The announcements have happened and the reactions have been vented. For many, now is decision-making time when it comes to their next Android phone. We're happy to report that the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6/S6 Edge are available for pre-order on nearly all US carriers. If you're ready to make your choice, you can probably make it official right now.
Let's break it down by phone and carrier. You may want to use the table of contents to navigate to the phone/carrier of interest to you. Explanations of what different payment plans mean are included in the M9 section.
HTC One M9
The first pre-orders for the M9 began today, March 27th. They will be available in stores and start shipping on April 10th. The unlocked and developer price for the 32GB variant is $649, which you can buy at HTC. They also offer 12-month, zero-interest financing to those who can pass a credit check. At this point, no additional storage options are being offered in the USA.
AT&T
You can buy the phone in full, on a two-year contract, or via the Next program from AT&T.
Without a contract, you're looking at a $709 price tag. In other words, you'd be better off buying from HTC directly and getting an unlocked version.
With a two-year contract, the price is the standard $199.
With the Next program, there are several price variants.
- Next 24 (30 payments): $23.64/mo.
- Next 18 (24 payments): $29.55/mo.
- Next 12 (20 payments): $35.45/mo.
If you're unclear on why there are more payments than the plan number, that's because you aren't necessarily expected to make every payment. For example, on the Next 24 plan, you can trade in for a new phone after 24 payments. Some customers may get a reduction in monthly plan cost that can make this advantageous. You will have to pay tax up front and pass a credit check.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile has a simpler set of options. You can buy it outright for $649.92 or $27.08/mo. for 24 months if you have good credit. New customers will need to pay $15.00 for a SIM card.
They also promise that pre-orders (by April 9th) will get free overnight shipping, meaning you will get it the same day it hits stores.
Sprint
You have a full range of options to get the M9 with Sprint, starting with the ability to buy it outright for $648.00.
There are two leasing options:
- 24 months: $20.00/mo.
- 12 months: $30.00/mo.
Bear in mind that this is not like AT&T Next. You will not own the phone at the end of the lease. Rather, you'll be forced to choose between returning, buying, or leasing the device on a month-to-month basis.
You can also finance the phone for $27.00/mo. for 24 months, which is free of interest. There are no special early upgrades or anything like that, it is just a straightforward payment plan.
Finally, you have the classic 2-year contract for $199.99. Bear in mind that this price includes a $50 mail-in rebate. Don't blame me, blame Sprint.
Verizon
Verizon has not yet made the M9 available for pre-order nor have they made clear whether it will release on the same day as the rest of the USA. I wouldn't hold my breath on it. You can visit their M9 page to sign up for email updates, though.
Samsung Galaxy S6
Samsung doesn't offer a direct-from-manufacturer option for buying the S6, but you can pre-order from Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart. Do take note that there does not appear to be a way to get it unlocked via pre-order, nor can you buy it without a contract from the third-party retailers.
AT&T
Buy it outright:
- 32GB: $684.99
- 64GB: $784.99
- 128GB: $884.99
AT&T Next (prices are for the 32GB variant):
- Next 24 (30 payments): $22.84/mo.
- Next 18 (24 payments): $28.55/mo.
- Next 12 (20 payments): $34.25/mo.
Two-year contract:
- 32GB: $199
- 64GB: $299
- 128GB: $399
AT&T is also offering a $50 discount on the Samsung Gear Circle headset if you buy the S6 via Next.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile continues to keep it simple. Buy it outright for:
- 32GB: $679.92
- 64GB: $759.99
- 128GB: $859.99
Or you can pay $27.50/mo. for 24 months. There is no down payment for the 32GB version, while the 64GB requires $99 and the 128GB $199.
No matter how you buy it, T-Mobile is bundling a free year of Netflix with the purchase, even if you are an existing subscriber. That's roughly $100 in value.
Sprint
The headline option here is the possibility to get the 32GB S6 free*. And when I say free, I mean you can lease it for 24 months but have the lease fee credited to your account every month. And when I say you, I mean you if you are willing to sign up for an Unlimited Plus plan at $80/mo. If you want to bring the whole family over, you can use this up to four times on the same plan, which is pretty cool. You can get the higher storage variants, but you only get $20.00/mo. statement credit.
This does apply to existing customers, though. An added bonus is that after 12 months of payments, you can upgrade to a new lease with a new phone. Just remember, this is a lease, so you don't own the phone.
To buy it in full, you're looking at these prices:
- 32GB: $648.00
- 64GB: $768.00
- 128GB: $864.00
On a two-year contract, after mail-in rebate:
- 32GB: $199.99
- 64GB: $299.99
- 128GB: $399.99
24-month lease:
- 32GB: $20.00/mo.
- 64GB: $25.00/mo.
- 128GB: $30.00/mo.
12-month lease:
- 32GB: $30.00/mo.
- 64GB: $35.00/mo.
- 128GB: $40.00/mo.
24-month Easy Pay:
- 32GB: $27.00/mo.
- 64GB: $32.00/mo.
- 128GB: $36.00/mo.
Leave it to Sprint to make things simple!
U.S. Cellular
You can either buy on contract or via installments with U.S. Cellular.
On-contract:
- 32GB: $199.99
- 64GB: $299.99
Installments:
- 32GB: $34.00/mo. for 20 months
- 64GB: $38.50/mo. for 20 months
Verizon
Sorry, but no word from Verizon on the S6 either. Follow their email updates from here.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Why does it get its own section? Well, that's because it costs more. Its availability is the same as the S6, though.
AT&T
Buy it outright:
- 32GB: $814.99
- 64GB: $914.99
- 128GB: $1014.99
AT&T Next (prices are for the 32GB variant):
- Next 24 (30 payments): $27.17/mo.
- Next 18 (24 payments): $33.96/mo.
- Next 12 (20 payments): $40.75/mo.
Two-year contract:
- 32GB: $299
- 64GB: $399
- 128GB: $499
AT&T is also offering a $50 discount on the Samsung Gear Circle headset if you buy the S6 via Next.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile continues to keep it simple. Buy it outright for:
- 32GB: $779.76
- 64GB: $859.83
- 128GB: $959.83
Or you can pay $32.49/mo. for 24 months. There is no down payment for the 32GB version, while the 64GB requires $99 and the 128GB $199.
No matter how you buy it, T-Mobile is bundling a free year of Netflix with purchase, even if you are an existing subscriber. That's roughly $100 in value.
Sprint
To buy it in full, you're looking at these prices:
- 32GB: $768.00
- 64GB: $864.00
On a two-year contract, after mail-in rebate:
- 32GB: $299.99
- 64GB: $399.99
24-month lease:
- 32GB: $25.00/mo.
- 64GB: $30.00/mo.
12-month lease:
- 32GB: $35.00/mo.
- 64GB: $40.00/mo.
24-month Easy Pay:
- 32GB: $32.00/mo.
- 64GB: $36.00/mo.
U.S. Cellular
You can either buy on contract or via installments with U.S. Cellular.
On-contract:
- 32GB: $299.99
- 64GB: $399.99
Installments:
- 32GB: $39.50/mo. for 20 months
- 64GB: $44.00/mo. for 20 months
Verizon
You know the drill. Follow their email updates from here.