Comment by throwaway27448
21 hours ago
> free iPhone with a mobile plan
I get your point but in what sense is that "free"? What mobile plan giving you an iphone doesn't come with explicit debt?
21 hours ago
> free iPhone with a mobile plan
I get your point but in what sense is that "free"? What mobile plan giving you an iphone doesn't come with explicit debt?
Here's an example from 2025 with a major US carrier - Verizon: https://tech.yahoo.com/phones/deals/articles/want-free-iphon...
They run various schemes like this all the time, you can also trade in your existing phone a lot of times for pretty favorable terms. I've traded in phones that were a few years old and gotten $1000+ for them, especially when switching providers.
That's not free except at point of sale.
It’s free enough that my point stands and I’m close-minded to any further discussion about it.
Verizon's "free" iPhone deal is you pay for the phone up front and then receive a bill credit. Here's the fine print from one of those deals:
$729.99 purchase on device payment or at retail price required. New line req'd. Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plans required. Less $730 promo credit applied to account over 36 mos; promo credit ends if eligibility requirements are no longer met; 0% APR.Taxes & fees may apply. Credits will appear on your Verizon Wireless bill.
https://www.verizon.com/shop/online/free-5g-phones/
I don’t know or care much about the specific details but the article was written in 2025. Carriers run deals and give away iPhones or close enough to free or cheap that quibbling about the details is irrelevant.
If you think the iPhone is a status symbol you’re just wrong.
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