Virgin Mobile - Samsung Galaxy S3 for $150

[Spyguy]

For any Virgin Mobile users...

Virgin has the Samsung Galaxy S3 4G LTE on sale until February 10 for $199.99 ($50 off). But you can combine that with a coupon code to get an additional $50 off, for a total of $149.99 + tax (S&H is free).

Here's the coupon code: GS32CJ50

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/shop/cell-phones/samsung-galaxy-III-4G-LTE-phone/features/

[Beercandan]

Good deal bought my parents these phones on amazon.no tax $175 cheapest I found

[glock_this]

S3? S4 and S5 are out and S6 is 30 days away. S3 is an antique hardly worth 199, 150.... IMHO.

[Spyguy]

S3? S4 and S5 are out and S6 is 30 days away. S3 is an antique hardly worth 199, 150.... IMHO.

The S3 being offered by Virgin has 16GB ROM, 2GB RAM (upgradable to 64GB with micro SD), and has been updated with Android 4.4 KitKat. So it's hardly out-of-date. A couple of years ago when the S3 was introduced, it was the hottest thing on the market: dubbed the "iPhone killer" Samsung sold 30 million units in less than 6 months. At the time, it sold for more than the latest iPhone, over $600 if I recall correctly.

So has the phone suddenly become obsolete? Hardly. It's just no longer the newest kid on the block. This is all about marketing and consumer perception. If I took my new S3 and went back in time 2 years, people would be raving about how I've got the greatest phone in the world. Sure, the S4 and S5 and S6 will have marginally better features. In fact, I could have bought an S5 from Virgin for $599.99. But I'd rather save my money for other things. I can do everything on my S3 that can be done on an S5 (at least for the way I use my phones; I'm not a big game player so maybe the s5 would have an edge there).

And I only pay $35/month (exactly $35/month: no extra taxes, fees, or other nonsense tacked on to my bill) for unlimited talk minutes, unlimited SMS, and unlimited data. (My low-priced plan does have a 250MB 3G/4G speed cap, but since the majority of my data usage is via WiFi, it hardly matters to me.) How much do you pay for your latest & greatest "$200 phone" after you factor in the outrageous 2-year monthly contract costs? Look at your phone's total cost of ownership, and then get back to me about how the S3 is not worth $150.

[glock_this]

5.0 Lollipop is out, 5.1 has been seen in the wild as of the last 7 days.

I know the S3, well, I have it and have since day 1. So you don't have to quote me specs. Rooted, unlocked bootloader, custom ROMS and kernels, Ninjamorph tweaks. 4.4.4 KK is been around for a while (especially if you knew how to root).

Yeah.. it is out of date. Soon to be 3 generations old on March 1 at Mobile World Congress (3 years in May). Did I say anything about it not being able to work and used as a phone? Nope.

You are going on and on and on about the cost of ownership and blah blah spewing numbers. I never said anything about any of that, so slow your roll. Most of your entire not needed rant is money related, mine is 100% tech related. It's old tech now. Usable? Yes. Old.. yep.

BTW - I buy my phones outright so I am not on contract, can keep my unlimited day and flip phones as I see fit

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I just upgraded from the S3 to the Note 4. The S3 was a great phone, but I'll concur with Glock_this. It isn't all about squeezing every nickel out of the old phone. The bigger screen and snappier speed of the Note 4 is worth a few more bucks a month.

[Beercandan]

Few bucks? I use my s3 for basic internet and texting, and need small phone for pocket for work.how much more was other phone?