# How much does it cost you to own your smart phone?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 9, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312 "2012-03-09T19:06:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@With\_Rye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/With_Rye)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/1 "2012-03-09T19:06:24Z")
I’m wondering if it’s worth it to upgrade my dumb phone.
I’m paying $15 a month right now, which includes 200 text messages (the phone was free). As you can see, I’m not a heavy user at all. I am considering getting a smart phone to see what I’ve been missing, but not if it’ll cost me several hundred for the phone and like $100 a month for voice and data.
How much do you pay to own yours?
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### Author:  [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/2 "2012-03-09T19:10:36Z")
> [@With\_Rye](#):
>
> I’m wondering if it’s worth it to upgrade my dumb phone.
>
> I’m paying $15 a month right now, which includes 200 text messages (the phone was free). As you can see, I’m not a heavy user at all. I am considering getting a smart phone to see what I’ve been missing, but not if it’ll cost me several hundred for the phone and like $100 a month for voice and data.
>
> How much do you pay to own yours?
Free phone if I signed up for a 2 year contract, about $70/month for voice and data.
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### Author:  [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/3 "2012-03-09T19:12:36Z")
$39.99 a month for the voice plan on my AT&T iPhone. $5.00 for 200 texts per month. $15 for 200 MB of data. Total amount including taxes, about $67 a month.
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### Author:  [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/4 "2012-03-09T19:13:05Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#):
>
> Free phone if I signed up for a 2 year contract, about $70/month for voice and data.
Mine is about that as well for voice, texting and unlimited data. iPhone 4 on att.
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### Author:  [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/5 "2012-03-09T19:17:28Z")
I just did this [myself](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=626718) - I was paying quite a bit more than you are, though. I went with [this phone](http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phones/lg-optimus-v-phone.jsp) for $129.00 from Virgin, and pay [$35/month](http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phone-plans/beyond-talk-plans.jsp) for 300 calling minutes and unlimited everything else.
I will say that once or twice, I’ve totally lost data coverage for several days at a time. I use web functionality so little that it’s always resolved itself before I got around to contacting Virgin about it. I’ve never had any problem with calls or texts, but you may want to check their [coverage](http://www.virginmobileusa.com/check-cell-phone-coverage) in your area.
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### Author:  [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/6 "2012-03-09T19:26:28Z")
I bought a smartphone last summer because I wanted to use the smart parts while on vacation. The phone cost $150 (after rebate) and about $77 a month for voice and data. I couldn’t stand paying that much (i could afford it, just couldn’t stand it). I negotiated with the company, paid $30 for a new dumbphone which costs about $20 a month for voice. They let me out of my first contract w/o penalty. Then I bought a wi-fi only iPad which i love.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/7 "2012-03-09T19:39:26Z")
I have an iPhone 4S under contract with AT&T. I pay about $58 per month for 450 minutes (the lowest amount available) and unlimited data. (They no longer offer an unlimited data plan, but I’m grandfathered in for thirty bucks per month.) I get a discount of about twenty percent through my employer so that helps some.
I recommend that the OP keep the current phone and get an iPod Touch or iPad for the smartphone features.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/8 "2012-03-09T19:47:42Z")
T-Mobile. 500 minutes, unlimited text and data (“2GB full-speed”) for $70. I average about 10 minutes voice and less than 20MB data use per month.
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### Author:  [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/9 "2012-03-09T19:52:43Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> (They no longer offer an unlimited data plan, but I’m grandfathered in for thirty bucks per month.) .
They barely offer that anymore:
> [@](#):
>
> [After catching some heat for throttling unlimited data last month, AT&T may receive a little less flack due to contract clauses that always stated it had the power to limit such services.](http://www.dailytech.com/ATT+Contracts+Have+Always+Stipulated+Data+Throttling+Despite+Customer+Complaints+/article24174.htm)
> Just last month, AT&T unlimited users took to the internet when some realized that their unlimited data was throttled only after 1-2 GB. Some complained that they received notices from AT&T saying they were reaching their slowed point only after 1.6 GB, and others have said their download speed dropped to 256 Kbps after 3 GB of data.
I was sad when I left AT&T for Sprint as I had been grandfathered in (I just couldn’t justify having to spend that much more for texting), but now I’m glad my loyalty was as much as theirs.
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### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/10 "2012-03-09T19:57:49Z")
I pay about $110/month with all taxes and fees from AT&T for the iPhone, and I have a fairly low-to -medium use plan.
Here’s the breakdown:
Nation 450 with Rollover - $39.99 (I believe that’s the lowest rate plan)
Messaging Unlimited with Mobile to Any Mobile Calling - $20 (You can pay messaging as you go, if you wish.) It seems that AT&T no longer has limited text plans, so far as I can tell. It’s all or nothing. Otherwise, it’s $0.20 a text message, $0.30 a picture/video message.
