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[Q] Buying AT&T Lumia 920 and immediately paying ETF

http://www.amazon.com/Nokia-Lumia-920-Windows-Phone/dp/B00A2V7BA4/
So amazon is selling the 920 for $0.01... if I wanted to use this on StraightTalk, I could just buy this and then immediately pay Amazon's $325 early termination fee to get out of the contract. That would be cheaper than just buying the phone off-contract from AT&T / Microsoft store for $450. Any flaws in this plan of mine?
EDIT: I wouldn't have to pay a separate ETF to AT&T as well would I?

EDIT: I wouldn't have to pay a separate ETF to AT&T as well would I?
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Yup, you would. There's a $325 ETF to Amazon and a $300 ETF to AT&T.

wyvphone said:
Yup, you would. There's a $325 ETF to Amazon and a $300 ETF to AT&T.
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Click to collapse
Ah jeez, too good to be true. Thanks for the quick reply!

Switching to other carrier

I would like to know if its possible to take my contract att note 3 to tmobile? if I get a sim card from them can i just put it in and use it on tmobile?
I am rooted but not unlocked of course
is there anyway possible to do this?
I have a family plan and just want to get this line switched

If you are looking to switch over to tmobile, your phone would need to be unlocked. There is 2 ways to do that. . . 1. Att will give you the unlock code when you finish off or early terminate your contract. or 2. Go to a website that unlocks phones. Use google to help you find a reputable one.
Remember that by ending your contract early with Att they will require you to pay a fee based off how many months you have on your contract.

147aaron said:
If you are looking to switch over to tmobile, your phone would need to be unlocked. There is 2 ways to do that. . . 1. Att will give you the unlock code when you finish off or early terminate your contract. or 2. Go to a website that unlocks phones. Use google to help you find a reputable one.
Remember that by ending your contract early with Att they will require you to pay a fee based off how many months you have on your contract.
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Click to collapse
If I remember they just passed a law that now requires the providers to unlock at the users request, so shouldn't need to be out of contract anymore. And yes it early termination then you pay the ETF, HOWEVER tmo is paying the etf if you swap over to them. You pay the etf and then once you are with tmo I think like 30 days and they verify you made the requirement then they refund you the etf for each line you swapped, BTW it requires you to trade in a phone, so if that note 3 is your only one and you don't have something else, go buy a cheap go phone to use ?
But overall, yes you can use you att note 3 on tmo.
Sent from my Fired-up NoteIII

Zugshad said:
If I remember they just passed a law that now requires the providers to unlock at the users request, so shouldn't need to be out of contract anymore. And yes it early termination then you pay the ETF, HOWEVER tmo is paying the etf if you swap over to them. You pay the etf and then once you are with tmo I think like 30 days and they verify you made the requirement then they refund you the etf for each line you swapped, BTW it requires you to trade in a phone, so if that note 3 is your only one and you don't have something else, go buy a cheap go phone to use ?
But overall, yes you can use you att note 3 on tmo.
Sent from my Fired-up NoteIII
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not what the bill was about. All it was is that you can now legally unlock your phone. The carriers can still hold on to the lock until you fulfill your 2 year contract.
I asked AT&T rep and escalated case to unlock my HTC M7 early in the contract, and also my Note3 was unlocked this way by AT&T after case escalation.
If you can't unlock it, I think you can still go with Cricket prepaid which is owned by AT&T and uses their towers. They have a $35/month plan (after $5 autopay discount) that gives 500MB fast data, then unlimited throttled data.
There's no way to unlock it with a software unless you still have the very old boot loader.

Will the american Nexus 6 be unlocked?

Do you think the american Nexus 6 will be unlocked even when bought on contract? Sometime similar to how all Verizon's devices come unlocked??

The Nexus has never been locked even on carrier subsidy. But Verizon does things in mysterious ways....
HTC One M8

I hope not. I'd like to be able to buy this on carrier subsidy as I'm due for an upgrade and would like to not have to pay full price. Don't plan on moving off AT&T anytime soon, so yeah. But if the device is bootloader locked on subsidy I'll be pretty frustrated.

