9 Galaxy S6 Upgrade Tips

If you plan on a Galaxy S6 upgrade in the near future there are some steps that you can take to ensure a smooth upgrade from the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4. Here is our advice to users who plan to upgrade to the Galaxy S6 from the Galaxy S4 or the Galaxy S5. Some of these will apply to users who upgrade from other Android devices or the iPhone 6, but we’ll focus on these two popular Android phones.

The Galaxy S4 is two years old so many users are at the end of a contract and looking to upgrade to the Galaxy S6 in the near future. The Galaxy S5 is only a year old, but thanks to new Edge, Jump, Next and leasing options more users can upgrade to a new phone in a year than for previous upgrades.

On Sunday March 1st Samsung will announce the new Samsung Galaxy S6 at MWC 2015 in Barcelona. With T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint all teasing the “Six Appeal” of the upcoming device it is clear that this is the Galaxy S6.

We expect a fast Galaxy S6 release date, and a potentially hampered Galaxy S6 Edge release date as Samsung may struggle with production. You can check out our Galaxy S6 release date details you need to know for more about the device and timing.

Here are our Galaxy S6 upgrade tips for owners of the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5. If you are still hanging on to the Galaxy S3 you’ll also get solid information out of this.

Check Your Upgrade Eligibility

Before you plan to buy the Galaxy S6 on release day you need to check your upgrade eligibility. You can do this online or from your phone. If you do it online you need to log in to your account or you will need to know the last four digits of the primary user’s social security number.

You can check your AT&T, Sprint or Verizon upgrade eligibility using the Best Buy upgrade checker. It is free to use and you don’t lock in to any agreement to use Best Buy for your upgrade.

Use the guide below to check your Galaxy S6 upgrade eligibility right from your phone.

• Check Verizon Upgrade Eligibility – Dial #874
• Check AT&T Upgrade Eligibility – Dial *639#
• Check Sprint Upgrade Eligibility – Text upgrade to 1311

On T-Mobile you need to log in to your account to see when you can use the JUMP plan to switch to a new phone. If you are on a Least, Next or Edge plan you will need to log in to see your current payment threshold to upgrade and other important information.

Galaxy S4 to Galaxy S6 Upgrade Advice

If you plan to upgrade from the Galaxy S4 to the Galaxy S6 you can read our expectations to learn what you can expect from a Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S6 comparison.

This will be a big upgrade in terms of the display, camera, design and software — much bigger than for users who own the Galaxy S5.

We suggest familiarizing yourself with the rumors and what to expect. If this is your first new phone in two years you need to also look at options from other carriers and familiarize yourself with the new early upgrade plans.

Where to Sell Your Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5

There are many places you can sell your old phone to get a good value. Most places that will give you cash for your Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5 will send you a free box or label to ship the device to them and will promptly pay you when it arrives. Some of our favorite places that let you lock in a price are Gazelle and NextWorth.

You can also check out eBay, Glyde and other online markets to sell your Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5 yourself. eBay reports an increase in the volume of Galaxy S5 units sold in the last month and a 30% boost in the average selling price for the Galaxy S5 since February 2nd.

If you choose to sell on Craigslist make sure you meet in a safe location, and make smart decisions.

You should also be sure to check out Best Buy, which may offer a great deal for the Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S3.

When to Sell Your Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5

Normally you can get more for your old device before the new one is announced. That complicates things because you probably still need to use your Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5 for another month or two.

You can lock in a price on Gazelle and NextWorth for 30 days. Right now you can lock in a price until March 26th, but there is a chance the Galaxy S6 release may not come until early April. There is no commitment, so you can lock in a price today and then again in about two weeks so that you are covered out until the release arrives.

If you are selling direct, you can use an old phone, or simply wait until you get the new Galaxy S6 and sell it as fast as possible to get the best price.

How Much to Expect for Your Old Phone

The price you get for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 will vary from place to place. Typically you will get more money if you sell the phone on your own, but the other options offer less hassle, that many users enjoy.

Galaxy S5 Trade-in Prices & Selling Prices

• Gazelle – $210
• Nextworth – $152
• Glyde – $311 – $261 in your pocket
• eBay – $200 to $400 before fees

Galaxy S4 Trade-in Prices & Selling Prices

• Gazelle – $110
• Nextworth – $81
• Glyde – $175 – $145 in your pocket
• eBay – $90 to $200 before fees

Glyde predicts the price of the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy S5 will fall within the next seven days. Prices vary for colors, storage options and carriers. Expect changes in price daily for the next several weeks.

Compare New Plans & Carriers

You can count on carriers and retailers pushing the newer no contract plans that they advertise as $0 down. Instead of paying an on-contract Galaxy S6 price of $199, for example, you would pay nothing that day and pay $25 to $30 a month for a period of 12 to 20 months depending on the carrier.

You often get a discount of $15 to $25 on your phone plan with this option and you can also upgrade faster next year.

If you haven’t explored this, check out the coverage and plans at each carrier, as competition is better than ever.

Expect to Pay $36 to $40 Just to Upgrade

If you upgrade at Verizon, AT&T or Sprint and you don’t use a new style of plan you will pay a lot just for the privilege of upgrading. Here is a breakdown of the upgrade fee for each carrier in 2015.

• Verizon Upgrade Fee – $40
• AT&T Upgrade Fee – $40
• Sprint Upgrade Fee – $36

T-Mobile only offers the new type of plans without an upgrade fee. If you choose AT&T Next, Verizon Edge or an Easy Pay option on Sprint the upgrade fee is waived.

Count on Major Galaxy S4 & Galaxy S5 Trade-in Deals

We know Best Buy will play a big role in the Galaxy S6 release. The company is already teasing that the Galaxy S6 is coming soon.

The last time the carrier offered an early look at a Samsung device they also offered a $200 trade in credit for almost any phone. This isn’t that much for the Galaxy S5, but it’s a great deal for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3.

If this happens, count on an announcement next week, possibly during the Galaxy S6 event or within two days.

Expect Easy Way to Transfer Data to Galaxy S6

Samsung includes software that makes it easy to switch from the Galaxy S4 or Galaxy S5 to a new device, and Android Lollipop also includes an easy tool. Whichever option Samsung offers we expect an easy way to transfer your data from your old phone to the Galaxy S6.

The video above shows how this works on the Galaxy S5, and we expect a similar option for the Galaxy S6.

More Choice with Android

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Apple offers more choice than we've seen from them before with the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7 and iPhone SE as well as older models -- but you still only have three screen sizes and two designs to pick from.  Android delivers more options with waterproof phones, different screen sizes, more colors, different materials and other differentiating factors.  With Android smartphones users can choose a waterproof option like the Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge or go with a modular design like the LG G5. 2017 brings newer designs and options. There is also support for a huge screen with a built-in stylus with the Note 6. In addition to these big names, there are many other options from Motorola, Huawei and if you include last year's releases a number of other interesting options.  There are also options to buy an Android phone with wireless charging or a replaceable battery, neither of which is available without adding a case to the iPhone. Users can pick the phone size and design they want, and they can also pick a phone that offers a replaceable battery, a great camera or another feature without limiting to just two phones for the latest features and user experience.

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