Three Money-Saving Ways to Upgrade your Cell Phone (with or without Contract Extensions)
Cell phone technology improves at a notably faster rate than most cell phone plan contracts expire, but don’t let that hold you back from upgrading to the latest and greatest mobile handset or smartphone. Check out these money-saving ways to get a new cell phone regardless of how many months remain on your cellular service contract:
Best Case Scenario: Get a Free Phone with a New Contract
Obviously, the best route you can take is to get a free cell phone along with a new contract. There are two ways to find yourself in this position:
Your Contract has Expired
After your two years of obligatory loyalty are up, take this time to start shopping around at other cell phone plan providers to see who has the best free cell phones. You can smoothly transition to another provider by letting your current cell phone company know that you won’t be renewing or get a free phone from your current provider just like a new customer would. To see which free phones you can get, you can browse our selection here by carrier:
If you’re switching providers, sign up with your new provider first and let them know you’ll be porting your old number over. They should handle this process on their own, but be sure to follow up with your old cell phone provider to make sure they stop charging you.
Terminate Your Contract After a Material Adverse Change
If your cellular provider changes the terms of your contract, you have a certain amount of time to decline the changes and get out of your contract without paying a termination fee. After that, you’ll be free to move to greener pastures with impunity. Read our earlier post for more details on getting out of your cell phone contract without paying a fee.
Renew or Extend Your Contract for a Discounted Phone
If you’re a significant ways into your contract but not quite at the end yet, you can still get a discount from retail price by extending your contract. This will, in effect, extend your contract an additional 2 years from the purchase date of your new phone. To do this, choose a phone from one of the cellular carrier links above and choose “RENEW/UPGRADE MY CONTRACT.” The price will automatically adjust to show your discounted price.
Upgrade or Replace Your Phone without Changing Your Contract
Lastly, you can buy a new phone and keep your current plan without extending your contract. This is handy if you lost or damaged your cell phone in a warranty-voiding way (i.e. dropping it in the toilet) or if you simply want to move on and don’t care about paying a little extra. For this, choose a phone from your current provider and then click “REPLACEMENT PHONE: NO CONTRACT CHANGES.” You’ll then receive your unactivated phone by mail and you can set it up to work with your current plan either by calling customer support or inserting the SIM card from your old phone. Simple.
(As a variation of this option, you can also buy an unlocked phone and activate it with your current cell phone plan. Read our guide on “Should I Buy an Unlocked Cell Phone?” if you’re interested.)
Got a money-saving tip for getting new cell phones without a contract? Let us know in the comments.
Related posts:
- How to Save Money When Cancelling a Cell Phone Contract
- 7 Ways to Save On Cell Phone Bills
- Prepaid vs. Cell Phone Contract: Comparison for New Users
- Which Cell Phone Option Is Cheaper, Prepaid or Monthly Contract
- Five Easy Ways to Cut Down on your Cell Phone Costs
- Prepaid versus Monthly Contract Cell Phone Plans
- Free Government SSI Phone, Prepaid And Contract Cell Phones, A Phone To Fit Any Budget
- How to Get the Best Deal on a New Cell Phone or Upgrade
- Military Discount Cell Phone Plans
- How to Lower Your Monthly Cell Phone Bill
Tags: Cell phone plans, Cell Phones
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:04 am
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March 30th, 2010 at 6:46 am
So often you hear of people wanting to get out of their cellphone contracts for one reason or another. Why get into a contract at all. There are some really good prepaid deals around which do not lock you into anything. You are free to drop them anytime you like. I have a Net 10 phone. I bought a Samsung T201g for $39.99 which included 300 free minutes and 60 days service. Now the minutes cost me 10 c and I only pay for what I use. I would never go back to a contract. As you say, 2 years is a long time in the cell phone industry.
April 23rd, 2010 at 9:42 pm
As a tip I would advise anyone to write down a list of demands that you seek and things to say just in case they deny something. It keeps you organized.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Cell phone contracts these days are like signing your life away. I choose to stay away from contracts and thats why I got a cell phone with Tracfone. My Tracfone gives me the safety and security of a wireless phone without the problems of a contract and monthly fees. Best of all my service averages less than $7 a month which provides 60 minutes of airtime and three months of service.