I'm looking at getting the S10 Plus. So I know the pros and cons of buying unlocked. However, I don't believe I take advantage of these pros any longer. As I've grown older I do less "tinkering" with my phones. I haven't rooted the last 2 phones I've had, for example. My current phone is an LG V20, which is a couple of years old. So if I go to sell it, I am not getting much money for it. And that's what got me thinking about buying straight from ATT.
Here's how my thought process works:
Scenario - If I buy a phone and want to sell it when I want to upgrade to the next phone.
Unlocked - I buy a phone for $1000, then sell it for $500 (if I'm lucky) and get my next phone. Result, I'm out $500 and have a new phone.
With ATT - I buy a phone for $1000, and after a year I've paid $500 for the phone. I can then trade it in for a new phone. Result, I'm out $500, have a new phone, and don't have to worry about trying to sell my old phone.
When I think in those terms, I no longer see the upside to buying outright, unlocked. Is there a reason I should avoid buying on the installment plan with ATT (I know bloatware, but I don't see that as a *huge* issue) and instead buying unlocked?
Here's how my thought process works:
Scenario - If I buy a phone and want to sell it when I want to upgrade to the next phone.
Unlocked - I buy a phone for $1000, then sell it for $500 (if I'm lucky) and get my next phone. Result, I'm out $500 and have a new phone.
With ATT - I buy a phone for $1000, and after a year I've paid $500 for the phone. I can then trade it in for a new phone. Result, I'm out $500, have a new phone, and don't have to worry about trying to sell my old phone.
When I think in those terms, I no longer see the upside to buying outright, unlocked. Is there a reason I should avoid buying on the installment plan with ATT (I know bloatware, but I don't see that as a *huge* issue) and instead buying unlocked?
