The phones are still owned by the carriers while customers pay down the purchase price — meaning they can include these depreciating assets on their balance sheets as expenses to help goose their earnings figures.
“If you’re looking to buy a new phone from T-Mobile or Sprint, you might be asked if you’re interested in leasing the phone instead. The salesperson might mask it as an easy way to upgrade your phone more often or pay less per month, but any way they try to spin it, it’s a lease.”