I'm betting it'll be just like any other subsidized phone. I doubt they'll lock the bootloader but carrier lock I'd bet on.

I'll blow a gasket if AT&T locks it down as I too have been due for a upgrade for years and since ive decided not to jump ship then I might as well get something out of it by buying a subsidized phone.
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

I hope AT&T doesn't lock the bootloader so I can get one on the Next program :good:

Att.Fan1982 said:
I hope AT&T doesn't lock the bootloader so I can get one on the Next program :good:
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Locking a Nexus bootloader is sacrilege. I highly doubt that would be the case. Verizon didn't even lock the bootloader on the GNex when they had it. Can't speak for carrier locking though, as after that GNex debacle, I buy my phones off-contract.

what is the benefit of buying phone from carrier vs google store? granted carrier will subsidizes upfront cost of the phone. is there any other benefits when buying from carrier over google store?

shah_vm said:
what is the benefit of buying phone from carrier vs google store? granted carrier will subsidizes upfront cost of the phone. is there any other benefits when buying from carrier over google store?
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Subsidized phones are cheaper. Its why programs like Jump and T-Nobiles 'no contract' pricing is a scam.

ECrispy said:
Subsidized phones are cheaper. Its why programs like Jump and T-Nobiles 'no contract' pricing is a scam.
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Exactly. Same thing with ATT if you buy it unlocked(google play, no contract) then you simply pay $15/month if your on mobile share plan. If you take a two contract(subsidiy) then you pay $40/month. If you do ATT next you pay a lease fee of $30 dollars or so monthly plus the $15. So its more expensive monthly but you can pay the phone off when you want.
So two yr vs unlocked, $40-$15=$25(the difference). So $25/month x 24 months=$600(roughly price of phone.
In short, its the same thing, they always get their money, its just over what period they get it, you still pay. If you have the money buy it from google play, and have a cheaper monthly bill.

it will eventually be unlocked

waterman50 said:
it will eventually be unlocked
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If it's not sold unlocked, its not a Nexus.

I know some of you said something about carrier unlock. So does anyone here know what the chances are that AT&T unlocks the carrier lock so that we can get OTA updates just like the unlocked version from the Play Store?
Trying to avoid paying $649 all of once, so if I can get the same phone from AT&T while making installments using Next, that would be awesome.
I'm assuming that the carrier phone be the same exact phone as the unlocked one, only difference being carrier lock.

I've owned three nexus phone gnex nexus 4 and 5 not one has been carrier locked

ECrispy said:
If it's not sold unlocked, its not a Nexus.
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Click to collapse
"Nexus phones are always sold at a much cheaper price than other flagship phones."
Time's are changing...hopefully you're right though.
tawfiqmp said:
I know some of you said something about carrier unlock. So does anyone here know what the chances are that AT&T unlocks the carrier lock so that we can get OTA updates just like the unlocked version from the Play Store?
Trying to avoid paying $649 all of once, so if I can get the same phone from AT&T while making installments using Next, that would be awesome.
I'm assuming that the carrier phone be the same exact phone as the unlocked one, only difference being carrier lock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to avoid paying $649 as well by using my AT&T upgrade (no plans to leave so may as well take the discount)...however I won't buy a "compromised" Nexus. Worst case scenario I'll buy a S5, Note 4, or even iPhone 6 on contract and then sell it on eBay to make up for paying the full $649 for the Nexus 6.

jeffreii said:
"Nexus phones are always sold at a much cheaper price than other flagship phones."
Time's are changing...hopefully you're right though.
I would like to avoid paying $649 as well by using my AT&T upgrade (no plans to leave so may as well take the discount)...however I won't buy a "compromised" Nexus. Worst case scenario I'll buy a S5, Note 4, or even iPhone 6 on contract and then sell it on eBay to make up for paying the full $649 for the Nexus 6.
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Click to collapse
But what if it's not comprimised? I mean if you can change it to be exactly like the one you can buy from the Play Store, what really is the difference? Big IFs because we don't know enough right now, but I mean I would be certainly fine with turning into a "Play Store Edition" if I have the ability to do so.
If I can't, then yeah, I'm definitely not buying one from AT&T. I'd rather just get it straight from the Play Store and just pay the full $649 up front.

