Galaxy S4 - 32gb from Verizon pulled?

[Crosley123]

So...WTH? Heard Verizon FINALLY was offering the 32gb version of the Galaxy S4. Walked in the store and was promptly informed that it was only offered for a 'few weeks to help with supply' then pulled. Only 16gb offered now with no plans for 32gb to be offered. Tried online with Verizon and was told basically the same story.

Can someone please explain to me how this makes any sense? And should I just walk away from the S4 and move on to something else?

 

[mike145]

Te 32GB is still in stock here at our big red.

 

[Crosley123]

Which store is this and may I order directly from them?

 

[Crashumbc]

I would suspect carriers, at least in the US, are doing everything in their power to keep memory size to a minimum.

The less space you have on the phone the more bandwidth they can charge you for to download what you need.


So happy, I paid full price for my S4 so I could keep my unlimited plan on VZW.

 

[rushmore]

The 32GB is no longer an option on the VZW site. Whatever the reason, it is not because of low demand, since sold out each time they got stock into warehouses.

 

[Goodspike]

I would suspect it is because of low depend relative to their inventory concerns. They have all the new Moto devices to start stocking, and I doubt the 32GB version of a phone with MicroSD is all that great.

 

[rushmore]

Considering per VZW own people the 32GB sells out as soon as they get them in, how would that not be "great" as far as customer demand? The S4 is the only 32GB with sd that VZW has. The Moto's are all Googlefied devices with no SD, in contrast to Moto's past vocal support of sd cards- pre Googlefication.

Again, if a consumer does not want the 32gb version fine, but imposing one's own standards upon those that do seems very nanny-like. Verizon is getting nanny-like in regards to their total customer base. Then again, they have been very accommodating with the NSA stuff... Par for the course

Added: As far as Google, seems the Android icon is beginning to become shaped like an Apple, since seem to want to be so much like them.

 

[jhawkkw]

Being sold out a lot could mean two things. High demand, or low supply. So there is a possibility that this was Samsung's doing and not Verizon's. Either way, this is a price one pays to be on a closed CDMA network.

 

[Goodspike]

Being sold out a lot could mean two things. High demand, or low supply.

Exactly. I suspect it was the latter.

Does anyone remember what the price difference was for that extra 16GB?

 

[Veritas4420]

the 32gb option seemed to be a big deal. I don't know how the demand could have been low.

 

[Goodspike]

the 32gb option seemed to be a big deal. I don't know how the demand could have been low.

I'm not sure what you're basing the "big deal" comment on, but the tech press seems to consider a phone being offered in red to be a big deal.

But here's my analysis:

8GB of free space compared to 26GB of free space without a MicroSD card.
72GB of free space compared to 88GB of free space with a $50 MicroSD card.

How much would you be willing to pay for that extra 16GB, when you can get 64GB extra for $50? How many people need over 72GB of storage?

 

[SirEagle]

Exactly. I suspect it was the latter.

Does anyone remember what the price difference was for that extra 16GB?

$50 was the difference in the upgrade cost.

 

[Goodspike]

$50 was the difference in the upgrade cost.

Thanks. So basically the same price for an extra 16GB as what a 64GB MicroSD card would cost. I realize there are benefits to the former, but how many people really care?

 

[lotus49]

While I would have slightly preferred a 32GB S4, I really don't think it's that big a deal unless you don't want to root.

Managing with the lower memory size hasn't been an issue for me at all despite all the wailing and gnashing of teeth coming from some people here. Some apps allow you to put the data on the external SD card and for ones that don't there is FolderMount. If you like the S4, don't let this put you off, it really isn't that big a deal (or it hasn't been for me).

 

[Crosley123]

Thanks for all the feedback folks!

 

[rushmore]

I'm not sure what you're basing the "big deal" comment on, but the tech press seems to consider a phone being offered in red to be a big deal.

But here's my analysis:

8GB of free space compared to 26GB of free space without a MicroSD card.
72GB of free space compared to 88GB of free space with a $50 MicroSD card.

How much would you be willing to pay for that extra 16GB, when you can get 64GB extra for $50? How many people need over 72GB of storage?

Depends on the user. If you have a lot of apps and prefer them on the device and the card for media use, 32gb is best bet. No need to mess with mount apps or root. The price difference is best viewed from a total cost rather than just the monetary difference. With the 32gb, no worries for me and my many apps. Worth the $50 as a result.

 

[RadioZero]

looks like the 32 gb versions are still available online (VZ) in White or Black. so, i don't know what you guys are talking about.

 

[itsallgood]

If you are a big gamer, then go with the 32GB version. (I have over 10GB of apps on my phone.) I started out with the 16GB, but took it back for the 32GB version, because I ran out of space reinstalling the same apps I had on my previous phone. (I have a 32GB SD card too.) At the time, Samsung didn't push the update to move apps to SD card. Even now, you can only move apps under 50MB to SD card, which doesn't move the additional files for those apps. So, spending the extra $50 was worth it in my case.

 

[rushmore]

looks like the 32 gb versions are still available online (VZ) in White or Black. so, i don't know what you guys are talking about.

They were sold out again. Whenever the option still shows but no ability to order, that is usually what it means (per VZW). When the option is gone- then there is probably an issue (per VZW).

 

[Goodspike]

If you are a big gamer, then go with the 32GB version. (I have over 10GB of apps on my phone.)

That's the one case where I could see it would be critical.

 

[Don S]

I'm not sure what you guys are seeing, but I see the 32 GB version available on the website right now ...

 

[EdRoos]

Their web site still had it this week. WTH???

 

[Holydoc]

Ordered my 32gb from Amazon. Two days and it was in my hands.

 

[Gomjaba]

I don't think I ever seen any other version but the 16GB one here in the UK. S3, S4 or otherwise. There was some 64GB available online which was an Asian import and I'd have to re-mortgage the house to afford it. So 16GB+ 64GB SD is the only option here.

 

[Nick33]

While I would have slightly preferred a 32GB S4, I really don't think it's that big a deal unless you don't want to root.

Managing with the lower memory size hasn't been an issue for me at all despite all the wailing and gnashing of teeth coming from some people here. Some apps allow you to put the data on the external SD card and for ones that don't there is FolderMount. If you like the S4, don't let this put you off, it really isn't that big a deal (or it hasn't been for me).

Loving the biblical imagery lotus hahaha nice.
Personally i don't care... as long as the damn phone works the way it's supposed to! U can always add more space.

A little off this topic, but i HAVE noticed they changed the color/design on the back of the black models.. Hmmm