cell phone black friday deal finally

[cookiedough]

FINALLY, after about 5 years of NO really good deals thru US Cellular, the only cell phone carrier that works in my area, offered black friday deal of 600 off a new cell phone which covers all but 100-200 for a new model iphone or samsung phone.  Prior years were 200-300 off a new phone if existing customer is all.  

My 5+ or so year samsung S7 battery life was not good and 32gb internal memory was near full the past 1 year now.  I got a samsung s20 and my wife also eligible for upgrade been 3 years got an iphone 13.  I am the only one still on android, wife and 2 kids all have iphones.   At least around here, iphones are probably 2 of every 3 cell phone purchases, if not more, over samsung and motorola, etc, being android based.  I think battery life is a tad better on Moto G phones, then Samsung, then Iphones, but the iphones offer more things like snapchatting and facetime which is nicer if into that plus comparing the past few days google maps using android for navigation is not nearly as user friendly and not as good, IMO, as using apple carplay in vehicles for navigation.

OH well,  maybe in 7 more years when my samsung s20 battery life dies,  I will eventually become an apple iphone user being my next cell phone?  

does suck though where I live in the middle of nowhere that US Cellular is the ONLY cell phone provider that works where I live no other choice yet my 2 kids living up in northern WI (me southern WI), US Cellular has no cell phone towers up there so sucks for my kids being still on our US Cellular plan.  US Cellular cutoff for cell phone towers is around Black River Falls WI about 1 hour south of Eau Claire WI.

still trying to convince my age 79 mother in law to consider for 30+ tax per month to get a REAL cell phone vs. relying on her IMO pretty much useless tracphone that is not very beneficial IMO.

[Valkorado]

Being a bit on the techy side, I think the Android OS blows away IPhone.  Ya, iphones have the slick (end) user friendly interface but if you want to rule the world, the android system is far superior for power users and system manipulation.  I even installed android on an old desktop system, completely replacing Windows 10.  It's a nice experience using android with a mouse and keyboard.

This said, I recently ordered a "new" (to me) used unlocked S10 in supposedly flawless condition.  It'll replace my trusty but antiquated and far inferior S5.  I hope to get it and the new nano sim early this week.  I may geek out and root it before setting it up, amazing things can be done with a rooted android device.

I may be a tech head, but I'll never pay a grand for a smartphone (or 30 grand for a Gold Wing).

[cookiedough]

Being a bit on the techy side, I think the Android OS blows away IPhone.  Ya, iphones have the slick (end) user friendly interface but if you want to rule the world, the android system is far superior for power users and system manipulation.  I even installed android on an old desktop system, completely replacing Windows 10.  It's a nice experience using android with a mouse and keyboard.

This said, I recently ordered a "new" (to me) used unlocked S10 in supposedly flawless condition.  It'll replace my trusty but antiquated and far inferior S5.  I hope to get it and the new nano sim early this week.  I may geek out and root it before setting it up, amazing things can be done with a rooted android device.

I may be a tech head, but I'll never pay a grand for a smartphone (or 30 grand for a Gold Wing).

Interesting comments indeed being not heavily tech savvy at all never thought android base could even replace windows 10.  Also, about android based cell phones blowing away Iphones for 'power' users.  I thought the other way around.  I do however like the apple car play/iphone Navigation in vehicles comparing both new phones in our SUV this past weekend.  What sucks, unless I am doing something wrong, is my new samsung S20FE will NOT allow using google maps for NAV on SUV display screen while also using the samsung cell phone to use google maps AT THE SAME TIME stating on my samsung phone that android auto is being used already (on the SUV screen).   VS.  the apple car play allows BOTH using the iphone and navigation screen on the SUV at the same time.    UNLESS I am doing something wrong with my samsung phone?

totally agree I also would NEVER pay 700-1K on a new cell phone with 30 monthly payments.  That is why my 5+ year old Samsung S7 which battery life sucks having to charge up 2x's per day with very limited use has been postponed buying a new phone for so long.  Just wish there was a way (AND THERE SHOULD BE EASILY) to replace the internal battery with a NEW battery since would just keep my samsung S7 another 4-5 years. 

