Telstra now sells smartwatches, drones and headphones with contracts

Jacqui Dent - Editorial Strategist

Last updated 02 November 2018

Telstra now sells smartwatches, drones and headphones with contracts

Yesterday Australia's biggest telco, Telstra, announced it will sell a range of mobile accessories to be paid off over 24 months with its postpaid mobile and fixed broadband plans. The devices include high-end headphones from Apple, Beats and Google, Apple and Galaxy smartwatches and a DJI drone.

The devices are sold through Telstra with no upfront fees. And to Telstra's credit, repayments over 24 months do add up to an amount similar to what you would pay for the devices outright. For example, a set of Apple AirPods sold through Apple direct would cost you $229 outright. Alternatively, you can add them to your Telstra plan for $10 per month, which adds up to $240 over a 24 month term.

Device repayments can be added to both new and existing Telstra fixed broadband or postpaid mobile contracts. They're contract-free on the basis that if you want to stop repayments early, there is no penalty, you just need to pay out the remainder owing on your device. But note, if you're adding a device to an existing Telstra postpaid mobile or fixed broadband contract, you will need to continue your contract or re-contract with Telstra after expiry in order to continue paying off your other device/s monthly.

Telstra currently limits device add-ons to five per customer. Telstra is currently offering a range of over 20 devices which it says will grow to more than 30 by Christmas.

But is it worth it?

While it is definitely appealing to add a high-end device like a smartwatch, which can cost $600+, to your monthly mobile or broadband bill, note that Telstra mobile and broadband plans are without fail the most expensive on the market. Add high-tech gadgets on top and you could be looking at a pretty painful monthly bill. You might be better off choosing a cheaper monthly broadband or mobile plan, and using the savings to buy other devices outright.

Check out a comparison of Telstra's broadband and postpaid mobile plans to other providers below. We've chosen BYO mobile contracts with at least 5GB of data and NBN 50 plans with unlimited data for comparison.

#1	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile Moose 23 SIM Only 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 30GB for $14 – Includes $9 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $23. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Link not supplied	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Link not supplied
#2	Belong	Belong 25GB Mobile Plan 85GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Uses parts of Telstra’s 5G and 4G mobile networks Deal: Includes 60GB monthly bonus data for first 12 months when you activate your new service by 04.11.26. T&Cs apply. $34.00/mth Min. cost $34 Link not supplied	$34.00/mth Min. cost $34	Link not supplied
#3	Optus	Optus $60 Optus Choice Plus Plan 100GB data Optus 5G in selected areas (exc NT) with a 5G device Deal: $39/mth and 100GB/mth for first 12 months, then 60GB/mth and $60/mth or as notified. New services. Ends 12.11.26. Terms apply. $39.00/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$39.00/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#4	Vodafone	Vodafone $58 Small SIM Only Plan 65GB data Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $13/mth off plan fees for first 12 months when you stay connected to this plan. Ends 29.10.26. T&Cs apply. $45.00/mth Min. cost $45 Go to Site	$45.00/mth Min. cost $45	Go to Site
#5	Telstra	Telstra $84 Essential Upfront SIM Plan 180GB data Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Essential Mobile Plan. New services only. Ends 05.10.26 $74.00/mth Min. cost $74 Link not supplied	$74.00/mth Min. cost $74	Link not supplied

#1	Belong	Belong All Fixed Line nbn® NBN Standard Plus – Unlimited All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $36 off for 6 months - $55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth (Offer ends 04.11.26) + Free $80 Mobile SIM $55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $55 Go to Site	$55/mth for first 6 mths, then $91/mth Min. cost $55	Go to Site
#2	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo All Fixed Line nbn® Editor's Pick nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $30/mth discount for 6 months based on the standard price $87.99/mth. Ends 08.12.26. T&Cs apply. $57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99 Go to Site*	$57.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $87.99/mth Min. cost $57.99	Go to Site
#3	TPG	TPG All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Unlimited Plan All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $69.99	Link not supplied
#4	iiNet	iiNet All Fixed Line nbn® nbn50 Liimitless All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 mths – $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $89.99/mth. Use code SAVE20FOR6 $69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99 Link not supplied	$69.99/mth + $10 Upfront for first 6 mths, then $89.99/mth Min. cost $79.99	Link not supplied
#5	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband All Fixed Line nbn® Business Value 50/20 All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 47/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $25 off for the first 6 months. Promo code SAVEBIZ25. $95/mth after promo ends 15.11.26 $70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70 Go to Site	$70/mth for first 6 months, then $95/mth Min. cost $70	Go to Site
#6	Optus	Optus All Fixed Line nbn® Optus Everyday nbn® All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $82/mth for a year, then $97/mth or as notified. New services. Incl intro offer + extra $5/mth off. Min cost $388. Ends 6/10. $82/mth for first 12 months, then $97/mth or as notified Min. cost $82 Link not supplied	$82/mth for first 12 months, then $97/mth or as notified Min. cost $82	Link not supplied
#7	Vodafone	Vodafone All Fixed Line nbn® Essential+ nbn® All Fixed Line nbn® nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Save $10/mth when you bundle with a mobile plan with Vodafone. T&Cs apply. $94/mth Min. cost $94 Link not supplied	$94/mth Min. cost $94	Link not supplied
#8	Telstra	Telstra Essential Internet Only Plan (Fixed Wireless) nbn® Wireless 68/7 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get 50% off any home nbn plan for 2 months. Add code PROMO at checkout. Ends 05.10.26. T&Cs apply. $99/mth Min. cost $49.50 Link not supplied	$99/mth Min. cost $49.50	Link not supplied

Also, free Google Home Mini

Telstra is apparently determined to stuff your house full of devices this Christmas and to prove it is giving out free Google Home Mini speakers with all home broadband plans as well as any Android smartphone bought from Telstra either prepaid or on a postpaid contract. That includes the Alcatel U3 phone which is currently selling through Telstra prepaid for $39. Considering the Google Home Mini retails at $79 outright, that's a pretty good deal.

The Google Home Mini offer is running until 25 December or until stocks run out. Check out Telstra broadband plans along with Telstra postpaid plans paired with popular Android phones below.

Upfront Data Plan Medium

Mobile Broadband
100GB Data

$68/mth

Min. cost $68

Link not supplied

$68/mth

Min. cost $68

Link not supplied

Jacqui Dent

Editorial Strategist

Jacqui Dent is an Editorial Content Strategist at WhistleOut Australia, where she writes about mobile phone plans, NBN plans and everything in between. Over her ten-year career, she has worked to provide informed advice to the public, first in the sphere of writing and now in the world of consumer tech. Jacqui has also written about consumer telco products for Business Insider, Pedestrian and the 50Up Club.

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