About iPhone deals
Dan Howdle
Firstly, consider your budget and how much you can pay upfront for your new iPhone, coupled with the ongoing monthly cost. Paying more at the outset will bring the monthly rate down, and vice versa. If value for money is your primary concern, the cheapest overall option is to buy an iPhone outright and sign up to a SIM-only deal.
All the latest iPhones – from the iPhone 11 onward – are 5G-ready, so if 5G has reached your area, you will be able to enjoy the ultrafast speeds on your new shiny handset. If not, 4G coverage is now available to 99% of the UK population.
iPhone providers almost invariably now offer unlimited minutes and texts, so it’s data allowance that really sets them apart. Usage caps vary from 1GB to unlimited, so think about how much time you spend online and pick a plan to match. If you are away from wi-fi a lot, then it’s worth investing in a large data allowance, but if you’re not sure, start off with a small amount since, as rule, it’s easier to upgrade to a larger limit if you’re using more data than your plan allows, but not so simple to downgrade if you’re paying for more than you need.
Choosing a contract iPhone
Due to the high cost of a new iPhone, for many people the best option is to spread that cost over a fixed-term contract – usually 24 months. Some providers offer a choice of contracts of varying lengths – up to 36 months with O2, for example. Some also offer flexible upfront payments; the more you pay upfront, the smaller your monthly repayments will be.
Some providers offer contracts that allow customers to upgrade their iPhone at any time, providing its full value is settled. These contracts split your monthly bill into two parts: your phone payments (the cost of your handset) and your usage payments (minutes, texts, mobile internet data). O2’s Refresh programme is best known for this.
Paying off your contract and upgrading your phone will create a new 24-month contract for both your handset and usage plan. The exception is giffgaff, which only has 30-day usage plans which you can cancel at any time.
The downside to choosing a contract iPhone is that you are tied into a contract that will most likely end up causing you to pay more overall for your handset than if you had bought it outright.
Buying a SIM-free iPhone
Buying an iPhone outright usually means you will pay less overall, and you are not tied into a contract. By buying your iPhone upfront, you avoid the two biggest issues of getting it on a contract: paying interest and being tied into a contract. This usually means you pay less overall and you can sell it to upgrade whenever you want.
Buying an iPhone direct from a retailer such as the Apple Store – or even from select providers including O2, Three and Vodafone – will guarantee that it’s unlocked for use with any provider you choose.
Most of the mainstream providers offer SIM-only deals for iPhone. Depending on your budget, how much data you want, and whether you want a one-month,12-month or 24-month deal, there is something for everyone. O2, EE, giffgaff, iD, Three, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone all offer SIM-only deals, with prices starting from as little as £5 per month.
Most SIM-only deals come with huge amounts of inclusive texts and minutes (or even unlimited amounts). When it comes to data, the more you want, the more you will pay.
PAYG on iPhone
Pay-as-you-go is an alternative to SIM-only whereby you simply top up your calls, texts and data by buying vouchers – usually available in denominations from £5 to £30. There is no monthly deduction from your bank account and you can top up as much or as little as you want at a time.
It’s worth bearing in mind that most pay-as-you-go bundles only last for 30 days – you will lose anything that is unused after that.
Most providers offer iPhones with PAYG deals – including Tesco Mobile, O2, Vodafone, and Three, however, they may not always offer the latest models, or they may only offer refurbished handsets.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes are available?
Since the introduction of the iPhone 7, Apple has continued to offer different handsets with each iteration. The latest model, the iPhone 13, has four models in its series: iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The iPhone Mini is the baby, with the iPhone 13 and its siblings being the bigger handsets. The iPhone 13 Pro is weightier, but the same size, and offers extra memory, and a superior display and camera. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the flagship mode, fractionally larger than the iPhone Pro 13, but with a larger screen and better battery life.
How slim are the latest iPhone models?
All the iPhone 13 models measure 7.65mm – slightly thicker than the iPhone 12 at 7.4mm. This, along with the slight increase in weight, is largely due to the increased battery size.
Why has Apple scrapped the headphone jack?
With the increase in all things wireless, Apple argues that its new Lightning EarPods remove the clutter of wires but maintain audio quality. If you are doubtful, you can simply use an adaptor to use your existing headphones – it just means you can't charge the phone at the same time.
In place of the headphone jack, Apple has introduced stereo speakers, meaning an improved audio experience when not using headphones.
What operating system does the iPhone use?
The iPhone 13 comes pre-loaded with iOS 15 (upgradeable to iOS 15.2). Not only does this mean you'll be able to use all the latest apps and games, it also means you can use Apple's latest features, such as SharePlay, whereby you can have a FaceTime conversation whilst also watching a TV show together, using 3D maps, and taking advantage of security features including Face ID.
Can I use my iPhone to buy things?
Contactless payment takes the hassle out of shopping, and thanks to partnerships with Visa, MasterCard and American Express, you can make contactless payments with Apple Pay on the iPhone 13 up to a value of £100 – the limit imposed in the UK for all contactless payments.
This works via an NFC chip (Near Field Communication Device) inside the phone that lets you make purchases at contactless payment sites directly through your iPhone. It’s similar to the contactless chips in some debit and credit cards, working in much the same way.
On which networks is iPhone 13 available?
Currently, the iPhone 13 is available through all the networks, including Three, EE, O2, and Vodafone, as well as on Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile and giffgaff. If you are looking for the best 5G coverage, head for EE, which is currently in the lead for 5G coverage across the UK.
Are all iPhones 5G compatible?
Yes. If your chosen network offers 5G, you’ll be able to use it with any iPhone from the iPhone 11 onward. Bear in mind that 5G coverage is still not extensive across the UK, so even if your handset is 5G ready, it will default to 4G if you are not in a 5G area.
A few years back, O2 and Vodafone customers found that their iPhone 5 wouldn’t work on 4G due to an incompatibility between the frequency used by both providers and the receiver inside the iPhone 5. Happily, technology has caught up and there are no more such worries with the iPhone 13 and the 5G network.
What kind of deal should I look for?
When it’s time to get your hands on the iPhone 13, you’ll want a contract or SIM-only deal with a high data allowance, unless you intend to use your wi-fi connection most of the time. Contract lengths vary from one-month to 36 months, so you can choose how long you need to spread the cost of your purchase, and there are plenty of options for switching your data allowance, and also for paying off your handset if you’re already thinking about the iPhone 14.
