A few weeks back, when details and rumors about the Nexus One were starting to dribble out, we did a technical specifications-only comparison between it, the iPhone, and the Moto Droid (click here for a refresher).
Since then, Google announced complete details about the Nexus (exemplar, superphone in Google speak) — specifically, that you could buy the phone unlocked directly from Google for a hefty US$529.99, or through T-Mobile for only US$179.99 plus a two-year contract. Which got us thinking: how do those numbers compare with the competition?
As you can see from the chart below, we did a total-cost-of-ownership comparison of the Nexus, Droid, iPhone, and Palm Pre — the current “must-have” handsets of T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint, respectively. We looked at the phone cost with and without a two-year contract, as well as the monthly costs of both an average plan and one with unlimited calling/texting/data.
Once you get past the sticker shock of “I’m spending THAT much for phone service in twenty-four months?!?”, it turns out the Pre and Nexus have the lowest TCOO on the 450-500 minute plans. Now, while these are important factors to consider when getting that smart phone du jour, they’re not the only things to consider. Verizon’s higher total price, for instance, comes with a larger and more reliable network — AT&T, while having the single hottest phone (and a gazillion apps for it) recently admitted that yeah, their 3G network is still the pits in some locations. Likewise, the Pre’s attractiveness, both feature- and plan-wise, is tempered by lack of apps (yes, compare to other offerings)
Caveat emptor, folks… (comparison after the fold)
Also, check out or full Nexus One coverage here.
450-500 minute plans compared
Update #2: Initial comparison was made among 900 minute plans but since Nexus One is available on 500 minute plan we updated table above.
Update #3: Kenny in Comments pointed out that: “You could
use the device with the Even More Plus Plan Unlimited, which is
$79.99/month, but you have to pay full price for the device. Then in
comes out to $529 + $79.99*24 = $2448.76 beating everybody up there. ” This is based on the fact that you can get unlimited $79.99 plan from T-Mobile if you bring your own unlocked device. Looks like that is the best deal.
If you like to see 900 minute plan comparisons for other phone use graphic below.
900 minute plans compared
Nexus One, Day One: iPhone Comparison (Initial Impressions)
Nexus One, Day Two: iPhone Comparison – It’s All About Battery Management
Nexus One, Day Three And Four: iPhone Comparison – Picture/Video Management, Android User Interface
Nexus Vs. iPhone Comparison (Day 5): Battle of the Typing – Typing Speed And Accuracy
Nexus One, Day 6: Nexus One and Speech Recognition from Google
Nexus One, Day 7 & 8: Nexus One And Google Voice Integration
Accessories & Apps: Beta Testers Wanted
iOS Firmware/IPSW Download Guide
Legacy iTunes Download Archive
App Store Top Charts
iPhone and Android Resale Value Charts
USA iPhone Carrier Plans Compared
Complete iPhone Jailbreaking Guide 
Complete iPhone Specification Matrix 
I guess the fact that Nexus One is only available with a $79.99 500 minute T-Mobile plan was just beyond the research abilities of the article’s author.
Thanks Andrew for pointing out.
Table is fixed to reflect that. We jumped the gun and assumed that it will be possible to upgrade to the higher minute plan (logical) but after going through ordering process 79.99 is the only option.
Shouldn’t you use the comparable 500 minute plans for the other devices as well? Otherwise, the table gives an illusion of the total ownership cost for a Nexus One to be much lower than the rivals, while it actually comes with a little over half the minutes.
For the “unlimited” comparison, I suggest you use the full unlocked price (no calling plan limitation) coupled with the $99.97 “Everything” plan (i.e., $529 + $99.97*24). That option actually makes it attractive.
Is it fair that you are comparing a 500 minute plan with 900 minute plans for pricing? As it is, this chart is fairly useless as its comparing apples to oranges.
I pay $80/mo for the 450minute rollover plan + data from AT&T, shouldn’t THAT be the plan that is compared to the 500minute T-Mobile plan?
We fixed the table to show 450-500 minute plan comparisons.
Thanks for the feedback, we fixed that
What about the even more plus plan from T-Mobile? If you are going to buy the phone without a contract, you can get this plan.
Based on ordering option its not available.
