It can be tempting to rent a smartphone outright, especially if you need clarity on what kind of phone you want or how long you will keep it. But is renting the best way to go? It depends on your situation and what your priorities are. If you are looking for phones to rent, do proper research before deciding whether renting suits your needs.
Renting might be an excellent option to avoid being tied down to a 1- or 2-year cellular contract.
When you rent, you can cancel anytime and switch carriers if necessary.
You won’t have to worry about insurance.
Another advantage of renting a smartphone is that you won’t have to worry about insurance. If you buy your phone through a carrier, they’ll likely offer some insurance for free or for an additional cost. But if you’re renting from an external service, the phone will come with a one-year warranty (and sometimes more). That means the manufacturer will replace your device for free if something goes wrong within that time frame.
You can also buy insurance from companies like AppleCare+ or SquareTrade, which protect only regular wear and tear. These services are great for protecting against accidental damage, but if there’s ever something wrong with your phone—like water damage—it’ll be covered by the rental company anyway.
You get the latest smartphones without paying hundreds of dollars upfront.
Renting a smartphone is a great way to get the latest without paying hundreds of dollars upfront. You don’t have to wait for your contract to expire; you can start using the phone immediately.
No more waiting for your subsidised phone upgrades every 12 months.
Before you think owning a phone is outdated, consider this: if you have an unlimited data plan and don’t need to worry about upgrading every year or two, then renting can be a great way to save some cash. It can also be beneficial if you’re on a regular monthly payment plan and want more flexibility when upgrading your phone.
Renting isn’t for everyone—but no rule says, “you must own.” Renting offers consumers many benefits beyond simply saving money on hardware costs. Some people may not feel comfortable with the idea of not having total control over their phones (especially those who depend heavily on them for work or entertainment). Still, others might see this as an opportunity for more flexibility in their lives.
Rental companies will often throw in extra features and services with your rental, which could cost extra through a carrier or manufacturer.
Some rental companies offer additional features and services with your rental, which could cost extra through a carrier or manufacturer. Rentals often come with additional perks as well—for example-free, screen replacements if anything goes wrong with your device while renting it through their company(which isn’t available on their other plans).
Renting phones can be beneficial but may also have drawbacks.
Renting phones can be beneficial but may also have drawbacks.
On the plus side, renting phones can save you money. You don’t have to worry about insurance; there’s no contract to sign. Getting a new phone every year or two could be cheaper than buying your device outright. That said, there are some downsides: if something happens to your rented phone (it breaks or gets lost), you’ll need to shell out more cash for another instead of just replacing an old device with a newer model like most people do when purchasing their flagship smartphones.
You also won’t have access to special features on cheap prepaid plans like unlimited data or rollover minutes; those perks only apply if you’re using an actual cellular plan rather than leasing a handset through companies who rent devices instead of selling them outright (which is why they offer unlimited data plans).
Conclusion
If you’re looking to save money, looking for phones to rent may be a good option. You can save hundreds of dollars by not buying a new phone every year or so and by not signing up for expensive cellular plans. But there are some drawbacks, too: The quality of the phones might not be as high as buying refurbished or new ones directly from manufacturers or carriers, and it may be challenging to get out of your rental agreement if you don’t like what they’re offering anymore. Ultimately, though? It comes down to personal preference—and whether renting is right for you.
