MOBILE PHONE CONTRACT ENDED

[geek84]

Hi Folks
My contract finished a few months ago.
However, I have no idea of where to find the best deals.
I do want to keep my number but want to change handset. I am with EE at the moment.
Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Easternlight]

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/

[Dave Hedgehog]

i use uswitch

https://www.uswitch.com/

[geek84]

Thanks Folks

[butchstewie]

As a general guide if you can afford to do so you'll probably get the best value for money buying the handset separately and getting a month-to-month SIM to use in it.

[geek84]

Yes I was thinking of buying a handset but then there's always new handsets coming out and I will be stuck with this one.

[nvubu]

butchstewie said:

As a general guide if you can afford to do so you'll probably get the best value for money buying the handset separately and getting a month-to-month SIM to use in it.

I agree with this. just checking uswitch for the closest match to my phone/SIM (Motorola/Lebara 30Gb), it's £1094 vs £466 - and if/when I want to switch providers, no phone cost.

[geek84]

Hi

Where do you get these figures from?

[butchstewie]

Do you know the handset you want?

[geek84]

No

But I want a small sized one - I got a Samsung A41 at the moment.

I'm also not sure if I want to go for Samsung or Iphone

[butchstewie]

Cat and pigeons

Whoever you go with you should be able to get a SIM deal with good data and unlimited texts and calls for a tenner a month maximum.

I don't know enough about Samsung but if you're looking at iPhones if you buy a new one now you should get 6-7 years out of it in terms of updates and iOS support.

Google Pixel are similar.

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/44577...

Not sure write it down anywhere officially though.

[noyb1966]

changed mine recently ...... bought an S25 with £100 off then a separate EE unlimited data/speed sim for £23/month.
works out cheaper than a 'deal'.

[Harpoon]

Also worth looking at some of the older generation Samsung models on MobilePhonesDirect (part of AO), especially with the S26 about to launch.

For instance, an S24 on O2 with 200GB data is £19 upfront, £23/monthly initially which goes to £25.50/month from April 2026 and £28.00/month from April 2027. 24 month contract and a quick Google says it should get updates from Samsung until January 2031.

https://www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk/samsung/samsu...

[megaphone]

Sim only and buy the phone outright is the way to go, unless you really want a new phone every couple of years.

OP if there's nothing wrong with your current phone just get a sim only. I'm playing £5.90/m for unlimited calls & 10GB data with Lebara, includes EU, it's on Vodafone, works well, 5G speeds.

[Easternlight]

geek84 said:

No

But I want a small sized one - I got a Samsung A41 at the moment.

I'm also not sure if I want to go for Samsung or Iphone

You won't find any small phones unless you're ready to spunk £1500 on a folding one that will be fked in a year.
Don't worry about being stuck with a phone, nothing changes on them now.

Unless you're a PH powerfully built type that must have the latest and greatest.

[maccboy]

Easternlight said:

You won't find any small phones unless you're ready to spunk £1500 on a folding one that will be fked in a year.
Don't worry about being stuck with a phone, nothing changes on them now.

Unless you're a PH powerfully built type that must have the latest and greatest.

I'm not sure a year for a folding one to break is fair, actually. Mine lasted nothing like that long.

[RacingStripes]

I use Mobiles.co.uk and am on ID mobile through them. Cheapest place i could find when I got my S24 Ultra 2 years ago.

[nvubu]

geek84 said:

Hi

Where do you get these figures from?

Direct with the company.

Motorola: https://www.motorola.com/gb/en/p/phones/motorola-e...
Lebara: https://www.lebara.co.uk/en/best-sim-only-deals/p/...

vs

uswitch: https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/motorola-edge-60-d...

I have a Motorola Edge 50 Neo that cost me £199 6 months ago - it's smaller than the Edge 60. My daughter replaced her Pixel 8a with one as well (she cracked her screen badly)

There is also the Edge 60 Neo which is the same price as the Edge 60 and also smaller. I came from a 5.9" Asus Zenfone, and the Neo's are very similar in physical size. 5 years of updates for the Neo as well.

ETA: Re your current phone.

I see it has a headphone jack and a SD card-slot. If either is important, it will limit your options.
Maybe the Sony Xperia 10 VII - my son has a VI and he is getting frustrated with it/

If you do get a new phone make sure to get one with e-sim support

Edited by nvubu on Monday 2nd March 19:50

[geek84]

Hi Folks

Many thanks for your advice.

I have always gone for contracts which includes a free handset and I've always been with EE. I think I've been with them for 25 years !

I have has my current handset for around 8 years and it has now started to play up. I am looking for a new handset, and some of you have suggested that I buy a new handset outright. However, don't you think I would be stuck with that handset for years to come and would find it difficult to sell on when I want to change handsets again?

Would you go with Samsung or Iphone?

Also, do I have to change my number if I go for a SIM only deal?

Thanks in advance.

[Ham_and_Jam]

geek84 said:

Hi Folks

I have always gone for contracts which includes a free handset

They have never been free, you pay for them in your inflated monthlies.

It’s nearly always cheaper to buy outright and go sim free.

You can transfer your number to any network when you get your new sim.