tawfiqmp said:
But what if it's not comprimised? I mean if you can change it to be exactly like the one you can buy from the Play Store, what really is the difference? Big IFs because we don't know enough right now, but I mean I would be certainly fine with turning into a "Play Store Edition" if I have the ability to do so.
If I can't, then yeah, I'm definitely not buying one from AT&T. I'd rather just get it straight from the Play Store and just pay the full $649 up front.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's not compromised, then it's a no-brainer for me to buy the cheaper one.
If it's compromised but still possible to change it to be almost exactly like the one from Google, then it's just a question of do I prefer to workaround the compromise or is it simply easier to buy the Google version and then use the contract to buy then sell a flagship phone on eBay to recoup the difference.

jeffreii said:
If it's not compromised, then it's a no-brainer for me to buy the cheaper one.
If it's compromised but still possible to change it to be almost exactly like the one from Google, then it's just a question of do I prefer to workaround the compromise or is it simply easier to buy the Google version and then use the contract to buy then sell a flagship phone on eBay to recoup the difference.
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Click to collapse
Makes sense.

Att.Fan1982 said:
I hope AT&T doesn't lock the bootloader so I can get one on the Next program :good:
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Click to collapse
You do know the Next program is a complete and utter scam, right?
http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/16/4528404/att-next-phone-upgrade-plans-a-huge-ripoff
http://www.phonearena.com/news/AT-T-Next-scam-youre-paying-twice-and-ETO-is-a-better-option_id45379
http://www.inquisitr.com/1170157/att-next-and-phone-upgrades-the-smart-scam/
http://www.imore.com/att-makes-next-plans-easier-get-still-not-good-value-they-should-be

eep2378 said:
You do know the Next program is a complete and utter scam, right?
http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/16/4528404/att-next-phone-upgrade-plans-a-huge-ripoff
http://www.phonearena.com/news/AT-T-Next-scam-youre-paying-twice-and-ETO-is-a-better-option_id45379
http://www.inquisitr.com/1170157/att-next-and-phone-upgrades-the-smart-scam/
http://www.imore.com/att-makes-next-plans-easier-get-still-not-good-value-they-should-be
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True but what difference would it make if I, for example, bought the phone from AT&T at full price to avoid the two year contract and next program? I'll still end up paying the $20 or so a month of the subsidiary cost of a two year contract phone. You still end up paying almost double the price of the phone through AT&T's lovely loyalty customer gets f***ed program. Now let's say you're the financially smart guy that decides to buy the phone elsewhere and just use AT&T's service, you may save $100-150 on the cost of the device(which is a significant savings) BUT you still end up paying that $20 or so a month in subsidiary cost over the life of your service. Either way you look at it, you, the customer gets F****D! ☺

AT&T version to work on T-Mobile?

Trying to figure out if the at&t version will work 100%,no drops, on t-mobile network.
I saw a couple post saying that the tmobile version works on at&t and that the 2 version are almost identical *source needed*. But nothing yet saying it works the other way
Reason is I have a bunch of reward certificates and a gift card for Best Buy, I know the att version is a little more expensive $825 vs $770, but i have enough to offset the difference and still make it cheaper.

Why would you want the att version lol, cost more
No original box
No headphones
No download booster
No unlocked boot loader

I have the same question about whether or not the AT&T Note 4 will work perfectly the same as a T-mobile version on the T-mobile network. I don't know why no one has mentioned how much cheaper it is to just go set up a new AT&T account to get the discount at Best Buy. You could buy it for $300 minus the $200 trade-in promotion + $70 in sales tax. So $170, then you have $40 activation + $60 for one month service + $350 ETF after 15 days, then get it unlocked. So the total out of pocket cost for the AT&T version is $620. Why would you buy the $750 T-mobile version, which would be $815 after sales tax. You save nearly $200 after all is said and done. Am I missing anything here? I haven't seen a single person mention doing this on this forum or over at androidcentral.
pham818 said:
Why would you want the att version lol, cost more
No original box
No headphones
No download booster
No unlocked boot loader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

