iPhone 13 contract vs prepaid comparison

[Jan]

What you really pay for an iPhone 13 on contract

We compared the prepaid and contract pricing for the iPhone 13 and made an interesting finding.

 

[Totempole]

What you really pay for an iPhone 13 on contract

 

[bwana]

My dad just bought a 13 for each of his grandkids - R13300 in the US vs R17,299 here? Prepaid is fine.

 

[R13...]

5k for doubling of storage from 256 onward. Seems a bit too exact.

 

[Roo!]

@Jan There's a typo:

In addition, each storage tier has been doubled, with the minimum now being 64GB instead of 128GB.

Should be 128GB instead of 64GB

 

[Hanno Labuschagne]

@Jan There's a typo:

In addition, each storage tier has been doubled, with the minimum now being 64GB instead of 128GB.

Should be 128GB instead of 64GB

Thanks, appreciate that!

 

[deweyzeph]

You're missing out the opportunity cost of being locked into a 12-month or 24 month contract. You should factor that into your calculations.

 

[CranialBlaze]

My dad just bought a 13 for each of his grandkids - R13300 in the US vs R17,299 here? Prepaid is fine.

That only works if you fly it over yourself, works out a **** ton more expensive if you import it and it goes via customs.

I did the math on the Pro 256GB and before adding in the courier fee I was already on 32k for a 24k phone.

You need to remember to add US VAT to the US price, then once it gets here its a compounded 7/15/7% taxes.

 

[deweyzeph]

You need to remember to add US VAT to the US price, then once it gets here its a compounded 7/15/7% taxes.

There is no VAT in the US. And even if there were, VAT (or whatever federal or state sales tax) is only added to items sold within the borders of the US. It's a principle of international trade that sales taxes are not levelled on exported goods.

 

[TheExaminedLife]

You're missing out the opportunity cost of being locked into a 12-month or 24 month contract. You should factor that into your calculations.

Additionally, the flexibility in one's ability to manage their monthly expenses is worth the premium in going prepaid. Cash is always king when it comes to depreciating assets, unless the upside is exponential (i.e. 50% discount).

 

[bwana]

That only works if you fly it over yourself, works out a **** ton more expensive if you import it and it goes via customs.

I did the math on the Pro 256GB and before adding in the courier fee I was already on 32k for a 24k phone.

You need to remember to add US VAT to the US price, then once it gets here its a compounded 7/15/7% taxes.

I know. 6% in our case.

FWIW it's not VAT, it's sales tax

 

[KleinBoontjie]

is a better deal than buying it on prepaid

Both ways seems equally expensive.

 

[CranialBlaze]

There is no VAT in the US. And even if there were, VAT (or whatever federal or state sales tax) is only added to items sold within the borders of the US. It's a principle of international trade that sales taxes are not levelled on exported goods.

Yeah, but you’d need to use something like Aramex Global shopper to import it which is like 6.25% sales tax if I remember correctly as their depot is in New York.

If it could be done via Amazon you’d save some bucks, but online is pretty much direct from Apple, who naturally don’t ship internationally.

 

[Mystic Twilight]

You're missing out the opportunity cost of being locked into a 12-month or 24 month contract. You should factor that into your calculations.

That's not truly applicable to a majority of iphone users within the affordability bracket to buy a recently released phone, how often do people port their phone numbers, change/cancel their phone numbers, or change their consumption usage behavior (downwards) and therefore their spending behavior? Some, but a real small minority.

 

[krono9]

Should discount the contract term payments further to arrive at comparable present value.

 

[Sapphiron]

How much will an iPhone 13 cost if you have no sense (Contract) and no money (Apple)

 

[longboy]

I can smell the fishy odour from my screen already.

/goes off and pukes

 

[LazyLion]

iPhone

 

[longboy]

iPhone

This. I'd never justify spending 21k for an iPhone 13 pro.

I use this phone at the moment and it is perfect for my needs - calls and sms.

https://www.takealot.com/nokia-3310-phone-2017-edition-dual-sim/PLID71709892

An iPhone is okay... if you want to impress girls or if you are a flamboyant gay.

 

[hyperian]

Bought a Redmi 9T 128GB dual SIM cash for R3499 and a 60GB anytime data contract for R299 a month for the spare SIM slot. Sure, not as glam or gangsta as the iPhone but feels like a better deal.