Smartphone with subscription: sorting out the real from the fake

"A new smartphone costs less, if you buy it while taking out a new subscription." This type of bundled sale is increasingly being offered by telecom operators. But is it really worth it? We untangle the real from the fake.

With a smartphone + subscription offer, I benefit from easy payment for my new phone.

TRUE

When you buy your new smartphone with a bundled offer, you pay less for your mobile phone at the checkout than when you buy it without a subscription. The amount at the checkout may even be zero. Then you can spread out the remaining amount by paying a monthly instalment over a certain period.

I have to commit myself for several years, I cannot cancel my contract.

TRUE and FALSE

The smartphone + subscription package usually requires you to commit yourself for several months - generally 24 months in Luxembourg - with the operator offering the package. However, this does not mean that you are obliged to stay with this operator, with this subscription, for the two years. You can choose to change operators before the agreed deadline. In this case, you will have to pay the residual value of the phone and the remaining monthly instalments before terminating the contract. To avoid this situation, we advise you to choose a bundled offer with a subscription that meets your needs.

At the end of the 24 months, I only pay the amount of my package.

TRUE and FALSE

Some operators offer two amounts for their packages: with or without mobile. In the first case, the subscription is offered at a higher rate than without a mobile. Once your contract is over, this rate is extended: you therefore pay more for your subscription than if you had chosen a subscription without a mobile. Other operators, on the other hand, offer the same subscription price whether you opt for a package with or without a smartphone. With Orange, for example, once the 24 months have elapsed, your subscription costs the same whether or not you have taken out a bundled offer. You only pay for your subscription.

In the end, I pay more for my new smartphone.

FALSE

Before you rush to buy such an offer, take the time to understand all the details. Do your calculations to determine the total cost at the end of the 24 months with each operator. At Orange, for example, the latest iPhone 11 (128GB) is offered at €0 at the checkout, with an unlimited mobile package. The monthly payment is €29 per month for 24 months. So you pay €696 for your iPhone 11, instead of €849. The same goes for the Samsung Galaxy S10, which is available for €0 at the checkout with an unlimited mobile package and a monthly payment of €20 for 24 months. So the Samsung Galaxy S10 is almost half price (€480 instead of €869).

I can't take advantage of such an offer if I'm already a customer of the operator.

FALSE

If you're already a customer, you can simply change your price plan to receive the smartphone that matches the offer. If you already have a subscription with a phone and this price plan suits you, you can, if you wish, renew your mobile at the end of the contract and thus acquire the latest smartphone of your choice.

I already have a smartphone, I can benefit from additional discounts.

TRUE

If you recycle your old mobile phone, you can deduct the recycling amount from the price of your new smartphone. Depending on the model of the returned smartphone, you can save up to 400 euros!

Discover all the smartphones available with a subscription at a special price at Orange Luxembourg.