Decision Time...

[TiredEngineer]

I have a Galaxy Note 2 and loved it at first. I also own a first generation Nexus 7. Getting new Android updates frequently with no bloatware on my Nexus 7 has made me start to hate my GN2.

I am on an ATT shared data plan with my wife who refuses to change carriers because she is like that...

I am considering dropping off the shared plan, lowering her data, and switching to an individual line on T-Mobile. I will have the ETF paid for, trade in my phone for a low-ball trade in value, and get the Nexus 5.

I guess worst case scenario is my service sucks (I live in the north Atlanta metro area), and I switch back to AT&T BYOD style, buy my phone from T-mobile, and then save $15/mon on AT&T by not having a contract.

Can anyone see a downside here? I save money per month, I get a new phone, and if I hate it I go back to AT&T and still save money with the new $15/mon incentive.

 

[Commodus]

There's only two things to watch out for: make sure that T-Mobile's coverage is good in your area, and be ready for battery life that isn't as good as with the Note 2 (no surprises here, it's not a big phone). If those are fine, I'd definitely make the jump.

 

[tsupersonic]

Or here's another option: Just buy a Nexus 5 and swap out your SIM card from the Note 2 to the Nexus 5. After that is done, sell the Note 2 (after device wipe/reset), and you would obviously stay on the same plan, without paying an ETF.

Or yet another option, root the Note 2 and install custom ROM to stay up to date on Android releases.