German mobile carrier o2 is currently advertising a meaningful bundle deal: an iPhone 17 Pro adn an iPad Air are being offered for as little as one Euro.While seemingly to good to be true, the offer requires a lengthy contract and careful consideration of the total cost. This analysis breaks down the terms of the promotion to determine whether it represents genuine savings or a cleverly disguised expense.
A Good Deal?Free iPad Air with iPhone 17 Pro: o2 Offers Phone for Just €1
Looking to upgrade to the latest Apple devices without breaking the bank? A new promotion from o2 is offering an iPhone 17 Pro and an iPad Air for just one Euro, but is it too good to be true?
Apple’s release of the iPhone 17 Pro has set a new standard for design and features. However, the company’s pricing strategy has remained consistent. The most affordable model launched with a price tag of €1,299, and currently retails for around €1,150. Now, o2 is offering the iPhone 17 Pro with a contract for just one Euro, bundled with a free 11-inch iPad Air with the M3 chip. This kind of bundling is becoming increasingly common as carriers seek to attract new subscribers.
o2 Deal: iPhone 17 Pro for One Euro?
While the offer sounds enticing, there’s a catch. To secure the hardware for the symbolic price of one Euro, o2 requires a 36-month commitment to the o2 Mobile M plan, which includes 30GB of 5G data. The data allowance increases by 5GB each year of the contract, with speeds up to 300 Mbps. The monthly cost for the plan is €69.99.
-
iPhone 17 Pro (256 GB) for €1 instead of €1,143.63 (+ €4.99 shipping)
-
iPad Air (M3, 128 GB) free instead of €499
-
30 GB 5G data (up to 300 Mbps)
-
5 GB more data each year
-
Contract term: 36 months
Note: Prices are volatile and retailers sometimes adjust the recommended retail price (RRP). If the prices differ from those stated here, the retailers have changed them after the article was published.
How Good is the Deal?
To determine the true value of the offer, it’s important to calculate the total cost versus the value of the hardware. The current street price for the iPhone 17 Pro is €1,143.63, while the 128GB iPad Air 11 with the M3 chip is available for €499, totaling a value of €1,642.63. Over the 36-month contract period, the total cost comes to €2,525.63. Subtracting the hardware value reveals an effective cost of €883 for the plan, which equates to a monthly fee of €24.53.
Without the hardware, o2 currently offers the plan for €19.99 per month, with an increased data allowance of 60GB. This means there’s an additional cost associated with the bundle. Those who already have the funds for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPad Air would be better off purchasing the components separately. However, the offer isn’t a bad deal for those who prefer to spread the cost of the hardware over time, offering a potentially more manageable payment option.
Alternative: Buying iPhone and iPad Separately
If you already have the funds for the Apple devices and don’t need a new mobile contract, purchasing them separately might be the better option. Amazon currently offers the iPad Air for €499, which is the best available price. The iPhone 17 Pro is listed for €1,222.
The iPhone is available for even less from some lesser-known online retailers, but often with value-added tax implications and from potentially unclear sources. For a more comfortable experience, ordering through Amazon is recommended.
