Mobile phones are an important but sometimes costly part of everyday life for many people, especially when they suddenly break or need to be replaced.
Here are some top tips from consumer organisation Which? on how to save money on mobile phones and contract costs amid the cost of living crisis.
1. Buy a Sim-Only deal
Buying a phone on a SIM-only deal is often cheaper than buying a phone on a contract. While not everyone will be able to afford the initial cost of a top-of-the-range device, today’s mid-range and budget phones can offer excellent performance and a wide range of features – customers no longer need to spend a lot of money on a premium phone. These deals can also be taken advantage of by customers who ask their provider to unlock their phone at the end of the contract.
Sim-only deals can be more flexible, with several providers offering one-month contracts. This allows customers to switch providers to benefit from better deals while avoiding big price increases on longer-term contracts. Which?’s phone contract calculator can help you work out whether a contract or sim-only deal is better for you.
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Which? has a comparison tool to compare deals that lets you filter by total cost. Some of the networks with the cheapest deals may be unfamiliar to you, but they still use the same networks as the top four providers – and smaller providers consistently score higher in customer satisfaction in Which? surveys.
2. Look beyond top brands and models
Whether you’re buying a new or used phone, it’s worth looking beyond the big brands. Which? often finds other models worth recommending in its reviews. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, for example, performed well and received Which?’s ‘Great Value’ seal of approval – it can be found on offer for under £300.
Those who prefer Apple or Samsung can also pay less for certain models. The iPhone SE is Apple’s cheapest model and performed very well in Which? tests. The 2022 version can cost £449 – more than £600 less than the iPhone 14 Pro. Samsung’s alternative, the Galaxy A33 5G, costs less than £330 and also received a great value recommendation from Which?.
3. Buy refurbished
Another way to save money is to buy a refurbished phone instead of a brand new one – it’s also better for the environment. For example, an iPhone 13 costs £749 new from Apple, but at CeX you can find a refurbished model with a two-year warranty for around £550.
Purchasing a refurbished phone from a company rather than a private individual offers the buyer more consumer protection. Apple has its own online store for refurbished devices and Samsung also sells certified refurbished phones. Both brands ship these models in new boxes with manuals and accessories, as well as a one-year warranty.
Alternatively, you can buy from used device specialists such as Back Market, MusicMagpie or Envirofone. The devices usually come with a one-year warranty and are rated according to the number of cosmetic defects. And some mobile operators such as Giffgaff, O2 and Vodafone also sell refurbished devices.
4. Trade in your old phone
You can get a discount on a new phone when you trade in an old one. Often it doesn’t matter if the phone is a model from another manufacturer, many retailers will offer trade-in on any phone.
Samsung will give you an instant offer, while Apple offers trade-in of your old iPhone and will list on its website the maximum price it will offer depending on the model. Network operators also offer trade-ins. For example, Vodafone allows customers to trade in their current phone for a bank transfer, credit or monthly bill savings. EE also has a trade-in website and claims the average saving on a phone, tablet or smartwatch is around £170.
5. Take out a family or joint mobile phone plan
Combined SIM plans offer discounts and perks that can help you save money, such as transferring and sharing unused data when there are multiple people living in one household.
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The downside is that it can be harder to switch to another provider in the future, as switching from a shared deal means extra hassle for everyone. Family plans work best when everyone uses a similar amount of data. Group plans are available from BT, EE, Sky, Smarty and Tesco Mobile.
6. Check the reviews before buying
It’s important to read reviews before buying an expensive phone. If a new device has annoying problems or needs an upgrade after a year or two, it may not be worth the money. Which? offers a range of free guides to help shoppers choose the right phone for them.
7. Repair your old phone
If you’re looking to replace your old phone because of a cracked screen or running out of battery life, repairing rather than replacing it will save you a lot of money and is better for the environment. A new battery can cost less than £20 and replacing a screen less than £100. Which? has a helpful guide to repairing your mobile phone.
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Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple And Android.
