4.17/mo for 24 months, AT&T Next 30 months - save $3.35/mo
Samsung: (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile)
By purchasing the phone directly from Samsung, you don't have to wait to get the pre-order bonuses, as they'll get shipped with the device. Won't need to submit the form on Samsung Promotions to redeem it.
Will get the devices a day early, on 4/20
NOTE: If you pre-order from Samsung directly, these are NOT unlocked phones. You will have to wait until May to get the unlocked version.
Walmart: (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, US Cellular - in-store ONLY), (Straight Talk - BOTH online & in-store), (Total Wireless - online ONLY)
You can save $150 when pre-ordering the S8/S8+ (uncertain if this is a credit on the device like Best Buy's offer or a Gift Card - needs confirmation)
MUST sign up for the installment plan to get the deal, otherwise you pay full retail. - ONLY valid on Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint
Added 4/6:You MUST do a $50 down payment (OR whatever amount your carrier requires you to put down as a down payment). When you pick up the phone, the amount you put down as a down payment is stacked with the $150 discount. Then from there, that amount is divided into the number of months for your payment plan with your carrier.
LoliSmith said:
So for the Verizon S8, you pay the sales tax on $720 and $50 downpayment to Walmart and then it would be this:
$720 - $150 discount - $50 downpayment = $520 = $21.67/mo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NOTE: If you want to pre-order in-store, you can NOT go to any Walmart location. It's specific ones and even the ones that do pre-orders, may not have your specific carrier. I found it to be quite hit and miss when I put my location in. Your experience may vary.
Target: (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint)
You get a $100 Target gift card with purchase and activation of S8 & S8+ (uncertain if you can get the gift card if you buy the phone upfront. I believe you can, but I want to be 100% sure - needs confirmation)
Sam's Club: (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, US Cellular)
You get a $150 Sam's Club gift card with purchase and activation of S8 & S8+ (uncertain if you can use the gift card at Walmart, or is Sam's Club specific. Heard that it can also be used at Walmart. - needs confirmation)
Added 4/3:You MUST do a payment plan as you can NOT buy devices outright.
Must pre-order between 3/30/17 and 4/12/17 and have to pick up and activate the device between 4/21 & 4/30
Added 4/3: Seems like you can ONLY pre-order online. (I checked their front page, after discovering the original link I plopped here wasn't working. If anyone has had success pre-ordering in-store, let me know. - needs confirmation)
No activation fee IF you pick up the phone between 4/21 - 4/23
NOTE: You must have a Sam's Club membership to pre-order from them.
Costco: (Verizon ONLY - If you're on AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint, you HAVE to wait until launch to purchase the device)
Pre-order in-store ONLY
You MUST do a payment plan as you can NOT buy devices outright.
Pre-order bonus of a pair of Level U Pro headphones
Includes TYLT Power Essentials pack: TYLT 5200mAh battery pack, 3' micro USB cable, 3' USB-C cable, Dual Port 4.8A Car Charger, Dual Port 4.8A Car Charger, Carrying Case
NOTE: MUST be a Costco member to pre-order here.
NOTE 4/3: I went to Costco to clarify the deal, so this is current to what I was told. I asked about the gift card someone else mentioned, and there will be NO gift cards via pre-order. They will only come AFTER launch, and it's gonna depend on the carrier. Will update this if that changes.
Directly from carriers:
Includes all carrier-specific offers. If you pre-order them elsewhere (list above), the deals other retailers offer should stack, but double check, if you want actually want to take advantage of these offers below.
Unless you buy the device upfront, you only have to pay tax and activation fee (unless you have a corporate discount) when you pick up the device. Depending on the carrier, you may also have to pay additional money upfront, as a down payment.
Verizon:
Full Retail Cost: $720 (S8), $840 (S8+)
Payment Plan for 24 months: $30/mo. (S8), $35/mo. (S8+)
You can lower your monthly payment to as little as $15/mo. with an eligible trade in device AND enrollment in the Verizon Unlimited Plan. There's other restrictions, besides the two big ones I mentioned previously, so be sure to read the fine print before going through with the offer.
