Samsung Galaxy S9

[widgeteer]

Did they let you trade in any other phones for it? That’s what’s got us tied to Samsung as a source. We want to bring down the cost of the phones by trading in the very good condition ones we have that don’t get used much anymore except in VR. The trade in value Samsung is offering looks fair assuming they stick to it and don’t try to claim our phones are broken when they get them. We are taking pictures and video documenting the condition of the phones as we send them back. Not that that’s really going to help anything dealing with Samsung but maybe mentioning our attorneys would. That’s what one hapless victim of their attempts to scam him on his trade in did.

I’ve heard and read very mixed things about how last year’s trade in was conducted.

I do like to make use of any discount options I can. I know this sounds weird from someone who has three phones but I don’t want to pay more than $750-800 for any single one of them going forward.

And I’m not planning on trading up the Pixel 2 if I can help it. I’m getting a bit of big doe eyes from a daughter who likes the AR stickers and wants the phone when I’m done with it, but she will realistically have to content herself with the fact I’m willing to lend her the phone anytime she wants to play with the camera.

VZW has trade in offers but I’m paying full price. I can sell my Pixel 2 XL to offset if I want. But I have a budget for phones each year and this is my first purchase!

 

[cuzo]

Reminding everyone samsung unlocked galaxy phones have very slow updates lol

 

[co.ag.2005]

Reminding everyone samsung unlocked galaxy phones have very slow updates lol

What was the last unlocked galaxy phone you had?

 

[cuzo]

What was the last unlocked galaxy phone you had?

S8 LOL

 

[SteveJUAE]

Reminding everyone samsung unlocked galaxy phones have very slow updates lol

YMMV depending on carrier, you may have a poor one

 

[co.ag.2005]

S8 LOL

I had the unlocked S8 for a while and it got monthly security updates. Samsung did a heck of a lot better than the unlocked S7. But I think they slowed down on those once we got closer to the new year. With respect to major updates (e.g. Nougat -> Oreo), Samsung is always lagging behind, even on carrier branded phones.

 

[5105973]

I don’t really know what I should do...get the unlocked or the AT&T one. The AT&T version is noticeably more expensive, that’s for sure.

 

[LukinLedbetter]

I don’t really know what I should do...get the unlocked or the AT&T one. The AT&T version is noticeably more expensive, that’s for sure.

Is there any real benefit to getting the AT&T version besides the "value-added apps" they include?

 

[Vegastouch]

I don’t really know what I should do...get the unlocked or the AT&T one. The AT&T version is noticeably more expensive, that’s for sure.

Well i dont know how much bloat AT&T puts on it but TMobile doesnt add a bunch. It depends on that for me. If you can get it for the same price and deal from Samsung unlocked, why not go that way?

And does Samsung really act that way when you send your phones in? Kinda shocking. Ill find out how TMobile reacts when they get ours. Mine is in perfect shape, my Wifes has no breaks or cracks but the face that is white, at the top the white has started to seperate underneath. Thats not on her though.

 

[Michael Goff]

Is there any real benefit to getting the AT&T version besides the "value-added apps" they include?

If the last two years are any indication, occasionally faster updates. >>;

 

[jamezr]

Some super slow mo video samples

 

[Cryates]

Does the unlocked version from the Samsung website come with faster updates and no carrier bloatware?

 

[Michael Goff]

Does the unlocked version from the Samsung website come with faster updates and no carrier bloatware?

No bloat but in the US not faster updates.

 

[5105973]

It looks like AT&T may be offering the same trade in deal as the Samsung site. I can’t be sure. Their small print really is small, lol. Even when I magnify it, it’s legalese that’s clear as mud.

I’ll just see if my husband is willing to go in and talk to them with me. Knowing them, they will probably fuss that the S7 Edges we got on BOGO back when we tried to get Note7’s aren’t fully 2 years old yet and we are still contractually obligated to them until August (when we got the Note 7’s) or possibly September which is when the Edges were given to us as replacements in the wake of the recall.

