Okay, bear with me here. I am getting a smart phone. I have narrowed it down to a Google Nexus 4 or LG Optimus L9. The nice lady at T-Mobile said I do not have to buy it from T-Mobile, that they will activate it for free. She even encouraged me to buy elsewhere as all their phones v=could be found cheaper. I see phones online that say “T-Mobile Monthly Phone” which is confusing me since T-Mobile no longer does contracts. Any guidance here would be appreciated. I don’t want to get something and then find it won’t work.
Been with TM for years. Signal is extremely sketchy at Edisto, gt, pawleys, mi and sometimes even folly. I get nothing at lakes keowee and jocassi or most of the blue ridge park way. I must say however that the reps are extremely nice while informing you that they are working to improve coverage.
Key West 1520
70 Yami
She’s little, but she’s pretty, skinny and fast. (Just like the girls I used too dream about before I knew better)
Verizon has the best service/signal around here… I get coverage everwhere, even in the back country and all the way out to capers reef… Other companies are not so good… But Verizon is $$ and you do get locked in.
I have the Nexus 4. Do not buy it from T-Mobile unless you can’t afford $350 up front. After down payment and monthly installments, you’ll be near $500 at T-Mobile. Buy it direct from Google for $349 and pop in your T-Mobile SIM card. Get the 16GB version as well. There is no SD card slot in this phone, so you only get what storage you buy up front.
The Nexus is by far the better of those two phones, but it is more fragile. The front and back of the phone are both made of glass. On the upside, it’s stock Android.
And wireless charging is not a gimmick. I picked up a Qi charger from the local Verizon store about a month back, and I can’t believe this isn’t a standard feature yet. All I do is place the phone on the puck by the bed at night and it charges - no cables.
The T-Mobile Monthly 4G label is for their monthly prepaid service for those who do not want or can’t pass a credit check. The phones are always sold outright. You’ll never see a higher-end phone sold as a prepaid phone, but the phones that are offered are often far less expensive than they would be purchased on a post-paid plan despite being exactly the same device.
I’ve had the Nexus 4 since the day it launched, and I’ve found two flaws. Audio quality through the phone’s earpiece is less than stellar - there’s some interference and crackling. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s there if your hearing is sensitive enough to hear it. Second, the camera is not excellent in lower light. Otherwise it’s pretty much the best deal running for a smartphone right now. $349 for a phone that competes specs-wise with phones in the $650 range.
Thanks Cap, that was some helpful info. I spoke with a nice T-Mobile lady today and she confirmed that any GSM phone will work and there is no fee to activate it. Probably going with the LG as it is a bit cheaper. Its his 1st smart phone so he will be happy with whatever he gets. They also make a tough case for it that is nearly indestructible.
I am with T-Mobile and live in Columbia. No real complaints with T-Mob.
I used to be with Verizon but left when I went to add a 3rd line to my plan. I looked into going back to them since I am not under contract to T-Mobile but, Verizon is just so expensive. I can get what I want from T-Mobile for around $70 less a month.
I too have a Nexus 4. Bought it unlocked direct from google, got the T-Mobile “Walmart” plan, 100 minutes, unlimited data, unlimited text messages for $30/month with no activation fee (have to do on-line), and am very pleased. The best part is since the phone is unlocked, I was able to buy a 10 pound prepaid SIM card in England and plug it right into the phone and have cell service over there. You can’t do that on an AT&T or Verizon contract phone.
T-Mobile coverage is not as good as Verizon, especially in the boonies, but for me, the advantages and cost outweigh the lack of coverage in certain areas.
Thanks Cap, that was some helpful info. I spoke with a nice T-Mobile lady today and she confirmed that any GSM phone will work and there is no fee to activate it. Probably going with the LG as it is a bit cheaper. Its his 1st smart phone so he will be happy with whatever he gets. They also make a tough case for it that is nearly indestructible.
I am with T-Mobile and live in Columbia. No real complaints with T-Mob.
Yes, any GSM phone that isn’t SIM-locked to a carrier other than T-Mobile will work as long as it supports the correct frequencies. They’ll pretty much all work for voice, but you have to be a little careful with data frequencies as T-Mobile has historically used a different band for 3G/4G than AT&T. Though they are refarming the network and making this a moot issue, they haven’t yet made the switch anywhere in SC except Rock Hill as far as I’m aware.
The L9 isn’t a bad phone. It’s not top of the line, but it’s not really missing any vital features.
I can get what I want from T-Mobile for around $70 less a month.
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I’m at around $200 less a month on T-Mobile, though that comparison doesn’t really work since Verizon doesn’t offer unlimited data anymore.
Verizon does have better coverage in the sticks, but I live/work in an area with great T-Mobile coverage 95% of the time. For $200 a month, I’ll deal with the occasional coverage issue.
Wireless charging is great…some phones do require I different back door than what comes with the device. I like not having to worry about plugging my phone in. I just lay it on the pad and forget about it.