Want to get your hands on a Samsung Galaxy S5 without paying the full $1050 asking price upfront? New Zealand's mobile phone carriers have a range of plans that
could get the Android smartphone into your paws if you commit to a monthly plan.
I'm not usually a fan of buying phones on contract. I prefer to put my money down on the hardware and have the freedom
to buy the best services at the best price. However, that's not everyone's way of operating, particularly for phones
costing more than $1000.
In the past users have often ended up effectively paying a premium price for phones purchased on contracts. That's not
necessarily the case any more. Take 2degrees $199 down followed by 24 months at $99 plan. The plan offers the same
calling and data deal as the company's bring-your-own-phone $69 plan. In effect this prices the Galaxy S5 at $999 —
cheaper than buying it outright.
Here I've drawn up a comparison chart of the plans on offer from Vodafone, Telecom NZ and 2degrees.
The cheapest deal is Telecom NZ's $649 down, then $49 a month for a total commitment of $1825.
I recommend checking reception where you live, work and play before switching to another carrier with one of these
plans. You might also want to think about how many calls and data you make at the moment and how this might change if
you get a newer, more powerful smartphone. Carriers are unlikely to complain if you want to move up to a more expensive
plan, but choosing one to get a bigger upfront discount on the Galaxy S5 can be a false economy.
It's also worth taking into account the various benefits the carriers offer. Vodafone and 2degrees offer HD voice calls
while Telecom NZ has an extensive Wi-Fi network.