Nexus 5 Release Date Is Here: Device Available At T-Mobile With $450 Price Tag

The Nexus 5 is now available at T-Mobile, just two weeks after it was officially announced. Currently the T-Mobile Nexus 5 can be purchased only online, but the device will be available at T-Mobile retail stores starting Nov. 20.

In its recent announcement of the Nexus 5, T-Mobile detailed that it would carry the 16GB device for $449.99, which is broken down by its UNcarrier plan into a $42 down payment and monthly payments of $17 over 24-months.

Notably, the T-Mobile Nexus 5 costs $100 more than the Nexus 5 purchased directly from Google. The 16GB Nexus 5 costs $349.99 while the 32GB Nexus, which T-Mobile does not carry, costs $399.99 on the Google Play Store.

Without a distinct two-year contract structure, T-Mobile claims it is not profiting from the sale of the Nexus 5, and that Google is also selling the device at a $100 subsidy. The carrier recently told CNET that it has to pay full retail price for Nexus 5 handsets when purchasing them from Google's manufacturing partner, LG, which is why the Nexus 5 is priced in this way.

Other carriers, including Sprint and many overseas networks, are offering the Nexus 5 for $449.99 as its off-contract option, but also offer a subsidized price for those who purchase two-year contracts. Sprint is currently selling the Nexus 5 for $50 with a two-year contract; however, its original contract price is $150.

Google has not commented on whether it has in fact subsidized its Nexus 5 price; however, with the Nexus 5 facing shipping delays of four to five weeks, and having already sold out in some models, T-Mobile’s $450 price tag may not seem so bad. Especially when you consider the activation issues, which plagued many who purchased the Nexus 5 from the Google Play Store and attempted to activate it on Sprint. The problems appear to have resolved since the Nov. 8 launch of the Sprint Nexus 5.

In order to purchase the Sprint Nexus 5 off-contract, customers would similarly have to pay $449.99, which would be due immediately, as would the $349.99 for the Nexus 5 from the Google Play Store. T-Mobile argues that at least its customers have the option of paying for their Nexus 5 over time as opposed to one lump sum.

Those who are okay with purchasing the Nexus 5 from T-Mobile should keep in mind that the carrier’s model options are limited. In addition to only offering the 16GB Nexus 5, T-Mobile is also only offering the device in black.

The Nexus 5 is also available on Amazon and at Best Buy, and will also be available at Radio Shack.

Will you be purchasing the T-Mobile Nexus 5? Let us know in the comments below.

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