shadowoak said:
Trying to figure out if the at&t version will work 100%,no drops, on t-mobile network.
I saw a couple post saying that the tmobile version works on at&t and that the 2 version are almost identical *source needed*. But nothing yet saying it works the other way
Reason is I have a bunch of reward certificates and a gift card for Best Buy, I know the att version is a little more expensive $825 vs $770, but i have enough to offset the difference and still make it cheaper.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st post..
red_stripe05 said:
I have the same question about whether or not the AT&T Note 4 will work perfectly the same as a T-mobile version on the T-mobile network. I don't know why no one has mentioned how much cheaper it is to just go set up a new AT&T account to get the discount at Best Buy. You could buy it for $300 minus the $200 trade-in promotion + $70 in sales tax. So $170, then you have $40 activation + $60 for one month service + $350 ETF after 15 days, then get it unlocked. So the total out of pocket cost for the AT&T version is $620. Why would you buy the $750 T-mobile version, which would be $815 after sales tax. You save nearly $200 after all is said and done. Am I missing anything here? I haven't seen a single person mention doing this on this forum or over at androidcentral.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st post...Just sayin

red_stripe05 said:
I have the same question about whether or not the AT&T Note 4 will work perfectly the same as a T-mobile version on the T-mobile network. I don't know why no one has mentioned how much cheaper it is to just go set up a new AT&T account to get the discount at Best Buy. You could buy it for $300 minus the $200 trade-in promotion + $70 in sales tax. So $170, then you have $40 activation + $60 for one month service + $350 ETF after 15 days, then get it unlocked. So the total out of pocket cost for the AT&T version is $620. Why would you buy the $750 T-mobile version, which would be $815 after sales tax. You save nearly $200 after all is said and done. Am I missing anything here? I haven't seen a single person mention doing this on this forum or over at androidcentral.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are missing that you have to return the Note 4 to the manufacturer. See http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/returnpolicy.html#fbid=qD17b06g8-s

hcyplr29 said:
1st post..
1st post...Just sayin
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Click to collapse
What does have to do with anything? Ive been lurking around xda since the 1st iphone came out
Well as I said I have a bunch of money in best buy that it would make it cheaper. But, after looking around the att version forum, found out that the bootloader is locked. So im just going to buy one straight from t-mobile, once they get more in-stock

So what if its my first post? I've used these forums for years as a lurker getting info on rooting, starting with my Sprint Epic Touch 4G. I've read all the posts I can on the Note 4, and seriously just wondered why no one discusses starting a new contract to get the phone at such a steep discount. I'm not trolling anyone, although there seems to be way more uneducated/uninformed people on here than usual.
hcyplr29 said:
1st post..
1st post...Just sayin
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Click to collapse
---------- Post added at 02:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 AM ----------
After 15 days into a new contract with AT&T, if you want to cancel your service, you do NOT have to return the phone. To fulfill your contractual obligations, you pay the ETF. That seems to be it. You are stuck with the phone after 15 days if anything goes wrong, and yes, you would have to send it to the manufacturer for any warranty claims. But wouldn't that be the same case if you bought it without insurance anyways?
Back to the original question though, does anyone know of any issues with using the AT&T version on T-mobile once its been unlocked by AT&T? It has band 12 support, but could T-mobile pull some sort of throttling BS for it being an AT&T imei?
pressagny27 said:
You are missing that you have to return the Note 4 to the manufacturer. See
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

It's NOT the t mobile version of the phone, it's their service for some reason.
I get REALLY slow speeds on my t mobile note 4, but when I used an AT&T sim card, LTE was really fast and no PROBLEMS. I can't believe anyone would even consider a NOTE 4 AT&T version....unless they like that $300+ 2 year contract deal.

re: ATT Note 4
pham818 said:
Why would you want the att version lol, cost more
No original box
No headphones
No download booster
No unlocked boot loader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You forgot to mention "No Wifi Calling". LOL

red_stripe05 said:
I have the same question about whether or not the AT&T Note 4 will work perfectly the same as a T-mobile version on the T-mobile network. I don't know why no one has mentioned how much cheaper it is to just go set up a new AT&T account to get the discount at Best Buy. You could buy it for $300 minus the $200 trade-in promotion + $70 in sales tax. So $170, then you have $40 activation + $60 for one month service + $350 ETF after 15 days, then get it unlocked. So the total out of pocket cost for the AT&T version is $620. Why would you buy the $750 T-mobile version, which would be $815 after sales tax. You save nearly $200 after all is said and done. Am I missing anything here? I haven't seen a single person mention doing this on this forum or over at androidcentral.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL where did you get the 200 from? that deal ended already...

