{"id":123648,"date":"2015-04-10T10:02:57","date_gmt":"2015-04-10T08:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=123648"},"modified":"2015-04-10T10:18:02","modified_gmt":"2015-04-10T08:18:02","slug":"crazy-expensive-samsung-galaxy-s6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/cellular\/123648-crazy-expensive-samsung-galaxy-s6.html","title":{"rendered":"Crazy expensive Samsung Galaxy S6"},"content":{"rendered":"

While pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge opened in\u00a0the second week of March 2015, prices for the two smartphones have been released in dribs and drabs over the past week.<\/p>\n

When contract prices started becoming available, though, many pointed out the devices were far more expensive than\u00a0expected.<\/p>\n

This observation was in-line with what we saw\u00a0from overseas pricing<\/strong><\/a>, but out of step with local trends.<\/p>\n

A comparison of the contract prices of the Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, and S6 in South Africa over the past three years reveals that prices have increased.<\/p>\n

The table below provides a summary of the launch prices over the years.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Galaxy S contract launch prices<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Contract<\/td>\nGalaxy S6<\/td>\nGalaxy S5<\/td>\nGalaxy S4<\/td>\nData<\/td>\nVoice<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Telkom SmartPlan 50<\/td>\nR479<\/td>\nR419<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n1099MB<\/td>\n50<\/td>\n5 for 50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Telkom SmartPlan 100<\/td>\nR499<\/td>\nR449<\/td>\nR449<\/td>\n1174MB<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n5 for 50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vodacom Smart S<\/td>\nR529<\/td>\nR469<\/td>\nR469<\/td>\n200MB<\/td>\n75<\/td>\n200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
My MTNChoice 100<\/td>\nR549<\/td>\nR489<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n300MB<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vodacom Smart M<\/td>\nR629<\/td>\nR549<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n300MB<\/td>\n120<\/td>\n300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vodacom Smart S<\/td>\nR658<\/td>\nR549<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n1224MB<\/td>\n75<\/td>\n200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
My MTNChoice 200<\/td>\nR679<\/td>\nR609<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n300MB<\/td>\n200<\/td>\n300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
My MTNChoice 350<\/td>\nR769<\/td>\nR759<\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n500MB<\/td>\n350<\/td>\n500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vodacom Smart L<\/td>\nR779<\/td>\nR699<\/td>\nR649<\/td>\n500MB<\/td>\n250<\/td>\n500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

It is worth noting that some\u00a0contracts include different amounts of bonus data.<\/p>\n

For example, one\u00a0Vodacom Smart S contract offered a total of 250MB per month bonus data with the Galaxy S5.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s similar Smarts S contract only offers 1GB per month of bonus data for 3 months.<\/p>\n

Samsung vs iPhone contract prices<\/h3>\n

Another question raised is: How does the\u00a0Galaxy S6’s pricing compare to other high-end devices such as the iPhone 6?<\/p>\n

Contract prices on Samsung\u2019s high-end smartphones are\u00a0usually in the same region as the iPhone. On some networks the Galaxy S was a better deal, while on others the iPhone was.<\/p>\n

Our recent contract price comparison of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus versus the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge<\/strong><\/a> shows that this is still the case, though the S6 Edge is consistently more expensive than the iPhone 6 Plus.<\/p>\n

Higher Samsung prices, or is something else afoot?<\/h3>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Samsung Galaxy S6 (32GB) vs Apple iPhone 6 (16GB)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Telkom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Contract \u2013 Telkom SmartPlan 100<\/td>\nData<\/td>\nVoice minutes<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nMonthly price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Samsung\u00a0Galaxy S6<\/td>\n1174MB<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n5 for 50<\/td>\nR499<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apple iPhone 6<\/td>\n150MB<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n5 for 50<\/td>\nR499<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vodacom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Contract \u2013 Vodacom Smart S<\/td>\nData<\/td>\nVoice minutes<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nMonthly price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apple iPhone 6<\/td>\n200MB<\/td>\n75<\/td>\n200<\/td>\nR499<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Samsung\u00a0Galaxy S6<\/td>\n200MB (Free 1GB x 3 months)<\/td>\n75<\/td>\n200<\/td>\nR529<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MTN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Contract \u2013 My MTNChoice 100<\/td>\nData<\/td>\nVoice minutes<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nMonthly price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apple iPhone 6<\/td>\n500MB<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n200<\/td>\nR499<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Samsung\u00a0Galaxy S6<\/td>\n300MB<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n200<\/td>\nR549<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (64GB) vs Apple iPhone 6 Plus (64GB)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Telkom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Contract \u2013 Telkom SmartPlan 100<\/td>\nData<\/td>\nVoice minutes<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nMonthly price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apple iPhone 6 Plus (16GB<\/strong>)<\/td>\n1174MB<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n–<\/td>\nR549<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Samsung\u00a0Galaxy S6 Edge<\/td>\n1174MB<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n–<\/td>\nR649<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vodacom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Contract \u2013 Vodacom Smart M<\/td>\nData<\/td>\nVoice minutes<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nMonthly price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apple iPhone 6 Plus<\/td>\n300MB<\/td>\n120<\/td>\n300<\/td>\nR749<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Samsung\u00a0Galaxy S6 Edge<\/td>\n300MB\u00a0(Free 1GB x 3 months)<\/td>\n120<\/td>\n300<\/td>\nR779<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MTN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Contract \u2013 My MTNChoice 350<\/td>\nData<\/td>\nVoice minutes<\/td>\nSMS<\/td>\nMonthly price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Apple iPhone 6 Plus<\/td>\n500MB<\/td>\n350<\/td>\n500<\/td>\nR849<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Samsung\u00a0Galaxy S6 Edge<\/td>\n500MB<\/td>\n350<\/td>\n500<\/td>\nR899<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

With higher contract prices on the Samsung Galaxy S6 compared to the\u00a0S5 across Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom, and prices still more-or-less in line compared to the iPhone 6, this raises the question: why have prices increased?<\/p>\n

Industry insiders say Cell C and Vodacom\u2019s recent contract price hikes aren\u2019t related to the higher prices. In fact, Vodacom subscribers who take out a Galaxy S6 contract today will still see a price increase on 1 May.<\/p>\n

Instead, it is suggested that a much weaker Rand and a South African economy that is under pressure are the reasons prices are higher this year.<\/p>\n

Whatever the reason, the fact is that a Samsung Galaxy S6 will cost you more in 2015 than a Galaxy S5 cost you in 2014.<\/p>\n

More on the Samsung Galaxy S6<\/h3>\n

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6 contract comparison<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S6 \u2013 should you go contract or prepaid?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S6 contract prices: MTN vs Telkom vs Vodacom<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Galaxy S6 doesn\u2019t bend: Samsung<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Compared to contract prices of the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S6 is a very expensive device.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":120666,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sma_x_autopost_status":"idle","_sma_x_autopost_error":"","_sma_x_post_id":"","_sma_facebook_post_id":"","_sma_instagram_post_id":"","_sma_threads_post_id":"","_sma_x_attempts":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,17934],"tags":[355,35,42,645,28687,29116,109,41],"class_list":["post-123648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cellular","category-smartphones","tag-cell-c","tag-headline","tag-mtn","tag-samsung","tag-samsung-galaxy-s6","tag-samsung-galaxy-s6-edge","tag-telkom","tag-vodacom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123648"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123648"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123652,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123648\/revisions\/123652"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}