You can order unlocked and just use the sim card if you have the more plus plan with another phone.
if you bring your own phone to tmobile you can get unlimited everything for $80/month with no contract
im sorry but AT&T IS VERY EXPENSIVE THEY CHARGE YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND WHEN THEY SAID 5GB of DATA IS JUST THAT IS NOT UNLIMITED DATA..I WAS A COSTUMER WITH AT&T BUT NOT ANYMORE … APPLE DONT SELF THE IAPPLE PHONE WITHOUT CONTRACT ANYWAYS NOW I WANT TO BUY THE NEW NEXUS I THINK IS A VERY GOOD PHONE
This is important — anyone could just buy this phone unlocked, and then sign up for the plan, which shaves $480 off the 2-year cost of ownership… it’s a critical comparison point, as I believe T-mo is still the only US carrier doing contractless plans.
sprint’s plan “Everything Data” is unlimited data, unlimited txt, unlimited to any cell phone and 450 mins for $69 – Just noticed the 5GB is not correct
The five hundred minute plan also has a fave 5, so it pretty much is unlimited.
Dude, the IPhone kicks them ALL to the curb!
RT
http://www.total-anonymity.at.tc
iPhone 3G plans have unlimited data and limits on SMS.
Also, please note, the Everything plan on T-Mo is $79.99 and has no contract. Its not available with a “subsidized” $179 N1, but you could buy it unlocked and go with the unlimited plan…at which point over 2 years it gets really embarrassing for the other providers.
You guys got it wrong bigtime, you need another column in there for this combo:
Unlocked $530 for the device
$60 for 500 minutes, unlimited text+data = $1440 for 24 months (no contract too)
$80 for unlimited everything = $1920 for 24 months
Stop buying your device on plan!
You could use the device with the Even More Plus Plan Unlimited, which is $79.99/month, but you have to pay full price for the device. Then in comes out to $529 + $79.99*24 = $2448.76 beating everybody up there.
That will be the best plan, buying unlocked and then getting unlimited Tmobile plan
Good point.
Looks like this is the best option
I’ve been waiting for the Nexus announcement, and waiting for them to become available, thanks for this comparison.
And how much are the Nexus One’s extra features worth?
Compared to the iPhone 3GS, the Nexus has:
-2.5x screen resolution (480×800 vs 320×480)
-slightly bigger screen
-Double the RAM (512MB vs 256MB)
-5MP camera vs 3MP camera
-Higher capacity battery (1400mAh vs 1219mAh)
-LED flash
-80211n support for improved range
-1oz lighter
Personaly I’d rather spend $40-$50 extra to have the opportunity to swap memory cards if I want music on one card and movies on another.
Your chart is wrong for the iPhone. It says 5GB of data but its unlimited with AT&T(assuming that is the pricing you are going with considering its in American dollars).
yeah, the unlimited plan is 5gb, if you read very very small print on the contract.
the whole unlimited terminology from providers is misleading.
i don’t know why you put 5gb cap on the data. that’s only for the data plans for the computer. and how is vzw 99.99? It should be 104.99, per VZWs website. and by the way, sprint includes navigation in their 69.99 plan, unlike the other carriers.
Actually, the iPhone comes with unlimited data no matter what plan you get
oh, and you should also add an extra row for perks, such as tmobiles fave 5, atts rolloever, sprint’s anytime mobile, etc. i personally have sprint and hardly use any of the allocated minutes because i mainly call people with cellphones.
i also stand corrected on vzws 99.99 pricing, i had used online package builder and it totaled 104.99. didn’t see their pda.smartphone plan. sorry.
The price and information on the droid is incorrect. With Verizon I pay $39.99 for 450 minutes, $29.99 for UNLIMITED data (no 5GB cap like with AT&T) and $5.00 for 250 text messages for a total of $74.98.
Verizon’s is unlimited data the 5gb lint is for tethering which the Droid doesn’t do yet.
The only difference my iPhone contributes to my family plan with ATT ($60 for 700 minutes, $30 for unlimited texting) versus the motorola razor I had previously is the one-time price ($199) plus $30 per month for data. I calculate the total addition to my normal family plan is $199 + $720 = $919 over 2 years. A Blackberry with a data plan would be more expensive than that.
