[oarsinsync]

2 years ago, I got a sim-only plan for unlimited minutes, unlimited sms and 10GB data for £15/month.

1 year ago, I renewed with the same provider, who offered me the same plan for £10/month.

1 month ago, same provider offered me 12GB data for £10/month. Shopping around indicated I could get 15-20GB for below £15/month if I jumped networks, and stuck on a sim-only plan.

Instead, I got an iPhone SE 2020 128GB (RRP £449) and 40GB monthly data for £70 up front and £26/month.

Total cost of ownership over the two years is £694.

Cost of the iPhone if I purchased it from Apple is £449.

That remains the remaining spend is £10.21/month for 40GB data.

I definitely got something discounted.

[read_if_gay_]

The discount cones at the cost of being locked in to the SE and your data cap for the next two years, which may not at all be a bad thing to you, but may be for someone else.

[oarsinsync]

I failed to note that I wanted to buy an iPhone SE this year, which is why I looked for bundles.

The last time I bought a phone (2016) there was no bundle that was cheaper than buying the phone and a sim-only plan.

This time around, the inverse is true.

The only thing I’m locked into is my plan for 2 years. I can do whatever I like with the handset, and intend to offload it in a year assuming Face ID is seamlessly usable in public again by then.

[alliao]

who knew a bunch of shrewd financial wizards and well functioning market will get consumers more shit than otherwise!

here in NZ 12GB is good for 6 months at the cost of £50

a typical iPhone plan for 24month is £80 or thereabouts.