A new analysis by comparison portal Verivox has revealed a significant disparity in costs between bundled smartphone and mobile service packages offered by major German network operators and independently sourced options, raising questions about consumer understanding and potentially manipulative pricing strategies. The findings, reported by Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, demonstrate that consumers can save, on average, a substantial 25% – and in some instances up to 37% – over a 24-month period by purchasing devices and mobile plans separately.
The savings are network dependent, with Telekom customers realizing an average reduction of 29%, followed by Vodafone (27%), 1&1 (24%) and O2 (21%). The potential for considerable financial benefit is underscored by the example of the iPhone 17 Pro, which, when paired with a budget-friendly discount tariff providing a standard data allowance, costs a staggering €675 less than when bundled with Telekom’s offerings. Similarly, the Google Pixel 9a demonstrated the highest proportional savings (37%) when combined with a separate, more economical plan within the 1&1 network.
“The data allowances embedded in the flagship contracts of major providers are approximately six times the average data consumption per capita in Germany” stated Jörg Schamberg, telecommunications expert at Verivox. This observation suggests a deliberate overestimation of consumer needs, effectively coercing customers into paying for vastly underutilized services merely to lower the initial cost of a desired device. This practice, critics argue, obfuscates the true cost of ownership and actively encourages users to subscribe to plans far exceeding their actual requirements.
Verivox’s comparative study meticulously assessed standard smartphone bundles from Telekom, Vodafone, O2 and 1&1 against combinations of separately purchased devices and discounted tariffs within each network. Two distinct user profiles – average and premium – were considered, each assessed with two variations: one mirroring performance levels in the bundled offerings and another reflecting average consumption data requirements. The analysis utilized the Google Pixel 9a (128GB) and the Apple iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) at manufacturer’s recommended retail prices, extrapolating all costs over a 24-month period. While the price point referenced (November 25, 2025) excludes fleeting promotional offers, the findings prompt a broader scrutiny of the competitive landscape within the German telecom market and the transparency with which bundled deals are presented to consumers. The investigation implicitly challenges the prevalent “bait and switch” tactic employed by network operators and calls for greater consumer awareness regarding the true financial implications of these seemingly attractive bundled packages.