Google Pixel trade in deal. What's the catch?

your privacy




just kidding; sounds like a great deal.

Yeah I think this is the case for any "free" phone or trade in offer. Only makes sense if you already wanted to switch providers or the trade-in is sweet enough, and plan to do so for the year or two baked into the agreement.

Basically you finance the phone and as long as you keep the line open they add statement credit to pay for the phone until its fully paid.

I think this is their way of getting back to those old 2/3 year contracts. Give you a steep discount on a new phone, but what they do to your bill is divide the price of the phone by 36 months, charge you for that price over 36 months, then give you a credit for the same amount. Your bill never changes as long as you stay with them, but if you leave you now need to pay your remaining balance without the discount.

I do not know what happens if you try to upgrade early, you may have to pay the balance at that point as well.