Best place to get phone contracts?

Soldato
Joined
21 Apr 2007
Posts
6,638
Hi dudes,

Where is the best place to buy a phone contract, I got mocked in the tinder thread for not having a smartphone, my fund are limited to say buy one but I could probably afford a contract, I pay like 15 pounds a month for my 3+ year old phone... and I've seen good phones on contract for that.

So what websites would you guys recommend to find the best deals?
 
Don't get a something just for the sake of it, if you don't need/want one don't get one. As for the question. I just had a look around the websites which is the best deal then when I order the contract I used quidco to get cashback (£120 on a 24 month £25)
 
Don't get a something just for the sake of it, if you don't need/want one don't get one. As for the question. I just had a look around the websites which is the best deal then when I order the contract I used quidco to get cashback (£120 on a 24 month £25)

Well,

I actually do really want a better phone. I mean all the stuff on phones now is CRAZY useful. Obviously a lot of it is just junk.

But i'm interested in the practical things having a smartphone would offer me. I remember once needing to find directions thinking I had a good phone right now I could just pop up Google maps. That has happened quite a few times. Thanks for reminder though, i'll make sure I use quidco.
 
I've used mobiles.co.uk for my last couple of phones. Plenty of contracts which work out <£15/month there.

You often have to do cashback claims every few months, though, so you need to be reasonably organised.
 
The best idea if you only use it very little is to stay as you are and grab a cheap S3/4 htc one (one of the last gen phones anyway) from the auction sites, they can be had for under £100.
 
if you need to justify the price of a smart phone just remember you can always browse GD on it while your taking a dump
 
Get a cheap smart phone and a 30d contract, don't tie yourself in to an expensive contract, that you'll find you will use more data that your allowance.
 
^ what he said. Moto G is good first smartphone for someone who doesn't want to spend much. It's still a very decent phone though.
 
Get a Moto G (£100 - £150 depending on 3g/4g model) and a GiffGaff or Three Sim Only for around £13 a month 30 day contract.

Out of interest, other than the 30day notice, what's the advantage of that over getting a contract with a free phone for around £13/month which includes unlimited texts and, say 750MB data, 300mins calls? You'd save yourself the cost of the phone, with the contract.

I pay an effective £9.20 ish per month for mine. Got a free Sony Xperia U, with the above inclusives. Got around 6 months left to run on a 2-yr deal.
 
You are tied into a stupidly long 24 month contract, where are usages will probably changed, probably find you want something else in the phone etc. The allowances are rubbish. And generally but not always contracts work out more expensive
Three 200 is 200mins, 5000texts, unlimited internet for £12.90

Or if you think you aren't going to use a lot same mins/texts with 500mb internet is £6.90 or 1gb for £9.90

Lumina 635 is also worth a look.
 
Purely down to the fact I am not tied in to a contract.

If I get poor service (which I currently have had from GiffGaff) I can simply move to another provider such as Three (currently testing service in an old HTC Desire)

I have had my Nexus 4 (£280 at time of purchase) since January 2013, used GiffGaff since before then and have 200 mins, unltd texts and unltd data for £12 a month. I've also had about £80 in cashback from GiffGaffs forum payback service.

So give or take a few quid about £400 for 18 months but that's for a still more than worthy phone and unlimited data which I have used a lot of over the months.

My girlfriend has a Sony Xperia SP and it's a pile of dog **** and she's stuck in a 24 month contract with it. I can't say whether the U is a good model but for a phone recycling company to offer £15 for a U and £58 for the SP, it can't be that good.
 
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Purely down to the fact I am not tied in to a contract.

If I get poor service (which I currently have had from GiffGaff) I can simply move to another provider such as Three (currently testing service in an old HTC Desire)

I have had my Nexus 4 (£280 at time of purchase) since January 2013, used GiffGaff since before then and have 200 mins, unltd texts and unltd data for £12 a month. I've also had about £80 in cashback from GiffGaffs forum payback service.

So give or take a few quid about £400 for 18 months but that's for a still more than worthy phone and unlimited data which I have used a lot of over the months.

My girlfriend has a Sony Xperia SP and it's a pile of dog ****. I can't say whether the U is a good model but for a phone recycling company to offer £15 for a U and £58 for the SP, it can't be that good.

Depends what you want from a phone, I guess. The U is, of course, an entry level unit - but it was my first smartphone, and I've not found any reason (at all) why I would want a higher end phone for my uses. Will be going for something similar as a replacement.

I can't imagine that it works out economically to go down the PAYG route with budget phones, really. OP is also after a first smartphone, for cheap.

Being able to break contract is potentially handy, though.
 
For the most part you don't get the phone for free on a contract. You are simply paying above contract rate to pay for the phone as well. It's all included in the price.
Contracts can occasionally work out cheaper, but not usually.
 
For the most part you don't get the phone for free on a contract. You are simply paying above contract rate to pay for the phone as well. It's all included in the price.
Contracts can occasionally work out cheaper, but not usually.

Maybe. But I got a ~£150 phone and 24 months of minutes, texts and data for £221.

Depends on what deal you get, of course.
 
Thanks for all suggestions,

I'll have a look at what phones sort of fit my budget and check out any cash back deals.

Far as paying more over time for the phone I don't care. I have paid 15 a month for a 4 year old phone for like last 2 years.

Doesn't worry me.
 
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