T-Mobile iPhone 5 LTE 4G launches April 12th, $99 up front with 24 months of $20 payments. $99 + $20 x 24 = $580 (Unlocked). The iPhone 5 is a great phone. The high end HTC and Samsung phones are also great phones. Price transparency. You can now decide whether to purchase an unlocked phone elsewhere (e.g. the Google Play store) and bring it to T-Mobile for a discounted plan, or you can choose to buy a phone from T-mobile and spread the payments over time.

$99 + $20 x 24 = $580
The T-Mobile plan is categorically better, because it gives you options. Examples:
1) Decide you need to cancel mid-way through the installment plan? You pay a fee similar to the other carriers. Advantage: Even
2) Decide to immediately buy another subsidized phone? You will end up paying a similar amount over time. Advantage: Even
3) Decide there’s no phone you want to buy right away? Every month you wait you save $20. Advantage: T-Mobile
4) At the end of the contract you decide to buy the latest Nexus from the Google Play store and save significant $$ on your monthly plan cost. Advantage: T-Mobile
Even if you scenario 1 and 2 fit you the best, if your needs change (and they may well over the course of two years) you might find yourself saving money the T-Mobile way.
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