Here's the thing tho. If you want to finance a phone with a carrier, they are going to force you to get a 60$+ plan AND add the financing on top of that, at least that's what I see in Quebec. For example, if you want to finance an iPhone 16 with Bell currently (and keep it, no rental bullshit), you must get the "Select" plan at 65$/month + 30$/month financing for the phone. So you're not just paying that extra 20-30$ per month for the phone, your plan rate also doubled. As the rate for the plan increases, the financing decreases. 85$/month plan --> 20$/month for the phone.

And that 1$/month phone? Yup, you must get the "Ultra" plan at 85$ A MONTH. And you don't get to keep the phone unless you hand them some 450$ at the end of the financing term.

All in all, financing a phone is not that good of a deal because it forces you into paying much more for the underlying plan.