No more special treatment for Samsung users! | Image by Android Headlines
T-Mobile is cutting corners wherever it can, and that means rescinding the special treatment it used to give to Apple and Samsung users. After deciding to lock Apple users to its network, T-Mobile has stopped having Samsung users' backs, too.
Rough times
Samsung users were previously exempt. | Image by T-Mobile
Whether driven by rising smartphone prices or fierce competition in the telecom industry, T-Mobile seems to be looking out only for itself.
T-Mobile levies a one-time Device Connection Charge (DCC) for connecting a new device to its network.
Now, T-Mobile is coming after Samsung buyers, too.
No exemptions
T-Mobile's updated terms. | Image by T-Mobile
First spotted by Droid Life, T-Mobileupdated its terms to notify customers that all upgrades completed through Samsung are now subject to the DCC.
Whether you buy a Samsung device online, through the app, or in a physical store, you'll have to shell out that $35 fee if you plan to use it on T-Mobile.
As a Samsung user, what's your reaction?
Worst possible time
T-Mobile made this change just as Samsung prepares to announce its new foldable lineup. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 are expected to cost more than their predecessors and might not even come with the same pre-order benefits as before.
While $35 isn't a huge amount on its own, customers struggle to understand its purpose, calling it a money grab. Buying directly from Samsung was one of the last reliable loopholes for sidestepping the fee.
Slapping a $35 DCC on previously exempt channels, especially after Verizon waived it for everyone, is another example of T-Mobile's nickel-and-diming.
While customers can buy an unlocked device and switch to a carrier with less punishing fees, they are unlikely to find better Fold 8 and Flip 8 deals elsewhere.
T-Mobile knows this, which is why it boldly imposed the fee on Samsung buyers. With smartphones getting more expensive, most customers still need a carrier to finance their purchases.
Six-month unlimited plan is now 57% off
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$120 off (57%)
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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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