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You might remember last Thursday when the Nexus 5 officially became available for sale via T-Mobile’s. That was for pre-order and Google’s latest flagship wouldn’t be shipping until the 20th.
Today the Nexus 5 has arrived at T-Mobile retail locations around the US, which means you can finally hop on over to your local retail location and physically walk out of the store with a shiny matte new Nexus 5. Oh, and the Nexus 7 (2013) LTE is also available in-store as well.
Of course, when buying a new device with T-Mobile versus the Google Play Store you pay less upfront, but in the end it will cost you more. The Nexus 5 from T-mobile is $42 down, and $17 a month for 2 years. That’s about $450 for the 16GB, a full hundred bucks more than you’d pay versus buying on Google Play (and $50 more than the 32GB version).
The Nexus 7 for T-Mobile? Well, it’s not so bad. At $0 down and $16 a month for 2 years, it adds up to a grand total of $384 — only $34 more than you’d pay on Google Play ($350). Don’t forget T-Mobile also gives tablet users 200MB of data, something that can definitely come in handy when out and about.
Still, when a friend or family member is looking for their next smartphone, getting them to plop down $400 — as “affordable” as that may sound to you and I — isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Guess that’s why we have high-interest credit cards, isn’t it?
no 32gb option at Magenta?
No white option either (at least not yet) :/
Why would anyone do this?
Read the article. It kinda explains it…
It comes down to how long you are going to keep your phone and if you’re enrolling in Jump. As an example, for two lines on the 2GB/month ($100/month) service, up front cost for 2 Nexus 5’s from Google ($700) and 1 year of TMobile service will run you $1900. Through Tmobile, with the same data plan, Jump, and phone costs, the total over the same period is $1932.
That’s not a big difference and the phones are also insured for that entire period as well under Jump. When the Nexus 6 is released next year, upgrading is simple.
or some people its not about not being able to “afford” $400 for the google play version… some people have their money budgeted out… and with Xbox/ps4 launching this month, its much easier for them to simple swallow spending $450 now for their new system and a phone.. and pay less than $20 a month over the next few months, than to spend $800 on yourself right before the holidays…
And the Moto X is where in stores?
I wonder if those $34 take into account any Play Store shipping charges on the 7?
I’d be all over the 7 if there were a white to match my 5. It’s the reason why the wireless charger wasn’t an instabuy.
Edit: Temporary free shipping on Play Store. Also don’t forget you can trade in your old tablet at T-Mobile, for whatever that’s worth.
I was there this morning phone in hand ready to pull the trigger , but was really wanting the white , a no go , and really needed the 32 gig version also a no go, Just remember with the 16 gig version , after the os you only have 12 gig left for storage , i’m sorry peeps , but I need a little more then that with my crackflashing tendencies…..lol , I got my eye on afew on craigslist if all goes well , I should have a 32 gig version in my hands at 10 am tomorrow for only 325 !!!!! wish me luck….Peace……………
I wouldn’t buy it in store, I am just glad I can see one in person before I make my choice.
With no expandable storage, 16gb is just too small for a modern device, especially over the next 2 years. I really don’t understand why a 16gb was made since storage is crazy cheap.
so some people, for others 16gb is usable… which is why it was sold out for quite some time…
the 16gb version is the one continually out of stock. Back when the Nexus 4 was first released it was the 16gb version rather than the cheaper 8gb version that went out of stock fastest. So I’d say 16gb is actually probably the sweet spot for the ‘average’ user. I certainly can’t foresee ever needing more than 16gb on my phone as long as actual usable space stays around 12gb.
i have nooooooo problem with 16gb, I rarely crack 6gb used on my phone, so i appreciate a cheaper model, hell i would still pay for a cheaper 8gb model if it was available
Ordered my nexus 7 from Tmo with a biz account, last Tuesday. They sent me my phone twice, and still no tablet. Supposedly a system error and no one has received them. I’m also told by every store manager in Orlando that they are NOT carrying the N7 in stores. Only able to be ordered. Still waiting. Ugh.