The deal has been extended at Best Buy until November 1.

Worth Upgrading to Pixel XL $240?

So I was just wondering if any of you think it's worth upgrading to the Pixel XL for only $240 as Verizon is giving a deal this Black Friday. Should I stick with my N6 until next year or take the offer?
Or if anyone has a better upgradeable phone which supports CDMA

aroy97 said:
So I was just wondering if any of you think it's worth upgrading to the Pixel XL for only $240 as Verizon is giving a deal this Black Friday. Should I stick with my N6 until next year or take the offer?
Or if anyone has a better upgradeable phone which supports CDMA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will cost $240 ? If so you could buy it and flip it for at least $600+

mikeprius said:
It will cost $240 ? If so you could buy it and flip it for at least $600+
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Click to collapse
The catch is I have to sign a 2 year contract which I actually have no problem with, but I'm sure they're going to notice that the device isn't active on my account since I sold it.

aroy97 said:
The catch is I have to sign a 2 year contract which I actually have no problem with, but I'm sure they're going to notice that the device isn't active on my account since I sold it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to add the total price of the 2 year contract to the price of the new device.
Than estimate the costs using your N6 for 2 years without that contract.
Can be helpful to make a decision.

NLBeev said:
You need to add the total price of the 2 year contract to the price of the new device.
Than estimate the costs using your N6 for 2 years without that contract.
Can be helpful to make a decision.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well my N6 is already paid off, so it would just be the extra $10/month added to my bill for the next 2 years.

aroy97 said:
The catch is I have to sign a 2 year contract which I actually have no problem with, but I'm sure they're going to notice that the device isn't active on my account since I sold it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Sprint so I also have CDMA as well so it is an issue finding good phones. The 2 year contact you sign with Verizon is basically a service agreement, meaning you are going to use their service for another 2 years before you have the ability to just bail. Afterwards it goes month to month, at least with Sprint. With Sprint anyways, the phone isn't an issue, assuming the 2 year contract is a purchase not a lease which I suspect it is. For example, my brother signed a 2 yr contract with Sprint, got a Galaxy, then broke it after a year from dropping it too much. He is using some old phone he bought used. No problem. I just got a Nexus 5X after having my Nexus 6 for just one year. Sprint hasn't called either of us demanding why our phones are not being used. We just agreed legally to use their service for another 2 years. If you don't plan on leaving Verizon anyways the contract is negligible. It's just that if you get rid of the pixel and something happens to your Nexus 6, you will be on your own until the 2 yr contract is up.
I've been looking at the Pixel XL new in box like yours would be and they are going for a lot right now given that they are sold out. I highly suggest you look at eBay. New Pixel XL in a box are being priced at $900+
You could buy it at $240 , sell it even at a slightly mark up at $825, then keep the $585. That's very cheap esp for the XL.....
NLBeev said:
You need to add the total price of the 2 year contract to the price of the new device.
Than estimate the costs using your N6 for 2 years without that contract.
Can be helpful to make a decision.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OP likely is going to keep using Verizon's service anyways whether he buys the Pixel or not. The only difference is if he wanted to leave Verizon or plans to then the contract would lock him in until its over. In the US, most people who are on the major networks (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile) generally stay with their carrier, there isn't a lot of movement.......the cheap pre-paid, lower tier networks is a different story................

