Apple iPhone SE 2020: Globe vs Smart Postpaid Plans

Recently, the iPhone SE 2020 has been made available through Globe and Smart postpaid plans. Dubbed as the most affordable iPhone from Apple’s 2020 lineup, the smartphone comes with a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, powered by an A13 Bionic chip found on the iPhone 11, has a larger storage option, and ships with new camera features.

To see which plans cost less and offer the most valuable inclusions and freebies, we’ve scoured the information available on each telco’s website and compared their postpaid plans side by side. Do note that the 2-year-long postpaid plans for the iPhone SE 2020 apply for its three variants: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. It is also available in Red, White, and Black.

Globe Postpaid Plan

Globe offers a wide range of postpaid plans (12 in total) according to the customer’s needs. There are ThePLAN599 and ThePLAN799 for those with a tight budget. The former offers free 1GB for Facebook, unlimited calls and texts to Globe and TM subscribers and 2GB of mobile data while the latter provides unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Globe and TM subscribers, bigger data allocation at 3GB, and 50-minute calls to all networks monthly. Under the said plans, customers may pay a cashout fee at PHP 19,200USD 327INR 27,736EUR 312CNY 2,383 and PHP 18,000USD 307INR 26,003EUR 292CNY 2,234 for the 64GB variant of the iPhone SE 2020. Meanwhile, customers may take home the 128GB and 256GB models with ThePLAN599 and ThePLAN799 for the following amounts: PHP 22,800USD 389INR 32,937EUR 370CNY 2,829, PHP 20,400USD 348INR 29,470EUR 331CNY 2,532, PHP 28,800USD 491INR 41,604EUR 467CNY 3,574, and PHP 26,400USD 450INR 38,137EUR 428CNY 3,276.

Those who need more data may choose from ThePLAN999 to ThePLAN2999 which offers up to 31GB of mobile data, unlimited calls to Globe/TM subscribers, unlimited text to all networks, and up to 300 minutes of calls to all networks. Those who are willing to shed more than PHP 799USD 14INR 1,154EUR 13CNY 99 may get a 6-month and a 3-month subscription to Amazon Prime Video and iFlix. The cashout fee starts at PHP 1,200USD 20INR 1,734EUR 19CNY 149, PHP 4,800USD 82INR 6,934EUR 78CNY 596, and PHP 2,400USD 41INR 3,467EUR 39CNY 298 for the 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB configurations. Those who avail ThePLAN2499 onwards for the 64GB and 128GB variants get the phone for free.

There are also plans available for people who need seamless and faster mobile data surfing. Starting at PHP 3799USD 65INR 5,488EUR 62CNY 471, ThePLATINUM plans offer all-month data surfing, unlimited calls and texts to all networks, unlimited calls to DUO and landline in the same area of the subscriber, double Globe Reward points for every PHP 50USD 0.85INR 72EUR 0.81CNY 6 from the billed amount net of gadget charges, Globe Priority Network, and Platinum Digital Assistant Thea. ThePLATINUM4999 and ThePLATINUM7999 also offer free days of roaming data and monthly consumable allowances of PHP 1,500USD 26INR 2,167EUR 24CNY 186 and PHP 3,000USD 51INR 4,334EUR 49CNY 372.

ThePLATINUM subscribers for the 256GB unit may also take home the iPhone SE 2020 with no additional charge.

Smart Signature Device Plan

Smart, on the other hand, offers postpaid plans from PHP 999USD 17INR 1,443EUR 16CNY 124 to PHP 2,999USD 51INR 4,332EUR 49CNY 372. The monthly data allocation ranges from 5GB to 30GB with unlimited texts to all networks and unlimited calls to Smart and its sister networks Sun and TNT. Each also features a limited number of minutes for calls to other networks per month.

Its maximum postpaid plan for the iPhone SE 2020 costs PHP 2,999USD 51INR 4,332EUR 49CNY 372 per month which offers 30 GB of mobile data, unlimited text to all networks, unlimited calls to Smart, Sun, and TNT; and 300 min calls to other networks. Those who opt for the device plan of Smart may get the said smartphone for free starting at Signature Device L at PHP 1999USD 34INR 2,888EUR 32CNY 248 for the 64GB variant, as well as Signature Device X at PHP 2999USD 51INR 4,332EUR 49CNY 372 for the 128GB and 256 variants.

Postpaid plans for the iPhone SE 2020 starts at PHP 999USD 17INR 1,443EUR 16CNY 124 with cashouts of PHP 11,400USD 194INR 16,468EUR 185CNY 1,415, PHP 14,300USD 244INR 20,658EUR 232CNY 1,775 and PHP 20,100USD 343INR 29,036EUR 326CNY 2,494 for 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB configurations, respectively. It includes 5GB of mobile data, unlimited texts to all networks,  unlimited calls to Smart, Sun, and TNT; and 50 minutes of calls to other networks.

The minimum cashout fees for the iPhone SE 2020 under Smart Signature Plans are PHP 2,300USD 39INR 3,323EUR 37CNY 285 for the 64GB model, PHP 3,100USD 53INR 4,478EUR 50CNY 385 for the 128GB model, and PHP 3,520USD 60INR 5,085EUR 57CNY 437 for the 256GB model.

Which plans should you get?

We take into consideration the available mobile data cap and the total contract price for each plan. Since the postpaid plan for Smart starts at PHP 999USD 17INR 1,443EUR 16CNY 124, we compare all the plans from the said amount.

For postpaid plans amounting from PHP 999USD 17INR 1,443EUR 16CNY 124 to PHP 1,999USD 34INR 2,888EUR 32CNY 248, Smart offers more affordable plans for the iPhone SE 2020. However, Globe justifies its costs by offering free extras such as a 6-month subscription to Amazon Prime Video, a 3-month subscription to iFlix, and free 1GB of Facebook monthly. Both telcos share up to 15GB of mobile data allocation, unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited on-net calls, and up to 150 minutes calls to all networks within the said price range.

The exemption from this is Globe’s ThePLAN1799 which offers 1 GB higher at a lower total contract price compared to Smart’s Signature Device Plan L 1999. The latter costs more and comes with a lesser 15GB of mobile data.

Those who prefer Globe offers should choose ThePLAN 999 across the iPhone SE 2020 variants since it offers more mobile data and free limited subscription to streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video and iFlix at the same price. If you can stretch your budget more, the best choice for postpaid plans over PHP1000USD 17INR 1,445EUR 16CNY 124 is ThePLAN1799. It offers more mobile data at 15GB compared to ThePLAN1299’s 8GB and a lower cashout price at a slight price difference over PHP 1000USD 17INR 1,445EUR 16CNY 124.

For Smart, we highly recommend getting the Signature Device Plan M 1599 for the 64GB since it only has PHP 100USD 2INR 144EUR 2CNY 12 difference for the total contract price and has a lower cashout price compared to the Signature Device Plan M 1499. For the 128GB and 256GB variant and we recommend the Signature Device Plan M 1699 and the Signature Device Plan L 2199. 

For those who want to spend less but purchase the phone with a bundled postpaid plan, they may avail Globe’s ThePLAN599 and ThePLAN799 with 2GB and 3GB of mobile data. For those who need to contact more on other networks, they may choose the latter. As you can see, Globe offers more options for those who want to have more flexibility.