I think we actually paid the one off ages ago and the other one was always free. But whatever, I remember the salesperson being adamant we couldn’t trade in via AT&T Next for some number of months or years that assuredly isn’t up yet. I think I’m supposed to wait until my first grandchild is born or something.

They did find out my husband and slammed our sims into new Samsungs and had some kind of freak out about it once. I don’t remember what was said, my husband dealt with it. I think he just let himself be passed around customer service until he got someone who had the sense not to care and just get on with making the account work properly.

We actually like AT&T, well about as much as anyone can like a big US carrier. The coverage is good, and eventually you can get someone in their labyrinth to help you out properly.

 

[Vegastouch]

It looks like AT&T may be offering the same trade in deal as the Samsung site. I can’t be sure. Their small print really is small, lol. Even when I magnify it, it’s legalese that’s clear as mud.

I’ll just see if my husband is willing to go in and talk to them with me. Knowing them, they will probably fuss that the S7 Edges we got on BOGO back when we tried to get Note7’s aren’t fully 2 years old yet and we are still contractually obligated to them until August (when we got the Note 7’s) or possibly September which is when the Edges were given to us as replacements in the wake of the recall.

I think we actually paid the one off ages ago and the other one was always free. But whatever, I remember the salesperson being adamant we couldn’t trade in via AT&T Next for some number of months or years that assuredly isn’t up yet. I think I’m supposed to wait until my first grandchild is born or something.

They did find out my husband and slammed our sims into new Samsungs and had some kind of freak out about it once. I don’t remember what was said, my husband dealt with it. I think he just let himself be passed around customer service until he got someone who had the sense not to care and just get on with making the account work properly.

We actually like AT&T, well about as much as anyone can like a big US carrier. The coverage is good, and eventually you can get someone in their labyrinth to help you out properly.

Too bad TMobile dont work for you well for some reason. I can upgrade/trade in three times a year if i want. I'm just not one to go from phone to phone and if i like what i have, i just hold on to it a couple years. I didnt really like the Nexus 5 a bunch but still had it a year and half. I guess im not that picky lol.
All they asked me when i did the trade in deal is if they were payed off. Oh and if they didnt have any cracks or broken glass.

 

[Fernandez21]

It looks like AT&T may be offering the same trade in deal as the Samsung site. I can’t be sure. Their small print really is small, lol. Even when I magnify it, it’s legalese that’s clear as mud.

I’ll just see if my husband is willing to go in and talk to them with me. Knowing them, they will probably fuss that the S7 Edges we got on BOGO back when we tried to get Note7’s aren’t fully 2 years old yet and we are still contractually obligated to them until August (when we got the Note 7’s) or possibly September which is when the Edges were given to us as replacements in the wake of the recall.

I think we actually paid the one off ages ago and the other one was always free. But whatever, I remember the salesperson being adamant we couldn’t trade in via AT&T Next for some number of months or years that assuredly isn’t up yet. I think I’m supposed to wait until my first grandchild is born or something.

They did find out my husband and slammed our sims into new Samsungs and had some kind of freak out about it once. I don’t remember what was said, my husband dealt with it. I think he just let himself be passed around customer service until he got someone who had the sense not to care and just get on with making the account work properly.

We actually like AT&T, well about as much as anyone can like a big US carrier. The coverage is good, and eventually you can get someone in their labyrinth to help you out properly.

The one you paid off should have no problems trading in. The one you got for free you'll have to pay the balance. The way the "free" works is they charge you the normal monthly payment (around $25) and then credit you the same amount. But by upgrading early you forfeit the rest of your credits.

I'm in the same boat, have my S7 which is free, but still have a $250 balance on it. So either I wait for that balance to get slowly paid off by the credits, or pay the $250 to upgrade now. I'm leaning to just wait, by the time those credits have paid off the balance, the Note 9 will be out.

 

[mellofello]

I played with the s9 at Costco the other day. They have it on display next to the note 8, and once again it is pretty amazing how much bigger the note is, considering there is only supposedly .01 inch difference in size.