Down Payment: $0
AT&T:
Full Retail Cost: $750 (S8), $850 (S8+)
AT&T Next Pricing: 24 months ($31.25/mo. for S8, $35.42/mo. for S8+) or 30 months ($25/mo. for S8, $28.34/mo. for S8+)
Down Payment: $0 (ADDED 4/3: However, you may have to put a down payment of 30%. Optional with good credit. Might be required otherwise.)
There's a BOGO deal, however here's the catch: One of those lines MUST be a new line AND you also MUST be a new or current DIRECTV customer. You can bypass the new line requirement if you simply open a new line and cancel one of your current lines.
Can get a Gear S3 smartwatch for $50 (full retail: $300), but a 2-year contract is required.
Can get a Tab E or Gear S2 smartwatch for $1, but a 2-year contract is required.
T-Mobile:
Full Retail Cost: $750 (S8), $850 (S8+)
Payment Plan for 24 months: Depends on your credit -- Great ($30/mo for S8 & S8+), Average ($7/mo for S8, $8/mo. for S8+)
Down Payment: Depends with credit -- Great ($30 for S8, $130. for S8+), Average ($582 for S8, $658. for S8+)
Requires purchase of a SIM starter kit, $25 (Is this also the case in-store or this only happens online? What about those that already have a nano SIM in their current phone? - needs clarification)
Sprint:
Full Retail Cost: $750 (S8), $850 (S8+)
Payment Plan for 18 months: Varies with credit -- Great ($31.25/mo for S8, $35.42/mo for S8+), Average ($18.75/mo for S8, $21.53/mo for S8+), No credit check (Can't purchase devices)
Payment Plan for 24 months: Varies with credit -- Great ($31.25/mo for S8, $35.42/mo for S8+), Average ($21.88/mo for S8, $25/mo for S8+), No credit check (Can't purchase devices)
Down Payment: Varies with credit -- Great ($0 for S8 & S8+), Average ($220 for S8, $250 for S8+), No credit check (Can't purchase devices)
Free activation if you pre-order online or over the phone.
Galaxy Forever: Upgrade to the next Galaxy phone any time after 12 months with the 18-month plan.
Can enter to win a home entertainment system from Samsung -- "Enter for a chance to take home the grand prize: a 65" Q8C Curved QLED TV and Dolby Atmos sound bar. Or, enter daily to win a Galaxy S8 accessories pack – a $230 value. No purchase necessary. For complete Official Rules, including entry instructions and prize details, go to sprint.com/s8sweeps."
US Cellular:
Full Retail Cost: $674.99 (S8), $784.99 (S8+) (Can you buy the phone outright if you're a current customer? Was a lil confused when I looked on their site... - needs clarification)
Payment Plan for S8: Only 30 months. Can be free with monthly credits, see note below.
Payment Plan for S8+: 20 months - $41.76/mo., 24 months - $34.80/mo., 30 months - $27.84/mo.
Down Payment: $0
NOTE: Trade in an eligible phone (Galaxy S6 or later; iPhone 5s or later) between 3/30 and 4/20 and you can get the S8 for free (via monthly credits), otherwise, you'll get a $100 gift card. You also have to be on their Total Plan or Shared Connect plan and subscribe to the company's Device Protection + program as well.
For MetroPCS, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile USA, Cricket:
You can't pre-order the devices, so they'll be available upon launch on 4/21. (Can you still get the Gear VR deal at launch with these companies, or is this only available for the carriers that you can do pre-orders for? I assume not, but not 100% sure. - needs clarification)
With MetroPCS, you can pre-register for the device, so upon launch you can get the free Gear VR & Controller after purchase. Unlike the carriers where you can do pre-orders for, to redeem this offer, you have to go through MetroPCS's offer site, not Samsung Promotions. You must use the same email that you used when you pre-registered for the device and upload an image file of your purchase receipt by 5/21/17.
FluxionFluff said:
Assuming you're not buying an international variant (or waiting until the official unlocked version releases in May) and using it in the US, where's the best place to pre-order your device?