All of these service plans are way too expensive in my opinion.
Don’t forget to add another $40-$50 for a micro SD upgrade to match the iPhone’s 16GB you’re comparing the Nexus to…
I was going to point this out too. The “Everything Data 450″ plan is 450 of talk… but the plan also includes their new “unlimited mobile to mobile” feature. That means that any call from your Sprint phone to ANY other mobile phone on ANY other network is free… the 450 minutes would only be used if you called a land-line.
So: 450 minutes to land-line / free to any mobile, Unlimited Data, Unlimited Text = $69.99 a month. So in actuality, Sprint’s 2 year unlimited everything contract is only $1829.75. Basically, you save almost $2000 over the other choices for the two year commitment.
Iphone is the best. Droid close second.
Millions of people paying are $1000-2000 per year for a cell phone? Definitely one born every second.
Droid is the best. 29.99 Unlimited Data & Text messages. 900 mins for 79.99. Plus you gotta calculate tax $5.00 and insurance $5.99.
Very expensive and they give you a lot of features for that one cost.
Hopefully they reduce calling plan costs to even it out..
I get a 22% discount (check your company discount guys!!) … so my total bill is like $95/month – total … when it should cost like $130!
I have the Droid and I pay $89.99/mo for 450min, unlimited texts and “unlimited” data.
If you buy for $530 with no contract you can get 500 Minutes, unlimited nights/weekends, text and data for $59.99 (with fees is less than $65) with T-Mobile with the ability to upgrade or cancel anytime for no fees. Downside for me with the Nexus One is that tethering won’t be available, at least for now. If they included tethering capability then I would have one on its way in the mail right now most likely. My guess is that T-Mobile pressured them not to overload their network with tethering.
This is sorta comparing apples (ha) with whatever.
If you call mostly landlines Sprint is the cheapest. $69.99 a month gets you unlimited data & txts and 450 minutes, but calls to mobile phones don’t count. So you are getting basically unlimited calls to mobile phones and 450mins to land line.
Is the iPhone cooler than the pre? yes, but Not $80 a month better. That could be spent on beer or anything else. no app is worth $80 of beer a month.
I meant if you call cell phones Sprint is the cheapest!
According to T-Mobile, you can in fact get the Nexus at the subsidized price with the single plan offered by Google, then as soon as the phone is activated, turn around and switch to any of the other plans that include all three services.
I’ll stick with my Mogul on Sero for now. 500 mins / unlimited text / unlimited data for $34.56/mo after fees. I even tethered it and canceled my normal ISP for a while.
Um, VZW being 104.99 or even 99.99? That’s a lie. Select 450 plan is 59.99, unlimited smartphone dataplan is 29.99 (the tethering plan is limited to 5gb, not the dataplan) So it should be 89.98. Someone can’t add or read.
Buried on Digg for poor research. Inaccurate article is inaccurate. I can’t blame the individual who wrote this for not putting a name on it.
Verizon’s 450 minute single line plan with unlimited text is 59.99, smartphone dataplan (which is also unlimited, just tethering plans are limited to 5g) is 29.99. So… The total there is 89.98, not 99.99. Same error is there on the 900 minute chart as well. Whoever wrote the article basically tacked on $10 to the Verizon totals for whatever reason.
Someone can’t add or read competently, and that someone shouldn’t write articles.
This article needs to be fact-checked – From looking at the Sprint website, it appears that they offer unlimited data on their 450 minutes “Everything” plan.
We compared to VerizonsPDA/Smartphone Nationwide Email Plans
PDA/Smartphone Nationwide Email Messaging
A
bundled package with voice and wireless data for quick and easy remote
access to email and attachments. Introducing Friends Family®.
Unlimited calling to and from any 5 numbers on any network in America.
Text above is taken from the website
It’s all relative.
I was on a family plan before I got my DROID, on Verizon. The net incremental cost for me adding the DROID versus the dumb phone I had was $30 per month. And we even had a credit (NE2 not used for nearly a year, waiting for Verizon to offer a decent Android phone), so I paid $100 for the DROID, and an additional $720 for two years of network service. Not cheap, but do the math… are you really NOT going to have any cellphone? The real question of interest was the additional cost, not the base cost.
