Note: This article was first published on 13th September 2016.
Who's got the best plan?
With all three telcos - M1, StarHub and Singtel - announcing their price plans for the Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, we find out who offers the best deal this time round.
For all the details on what to expect out of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, check out this article.
Both phones will go on sale on from 16th September 2016.
Without contract, the iPhone 7 will retail for:-
- 32GB model - S$1,048
- 128GB model - S$1,218
- 256GB model - S$1,388
If you're looking for the iPhone 7 Plus price comparison, it's on the following page.
Apple iPhone 7 with 2-year contract
Value plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel |
Name | i-Lite | Combo 1 |
iPhone 7 Prices | 32GB - S$700
128GB - S$855
256GB - S$1,000 | 32GB - S$698
128GB - S$858
256GB - S$1,008 |
Monthly Subscription | S$28 | S$27.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 100 | 100 |
Local SMS | 500 | 500 |
Local Data Bundle | 300MB | 100MB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$1,372
128GB - S$1,527
256GB - S$1,672 | 32GB - S$1,367.60
128GB - S$1,527.60
256GB - S$1,677.60 |
N.B. StarHub has not announced price plans for its 4G 300M tier plan.
Basic plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Lite+ | Combo 2 | 4G 3 |
iPhone 7 Prices | 32GB - S$570
128GB - S$725
256GB - S$880 | 32GB - S$568
128GB - S$718
256GB - S$878 | 32GB - S$561
128GB - S$716
256GB - S$871 |
Monthly Subscription | S$42 | S$42.90 | S$42.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 200 | 200 | 150 |
Local SMS | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Local Data Bundle | 3GB | 2GB | 3GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$1,578
128GB - S$1,733
256GB - S$1,888 | 32GB - S$1,597.60
128GB - S$1,747.60
256GB - S$1,907.60 | 32GB - S$1,590.60
128GB - S$1,745.60
256GB - S$1,900.60 |
Mid-tier plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Reg | Combo 3 | 4G 4 |
iPhone 7 Prices | 32GB - S$375
128GB - S$530
256GB - S$685 | 32GB - S$378
128GB - S$538
256GB - S$698 | 32GB - S$378
128GB - S$533
256GB - S$688 |
Monthly Subscription | S$62 | S$62.90 | S$62.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 300 | 300 | 350 |
Local SMS | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
Local Data Bundle | 4GB | 3GB | 4GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$1,863 128GB - S$2,018 256GB - S$2,173 | 32GB - S$1,887.60
128GB - S$2,047.60
256GB - S$2,207.60 | 32GB - S$1,887.60 128GB - S$2,042.60 256GB - S$2,197.60 |
Mid-high tier plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Reg+ | Combo 4 | 4G 5 |
iPhone 7 Prices | 32GB - S$185
128GB - S$340
256GB - S$495 | 32GB - S$188
128GB - S$338
256GB - S$498 | 32GB - S$196
128GB - S$351
256GB - S$506 |
Monthly Subscription | S$82 | S$82.90 | S$82.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 400 | 400 | 450 |
Local SMS | 1,500 | 1,300 | 1,300 |
Local Data Bundle | 5GB | 4GB | 5GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$2,153 128GB - S$2,308 256GB - S$2,463 | 32GB - S$2,177.60
128GB - S$2,327.60
256GB - S$2,487.60 | 32GB - $2,185.60 128GB - $2,340.60 256GB - $2,495.60 |
High-tier plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Max | Combo 6 | 4G 6 |
iPhone 7 Prices | 32GB - S$50 128GB - S$200 256GB - S$355 | 32GB - S$28
128GB - S$188
256GB - S$338 | 32GB - S$38
128GB - S$193
256GB - S$348 |
Monthly Subscription | $102 | $102.90 | $102.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 800 | 700 | 700 |
Local SMS | 2,000 | 1,500 | 1,500 |
Local Data Bundle | 7GB | 6GB | 6GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$2,498 128GB - S$2,648 256GB - S$2,803 | 32GB - S$2,497.60
128GB - S$2,657.60
256GB - S$2,807.60 | 32GB - S$2,507.60 128GB - S$2,662.60 256GB - S$2,817.60 |
Premium plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Max+ | Combo 12 | 4G 12 |
iPhone 7 Prices | 32GB - S$0 128GB - S$0 256GB - S$0 | 32GB - S$0
128GB - S$0
256GB - S$0 | 32GB - S$0
128GB - S$51
256GB - S$206 |
Monthly Subscription | S$228 | S$239.90 | S$220 |
Local Outgoing Mins | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Local SMS | 5,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Local Data Bundle | 13GB | 12GB | 12GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$5,472 128GB - S$5,472 256GB - S$5,472 | 32GB - S$5,757.60
128GB - S$5,757.60
256GB - S$5,757.60 | 32GB - S$5,280
128GB - S$5,331
256GB - S$5,486 |
Quick analysis
For most tiers, M1 offers the best deals thanks to its competitive price plans and slightly generous mobile data allotment. Generally speaking, M1 also has better pricing on the phones. The exception lies at the premium tier where StarHub has a competitive 32GB and 128GB price plan, but M1 still pulls ahead with its 256GB plan, on top of an extra 1GB mobile data allotment.
It's worth noting that StarHub and Singtel slightly adjusted the upfront cost of the phone in some of its plans (as compared to the previous iPhone launch). While M1 may be pricier by Singtel by a dollar in some tiers, we've also considered the extra data given by M1, since we assumed each extra GB of data used is ~S$10.70/month if its purchased as a standalone add-on. With that in mind, paying an extra dollar over two years works itself out.