I technically already pre-ordered mine at Best Buy, but if there's a better place listed, I might just cancel my current pre-order and order it elsewhere. For reference, I'm on AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the walmart site it says $150 off, but when I type in my zip code to find where to pre-order, I get an error. Walmart store reps are clueless about the offer.
https://wm6.walmart.com/galaxys8storefinder
Sam's Club has a $150 gift card with pre-orders and waived activation fees if you pickup on the 21st-23rd, but you have to have a SC's membership to buy.
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/html/desktop/samsung/preorder.html
From what I read, SC gift cards can be used at Walmart. Double check that because I just read that on the internet.
Target is offering a $100 gift card with pre-orders.
https://mobilepreorder.target.com/
why are there none of these promos for tmobile, anyone know?
am i missing something about using another carrier because they use the same radio. i assume they come unlocked
FluxionFluff said:
Assuming you're not buying an international variant (or waiting until the official unlocked version releases in May) and using it in the US, where's the best place to pre-order your device?
I technically already pre-ordered mine at Best Buy, but if there's a better place listed, I might just cancel my current pre-order and order it elsewhere. For reference, I'm on AT&T.
And I thought this thread could be helpful for those haven't pre-ordered yet. I can update this post as needed, so it'll be easier to reference.
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All pre-orders of the S8/S8+ will get a free Gear VR & Controller, but you can also add on a $99 package to also get a pair of bluetooth AKG over-the-ear headphones and a 256GB microSD card.
Note: You can't actually redeem it UNTIL you receive your device.
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Best Buy:
Save up to $100 when you pre-order the S8 & S*+
You save $50 on the S8, $100 on the S8+. You MUST choose a payment plan to get this deal as if you buy the device upfront, you will have to pay the full retail price (varies by carrier).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regular price on samsung.com but no waiting for the bonus packages they ship with the phones early. No forms to fill out after getting the phone then waiting.
mitchell0714 said:
why are there none of these promos for tmobile, anyone know?
am i missing something about using another carrier because they use the same radio. i assume they come unlocked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently, T-Mobile doesn't want them to sell them in most 3rd party locations, such as Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. I've seen T-Mobile devices sold at Costco still, so not sure what's up with that. For a while, Costco didn't even have them to begin with, only Verizon, AT&T, and maybe Sprint. Was only recently that I saw T-Mobile there.
I'm not sure if you bought one at one carrier if it'd work in another as sometimes there will be missing bands as the phone was designed for that specific carrier. It depends on the phone really. Verizon is pretty notorious about using phones that weren't specifically designed for their network.
Unless it's changed from a few years ago, even if the phone had the correct bands to work on their CDMA network, if the phone wasn't whitelisted, you couldn't use it. Between T-Mobile and AT&T, it's much easier to go back and forth because they both use GSM networks and you can generally just plop in your SIM card and you're good to go, assuming you have the phone unlocked (or just buy an unlocked phone from the start). This is also why most of the US tech bloggers/Youtubers have either AT&T or T-Mobile.
LoliSmith said:
On the walmart site it says $150 off, but when I type in my zip code to find where to pre-order, I get an error. Walmart store reps are clueless about the offer.
https://wm6.walmart.com/galaxys8storefinder
Sam's Club has a $150 gift card with pre-orders and waived activation fees if you pickup on the 21st-23rd, but you have to have a SC's membership to buy.
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/html/desktop/samsung/preorder.html
From what I read, SC gift cards can be used at Walmart. Double check that because I just read that on the internet.
Target is offering a $100 gift card with pre-orders.
https://mobilepreorder.target.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the links~ Added to the OP.
Also, I looked into the Walmart one and turns out... it depends on your location. For me, when I put my location in, the nearest one that will do it, is like 45 min away. T.T My local ones in town aren't listed. I could try to go to my local one and see what's up, but that's something to keep in mind.
I did try to look into if Sam's Club gift cards actually work at Walmart as well, but besides stuff on the internet, I have no first hand experience with Sam's Club as there isn't one near me. Need someone who has dealt with this, to clarify. :/
954wrecker said:
Regular price on samsung.com but no waiting for the bonus packages they ship with the phones early. No forms to fill out after getting the phone then waiting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the links~ Added to the OP.
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Just updated the list will all the info I know. If there's anything I'm not certain about, I included that, and will appreciate any clarification. Will add stuff as I find out stuff myself or from what people have posted and I double check it.
