I know many people who complain about migrants “faking their conditions” or “getting bribed by biden” because they have a smartphone which they can only imagine is an iPhone. Like if you don’t have have a polka dot sack tied to a stick and wearing plastic bottle sandals and using Nokia flip phones, you’re not struggling. But funny enough, if you live inside your car that’s fully licensed and registered, then they’re unable to make the connection that the person is not so far from our own financial situation.
I had to sit there and explain to them the concept of prepaid phones and how there are a billion android phones available with 3 cameras, face unlock, capable of shitty mobile games, and so on starting from $5 to $300. Not everything is a $1000 iPhone 20 XL. And despite this, their final thoughts are “ok, but still the democrats are bribing them.” 
A lot of carriers will let you trade in your old phone for the latest one though. So it’s not always expensive to get a new phone. The depreciation is also one reason why people rush to trade so they don’t have to waste $1500 in 7 years because their phone is worth $40
Reactionaries are so keen to cry about cummnists taking your toothbrush or how “you will not own anything and being happy”, yet car dealerships and phone companies release a “new” model each year and encourage people to turn in their property to start/continue renting the new shiny toy for 12 months.