How to get the best UK mobile phone deals for your budget
When an upgrade becomes available, it's tempting to make a beeline for the latest handsets and the biggest data plans, but in both instances there's a good chance your bill will end up higher than it needs to be.
It's often worth looking at how you can pare back your phone bill costs and still get the handset you want, without compromising on what you really need.
Assess your current plan and phone usage
First up, take a look at your historical usage from your current plan. Aside from the phone itself, the big-ticket item is data – how much are you using each month?
'Before starting your search, figure out what you need,' says Andy Aitken, CEO and co-founder of Honest Mobile. 'If you only use 4GB of data every month, there's no point paying an extra £10 per month for 20GB – no matter how good a deal it is.
'You can find your data consumption on previous mobile bills. Start there, and then look for a deal that matches what you need.'
Next, ask what you're mainly using your phone for
Is a powerful camera important to you? Do you live in an area with good 5G coverage?
Do you regularly play demanding games and need a processor that can handle them? If you don't need particular features, don't prioritise them with your new phone.
Even if you do want them, there's a good chance the budget version of a flagship device, or a slightly older model, will do everything you need at a fraction of the cost.
If you want the newest phones, consider switching providers for the best phone deals
If you have your heart set on a specific phone, it pays to shop around for it. While many of us upgrade time and again with the same network, often, the best deals on specific handsets are to be had by switching providers.
It's worth checking out the best current deals, for example Vodafone currently has an Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB, with a deal saving up to £360 on your Airtime, or a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB saving up to £576 on your Airtime with a 24-month 5GB Xtra Airtime Plan.
There's a Google Pixel 9a 128GB, with a saving of up to £480 on your airtime on a 36-month Phone Plan with a 24-month 5GB Airtime Plan, and a SIMO Unlimited deal, with unlimited data half price for the first six months when you buy a 24-month Unlimited max SIM only plans. Terms apply to all those deals, so check they work for you before you purchase.
Recommended reading:
Check out smaller providers
The big-name brands, such as EE, O2, Vodafone and 3, have the biggest phone selections and claim to have the best coverage, but if you're more flexible on the handset you want, there are plenty of lesser-known names that offer more competitive prices. Check out giffgaff, iD, Tesco Mobile, Lebara, Lyca Mobile, and VOXI, for example.
Many of these use the same networks as the biggest players, but their contracts tend to offer better value. Be sure to browse and compare before locking in.
Text the magic number
On his Martin Lewis Money Show Live broadcast on ITV, the consumer champion explained that 14 million people are out of contract on their mobile phone bill, and thus free to switch to a cheaper deal.
SIM-only deals normally offering the best prices, as they aren't tied into paying back a contract.
The easiest way to find out if you're still locked into a contract is to text this number, and it wont cost you a penny:
Martin said: 'You text 'INFO' for free to 85075 to check. If you're on Three, or ID Mobile, or SMARTY, you will need to confirm this by entering your date of birth once they've messaged you. Those of you still in contract, you can't switch at the moment, you'd have to pay a termination fee. Those of you who aren't, well you're a free agent - you can go and get the cheapest deals and you can cut your cost.'
Find out if you're out of contract in seconds for free… https://t.co/jv2aCogRwP #MartinLewis — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) January 14, 2025
Consider SIM-only plans and refurbished handsets
Is your current phone still running okay? Even if it's showing the slowdown and finicky qualities typical of a late-contract smartphone, ask yourself whether you can live with those minor niggles. If you can, you can forgo the phone-based upgrades and just change your SIM plan to cut the costs by a fair margin.
If your phone's long past its best, or if the manufacturer has stopped delivering updates for it, you still needn't splash out on a brand new device. Refurbished handsets are a brilliant option for getting a high-end phone at a bargain price, and they help to minimise environmental waste too.
It's an idea that's backed by Aitken: 'I'd recommend opting for a SIM-only plan and simply keeping your current phone or getting a refurbished one. The refurbished market is growing and you can get the latest model that seems as good as new, all while doing your bit for the planet and saving money.'
Haggle with your provider
You might be pleasantly surprised by what a little negotiation will land you. When you're at the end of your contract, give your provider a call and see what they can offer.
Call centre agents will often offer better deals than what you'll see on the website, especially if you mention packages from other providers that have caught your eye. If you've been a customer for a few years, mentioning your loyalty can help, too.
Be sure to go into the conversation with some competitor research under your belt, plus a clear understanding of what you need from your new plan, and you'll stand a good chance of getting a solid discount.
According to Ofcom, there are three steps to a better deal:
Check your account and see if you are out of contract Use a price comparison site to find the best deal in the market Contact your provider to see if they will match it
They estimated that in 2022, more than 20 million customers were out of their initial contract period, and many of these were paying a lot more for their services than they needed to.
They tightened up the rules for broadband, phone and pay-TV contracts from February 2020, meaning your provider must now tell you when your contract is coming to an end – and they must also tell you about their best available deals.
If you're already out of contract, you must be reminded you're out of contract, and told every year about your firm's best deals.
