Kinda depends. If you buy the phone outright it’s usually pretty similar in price, but most people finance, and then it is cheaper to buy separately because interest hits like a truck :D
I know a lot of people who can’t necessarily afford $200 minimum to drop on a phone, though, and that’s for one that really starts to struggle after 2 years to do anything other than the most basic call/text functionality
NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 1 day ago
This is the whole being poor keeps you poor thing.
You can’t afford $200-300 outright, but you can afford the monthly plan that costs $20 more but ends up costing $450 instead of $250 .
You can’t afford the $300 winter boots, so you buy the $100 ones that fall apart in 2 seasons instead if lasting a decade.