Nexus 5 from Google directly, save myself carrier buy-in

[tim_s]

Hi,

 

Right now the latest trend in my country is that if you bring your own phone, they will offer a discount on your monthly rate and you can negate terms.  I am fighting the mental battle between carrier independence at a sustainable low rate vs the latest in technology with a lot of expansion for me to become a carrier pet (pseudo money providing puppy dog).

 

To be more specific I am talking about the difference of buying a Nexus 5 from Google directly for $350.00, which for me is an affordable expense with the ability to have carrier independence, which is one of my grips with the phone industry in my country of Canada ? or ? eating the monthly cost and suffering the will and greed of the typical phone carrier but have the impressive Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with new VR features, which is pretty darn sexy if you ask me.

 

I thought, I should reach out to my fellow nerds in the world and see if I need my head straightened pushed in the right direction.

[Draconian Guppy]

Don't carrier subsidies end up costing much more in terms of the contract length? I've always been carrier free, bring my own device in case I want to switch, go overseas, etc.

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

Wait for the new Nexus phone which i imagine will be announced soon, then buy that for a similar price to the Nexus 5.

[tim_s]

Don't carrier subsidies end up costing much more in terms of the contract length? I've always been carrier free, bring my own device in case I want to switch, go overseas, etc.

 

You got it, you understand my point exactly.  

 

Shall I live within the limitations of the Nexus family of devices for the freedom of carrier independence with an affordable backup plan, I.e. lose my device - just buy another?, Upgrade time, stay current.

- or -

Maybe I live the dream with high costs to reach out to the less reasonable prices devices with a much more modern experience, VR etc and sell my soul to the phone carrier.

Wait for the new Nexus phone which i imagine will be announced soon, then buy that for a similar price to the Nexus 5.

Will it only be $350.00?

[tim_s]

Keep the votes coming in :)

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

Wait for the new Nexus phone which i imagine will be announced soon, then buy that for a similar price to the Nexus 5.

 

 

it is not likely to have the same price.

 

 

 

note 4 is much bigger phone with newer tech.       i personally prefer to stay in the 4.7-5 inch range.     but i would not buy nexus 5 now. nexus 6 is around the corner and i would wait to see what it is.

 

 

 

 

do you really need a NEW phone.    otherwise xperia z2 and lg g2 are awesome and can be had a a good price.

[teriba]

Wait for the Nexus 6. It will be the same price or only slightly more.

[+Warwagon MVC]

I haven't bought a phone on contract since 2005 :D

[Eclipse77]

I agree with wait for the Nexus 6.

 

As far as the carrier goes, don't bother. There's wifi everywhere. If you're on Shaw internet, they have hotspots all over the place. Rogers offers a PAYG plan that's 250MB for $15, which should be enough to get you by between hotspots if you're careful. Then just grab the Magic Jack app and use it as your phone, and TextMe as you're texting app. That's what I do, and my phone literally costs me $15 a month. I don't know why anyone would pay $80+ per month on their phone plan.

 

 

[+Ichigo+]

If you know you will be with the carrier for say the next two years I would get the note 4 at the reduced rate. Remember that they only have two year contracts now. 

[tim_s]

^ I like the month to month advantage. The Nexus is very reasonably charged and I am happy to keep the line current :)

[Chris123NT]

Wait for the nexus 6, it's made by Motorola so you know it will have a good cell antenna.  The one on the nexus 5 sucks.  I actually stopped using mine because it was so bad.