Data Unlimited for iPhone $30.00 (There is a $20 plan for 300MB per month if you want it, but so far as I can tell, that’s the lowest data plan. Also, I believe the unlimited plans are grandfathered in. Once you switch to a limited plan, you can’t go back to unlimited data.)
Then there’s close to $20 in taxes and stuff.
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### Author:  [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/11 "2012-03-09T20:05:17Z")
HTC G2 (with qwerty slide-out keyboard) used in pristine condition off ebay for $150 including shipping. $30 a month for Tmobile monthly (prepaid) 4G which includes 100 voice minutes (only .10 a minute if you go over) unlimited texts, and unlimited\* 4G web.
If the 100 voice minutes a month is not quite enough for your usage level, I recommend looking into using Google Voice combined with the app called GrooveIP to make/receive calls without using minutes, at least when you’re near wifi or have an excellent 4G connection.
- Unlimited 4G speeds up to 5gb a month, which is quite a lot. If you somehow pass that limit in a month, the speed is throttled down considerably, but I’ve never even come close to that since a good deal of my data use takes place through wifi, which of course doesn’t count against the 4G usage.
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### Author:  [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/12 "2012-03-09T20:17:03Z")
P.S. To get that $30 plan I mentioned above, it must be through the [Tmobile monthly-4G website](http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans) or through Walmart. That plan isn’t available in a walk-in Tmobile store. If you go the ebay/used phone route, all you need to do is get the phone, and order the [$1.99 SIM card activation kit,](http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-phone/T-Mobile-Prepaid-SIM-Activation-Kit) choose the $30 100/unlimited/unlimited plan, and you’re all set.
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### Author:  [@With\_Rye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/With_Rye)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/13 "2012-03-09T20:23:11Z")
Hey, the $30 T-Mobile plan sounds pretty awesome. What kind of phones can I use with it? I’m assuming I can’t use it for an iPhone.
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### Author:  [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/14 "2012-03-09T20:35:21Z")
P.P.S In looking for a used phone to use with Tmobile’s service, any GSM phone that uses a SIM card will work. (Yes, even an iPhone made for AT&T.) But you should look for a Tmobile-specific phone if you want the 4G speed, since the data speeds on an iPhone on Tmobile will be severely limited to the slowest, almost dialup-like, speeds.
ETA: Heh, simulpost. Yeah, look for any phone made for Tmobile for best performance. While an AT&T iPhone would work, I wouldn’t recommend it.
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### Author:  [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/15 "2012-03-09T20:42:30Z")
Okay, last one, I promise. In selecting the best possible phone for Tmobile, I highly recommend going by the highest rated phones, or better yet, the Editor’s Choice, [reviewed here](http://www.pcmag.com/products/1713?mt69=T-Mobile&ec=true). (Stick to the more recent reviews, some of those are pretty old and outdated phones.) That gives you a selection of phones to look for on Ebay. Definitely stick with sellers with good feedback, though.
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### Author:  [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/16 "2012-03-09T20:59:55Z")
(Alright, I lied) The review site I linked above includes non-smartphones. [This is a better link](http://www.pcmag.com/products/1713?mt69=T-Mobile&mt70=Android+OS&er=4.0), limiting the results to Tmobile Android smartphones with 4-star+ reviews. None of those phones are too outdated, and you pretty much can’t go wrong with any of them. It’s just a matter of price point and desired features.
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### Author:  [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/17 "2012-03-09T21:15:11Z")
I have T-Mobile, too. We (My SO and I) pay $80/month for 1000 shared minutes/unlimited text/unlimited web. It is a T-Mobile value plan and we bought our own phones - I got my HTC Sensation on eBay for $330. **Voltaire** ’s plan sounds like a better deal, though. We never go near using all our 1000 minutes.
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### Author:  [@crookedteeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crookedteeth)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/18 "2012-03-09T21:17:54Z")
Paid $150 for the phone almost two years ago, pay around $50/month unlimited everything (except calls to landlines between 7a-7p).
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### Author:  [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/19 "2012-03-09T21:23:51Z")
£20 (just over $30) for a Samsung Galaxy SII and I’m not sure how much exactly in texts, calls, data and so on; the only time I’ve ever gone over the limit is to call premium-rate numbers for govt. services. It’s definitely worth it.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-it-cost-you-to-own-your-smart-phone/615312/20 "2012-03-09T21:41:39Z")
I’m shocked that anybody would pay that much for telephone service, unless you are also getting computer cable and TV for that price. I mean, seriously: $600 to over $1000 for a freaking _phone_?
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