Premium smartphone contract deals under R1,000 per month

Buying a premium smartphone with cash can leave a significant dent in your bank balance, making contracts through mobile network operators attractive to many South Africans.

While some of these smartphones can cost more than R30,000 when purchased outright, signing up for a contract that costs less than R1,000 per month puts premium devices within reach of more people.

MyBroadband looked for some of the best premium smartphone contracts South African residents can get for less than R1,000 per month.

We considered 24-month and 36-month contracts. Top-up plans that provide a monthly airtime allocation were excluded.

The best deals we found from Vodacom include the Huawei Pura 70 Pro 512GB and the Honor Magic6 Pro 512GB on the RED Core 1.3GB plan, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 256GB on its RED Core 2.6GB package.

Vodacom is charging R949 per month over 36 months for the Huawei Pura 70 Pro and Honor Magic6 Pro. The Honor deal also includes an Honor Band 9.

The RED Core 1.3GB plan includes equal 1.3GB allocations for anytime data and Night Owl data, along with 100 minutes and 150 SMSes.

Vodacom sells the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 256GB on its RED Core 2.6GB plan for R959 per month over three years. The plan includes 2.6GB of anytime data, 2.6GB of Night Owl data, 200 minutes, and 150 SMSes.

MTN is selling the iPhone 15 256GB and iPhone 15 Plus 128GB on its Yellow Deluxe plan for R979 and R989, respectively, per month on a 36-month contract.

The MTN Yellow Deluxe plan includes 6GB of anytime data and 250 minutes.

MTN customers can get the Honor Magic6 Pro 512GB on its Yellow Prime plan for R999 per month over three years. The plan includes 2GB anytime data and 200 minutes.

Those looking for higher minute and SMS allocations may find Telkom’s deals more attractive than the rest.

Telkom is selling the iPhone 15 Pro 128GB and Huawei Pura 70 Pro 512GB on its FlexOn 4 plan for R909 and R969 per month over three years. The Huawei deal includes a Huawei Watch Fit3.

The Telkom FlexOn 4 plan provides 4GB anytime data, 100 all-network minutes, 750 on-network minutes, and 750 SMSes.

Telkom is also offering a deal on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 256GB on its FlexOn 2 plan for R999 per month over two years. It is the only two-year contract featured in the comparison.

The FlexOn 2 plan provides 2GB anytime data, 75 all-network minutes, 500 on-network minutes, and 500 SMSes per month.

Cell C sells the Honor 200 Pro 512GB, Huawei Pura 70 Pro 512GB, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 256GB on its Elevate 2 plan, all with the same contract price of R999 per month over three years.

The Elevate 2 plan includes 1.5GB anytime data, 1.5GB social data, and 200 minutes per month.

The table below compares three premium smartphone deals available for under R1,000 per month from Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, and Cell C. We didn’t include any contracts longer than 36 months.

Model	Contract	Data allocation	Minutes/SMS messages	Price per month
Vodacom
Huawei Pura 70 Pro 512GB	RED Core 1.3GB	1.3GB Anytime data + 1.3GB Night Owl data	100 minutes | 150 SMS	R949 x 36
Honor Magic6 pro 512GB + Honor Band 9	RED Core 1.3GB	1.3GB Anytime data + 1.3GB Night Owl data	100 minutes | 150 SMS	R949 x 36
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 256GB	RED Core 2.6GB	2.6GB Anytime data + 2.6GB Night Owl data	200 minutes | 150 SMS	R959 x 36
MTN
iPhone 15 256GB	Yellow Deluxe	6GB Anytime data	250 minutes	R979 x 36
iPhone 15 Plus 128GB	Yellow Deluxe	6GB Anytime data	250 minutes	R989 x36
Honor Magic6 Pro 512GB	Yellow Prime	2GB Anytime data	200 minutes	R999 x 36
Telkom
iPhone 15 Pro 128GB	FlexOn 4	4GB Anytime data	100 all-network + 750 on-network minutes | 750 SMS	R909 x 36
Huawei Pura 70 Pro 512GB + Huawei Watch Fit3	FlexOn 4	4GB Anytime data	100 all-network + 750 on-network minutes | 750 SMS	R969 x 36
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 256GB	FlexOn 2	2GB Anytime data	75 all-network + 500 on-network minutes | 500 SMS	R999 x 24
Cell C (roaming on Vodacom)
Honor 200 Pro 512GB	Elevate 2	1.5GB Anytime data + 1.5GB social data	200 minutes	R999 x 36
Huawei Pura 70 Pro 512GB	Elevate 2	1.5GB Anytime data + 1.5GB social data	200 minutes	R999 x 36
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 256GB	Elevate 2	1.5GB Anytime data + 1.5GB social data	200 minutes	R999 x 36