Once paid off, you can keep the phone for years, sell it on the secondhand market, or trade it in for a huge discount on a new one.
You never own the device. At the end of the term, you have nothing to sell or trade in. leasing a phone vs buying
Leasing functions similarly to renting. You pay for the device's use over a set period (typically 12–24 months) and then return it to upgrade. Once paid off, you can keep the phone
buying costs for a particular model like the latest iPhone or Pixel? Should You Lease Or Buy Your Smartphone - Wirefly Once paid off
High flagship prices ($1,200+) can feel "reckless" in a tight economy.