But you don't have to wait to hear from them. By shopping around and speaking to your provider you could save a huge amount - and it all starts with one simple text.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Telecom Italia in talks with banks to sell 1 bln euro state credit, say sources
MILAN, June 20 (Reuters) - Telecom Italia (TIM) ( opens new tab is in advanced talks with banks to sell a 1 billion euro ($1.2 billion) state credit the phone group expects to be able to cash in from the government after a prolonged legal dispute, two sources told Reuters. TIM and Rome have been locked in a legal battle over a license fee TIM was obligated to pay to the state in 1998, the year after the telecoms sector was deregulated. TIM scored a victory last year when a Rome appeals court ordered the Italian government to give TIM back the original licence fee, worth just over 500 million euros, a figure that has since doubled due to accrued interests. The government has appealed the decision in front of Italy's top court. Pending the top court's ruling, TIM is in talks with UniCredit ( opens new tab and Santander ( opens new tab to get financing against the expected 1 billion euro refund from the government, the people said. Such a form of financing, whereby a company raises cash from banks by selling them a claim, typically invoices, at a discount to the claim's nominal value, is called factoring. In a similar case to TIM's, the top court has ruled in favour of Vodafone (VOD.L), opens new tab. In any case, were the final court decision to be against TIM, the company would just return the banks the cash they have lent it plus any interest that has matured, the people said. That would be no different than repaying ordinary bank debt. TIM, UniCredit and Santander all declined to comment. Italy's top court last month delayed its final decision over the case, saying further checks were needed to establish whether TIM's initial claim was filed with the correct court. A hearing on the matter is expected next week. ($1 = 0.8632 euros)
Reuters
3 days ago
- Reuters
UK's Vodafone names Microsoft's Lopez as new finance chief
June 19 (Reuters) - Britain's Vodafone Group (VOD.L), opens new tab named Microsoft's (MSFT.O), opens new tab Pilar Lopez as its new finance chief on Thursday to succeed Luka Mucic, who is leaving the group at the end of November this year. Lopez's formal appointment as chief financial officer will start on December 1, 2025, the company said. Lopez joins from Microsoft, where she has served several roles at the U.S. tech giant including chief operating officer for Western Europe, and more recently leading Microsoft's partnership with the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG.L), opens new tab. She also spent 16 years with Spanish telecoms group Telefonica ( opens new tab in various finance and senior leadership roles before joining Microsoft, Vodafone said in a statement. "She has deep-rooted knowledge of both the telecoms and technology sectors, across a range of international leadership positions," Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle said.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Major network TRIPLES data on its SIM-only plans – get 300GB for just £20p/m
THOSE of you considering switching networks have a brilliant opportunity to upgrade your SIM plan. Voxi is currently offering an incredible deal, with its 100GB SIM-only plan tripling to 300GB for just £20 a month. 1 Voxi, 100GB 300GB data for £20/month (Unlimited social, music, and video use) BUY FROM VOXI I keep a close eye on SIM-only deals, and this one from Voxi is easily one of the best to land in a while. Instead of cutting prices, Voxi has taken a different approach, tripling the data on two of its most popular plans, without raising the monthly cost. Deals like this offer serious value, especially if you're after more data without spending more. For heavier users, the 300GB plan at £20 a month strikes a great balance between generous data and solid value. It's a smart pick if you burn through gigabytes streaming, scrolling, or gaming, but don't quite need to pay the premium for unlimited. If you're after something lighter, the 25GB plan has also been bumped up to 75GB for just £12 per month, a great option for more moderate users. One of the deal clinchers is that many of Voxi's plans come with data-free use of social media, music, or video apps. This means you can spend hours scrolling through TikTok, streaming Spotify, or bingeing on Netflix without worrying about eating into your data. If you're not a heavy user but want plenty of data to play with, Voxi is a network worth considering. And since Voxi runs on Vodafone's network, you can expect reliable coverage wherever you are. Like many smaller SIM providers, Voxi piggybacks on the Vodafone network, which recently joined forces with Three, making the network stronger than ever. It's always worth checking your area with Voxi's coverage map, so you can be confident of a strong connection before signing up. Best Voxi SIM-only deals Voxi have a selection of SIM-only plans for every kind of data user, many of which either come with free social, music, or video use. Voxi's SIM-only plans run on rolling 1-month contracts, so there's no long-term commitment. You can switch or cancel at any time, which is ideal if you like to keep your options open. These boosted deals are currently set to end on July 17th, so there's only a limited window to lock in the savings. It's shaping up to be a strong month for savvy SIM shoppers, too. I've spotted a similar Smarty double data SIM-only deal, offering 200GB for just £12 per month, and shares the same network coverage. If you're eyeing a new handset instead, there are some tempting Android offers floating around. One major provider is throwing in a free tech bundle worth £410 when you grab the latest Honor phone, with plans starting from £20 a month. I've pulled together a full roundup of the best SIM-only deals across all the major networks, so you can find the right plan for your budget.
