Buy an iPhone from AT&T or Apple?

[j2thomason]

Ok, my old iphone 5c is dying and I need to purchase a new iphone. My question is....should I go to my provider (AT&T) or go to the Apple store??

 

[dclpluto]

Ok, my old iphone 5c is dying and I need to purchase a new iphone. My question is....should I go to my provider (AT&T) or go to the Apple store??

It doesn't matter where you go.

 

[Jaime4004]

Unless one is giving some type of deal? DD traded in her iphone 5s for $400 towards an iphone 7 with verizon a couple weeks ago.

 

[Sadie22]

It could depend on what type of agreement you have with AT&T (whether you want AT&T Next) and how you want to pay for the new phone.

 

[j2thomason]

It could depend on what type of agreement you have with AT&T (whether you want AT&T Next) and how you want to pay for the new phone.

I do have AT&T next. Does that make a difference??

 

[Sadie22]

I was thinking in terms of those who don't have Next as part of their contract terms and want to keep it that way. Since you do have it, it probably does not make a difference, but I don't know for sure.

 

[princessfionasmom]

I would go to the Apple Store, it will be a much better experience. They can do all the AT&T next plans there if that's what you're on or you can do the iPhone upgrade program too. Also, make sure you have you're phone backed up either to the iCloud or to iTunes in your computer and know what your Apple ID and password are. You can also check the store stock online at istocknow.

 

[Albort]

go to apple store, get a verizon/sprint iPhone 7, do apple payments instead.

 

[Hikergirl]

If you get it from AT&T is locked to them? I ask because my ds's AT&T iphone could not be activated to use on another carrier. I had to pay a service to get it unlocked for him.
If the price is the same, I'd get it from Apple.

 

[Albort]

If you get it from AT&T is locked to them? I ask because my ds's AT&T iphone could not be activated to use on another carrier. I had to pay a service to get it unlocked for him.
If the price is the same, I'd get it from Apple.

yes, its locked to them but you can ask for a free unlock from att if its off contract/fully paid off.

 

[Hikergirl]

yes, its locked to them but you can ask for a free unlock from att if its off contract/fully paid off.

That is what I thought but for some reason my ds's phone was not able to be unlocked. It was off contract, and he used it on their pre-paid for a year and they still couldn't unlock it. I have no idea why, and the reps I spoke to couldn't figure out why either. If its the same price, I'd go with Apple just in case.

 

[Bree]

We buy ours from Apple and get AppleCare on them.

 

[j2thomason]

Thanks for all of the input everyone!!

 

[uromac]

We buy ours from Apple and get AppleCare on them.

Definitely go with Apple for the AppleCare - you can get a phone there for any carrier !!