Anyone here get tangled up in the Note7 recall? A lesson to be learned is that if there's a problem with the phone in general or yours in particular where you buy it makes a difference.
The mass market B&M retailers including Best Buy were incredibly difficult for people to deal with. Target and Walmart being exceptionally bad. Online, Amazon was fantastic and B&H gets honorable mention. Ironically Samsung.com get's a resounding "F." People who pre-ordered from them were the last to get their phones and they were clueless and helpless during the recall. Samsung.com isn't run by Samsung. It's run by Digital River on their behalf. I've had problems even ordering accessories from them. I'd stay far away. People that bought grey market phones from eBay in many cases were either left with no refund or spent inordinate amounts of time trying to get their Note7's refunded. So - Caveat Emptor,
BarryH_GEG said:
Anyone here get tangled up in the Note7 recall? A lesson to be learned is that if there's a problem with the phone in general or yours in particular where you buy it makes a difference.
The mass market B&M retailers including Best Buy were incredibly difficult for people to deal with. Target and Walmart being exceptionally bad. Online, Amazon was fantastic and B&H gets honorable mention. Ironically Samsung.com get's a resounding "F." People who pre-ordered from them were the last to get their phones and they were clueless and helpless during the recall. Samsung.com isn't run by Samsung. It's run by Digital River on their behalf. I've had problems even ordering accessories from them. I'd stay far away. People that bought grey market phones from eBay in many cases were either left with no refund or spent inordinate amounts of time trying to get their Note7's refunded. So - Caveat Emptor,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can attest to the fact that samsung.com or digital river is completely useless in every way for any type of customer service issue from simple to complex.
BarryH_GEG said:
Target and Walmart being exceptionally bad.
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Click to collapse
I had a wonderful experience with Target. They let me keep not only the $100 gift card for the trade in (which they had to) but also the $200 gift card for adding a new line. I returned the Note 7 for a full refund.
Those who didn't and exchanged for the replacement notes did even better - they kept the gift cards and freebies from the first Note 7, then got a second round of freebies for the replacement Note 7. Then returned that and got an S7E and got more freebies and a $100 bill credit from Verizon.
Best.Deal.Ever
Anywhere you can buy from without tax?
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
oneandroidnut said:
Anywhere you can buy from without tax?
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably not if the state you live charges tax. When the unlocked one is released B&H doesn't charge tax outside its state.
LoliSmith said:
I had a wonderful experience with Target. They let me keep not only the $100 gift card for the trade in (which they had to) but also the $200 gift card for adding a new line. I returned the Note 7 for a full refund.
Those who didn't and exchanged for the replacement notes did even better - they kept the gift cards and freebies from the first Note 7, then got a second round of freebies for the replacement Note 7. Then returned that and got an S7E and got more freebies and a $100 bill credit from Verizon.
Best.Deal.Ever
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was one of the first to receive a pre-order Note7 from AT&T. I was the one the first to exchange it during recall round 1. I was one of the first to get a S7e when Samsung threw in the towel. I was on the Note7 forum for a long time before and after all that. What I shared was capsulized from what I read there. I'm glad you had a good experience but there were plenty of people who bought through Target who had ended up disputing the charge on their credit card after getting stonewalled in-store only to have Target challenge the dispute. In most cases it worked out but what about all the time, hassle, and strife people went through? Chains like Walmart and Target are luck of the draw with very different experiences based on city and region. I'm in Southern Louisiana and I'd buy nothing more complicated than lettuce or toilet paper from either of them because if the before-sale experience is awful I can only imagine what after-sale would look like.
I'm buying a UK S8+ this time but if I were buying a carrier version the Note7 experience taught me the value of dealing with a company to whom I'm not a one-time sale (EG: Best Buy, Target, Walmart) vs. a carrier to who I pay $2K a year. From the Note7 debacle I got a 128GB storage card, Gear VR, $100 bill credit, $100 in waived Next payments, a S7e outright for the Next pay-off ($385) of my returned Note5, and a Gear S3 for $49. Not everyone had my experience with AT&T just like others didn't have yours at Target. But I can say without question Note7 owners dealing with a carrier vs. third party resellers (especially Samsung.com) faired far better. Where third parties rigorously enforce returns, exchanges, and service policies (and some even have their own separate ET clauses) carriers apply some subjectivity because of your overall worth to them.