Apple iPhone 7 Plus with 2-year contract
Here, we compare the price plans of the larger iPhone 7 Plus across the three telcos. Like its sibling, it will also go on sale from 16thSeptember 2016.
For reference, without contract, the iPhone7 Plus will retail for:-
- 32GB model: S$1,248
- 128GB model: $1,418
- 256GB model: S$1,588.
For all the details on what to expect out of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, check out this article.
If you're looking for the iPhone 7 price comparison, it's on the previous page.
Value plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel |
Name | i-Lite | Combo 1 |
iPhone 7 Plus Prices | 32GB - S$880
128GB - S$1,035
256GB - S$1,185 | 32GB - S$878
128GB - S$1,038
256GB - S$1,188 |
Monthly Subscription | S$28 | S$27.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 100 | 100 |
Local SMS | 500 | 500 |
Local Data Bundle | 300MB | 100MB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$1,552
128GB - S$1,707
256GB - S$1,857 | 32GB - S$1,547.60
128GB - S$1,707.60
256GB - S$1,857.60 |
N.B. StarHub has not announced price plans for its 4G 300M tier plan.
Basic plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Lite+ | Combo 2 | 4G 3 |
iPhone 7 Plus Prices | 32GB - S$755
128GB - S$910
256GB - S$1,060 | 32GB - S$748
128GB - S$898
256GB - S$1,048 | 32GB - S$742
128GB - S$898
256GB - S$1,047 |
Monthly Subscription | S$42 | S$42.90 | S$42.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 200 | 200 | 150 |
Local SMS | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Local Data Bundle | 3GB | 2GB | 3GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$1,763
128GB - S$1,918
256GB - S$2,068 | 32GB - S$1,777.60
128GB - S$1,927.60
256GB - S$2,077.60 | 32GB - S$1,771.60
128GB - S$1,927.60
256GB - S$2,076.60 |
Mid-tier plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Reg | Combo 3 | 4G 4 |
iPhone 7 Plus Prices | 32GB - S$555
128GB - S$710
256GB - S$860 | 32GB - S$568
128GB - S$718
256GB - S$868 | 32GB - S$560
128GB - S$715
256GB - S$865 |
Monthly Subscription | S$62 | S$62.90 | S$62.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 300 | 300 | 350 |
Local SMS | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
Local Data Bundle | 4GB | 3GB | 4GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$2,043 128GB - S$2,198 256GB - S$2,348 | 32GB - S$2,077.60
128GB - S$2,227.60
256GB - S$2,377.60 | 32GB - S$2,069.60 128GB - S$2,224.60 256GB - S$2,374.60 |
Mid-high tier plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Reg+ | Combo 4 | 4G 5 |
iPhone 7 Plus Prices | 32GB - S$370
128GB - S$525
256GB - S$675 | 32GB - S$368
128GB - S$518
256GB - S$678 | 32GB - S$378
128GB - S$533
256GB - S$683 |
Monthly Subscription | S$82 | S$82.90 | S$82.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 400 | 400 | 450 |
Local SMS | 1,500 | 1,300 | 1,300 |
Local Data Bundle | 5GB | 4GB | 5GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$2,338 128GB - S$2,493 256GB - S$2,643 | 32GB - S$2,357.60
128GB - S$2,507.60
256GB - S$2,667.60 | 32GB - $2,367.60 128GB - $2,522.60 256GB - $2,672.60 |
High-tier plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Max | Combo 6 | 4G 6 |
iPhone 7 Plus Prices | 32GB - S$230 128GB - S$385 256GB - S$535 | 32GB - S$208
128GB - S$368
256GB - S$518 | 32GB - S$220
128GB - S$375
256GB - S$525 |
Monthly Subscription | $102 | $102.90 | $102.90 |
Local Outgoing Mins | 800 | 700 | 700 |
Local SMS | 2,000 | 1,500 | 1,500 |
Local Data Bundle | 7GB | 6GB | 6GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$2,678 128GB - S$2,833 256GB - S$2,983 | 32GB - S$2,677.60
128GB - S$2,837.60
256GB - S$2,987.60 | 32GB - S$2,689.60 128GB - S$2,844.60 256GB - S$2,994.60 |
Premium plans comparison
Data Plan | M1 | Singtel | StarHub |
Name | i-Max+ | Combo 12 | 4G 12 |
iPhone 7 Prices | 32GB - S$0 128GB - S$35 256GB - S$185 | 32GB - S$0
128GB - S$0
256GB - S$0 | 32GB - S$78
128GB - S$233
256GB - S$383 |
Monthly Subscription | S$228 | S$239.90 | S$220 |
Local Outgoing Mins | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Local SMS | 5,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Local Data Bundle | 13GB | 12GB | 12GB |
Total Cost Over Two Years | 32GB - S$5,472 128GB - S$5,507 256GB - S$5,657 | 32GB - S$5,757.60
128GB - S$5,757.60
256GB - S$5,757.60 | 32GB - S$5,358
128GB - S$5,513
256GB - S$5,663 |
Quick analysis
Once again, for most tiers, M1 offers the best deals thanks to its competitive price plans and slightly generous mobile data allotment. Generally speaking, M1 also has better pricing on the phones, if Singtel didn't claim that spot. The exception lies at the premium tier where StarHub has a competitive 32GB price plan, but M1 still pulls ahead with its 128GB and 256GB plan, on top of an extra 1GB mobile data allotment.
It's worth noting that StarHub and Singtel slightly adjusted the upfront cost of the phone in some of its plans (as compared to the previous iPhone launch). While M1 may be pricier by Singtel by a dollar in some tiers, we've also considered the extra data given by M1, since we assumed each extra GB of data used is ~S$10.70/month if its purchased as a standalone add-on. With that in mind, paying an extra dollar over two years works itself out.
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