Buyers of Apple’s new iPhone Duo are being warned that a carrier contract could cost thousands more than the sticker price.
Philip Stoelman, CEO and Founder of Network Republic, said that the $1,999 folding phone looks deceptively affordable inside carrier stores. The device, Apple’s first foldable smartphone, launched worldwide last Friday with limited stock sending shoppers scrambling.
“When you walk into a carrier store, the phone looks cheap,” Stoelman said.
“The carrier spread the cost of the phone over 36 months of monthly payments. The best deals (i.e. Lowest monthly payments) are typically offered with the most expensive unlimited plans.”
Stoelman continued: “Thus, in reality, you’re paying for the phone through your plan.”
The expert flagged that three-year contracts mask the true financial hit. While the upfront Apple Store price sits at $1,999, monthly installments tied to premium unlimited plans drive the total ownership cost well above that figure once fees accumulate across the full term.
“What people don’t realize is that the low monthly cost to use a phone over 3 years hides the true cost of the device and then the cost to use it over the term of the contract, including any additional fees,” he added.
Stoelman also referenced the iPhone 18 Pro, noting that model starts at $1,199 for 64GB and $399 for 256GB from Apple directly. He pointed out that carrier contract costs exceed even those prices once the locked-in service plan runs its course.
He shared concrete steps for shoppers determined to finance through a carrier.
“First, figure out the total cost of the device and then compare the total cost to the monthly cost to you of the service. The way that carriers market their plans is around the monthly cost to you,” he said.
Stoelman added: “You should ask the store exactly how any promotional credits will be applied if you change carrier in month 12 or 24. Make sure this is confirmed in writing.”
The long-term planning angle matters most, he emphasized. Consumers keeping devices four years or longer may bleed money on top-tier tariffs stretched across 36 months when lower-tier alternatives would serve them better.
“In theory we should all plan our device upgrades over a number of years and then calculate the lowest total cost of ownership for the full period,” Stoelman said.
“If you keep a phone or laptop for 4 years then a 36 month contract on a top tier tariff is likely to cost more in the long run than a lower tariff with a longer contract.”
The iPhone Duo hit shelves last Friday as Apple’s debut entry into the folding phone market, joining Samsung and others in the bendable-screen category.