The most expensive smartphone contracts in South Africa
South Africans looking to upgrade to a flagship smartphone often turn to contracts as a means of managing the cost of the handheld.
Contract prices incorporate the cost of a subsidised handset along with a monthly allowance of calls, data and SMSes – often at a somewhat reduced rate for a 24 month period.
With the likes of the the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S8 costing up to R19,000, it becomes very difficult to afford a handset without locking into a contract.
BusinessTech looks at some of the most expensive contract options across the four major providers of Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, and Telkom.
Vodacom
| Smartphone | Contract | SMSs | Minutes | Data | Cost per month | Contract length | Handset cost on prepaid* | Total contract cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 7 Plus 256GB | Red VIP+ | Limitless | Limitless | 20 GB | R2 648 | 24 | R18 499 | R63 552 |
| iPhone 7 Plus 128GB | Red VIP+ | Limitless | Limitless | 20 GB | R2 598 | 24 | R17 399 | R62 352 |
| Huawei P10 Plus | Red VIP+ | Limitless | Limitless | 20 GB | R2 499 | 24 | R11 889 | R59 976 |
| Samsung Galaxy S8 LTE | Red VIP+ | Limitless | Limitless | 20 GB | R2 378 | 24 | R14 009 | R57 072 |
*The handset cost is the price of the phone on prepaid only. It is included for comparative purposes only and is not factored into the total cost of the contract.
You can find a complete list of Vodacom’s deals and prices here.
MTN
| Smartphone | Contract | SMSs | Minutes | Data | Cost per month | Contract length | Handset cost on prepaid* | Total contract cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT S60 | MTN Sky | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | R2 599 | 24 | Unavailable | R62 376 |
| Huawei Mate 9 | MTN Sky | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | R2 499 | 24 | R9 909 | R59 976 |
| Sony Xperia XZ | MTN Sky | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | R2 499 | 24 | R15 999 | R59 976 |
| Huawei P10+ | MTN Sky | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | R2 499 | 24 | R11 889 | R59 976 |
You can find a complete list of MTN’s deals and prices here.
Cell C
| Smartphone | Contract | SMSs | Minutes | Data | Cost per month | Contract length | Handset cost on prepaid* | Total contract cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 7 256GB | Pinnacle Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB + 7GB | R1 529 | 24 | R16 199 | R36 696 |
| Apple iPhone 7 128GB | Pinnacle Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB + 7GB | R1 399 | 24 | R15 199 | R33 576 |
| Samsung Galaxy S8 | Pinnacle Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB + 7GB | R1 399 | 24 | R14 009 | R33 576 |
| CAT S60 32GB | Pinnacle Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB + 7GB | R1 399 | 24 | Unavailable | R33 576 |
Telkom mobile
| Smartphone | Contract | SMSs | Minutes | Data | Cost per month | Contract length | Handset cost on prepaid* | Total contract cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 6S Plus 64GB | Freeme Unlimited | Unlimited | Limitless (to other Telkom numbers) | Unlimited | R1 799 | 24 | Unavailable | R43 176 |
| Apple iPhone 7 Plus 128GB | Freeme Unlimited | Unlimited | Limitless (to other Telkom numbers) | Unlimited | R1 699 | 24 | R17 399 | R40 776 |
| Samsung Galaxy S8+ | Freeme Unlimited | Unlimited | Limitless (to other Telkom numbers) | Unlimited | R1 699 | 24 | R14 009 | R40 776 |
| Apple iPhone 7 Plus 32GB | Freeme Unlimited | Unlimited | Limitless (to other Telkom numbers) | Unlimited | R1 599 | 24 | R15 599 | R38 376 |
You can find a complete list of Telkom’s deals and prices here.
Read: The state of South Africa’s mobile market vs the rest of Africa
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