Renting a smartphone has several advantages. The first is economical: for a small monthly fee, you can have a state-of-the-art device, which is particularly advantageous for those who like to stay up to date with the latest innovations. Renting also avoids the high upfront cost associated with buying a new smartphone. In addition, some rental contracts may include a breakage and theft guarantee, which makes it unnecessary to take out additional insurance. There are therefore multiple advantages to choosing rental instead of purchase, although it should still be noted that by opting for this solution, you do not really own your terminal. However, this is not necessarily problematic if your goal is to change your smartphone regularly. If the concept of phone rental remains unclear to you, let us guide you through this particular universe through our selection of the best smartphone rental sites available in France.
Next Mobiles, a reference
The concept? Next Mobiles is a French company that offers both new and refurbished smartphones for rent. The proposal is interesting, since it allows a perfect control of your budget, without compromising on the quality of the terminal you rent. Apple, Samsung or Xiaomi are among the brands of smartphones available within the site. The price of the phone varies depending on the model, but the offer is often very reasonable, without commitment, and promotions are frequent.
The +: When you rent a smartphone from Next Mobiles, you pay the same amount each month and the breakage and theft guarantee is always included. The very interesting point is that you can change your phone after a year to enjoy the superior model at no extra cost. For example, if you opt for an iPhone 12 this year, then you can upgrade to the iPhone 13 for the same price after a year of subscription. This allows you to always enjoy the latest model available.
Click here to access Next Mobiles offers
Fnac rental, the useful service
The concept? Fnac offers many services around high-tech products and rental is one of the most recent. Fnac rental does not only concern smartphones: you can also choose to rent a PC, a connected watch, an electric scooter or a robot vacuum cleaner. You choose between a commitment of 12 or 24 months and at the end of the contract, the rented device is recovered and reconditioned by Fnac. Note that to take advantage of this service, you must go to the store.
The +: Location Fnac allows its customers to access all the latest technologies for an affordable monthly fee. The rental price includes a breakdown warranty, which ensures you a quick and free repair if you encounter a problem with the device. Breakage/theft insurance is available as an option. If you do not have a Fnac store near you, you can also take advantage of this service in Darty stores, because the two brands are partners.
Click here to access Fnac Rental offers
Boulanger Location, the alternative
The concept? Boulanger is a recognized merchant in the world of household appliances and high-tech. It is not surprising that it does like its direct competitors by offering an aircraft rental service. Smartphones and connected watches are available on the brand's website, which offers home delivery of the product of your choice. You have access to dozens of references at prices that vary depending on the model chosen.
The +: Boulanger Location offers both new smartphones and refurbished smartphones. This is a real plus to control your monthly budget to perfection! If we find models from the catalogs of Apple and Samsung, we also find rarer references from Vivo or Asus, for example. The serenity and theft guarantee is included without deductible and you can renew your contract when it comes to an end.
Click here to access Boulanger Location offers
Mobile.Club, the enthusiast
The concept? Created by four friends passionate about high-tech, the Mobile.Club site started from their own observation: smartphones are really too expensive to buy. Aware that few people can pay 1000 euros for a phone, they quit their job in telephony to launch their own smartphone rental adventure. The commitments are economic, practical and ecological, topics that speak to everyone these days.
The +: Mobile.Club offers smartphones from major brands at attractive monthly rates. The terminals are all guaranteed, but also insured against breakage and theft. Prices start at 14.90 euros per month, even if you have to pay more for a recent model, without much surprise. The site highlights the savings made and especially the electronic waste avoided by choosing to rent a smartphone on its platform. The delivery of the order is made in 48 hours only.
Click here to access the Mobile.Club offers
Uz'it, the smart subscription
The concept? Uz'it offers many smartphones from major brands for rent: Apple iPhones are very present in the catalog, but there are also models from Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola, Nothing or Google. So there is a lot of choice and you can easily find the smartphone that suits both your tastes and your budget at Uz'it, which is a safe bet in the sector.
The +: Uz'it's contracts last 12 months: once this period has passed, you can either stop your subscription or extend it by changing your smartphone model, for example for a more recent or cheaper reference. Delivery is made quickly to your home and you can opt for a new or refurbished terminal. In addition, the guarantee against breakage and theft is systematically included in the rental price.