It would be hard to imagine a repeat of the Note7 debacle so the above is admittedly extreme. But where you buy your phone still matters.
BarryH_GEG said:
Anyone here get tangled up in the Note7 recall? A lesson to be learned is that if there's a problem with the phone in general or yours in particular where you buy it makes a difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard about that debacle, but I didn't have a Note 7, so this didn't affect me at all. I was wondering though, for those who were affected, are they getting any discounts for an upcoming device? I heard that this was the case in South Korea, but I'm quite unsure about elsewhere as I honestly didn't look too much into it because I never owned a Note 7 myself.
oneandroidnut said:
Anywhere you can buy from without tax?
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you buy it secondhand, like from Swappa, which is where I bought my S6. However, you will have to pay whatever amount the person wants for the device. Depending on the person, you might be able to negotiate, but don't bet on paying much less than what they're listing the device for.
Now, that's if you buy it from another person. If you buy it from a 3rd party reseller (not an individual person, but a company), you might have to pay tax, depending on where they're located and if you're located in the same location, or are on a list of states they charge sales tax in.
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Updated the list with all carrier information and specific offers that I'm aware of, at the moment.
Awesome thread. Thanks OP.
General question about the VZW promos that one of you may know:
This morning, I upgraded all devices on my family plan to the Unlimited Data Plan (3 phones and 3 tablets). But, later this evening, I learned about the S8 pre-order/upgrade/trade-in promo, where you can trade in an old phone for 50% off the S8, provided that you upgrade to UDP.
Will Verizon allow me to make use of this promo, even though I already upgraded to UDP earlier today? I'd like to trade in one mobile device (Galaxy S6) and get the 50% discount on the Galaxy S8.
Or will they fight me on this and tell me that I have to pre-order at the time of the upgrade?
eyc said:
Awesome thread. Thanks OP.
General question about the VZW promos that one of you may know:
This morning, I upgraded all devices on my family plan to the Unlimited Data Plan (3 phones and 3 tablets). But, later this evening, I learned about the S8 pre-order/upgrade/trade-in promo, where you can trade in an old phone for 50% off the S8, provided that you upgrade to UDP.
Will Verizon allow me to make use of this promo, even though I already upgraded to UDP earlier today? I'd like to trade in one mobile device (Galaxy S6) and get the 50% discount on the Galaxy S8.
Or will they fight me on this and tell me that I have to pre-order at the time of the upgrade?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I thought having everything consolidated would be helpful and nice to have it all in a single place.
Hm, as to your question, from what I can tell while I was doing research earlier, you shouldn't have an issue. As you already have the unlimited plan, you can simply jump to the step where you can trade in an eligible phone. Apparently, you can also trade in a phone after checking out too.
With the phone you trade in, it HAS to already be fully paid off and in good working condition. With the credits, they'll appear on your bill over 24 months and will start start within 1-2 cycles. They'll stop once either the phone's paid off OR the line is cancelled/transferred to an illegible plan.
I do wonder what would happen if you were to pay off the phone before 24 months ends, if you still have those credits... Because how I interpreted what I read from Verizon's site about the deal, they go poof, if you pay off the device beforehand.
FluxionFluff said:
Thanks! I thought having everything consolidated would be helpful and nice to have it all in a single place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dumb question, but what does it mean when Samsung says "while supplies last"? Since you don't get the VR set immediately upon purchase, isn't it feasible that supplies run out before you redeem the offer? That couldn't possibly be the case, right?
Usually, when someone says "while supplies last," it means that the promo will terminate early if supplies run out. But, here, Samsung can't know if supplies run out until people start trying to redeem, after their purchase. So, can people be caught in the middle and not get anything even if they purchased while supplies were still in stock?
eyc said:
Dumb question, but what does it mean when Samsung says "while supplies last"? Since you don't get the VR set immediately upon purchase, isn't it feasible that supplies run out before you redeem the offer? That couldn't possibly be the case, right?