mikeprius said:
............ the 2 yr contract is up.
.......the cheap pre-paid, lower tier..
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Click to collapse
Thx for the info. In the Netherlands and probably in more EU-countries we have 'sim only contracts'.
Buying a device yourself and a sim only contract is mostly cheaper.
aroy97 said:
well my N6 is already paid off, so it would just be the extra $10/month added to my bill for the next 2 years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
240 + (24 * 10) is the real price you have to pay for the Pixel.
That's cheap compared with prices here in the Netherlands. (Still > $1000,- for a Pixel XL).

aroy97 said:
So I was just wondering if any of you think it's worth upgrading to the Pixel XL for only $240 as Verizon is giving a deal this Black Friday. Should I stick with my N6 until next year or take the offer?
Or if anyone has a better upgradeable phone which supports CDMA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep in mind the Verizon Pixel XL has a locked bootloader. I believe it's a terrible deal because of that, and you could do just as well simply by buying a 6P from Amazon between Black Friday and the end of the year.

Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Keep in mind the Verizon Pixel XL has a locked bootloader. I believe it's a terrible deal because of that, and you could do just as well simply by buying a 6P from Amazon between Black Friday and the end of the year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well there is a tool released to unlock the bootloader of a Verizon Pixel device (dePixel8). But it could be possible that a future update may force-lock the bootloader again, which is something to think about I guess.

The last time the bootloader on a Verizon device was bypassed, it was the Galaxy S4. Verizon's next update patched the hole that allowed people to do that. While I admit forgetting about dePixel8, it's a virtual lock that Verizon will patch the flaw that allows the bootloader to be unlocked on their next update, when they decide to release it.
That's the other bad thing about getting a Verizon Pixel/Pixel XL. You're at the mercy of Verizon for updates, not Google.

Unlock it, flash the google factory image and disable ota updates to be sure. Assuming you can get it before Google patches the bypass.

Assuming it can be unlocked.
It's up to the OP what he wants to do. However, he needs to be aware of the potential pitfalls of purchasing a device from a carrier on contract. The locked bootloader with the potential of not being able to unlock it and carrier interference with the updates are but two of them. Getting a phone from a carrier for a reduced price is never a good deal. Buying direct is better.

Verizon. Bootloader policy. Possible bloatware (its Verizon do it's impossible to believe something shady won't be in there). Pricing. Nuff said...

I saw this promo. I'd pass. Usually the benefit of a contract is to get the immediate savings right away while forfeiting the ability to move carriers. Here you sign a contract, pay out the a$$ upfront, then get a trickle benefit over 2 yrs. I'd just get a 6p over black friday if you'd like to switch.

It's a good price. But I opted to finance through project Fi instead. I'm not a heavy data user so my monthly is about the same as a contract would be with Verizon. Verizon's service is arguably better but I'm satisfied with Fi, and I really like how well it works internationally, making it a better value to me. Plus I'm not confident that Verizon will release timely updates.

Once you unlock it using DePixel8, you flash google factory images and there's no way Verizon can relock it with future updates.

skaforey said:
Once you unlock it using DePixel8, you flash google factory images and there's no way Verizon can relock it with future updates.
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Click to collapse
maybe, but back when I had a S5 and needed tech support for it to get it replaced, Verizon representative notified me over the phone that they wont do anything as they were able to see that I wasn't on a stock ROM and that I was rooted. Although the representative just told me to reflash the stock ROM and keep it unrooted and to call back the next day.
Nonetheless I'm sure they will be able to do the same with my Pixel and void my warranty, best to just buy it from Google directly and avoid all of that crap.
Thanks everyone for your input and advice

The 10$ price is for the 32gb Pixel only, which is a good price. The 128gb Pixel is 15$ * 24mo, the 32gb XL is 20$ * 24mo and the 128gb XL is 25$ * 24mo.
There's still a savings to be had on all variants however not enough of a savings on the 128gb XL version for me, I was actually hesitating giving to my unlimited to get two 128gb XL version if it was 240$ a phone, not the case.

aroy97 said:
........
Nonetheless I'm sure they will be able to do the same with my Pixel and void my warranty, best to just buy it from Google directly and avoid all of that crap.
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Click to collapse
It's indeed 'better' to buy a phone separately from the provider. Here (Netherlands) we have many people paying too much, because the 2-year contact automatically continues. Many forget to change the contract after 2 years.