Click here to access Uz'it offers
Rent your Mobile, the cheap solution
The concept? Rent your Mobile is very aptly named: it perfectly summarizes the proposal of this site. What he does not say is that this platform focuses on an offer of refurbished smartphones at low prices. The terminals offered are not necessarily the latest on the market, but with rates starting at only 4 euros per month, it is clear that it is difficult to find more competitive on the market.
The +: Despite the low prices, the breakage or theft guarantee is systematically included, within the limit of one covered claim per year. Depending on the situation, the terminal is either repaired or immediately replaced. Note that Rent your Mobile only offers smartphones from Apple and Samsung, which are among the most popular with users. The various products are all refurbished in France, and delivered to your home in just 24 hours.
Click here to access the Rental your Mobile offers
How does smartphone rental work?
Smartphone rental is an innovative concept that offers an alternative to buying a new device. It allows users to access recent models of smartphones without having to pay a large sum at once. The principle is simple: rather than buying a smartphone, you rent it for a set period, usually between 12 and 24 months.
This proposal has different advantages. First of all, there is of course that of the price: rather than having to pay sometimes more than 1000 euros for a new smartphone, you spend only a few dozen every month, which fits more easily into your budget. In addition, you often benefit from insurance against breakage and theft that is included: this is not the case when you buy a smartphone in cash! At the end of the contract, you usually have the choice between returning the phone, renewing the contract to continue using the same phone, or choosing a new model to rent.
It is important to note that renting smartphones is different from renting with an option to buy. In the latter case, you also pay a monthly rent, but part of this rent is set aside to allow you to buy the phone at the end of the contract if you wish.
Once all these advantages are highlighted, it is still worth highlighting the few disadvantages that accompany the smartphone rental formula. For example, it must be taken into account that an initial sum may be requested when subscribing to the rental contract: the more recent the smartphone model chosen, the higher it can be, which necessarily increases the price of the subscription over time.
In addition, you usually have to commit to a minimum period, and fees may apply if you wish to terminate the contract early. In addition, at the end of the contract, you do not own the phone, unless you have opted for a lease with option to buy. Finally, rental agreements may include clauses regarding the condition of the phone when it is returned, and charges may apply if the phone is damaged. Before signing your rental agreement, read all the small lines carefully to avoid unpleasant surprises.
How to rent a smartphone?
Renting a smartphone from a specialized site is rather simple. To get started, you need to choose the smartphone model you want to rent from a selection offered by the provider. This selection often includes the latest models from major brands like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and often a few others, but that's not always the case. Once you have chosen your model, you determine the duration of your rental agreement. The longer this duration, the lower the monthly cost of renting. Contracts generally tend to last 12 or 24 months and a commitment is required.
Once your contract is established, your smartphone is shipped to your home, and you pay a monthly rent for the use of the phone. This rent usually includes accidental damage and theft insurance, which can give you extra peace of mind. When your contract comes to an end, the rental company requests the return of the rented phone. Generally, you can renew the contract with a lower negotiated rate, since the smartphone is discounted. It is also sometimes possible to change to a newer model for the same price or a higher package. If you no longer want your smartphone for rent, now is the time to choose to return it to its owner.
The process is therefore rather simple and if you have taken good care of the phone, you will not have any unpleasant surprises at the restitution. Depending on the age and condition of the smartphone, it can be reconditioned and rented by the site.
Is it possible to rent a smartphone for a short time?
It all depends on what you mean by "short duration"! The vast majority of sites that rent smartphones require you to commit for a minimum period of 12 months to be able to take advantage of their offer. However, there are some exceptions: Next Mobiles, for example, offers a non-binding offer, which you can cancel at any time without having to pay a return fee. But this kind of proposal is rather rare.
It is also important to compare prices between offers with and without commitment. Over time, choosing a non-binding option can cost more, as the provider prepares for the possibility that you do not stay very long with your rented smartphone. But again, this is not a generality: take the time to weigh the pros and cons before renting a smartphone, and this should allow you to enjoy it in the best conditions.
