[chmod775]

Another advantage of financing even though you would have had the money on hand is that you have more liquidity/the option of doing something with that money in the meantime.

Also someone may have some assets they could turn into liquid cash if I really needed to but may not have a lot of liquid cash on hand, so there would be little risk in paying something in installments as long as their assets would be enough to cover it in a pinch.

[archi42]

While liquidity is a reasonable argument, I only know this from "rich people doing things/investments"; e.g. not selling shares in your company when building a new house, or a company building a warehouse.

I am not sure it actually applies to the cost of a phone. Chances are, if those matter, you'd be better off with a cheaper phone to begin with. (Substitute phone with other luxury articles).