Usually, when someone says "while supplies last," it means that the promo will terminate early if supplies run out. But, here, Samsung can't know if supplies run out until people start trying to redeem, after their purchase. So, can people be caught in the middle and not get anything even if they purchased while supplies were still in stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fine print also says it's at the company who is doing the promotions discretion to instead give you 120$ credit if they run out
BarryH_GEG said:
but if I were buying a carrier version the Note7 experience taught me the value of dealing with a company to whom I'm not a one-time sale (EG: Best Buy, Target, Walmart) vs. a carrier to who I pay $2K a year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had tremendously good customer service with Best Buy and terrible customer service with Verizon corporate stores. Either way, after the 2 week return period is up, I deal with the manufacturer directly for warranty claims. I have back up phones so it is not a problem for me to send my phone off.
AT&T customer service is definitely worse than Verizon, I switched to Verizon from AT&T and noticed the difference right away.
---------- Post added at 03:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 AM ----------
BarryH_GEG said:
It would be hard to imagine a repeat of the Note7 debacle so the above is admittedly extreme. But where you buy your phone still matters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never had a problem with Best Buy or Target. If I get the S8, I am pre-ordering it from Walmart for $150 off. With tax and upgrade fee it will come to $635 + freebies. Not sure if I will get it or not because for sure I am getting the Note 8. My Note 5 is getting long in the tooth and its battery is really showing its age.
I do have a Pixel that I haven't used yet, I guess I could use that and forego the S8. I am trying to control myself when it comes to buying phones but it is so hard to do when they are so shiny and pretty and new, lol!
FluxionFluff said:
For those [Note7 owners] who were affected, are they getting any discounts for an upcoming device? I heard that this was the case in South Korea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Samsung's U.S. SVP said "they'd make it up to us" when the Note7 first got cancelled but nothing's been done outside the similar promos offered during the Note7's launch. Lots of market surveys were done about the damage to the Samsung brand over the Note7 and how customer loyalty was affected. For the most part the results were positive. I'm sure that played a hand in what Samsung decided about doing recompense wise for former Note7 owners. They could still do something on the backend like a free accessory or Samsung.com credit. They know who we are.
eyc said:
Dumb question, but what does it mean when Samsung says "while supplies last"? Since you don't get the VR set immediately upon purchase, isn't it feasible that supplies run out before you redeem the offer? That couldn't possibly be the case, right?
Usually, when someone says "while supplies last," it means that the promo will terminate early if supplies run out. But, here, Samsung can't know if supplies run out until people start trying to redeem, after their purchase. So, can people be caught in the middle and not get anything even if they purchased while supplies were still in stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like fb1 said, you'll get a credit if they run out before you can redeem it. I have no idea how many of these Gear VRs they even plan on giving out, so the sooner you get your device, the sooner you can redeem it, and you'll be more likely to receive it.
Considering it's gonna take a few weeks anyway to confirm and get the free gift, they could always make more in the meantime. That, and I assume they're basing their estimates on how many people pre-ordered the S7 and then adding some additional stock from there. There's no way to know the exact number of Gear VRs they put to the side, unless you actually work for Samsung. Even if you did, that information would be on the DL anyway...
fcb1 said:
The fine print also says it's at the company who is doing the promotions discretion to instead give you 120$ credit if they run out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know fcb1! Will add that to the front, so people are aware of that lil note.
BarryH_GEG said:
Nope. Samsung's U.S. SVP said "they'd make it up to us" when the Note7 first got cancelled but nothing's been done outside the similar promos offered during the Note7's launch. Lots of market surveys were done about the damage to the Samsung brand over the Note7 and how customer loyalty was affected. For the most part the results were positive. I'm sure that played a hand in what Samsung decided about doing recompense wise for former Note7 owners. They could still do something on the backend like a free accessory or Samsung.com credit. They know who we are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ouch. :/ That sucks. Hope they do something about it. Maybe something for the upcoming Note 8 launch this fall, as I assume that people who had the Note 7, would want another Note, rather than an S phone. Who knows. It's all speculation until they actually do something.
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Feel free to let me know if I missed any offers, typos, clarify things I'm certain about. Will update the list as needed.