{
  "id": 13337285,
  "title": "Full pay vs EMI vs no-cost EMI: What saves most?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/full-pay-vs-emi-vs-no-cost-emi-what-saves-most",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-10T04:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/spend/iphone-18-pro-credit-card-emi-vs-no-cost-emi-vs-upfront-payment-festive-offers-deals-sale/articleshow/134833787.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When it comes to purchasing electronics like the iPhone 18 Pro during big sales events, consumers often wonder about the most cost-effective payment method. According to Ashish Lath, Founder & CEO of SaveSage, the key to saving the most is to consider the total cost of the purchase, not just the advertised discount.\n\nFor someone looking to buy the iPhone 18 Pro (Rs 1,64,900), the best payment method would be the one that brings down the total cost the most. This could be full payment, credit card EMI, or no-cost EMI, depending on individual circumstances.\n\nIf you have sufficient savings and can clear the bill by the due date without incurring interest, paying the full amount upfront using a credit card would be the ideal choice. This allows you to enjoy eligible discounts and rewards without paying any interest. However, no-cost EMI offers may provide additional discounts, making them cheaper than upfront payment even after considering processing fees and GST.\n\nTo illustrate the differences, let's compare the total cost of the iPhone 18 Pro under three scenarios:\n\n1. Full payment: Rs 1,59,168\n2. Credit card EMI: Rs 1,65,303.38\n3. No-cost EMI: Rs 1,66,498.15\n\nAs shown, paying full price upfront is generally the least expensive option, while no-cost EMI tends to be the most expensive. Regular credit card EMI falls somewhere in between.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}