While consumers are always on the lookout for the latest smartphone innovations and therefore change them regularly, renting can be a good way to save money while reducing your environmental impact.
In many sectors, consumers are increasingly moving from possession to use, as evidenced by the proliferation of streaming platforms and subscriptions, whether for music (Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, Apple Music), video games (Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, EA Play, Ubisoft+) or films and series (Netflix, Disney++, Prime Video, Paramount+, etc.). Even the automotive sector is getting into it with leasing – the bank buys the vehicle and then leases it to the user. Smartphone rental in turn has started to become popular in France since Free kicked off in 2013, closely followed by other operators, manufacturers – like Samsung with UP2You – and even specialist sellers – like Boulanger and Fnac. Some companies have also specialized in this area, such as Mobile Club.
A service that seems to be booming, which sees the offers multiply. Mobile Club estimates that the rental of smartphones will represent 50% of the European market within five years, against less than 1% today. A new way of consuming linked to the context of inflation, where the latest smartphones are more and more expensive – the iPhone 14 costs more than €1,000! – but also at a time when the climate crisis is forcing us to change our way of consuming. So, is smartphone rental a solution for the future?
Smartphone rental: an interesting offer
The principle of smartphone rental is simple: a manufacturer/operator/seller “lends” a phone to the customer in exchange for a certain sum, deducted each month – it varies according to the model of mobile, ranging from 10 to 50 € per month on average. However, the terms vary according to the companies that rent. Generally, you have to subscribe to a commitment over X months and, when it comes to an end, the customer has the choice between renewing his subscription or returning the smartphone. But sometimes there is no commitment period and the consumer can change the phone model whenever he wants. It is also necessary to pay attention to the presence of insurance, which is sometimes included or optional.
Already having more than 30,000 customers in France, Mobile Club offers very interesting offers on refurbished smartphones in a kind of “all-in-one” service, which includes insurance against breakdown, breakage (29 €) and theft (€99), and smartphone protection directly in the price of the monthly rental. The company offers the following smartphones, for a subscription ranging from €9.90 per month for the iPhone 8 to €42.90 for the iPhone 13 Pro – with a 20-month commitment and 30-day trial, and the possibility of changing phones for free after 12 months:
- iPhone XR
- iPhone 11 and 11 Pro
- iPhone XS
- iPhone 12 and 12 Pro
- iPhone 13 and 13 Pro
- Galaxy S10
- Galaxy S20
- Galaxy S21, 21+ and 21 Ultra (Late 2022)
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max (Summer 2023)
Smartphones: rent to avoid overconsumption
Basically, smartphone rental has been set up for people who are always looking for the latest innovations in this area and therefore prefer to change them regularly, which has a certain cost, but also to allow those who have a smaller budget to access recent models. But is it really more profitable to rent your phone than to buy it? In truth, it depends on the desired model and the consumption habits of each. Indeed, for a user who changes phones every 12, 18 or 24 months, this is a good solution, especially since the devices are refurbished. On the other hand, for those who only need an entry-level product or who keep their device for four years or more, it is better to buy it directly. Because renting is above all a good alternative for people who tend to indulge in overconsumption and therefore, by extension, digital waste.
Indeed, the manufacture of computer and technological equipment is one of the main sources of carbon emissions, approximately 95% of which come from their manufacture. Therefore, a device that pollutes less is a device that is used longer. It is therefore a question of moving from an economy of purchase to an economy of use. Smartphones are in a kind of loop: as soon as a user returns the device, it is immediately refurbished and sent to someone else. And the customer, by changing it, also receives a refurbished device. No need to produce a new phone! According to Ademe, a refurbished smartphone reduces its annual environmental impact to 55%, compared to 91% for a new one. Smartphone rental, for those who regularly change devices, therefore offers a more ecological, economical and accessible alternative.