Shop around
Prices for the same model fluctuate regularly among retailers. While manufacturers typically only sell their phones at the recommended retail price, third-party retailers can discount them based on stock levels and age, so check and check out various price comparison tools such as Google Shopping, Kelkoo, PriceRunner or Price Spy.
Beware of deals that seem especially cheap, as they may not be UK models or are not sold from the UK, which may affect warranty or after-sales service.
Compare contracts or direct offers
Paying for a phone in advance is usually the cheapest way to have it in the long run, but not always. Newly launched models can be cheaper if purchased with a contract with a phone carrier, especially if you have a deal or include other services, such as Spotify or Netflix, at a discount.
It is worth making the calculations based on the total cost during the duration of the plan compared to the cost of the phone directly plus that of an equivalent and cheaper offer only for SIM. Please note that if you break your phone, you will still pay for it every month until the end of your contract.
The right time
You can often get a bargain on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and many other annual sales, but compare prices to make sure a “sale” is really an offer. Photography: Jonathan Cherry / Reuters
Buying a phone at the right time of year can be a big savings. Offers can usually be made on traditional sales, such as Black Friday, Christmas and Christmas Day, around Easter and during the period back to school in September.
But individual manufacturers are also discounting their smartphones at different times based on the annual launch cycles of new devices. Some manufacturers, including Samsung and Google, offer discounts and free gifts with very early pre-orders of their new phones before launch, which can be worth it.
Samsung usually launches its high-end S-Series smartphones in January, which then have discounts on summer sales. Apple iPhones rarely have a deep discount, but are usually the cheapest in August before a new version is released in September, with savings of up to £ 150 depending on the model, according to tracking site data of prices CamelCamelCamel. .
Change or sell your old one
Trading your old phone is a great way to recoup some of its value or get a discount on a new model. Apple and Samsung offer up to £ 470 off their new phones and Google up to £ 676 depending on the model, make and condition of the phone you are exchanging with.
Alternatively, you can sell your phone to a cashier for cash. There are several retailers that buy old technology, including high street phones and online, such as CeX, MusicMagpie, Envirofone and many more. Mobile operators like EE, Giffgaff, O2, Three, Vodafone and others also buy used phones, as do Carphone Warehouse and other phone retailers.
Comparison sites can help you find the best price. Includes SellMyMobile, Compare and Recycle and Compare My Mobile. And just like with the purchase of a new phone, time is important for the exchange if you want to maximize your return.
“We are predicting that across the entire range of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 the price will depreciate by around 22% from now until the launch of a new model in October 2022,” he says Denise Timmis, Envirofone’s brand manager. “This means exchange values of up to £ 157 less for the iPhone 13 Pro Max and up to £ 125 for the iPhone 12 Pro.”
If your phone is in good condition and you are ready to do some work, you could make more money by selling it privately on eBay or other markets. Check the recently sold prices on the sites to see how many similar phones are available.
Refurbished purchase
Not only is this better for the planet, it can also be great for your portfolio. Recent Giffgaff data showed that you can save around £ 50kg on carbon and £ 200 on average by buying refurbished ones compared to new ones. While larger offerings can be made on older devices, newer models can often be found renewed by both manufacturers and third parties about six months after launch. They usually cost between £ 50 and £ 100 less than the PVP.
At a time when many people are really feeling the rising cost of living, refurbished devices can be a great option. Ash Schofield of Giffgaff
“At a time when a lot of people are really feeling the rising cost of living, refurbished devices can be a great option,” says Ash Schofield, Giffgaff’s chief executive. “You still have that new phone feel, without breaking the bank. Our research shows that while many people see renewal technology as a viable option, many are still losing savings.”
There are many places to buy refurbished models. Those that come directly from the manufacturer are usually the best that have been completely refurbished to new standards, but most phone or technology stores, mobile operators and specialty renovators sell models in different conditions and prices, from almost new to worn out, but still work.
Collect older models with long software support
Newer models are the most expensive, so buying a one- or two-year-old phone, whether new or refurbished, can save you a bundle, but only if you choose the right model.
Unfortunately, not all manufacturers offer durable software support for their smartphones. Many offer only two or three years of updates from the launch date of a phone. Regular security updates are crucial to the safe use of a smartphone, so once a model is no longer supported, you should not use it.
Only Apple and Samsung offer up to five years or more of software support for their recent smartphones, so their older models, such as the iPhone 11 or Galaxy S20, are still worth buying. . Google recently pledged to support its Pixel phones for five years, but only from this year’s Pixel 6.
Apple’s iPhone SE (2022) is especially good value, offering the company’s top chip, 5G and over six years of software support. Photography: Samuel Gibbs / The Guardian
While high-end phones are the most exciting, mid-range smartphones have improved dramatically in recent years and can be had for much less. However, not all mid-range phones are made equal, and many do not have long-term software support.
Highlights include Apple’s iPhone SE (£ 470) and Samsung’s Galaxy A series (from £ 129), which receive four to seven years of software support depending on the model.