Best Mobile Deals in the UK

Who doesn't love shopping for mobile phones?

Me.

Once upon a time, I thought it was easy to find the best deal around. Pick the phone you want, go the website of one of the mobile dealers, find the cheapest price and buy it.

Well...not exactly.

Once you've roughly chosen your phone, there are a million doubts to face, like:

What network works better in your area?
How much data will you need?
Can I get a student deal?
What if I go abroad?

Luckily, Spotahome is here to help -as always- and answer all these questions.

1 Which phone network is best?

Network companies tend to pay back very little (or nothing) to their loyal customers. That's why you might find attractive deals just switching operator.

Here are the best current deals in the UK:

Ph. by Wikimedia Commons
EE's 4G speed is, hands down, the best in the UK. So if you don't have wifi but still need fast internet, EE is the best choice. Additionally, EE gives you six months of free Apple Music when you sign up.

Ph. by Wikimedia Commons
If you are on a hunt for free goodies, O2 is the best network for 2-4-1 dinners, free coffees and concerts. Additionally, there are 1000s of free Wi-Fi hotspots around the country if your data is finished.

Ph. by Wikimedia Commons
If you travel often, Vodafone is the best option. The giant network allows you to use your home tariff (including data, calls and text) in 50 countries. If you are on the Red Entertainment data plans, Vodafone will even include you NOW TV Entertainment Pass, Spotify Premium or Sky Sports Mobile on your plan.

Ph. by Wikimedia Commons
If you need LOADS of data, then Three is your best bet. It's also the only network offering unlimited, all-you-can-eat data. Additionally, you can also connect to Wi-Fi in the London Underground if you live in London. Bear in mind that 4G coverage isn't as strong as the other networks.

2 What phone contract length should you get?

If you're buying a new phone plan with a contract, the choice is only one: 24 months. If such a commitment scares you, then you can only go for the SIM only option and buy your mobile separately.

3 How much phone data do I need?

This is a tricky question. A lot depends on how much you use your phone and how often. If you barely use your phone, go for the lower amount of data. If you spend lots of time scrolling down on your Instagram feed and watch a lot of video on YouTube, then look for the largest (around 30GB or even unlimited) but most convenient data plan.
Here's a little list to help you choose the right amount of data you need:
500MB- 1GB: you only use WhatsApp, emails
2-10GB: you like to scroll through your social media, use Spotify or Apple Music, but you can still rely on a wifi to watch Netflix and other things
10-30GB: This is loads of data for streaming music, download podcasts and spend hours watching stories on Instagram.
Unlimited: only available on Three network. You should get this if you need plenty of data, spend a lot of time binge-watching series, download large files and love your insta.

4 Which Phone Shall I Get?

Every time Apple launches a new phone, the entire world expects a massive price drops on the older versions. However, most of the time - and especially this year - this didn't happen. If you don't want to spend a full monthly salary (or more) on a phone, then you can opt for Samsung Galaxy S9, which is much more affordable and still is a great phone. Otherwise, Huawei P20 and P20 Pro are great Android alternatives to Apple.

Are you moving to London? Read these other articles to find out more about the city and make your move a great one.