Gee, hear I thought I had the oldest cell phone being a samsung S7 still in use, finding out you had an older S5 phone.

[Valkorado]

totally agree I also would NEVER pay 700-1K on a new cell phone with 30 monthly payments.  That is why my 5+ year old Samsung S7 which battery life sucks having to charge up 2x's per day with very limited use has been postponed buying a new phone for so long.  Just wish there was a way (AND THERE SHOULD BE EASILY) to replace the internal battery with a NEW battery since would just keep my samsung S7 another 4-5 years.  

Not easy, but it can be done if you're very careful.  It'll involve cracking the phone open.  I'll likely consider this when the S10's battery is toast.  The (easily) replaceable battery was the main reason I held onto the S5 for so long.

There are kits that include a replacement battery as well as the phone cracking tools.  Here's one for the S7.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Replacement-Battery-Fits-With-Samsung-Galaxy-S7-SM-G930-EB-BG930ABE-3000mAh-TOOL-/264859986116?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

BTW you can extend the life of your battery considerably by starting the charge process at around 25-30%, and stopping charging around 80%.  There are free apps available that will remind you when to plug in and unplug with an alarm and/or vibration.  About once a year let the phone drain and shut off, then charge it to 100%.  Never plug in your phone to charge it overnight.

[cookiedough]

thanks valkorado for the link would of not hurt to try replacing battery for trade in at the us cellular store is only 15 bucks was worth a shot to just keep the 5 year old cell phone and try replacing the batteries inside not out much at all. 

new samsung s20 is still NOT charging it all day at 70% percent battery life vs. the old samsung s7 would have been dead today by now having to recharge it.   I had the cell phone s7 this past winter in my winter coat pocket in BITTER cold I swore was 60% or so and checked it 20 minutes later was totally dead the cold zapped the power ASAP. 

[scooperhsd]

Yesterday, when I was out at Sam's Club for pharmacy, I swung by electronics to see what's new. (Pharmacy sees alot of me).


They had unlocked Motorola G Power phones, 4 GB RAM, 64GB storage, can use micro SD card to 512 GB (I'm guessing, because 512 MB can't even be found anymore) for under $200 each. We're both thinking about upgrading, but you can't wait too long...

[Jack B]

We are upgrading out iPhone 10 to the 11, it will cost us $5 a month for 30 months ($150) and we will trade in our 10 for $180.
It was a easy decision.

[cookiedough]

yah,  US Cellular finally got on the bandwagon after several years of offering NOT MUCH, after Verizon and others are offering good deals to their LOYAL customers,   a great deal off new cell phones being 600 bucks off.  That makes new phones only costing 100-200 bucks for most of them over 30 month contract.

Only catch was we had to sign up for their NEW phone plans which ends up being the same 160 for 4 lines (40 each) vs. our old plan that offered 10 cash back off each line if under 3GB data used each month.  The only person was ME using up well under 3GB data use per month so only saved 10 bucks is all with my wife sometimes going under 3GB of data per month.  Forgot about both kids age 20 and 23 never ever will they use up under 3GB data per month.   

Back some 5-6 years ago,  US Cellular use to offer to their loyal existing customers FREE NEW cell phones every year but only until Verizon and others started offering great deals to existing customers,  did US Cellular jump on the bandwagon.  If I could switch to another carrier back and forth to save 500-700 bucks on a new cell phone,  I would more often than every 5-6 years.

Battery life on this new samsung S20FE and my wifes new Iphone 13 is amazing.  Neither of us have to charge our cell phones daily and I can get at least 3 days run time on mine and the wife easily 2 full days of use.  Our old cell phones I would have to charge my S7 up at least twice daily and wife's iphone 8 at least once per day.   After 2 days of non-charging,  I woke up to 60% battery life still this morning.