The total cost of ownership for Apple products is, for some calculations, less than other products.
It obviously depends a lot on how much you care about software updates, how gently you treat your device, etc. But if you’re the sort of person who buys a new phone every two years and sells your old phone, the resale value of the old phone tends to be high enough that the costs look about the same as reasonably comparable domestically available devices.
If you’re buying your phone straight from China, or don’t care much about high-end phone features, your mileage may vary.
It obviously depends a lot on how much you care about software updates, how gently you treat your device, etc. But if you’re the sort of person who buys a new phone every two years and sells your old phone, the resale value of the old phone tends to be high enough that the costs look about the same as reasonably comparable domestically available devices.
If you’re buying your phone straight from China, or don’t care much about high-end phone features, your mileage may vary.