How to buy a good cell phone without spending a lot? Many people are seduced by the discounts on smartphones offered by postpaid plans, but is it worth it? This is a question that many people ask themselves, especially in Brazil. In our country, it has become a difficult task to find a mid-range smartphone with good configurations for less than R$1,5. In this range, today, there are intermediate cell phones that are not much superior to the entrance, and are not recognized for good camera, screen or performance features.

If you have a larger budget, up to R$2.500, we have a intermediary guide to keep an eye on in 2021. When we talk about top of the line models, the price increases even more, and it is common for new releases to cost R$4, R$5, or even much more than that. If you don't have that kind of budget to spend on a cell phone, how can you get a good cost-benefit ratio? Many people think that the solution is the discounts offered by operators when purchasing plans.

Of course, at first glance it may seem that they are offering cell phones below market price. But reading the purchase conditions, the deal is not worth it for those who are not used to having a plan instead of using top-ups. Who has never walked past a store window and seen a flashy ad for a smartphone? Those who go in discover that the discount on the cell phone is linked to the purchase of a control or post-paid plan.

Furthermore, it is necessary to be loyal to the package for at least one year. Therefore, the user is contractually obligated to remain with that plan for a period of time; if they cancel it, there is a high fine, usually proportional to the discount offered for the device, and the plan terminated. On the internet, it is no different: operators have virtual stores and offer prices below those charged by retailers on these platforms. Soon after, in the fine print, it is discovered that the discount on the cell phone is, once again, linked to the purchase of a post-paid or controlled plan, with loyalty.

Criteria

So, how do you know if you're getting a good deal when you buy a smartphone that's tied to a plan? Well, the good news is that it's not hard to do the math. The bad news is that we're going to show you that there are very few cases where it's worth signing up with a carrier, if that wasn't your plan from the start, to pay less for your cell phone.

We compare prices of Clear, Team e Living. Oi was left out because it does not have an e-commerce site offering cell phones with discounts on postpaid plans. Account and control plans were included in our analysis, as they are the only ones that offer discounts on the market price. We used as a minimum criterion the selection of packages that offered, on average, at least a 10% reduction in relation to the retail value of smartphones. Some devices are shown with more than one plan, as the discount can be more aggressive on more expensive packages.

Retail prices take into account payment in installments. However, most stores offer discounts for cash payments, but in order to present the most inclusive results possible, these extra discounts were disregarded.

We also selected devices from Apple, LG, Motorola and Samsung for the article, covering four of the largest manufacturers present in the country. The result of this survey shows that, in fact, some models are sold at prices well below those charged by retailers — but the linked plans make the user spend, in some cases, almost 100% more than the value of the device to pay for the plan during the mandatory period.

Initial reservations

It should also be taken into account, of course, that these plans include internet, calls, often roaming, messages, applications, subscriptions and others. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to alert users that the discounts offered on cell phones in postpaid plans are, at first, practically charged in others. Therefore, users can often go from a very low average mobile phone spending to committing to a package that goes far beyond what they need.

For example, the most attractive discounts are concentrated on plans that offer 60, 100 or more gigabytes of internet. Those who currently use a prepaid or controlled service have access to much lower rates for their data allowance. Others promise a series of additional services, such as Netflix, HBO, music apps, and others. If the user is not interested in these services — or is not willing to take on the extra expense — there would be no need to take out a cell phone plan with these features, which could reduce the price of their package.

Galaxy S20FE

The first model we present is Samsung's top-of-the-line model that is currently sold with Snapdragon 865 in Brazil. It is the cheapest smartphone with a flagship SoC currently on sale. On average, R$2.500. It is possible to buy it for R$2.250 with the Claro Pós 60 GB plan. So, apparently, there is a R$250 discount. The package, however, has a monthly cost of R$180. In one year, it is R$2.160 with the payment of services. In the end, the user paid R$1.910 more than the retail price of the smartphone.

With Claro Pós 200 GB, the price of the cell phone sounds even more attractive: R$1.620, a discount of R$880 compared to the average market price. The plan, however, has a monthly cost of R$400. In the end, in one year, you pay R$3.920 more to take advantage of the “offer” that can offer much more than you want or really need in terms of service and connectivity.

It's no different with other carriers: Vivo offers the S20 FE with the Vivo Pós Família Anual 60 GB for R$2.050, but the R$450 discount requires a 12-month commitment and a monthly fee of R$250. In one year, the package costs R$3. With Tim, the S20 FE can be purchased with the Black 25 GB. It costs R$1.800, with a monthly plan of R$150. In one year, it costs R$3 for the postpaid plan, which is R$1.100 more than the retail price if your intention was not to take home a new service.

