Comment by mattnewton

Well, minor nit- cell providers offer it for 60% Google’s price to start[0], while locking it into a phone contract that subsidizes it. This is effectively bundling a loan for the hardware with your data plan. That price is more of a down payment on said loan.

[0] actually in the US at least they’ll frequently offer it for “free” with a new plan, that of course locks the phone to said plan.