Good point, we tried to do it and quickly figured out that with number of plans and different option it was impossible to compile readable chart, so we decided to provide common base for common plans for people to compare to what they have with current phones.
Honestly, in our opinion, since people stuck on their carrier networks, they will get what is available to them on their network.
Yes, this is easily the best way to go. $60 per month + taxes ends up around $67/month (what I’m currently paying). Assuming you can front the rather large $530 startup cost, this is a sweet deal that T-Mobile is offering. All of this without a 2-year contract as well. T-Mobile has it right, other providers don’t have a clue.
We have friends who have androids and iphones on T-mobile the same way, kinda get the latest with flexibility not like other networks
You don’t refute anything I’ve said, nor do you adequately explain where that extra $10 you padded onto the Verizon quote came from. Go to VZW.com, use the plan builder, choose a smartphone, go with the 450 minutes, unlimited texting and the smartphone dataplan. It’s 89.98. I’m sorry if it’s too complicated for you to get right. I think maybe someone is trying to make their favorite phone look better. Also, with Verizon the 5gb limit is only for Mobile Broadband devices (like MiFi and wireless cards) and tethering plans. Stop going by what you’ve “heard” and go by the information that’s actually out there and verifiable.
the fine print from the nexus one’google website says…
you cant use the phone on Sprint or Verizon…
http://www.google.com/support/android/bin/answer.py?answer=166507
You guys used the “Connect plan” which you don’t need to do with Verizon. The data in the Connect plan DOES NOT APPLY to smart phones at all. So to get unlimited data with the droid, you get the Select plan with 450 minutes for 59.99, and the pda data for $29.99.
Stop going with the connect plan, you’re wasting your money.
I sell Verizon and these guys are correct. The plans you want are the Select plan(unl txt+pix+vid for 59.99) and the Unlimited data addon for
smartphones/pdas(29.99). It is unlimited. There is only a 5gb cap when
you “tether” your phone(use as a modem for your notebook).
Please stop implying these falsehoods. Thanks.
As someone else pointed out, Sprint’s plan that include bundled data (the $69.99 450 plan or even the 900 $89.99 plan) it has Any Mobile Any Time. Which basically makes it unlimited cellphone calling and just uses minutes when calling landlines. For the average person, this is basically an unlimited plan.
Can you sign up for non-smart phone plan with unlimited data for $10 with this link?
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/packages/packageDetail.aspx?pkgcatid=Individual%20Plans
then buy unlocked nexus one and replace the sim card? Will you get in trouble for this? or can T-mobile catch you? It is seems like a very good deal. $529 and $49.99 per month. for existing T-mobile may not even have to have 2 years contract.
I’d be vary having “450 + unlimited mobile” on my plan … knowing that the culture of USA providers is to charge for INCOMING calls
this question might need further clarification..
Why waste your money when these companies continue to screw each other. Eventually the screwing is going to end up on you. Droid will not get quality S.U. Nexus will flop. stay with Iphone
Why not include the $99 iPhone?
Or the refurbished $49 from AT&T.
They even have the 8gig model for $19 now.
All the carrier deals are ripoffs costing $1500-$2500 a year or more plus blocked sites, routing and disabled phone features. Do this; buy an unlocked phone direct and get a T-Mobile prepaid card. Verizon and Sprint play too many bs games with routing and proxies and turning off features and don’t get me started on all the personal data they’re logging linked to your GPS so they can “deliver a richer user experience…” Wise up, sheep.
This is exactly what I’ve done. I bought the full-price Nexus One and got the Get More Plus 500 minute plan (unlimited text and data) at $59.99/month. My total cost of ownership over 2 years is $529 + (24 x $59.99) = $1968.76, and for that I have an unlocked phone with no contract.
wow i calculated it out that i actually paying $600 per year with unlimit text and call except internet!!! also i got iphone for free and unlocked to t-mobile
The price wars between the four outstanding smart phones may be exciting. The touch phone users hopes the price and come down.
I work for Sprint. Have for 4 years in Advanced Tech Support or Tier 2. With the phone plans there is (not) a cap on the data usage. Currently there is only a cap on the Mobile Broadband cards.
iphone 3gs wins them all….. imagine how much better the iphone 4 is.
how’d you get it for free??