Galaxy S21

Bringing another flagship of the moment, the Galaxy S21 has an average retail price of R$4.050. In Claro Pós 40 GB it is found at R$3.880, with a monthly package of R$140. In one year, the user pays R$1.510 more than buying it at a retailer just for the service plan. The price of the cell phone will become more attractive as the packages become more expensive, of course: in Pós 200 GB, it comes out at R$2.880. This subscription, however, costs R$400 per month. In one year, R$4.800 for the postpaid plan.

Galaxy S20

One segment that usually has more “generous” discounts from carriers is that of devices that have already been replaced by other models. The Galaxy S20, for example, is found on the market for R$3.500. The Tim Black 25 GB — R$150 per month — costs R$2.000. The math continues to show that, if the user is no longer on the package, he pays R$1.800 in 12 months of service. R$300 more than the retail price. Here, in any case, the difference was much smaller than when we talk about smartphones launched in 2021.

iPhone SE 64 GB

When we talk about iPhones, we rarely talk about discounts. Apple's phones do have their prices reduced at retail, but the price drops are much more modest and slow. The 64 GB iPhone SE can currently be found for R$2.600. Carriers offer some discounts, but they are small compared to the commitment they require.

For example, the Vivo Pós Família 60 GB model is available for R$2.400, that is, with R$200 and a discount. The monthly fee is R$250. If the user is forced to sign up for the plan aiming for the lowest price, in one year he will pay R$3 for the subscription, R$2.800 more than the retail price of the device. More than a 100% difference. In Claro Pós 100 GB, the model costs R$2.200, but the package has a monthly cost of R$260. That's R$3.120 in services in one year, at which point the user can unsubscribe from the plan without paying fines.

Moto G30

Now speaking of a mid-range model, the Moto G30 has just arrived in Brazil and is retailing for R$1.445. In the Claro Pós 40 GB plan, it comes with a R$125 discount, but in one year, the plan costs a second cell phone in monthly payments alone: ​​R$1.680. In the Pós 100 GB plan, the price of the model drops to R$1.100, but the monthly payments are R$260. In 12 months, you pay R$2.775 more than the retail price for the cell phone plus the package.

LG Velvet

LG's last major launch before saying goodbye to the cell phone market, the model has been offered at retail for R$2.700. In the Vivo Pós Família 60 GB, the price "plummets" to R$1.400. In fact, it seems like a nice discount of R$1.300 is being offered, which is completely consumed by the R$250 monthly payments of the plan. In the end, what seemed like an attractive discount of R$1.300 turns into an expense R$1,700 higher than the retail price of the smartphone.

Who can benefit?

We could list all the offers available on the market and none of them would show that cell phones sold by carriers on a postpaid plan have real discounts compared to retail. This might not even be 100% fair, since they include a call plan, internet and other services — which have their own operating costs.

However, it is important to note that many of these packages cost much more than a single installment of the cell phone if it were purchased at retail. The initial impression of a discount on the price of the smartphone may be appealing to many, but it is never sustained by that alone.

Objectively speaking, there are basically two groups that can benefit from these small — or medium — discounts on carrier cell phones in a postpaid plan: those who were already willing to sign up for a package, or those who already have one. And this is for a simple reason: the impact of signing up for services has already been calculated in the user's budget.

Some inclusive features of postpaid plans

Another benefit of buying a device with a postpaid carrier is the extended installment plan. Those who cannot afford to pay outright often have to resort to paying in installments, and stores like Vivo and Claro offer payments in up to 21 installments without including interest. This can be tempting for many.

It should also be noted that many plans allow the inclusion of dependents at an additional cost. For many, it may make more sense to share a 60, 100 or 200 GB allowance rather than letting it expire due to lack of use. A family with three or four members may be able to share a R$400 monthly plan to the point that, even with the additional beneficiary fee, the amount becomes more palatable in the budget.

Still using this configuration as an example, in one year — with an expired loyalty period — the family group can take advantage of a discount on another cell phone in their postpaid plan, but of course, renewing the loyalty period. We can also consider that some operators offer points programs that can be exchanged for an additional discount on the value.

Summing up…

Therefore, the system of discounts on carrier cell phones by linking them to controlled or postpaid packages is complex. Therefore, only those who read the fine print can predict the trouble they are about to get into. In commercials and advertisements, no one warns of the drawbacks right away. After stepping into a store, it can be difficult not to get carried away by emotion and close the deal.

In short, users who have a prepaid or controlled line — a segment in which prices range between R$40 and R$80 per month — will not end up getting a good deal if they did not take advantage of the discount on the device with the intention, from the beginning, of signing up for a plan.

If you've followed this guide and are convinced that you don't need a postpaid plan from your carrier or another carrier, there's no way around it: the best way to get a good deal is to check the retail price. There are discounts for cash purchases, or cashback — or both.

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