I like the finger print reader, and Oreo update to UI looks nice. I took pictures side by side with my note 8, and noticed 0 difference. Looks like it is a similar sensor, and processing algorithm to last year's phones, just with the new aperture. I wish Samsung would have cracked the code on what makes the pixel camera pop so much, but alas.

First time in a while I can say there is not one compelling reason for me to upgrade to the s9. Only thing that I would like is that the SD 845 will be compatible with the new 600mhz TMobile bands. However that is still a year away from being deployed around me.

Big yawn, and a meh from me.

 

[FFR]

I played with the s9 at Costco the other day. They have it on display next to the note 8, and once again it is pretty amazing how much bigger the note is, considering there is only supposedly .01 inch difference in size.

I like the finger print reader, and Oreo update to UI looks nice. I took pictures side by side with my note 8, and noticed 0 difference. Looks like it is a similar sensor, and processing algorithm to last year's phones, just with the new aperture. I wish Samsung would have cracked the code on what makes the pixel camera pop so much, but alas.

First time in a while I can say there is not one compelling reason for me to upgrade to the s9. Only thing that I would like is that the SD 845 will be compatible with the new 600mhz TMobile bands. However that is still a year away from being deployed around me.

Big yawn, and a meh from me.

Your not alone, apparently s9 preorders aren’t off to a good start....

“And today comes a note from Jeff Johnston of the boutique firm Arthur Wood Research, who declares that he’s hearing from “the channel” that Galaxy S9 orders “are down ~50% over GS8,”....These pre-orders are “significantly underperforming pre-launch expectations of 10% to 15% growth,” he writes.

https://www.barrons.com/articles/sa...ud-says-arthur-wood-look-out-below-1520360479

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Your not alone, apparently s9 preorders aren’t off to a good start....

“And today comes a note from Jeff Johnston of the boutique firm Arthur Wood Research, who declares that he’s hearing from “the channel” that Galaxy S9 orders “are down ~50% over GS8,”....These pre-orders are “significantly underperforming pre-launch expectations of 10% to 15% growth,” he writes.

https://www.barrons.com/articles/sa...ud-says-arthur-wood-look-out-below-1520360479

That seems to also be the case for Q4 2017 phone releases.

 

[Vegastouch]

I don't care how many they sell. All I know is i got two pre-ordered and got a good deal so I'm good. Didn't get any last year.

 

[mellofello]

I don't care how many they sell. All I know is i got two pre-ordered and got a good deal so I'm good. Didn't get them any last year.

Don't get me wrong there is probably no phone on the market I would rather have then a flagship Samsung. I have a tried almost every flagship phone on sale, and while the Samsungs don't Accel as the best at any one thing, I think they make the least compromises. Great camera, great battery life, great design, SD card slot etc.

It's just that this year is essentially a S cycle Ala apple iPhone 6s. It is a iteration on the s8. If you didn't already have one you are going to be really happy with it. Harder sell if you already own a s/note 8 though.

 

[Vegastouch]

Don't get me wrong there is probably no phone on the market I would rather have then a flagship Samsung. I have a tried almost every flagship phone on sale, and while the Samsungs don't Accel as the best at any one thing, I think they make the least compromises. Great camera, great battery life, great design, SD card slot etc.

It's just that this year is essentially a S cycle Ala apple iPhone 6s. It is a iteration on the s8. If you didn't already have one you are going to be really happy with it. Harder sell if you already own a s/note 8 though.

I don't go from phone to phone so I'll have it a while and trade it in when I get something else anywhere from 1.5 - 2 years.

 

[nviz22]

If the S9/S9+ are struggling, I expect more aggressive promos and that means I can be in the market for one.

 

[Breaking Good]

They did find out my husband and slammed our sims into new Samsungs and had some kind of freak out about it once. I don’t remember what was said, my husband dealt with it. I think he just let himself be passed around customer service until he got someone who had the sense not to care and just get on with making the account work properly.

When I’ve moved my SIM between an Android and iOS device, I’ve had to get AT&T’s Tech Support to make some change in their system so I could get I could get LTE data.

 

[FFR]

If the S9/S9+ are struggling, I expect more aggressive promos and that means I can be in the market for one.

That looks to be the case this year.