Best iPhone 16 contracts in South Africa

Vodacom offers the best prices on entry-level iPhone 16 contracts due to the introduction of a new 48-month payment term.

The mobile network recently told MyBroadband the four-year contracts were aimed at making high-end devices more affordable for its customers.

“This approach helps customers stay connected even during challenging economic times,” Vodacom said.

Vodacom offers the most affordable contract plan for all iPhone 16 models in South Africa, starting with the regular 128GB model priced at R799 over 48 months.

On this package, the smartphone is paired with 1.3GB of anytime data, 1.3GB night-time data, and 200 all-network voice minutes.

Not taking into account Vodacom’s annual pricing adjustments, the minimum cost of the contract over four years will be R38,352.

For reference, the cash price of the iPhone 16 128GB is R20,999.

While that is a significant difference, the fee for the package itself must still be added.

Offering financing over four years at a fixed monthly fee also increases Vodacom’s exposure to inflationary risks, so it should take this into account when calculating its pricing.

For those unwilling to commit to such a long-term contract, Telkom offers the best prices on 24-month and 36-month iPhone 16 contracts.

The second-most affordable iPhone 16 contract in the country starts at R819 for a 36-month Telkom FlexOn 4 package.

That includes 4GB anytime data, 100 all-network voice minutes, 750 Telkom-to-Telkom voice minutes, and 750 SMSes.

Over the entire contract term, the minimum a customer will have to pay for this option is R29,484.

MTN’s pricing falls between Vodacom and Telkom’s on most 24-month and 36-month contracts.

Its most affordable iPhone 16 contract costs R979 over a 36-month term, working out to a minimum payment of R35,244 over its entire duration.

That offer is available on the MTN Yellow Deluxe plan, which boasts 6GB anytime data and 250 all-net minutes.

Its mobile data and voice minute volumes are generally greater than those of Vodacom and Telkom.

Price freeze option for trade-ins

It should be noted that these prices apply to new contracts, but there is an option that could see users who are due for an upgrade paying significantly less.

The iStore is running a Contract Price Freeze promotion, which allows 24-month iPhone 14 contract holders to get a price lower than what they are paying on their current device when they upgrade to an equivalent iPhone 16 model and trade in their old smartphone.

In one example provided by the iStore, a user paying R999 per month for an iPhone 14 on a 24-month contract with Vodacom could pay R791 per month for the iPhone 16.

That same contract would cost R1,249 per month without the trade-in or contract freeze.

The table below shows the most affordable iPhone 16 contracts available from Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom.

The cheapest and most expensive monthly prices and total costs for each model have been highlighted in blue and red, respectively.

Network	Included	Contract length	Monthly price	Minimum total cost
iPhone 16 128GB (R20,999 cash price)
Vodacom	1.3GB anytime data 1.3GB night-time data 200 all-net minutes	48 months	R799	R38,352
Telkom	4GB anytime data 100 all -network minutes 750 on-network minutes 750 SMSs	36 months	R819	R29,484
MTN	6GB anytime data 250 all-net minutes	36 months	R979	R35,244
Vodacom	2.6GB anytime data 2.6GB night-time data 200 all-net minutes	36 months	R999	R35,964
Telkom	4GB anytime data 100 all -network minutes 750 on-network minutes 750 SMSs	24 months	R1,139	R27,336
MTN	6GB anytime data 250 all-net minutes	24 months	R1,239	R29,736
Vodacom	2.6GB anytime data 2.6GB night-time data 200 voice minutes	24 months	R1,279	R30,696
iPhone 16 Plus 128GB (R23,999 cash price)
Vodacom	1.3GB anytime data 1.3GB night-time data 200 voice minutes	48 months	R899	R43,152
Telkom	6GB anytime data 150 all -network minutes 1,000 on-network minutes 1,000 SMSs	36 months	R959	R34,524
MTN	6GB anytime data 250 all-net minutes	36 months	R1,049	R37,764
Vodacom	2.6GB anytime data 2.6GB night-time data 200 voice minutes	36 months	R1,099	R39,564
Telkom	6GB anytime data 150 all -network minutes 1,000 on-network minutes 1,000 SMSs	24 months	R1,319	R31,656
MTN	6GB anytime data 250 all-net minutes	24 months	R1,349	R32,376
Vodacom	2.6GB anytime data 2.6GB night-time data 200 voice minutes	24 months	R1,399	R33,576
iPhone 16 Pro 128GB (R26,499 cash price)
Vodacom	1.3GB anytime data 1.3GB night-time data 200 all-net minutes	48 months	R949	R45,552
Telkom	6GB anytime data 150 all -network minutes 1,000 on-network minutes 1,000 SMSs	36 months	R1,039	R37,404
MTN	6GB anytime data 250 all-net minutes	36 months	R1,149	R41,364
Vodacom	2.6GB anytime data 2.6GB night-time data 200 all-net minutes	36 months	R1,149	R41,364
Telkom	6GB anytime data 150 all -network minutes 1,000 on-network minutes 1,000 SMSs	24 months	R1,439	R34,536
MTN	6GB anytime data 250 all-net minutes	24 months	R1,459	R35,016
Vodacom	2.6GB anytime data 2.6GB night-time data 200 all-net minutes	24 months	R1,549	R37,176
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB (R31,799 cash price)
Vodacom	2.6GB anytime data 2.6GB night-time data 200 all-net minutes	48 months	R1,079	R51,792
Telkom	6GB anytime data 150 all -network minutes 1,000 on-network minutes 1,000 SMSs	36 months	R1,199	R43,164
MTN	6GB anytime data 250 all-net minutes	36 months	R1,299	R46,764
Vodacom	2.6GB anytime data 2.6GB night-time data 200 all-net minutes	36 months	R1,349	R48,564
Telkom	6GB anytime data 150 all -network minutes 1,000 on-network minutes 1,000 SMSs	24 months	R1,679	R40,296
MTN	6GB anytime data 250 all-net minutes	24 months	R1,699	R40,776
Vodacom	2.6GB anytime data 2.6GB night-time data 200 all-net minutes	24 months	R1,749	R41,976