Consumer Electronics

Is Best Buy Making the Best Offer for Samsung Note 7 Buyers?

Paul Ausick

Published: August 4, 2016 9:05 am

Last Updated: January 13, 2020 4:56 am

Samsung Electronics kicked off U.S. pre-orders for its Galaxy Note 7 5.7-inch smartphone on Wednesday with general availability scheduled for August 19 in the United States. That was the signal for the major wireless carriers to announce their pricing plans for the new device that carries an $849.99 list price. Several retailers are also accepting orders, including Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY).

Best Buy’s initial offer for customers who pre-order the Note 7 includes a Samsung Gear Fit2 fitness watch or a 256 GB memory card with the purchase or lease plus activation of the device. The offer is good while supplies last. Best Buy also claims that it is the only retailer that will deliver the free item along with the Note 7 on launch day.

Customers ordering the Note 7 online from Best Buy will receive the Gear Fit2. To get the memory card a customer has to purchase the device in a retail store.

According to a report at CNET, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint are all making similar offers, although it is unclear whether customers can pick up their free watch or memory card at the same time as they pick up their new phone.

T-Mobile US Inc. (NYSE: TMUS) is offering a choice of one of the Samsung free items or a free year-long subscription to Netflix with the purchase of the Note 7. The carrier’s deal is $850 cash or $70 down and $32.50 monthly for 24 months. Customers can pre-order online, by phone or in a T-Mobile retail store.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is taking Note 7 pre-orders only online. No free stuff, but Verizon is waiving the $20 activation fee and offering up to $300 for trade-ins. If you must have one of the free items, order through Best Buy and activate the phone on Verizon. The Note 7 costs $864 at full retail from Verizon, or $36 a month for two years.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is offering a free Samsung Gear S2 watch and a free Galaxy Tab E. Both require a two-year wireless agreement. The Note 7 costs $29.34 a month for 24 months on the Next plan and $36.67 per month for 24 months on the Next Every Year plan. A pre-order also entitles customers to purchase a second Galaxy smartphone with a Next plan and receive $695 in bill credits over 30 months.

Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) is making basically the same offer as Best Buy, with the addition of a $20 Samsung Rewards Visa card to customers who sign up for Samsung Pay. The Note 7 will cost $35.42 a month for 24 months with no down payment, $349.99 with a mail-in rebate and a 24-month contract, or $849.99 at full retail.