Cell phones are ubiquitous, but when one breaks it usually results in a costly repair bill. Photo/Hannah McKay/Reuters
Mobile phones are an important but sometimes expensive part of everyday life for many people, especially when they break or suddenly need to be replaced.
Here we have some top tips from the consumer organization Which? how to save mobile phone and contract costs in the cost of living crisis.
1. Purchase a Sim-only plan
Buying a phone outright and getting a sim-only deal is often cheaper than buying a contract phone. While not everyone will be able to afford the upfront cost of a top-of-the-line handset, today’s mid-range and budget phones can offer excellent performance and a wide range of features – customers no longer need to spend a lot on a premium phone . These offers can also be accessed by customers who ask their carrier to unlock their phone at the end of the contract period.
Sim-only plans can be more flexible, as several providers offer rolling one-month contracts. This allows customers to switch providers to take advantage of better deals and also avoid hefty price increases affecting longer-term contracts. The telephone contract calculator from which? can help you figure out whether a contract or a SIM-only deal is better for you.
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Which? has a comparison tool to compare quotes that allows you to filter by total cost. Some networks with the cheapest deals may be unknown, but they still use the same networks as the top 4 providers – and smaller providers are cutting in customer satisfaction in which? Survey.
2. Look beyond top brands and models
Whether you’re buying a new or used phone, it pays to look beyond the big brands. Which? often finds other recommendable models in its reviews. For example, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G scored highly and received the value for money stamp from which? – it can be found on sale for under £300.
If you prefer Apple or Samsung, you could also pay less for certain models. The iPhone SE is Apple’s most affordable model and scored high in “Which?” Exams. The 2022 version can cost £449 – more than £600 less than the iPhone 14 Pro. Samsung’s alternative, the Galaxy A33 5G, costs less than £330 and also guarantees a great-value recommendation from which?.
3. Buy refurbished
Another way to save is by choosing a refurbished phone over a brand new one – it’s also more environmentally friendly. For example, an iPhone 13 bought new from Apple costs £749, but you can find a refurbished one for around £550 at CeX, with a two-year guarantee.
Buying a refurbished phone from a company rather than an individual gives the buyer more consumer protection. Apple has its own online refurbished store and Samsung also sells Certified Re-Newed phones. Both brands ship these models in new boxes with instructions and accessories, and a one-year warranty.
Alternatively, you can buy from second hand specialists such as Back Market, MusicMagpie or Envirofone. Devices typically come with a one-year warranty and are ranked based on the number of cosmetic defects. And some mobile networks like Giffgaff, O2 and Vodafone also sell refurbished.
4. Trade in your old phone
You can get a discount on a new phone by trading in an old one. It often doesn’t matter if the phone is a different manufacturer’s model, many dealers will trade any phone.
You can get an instant quote through Samsung, while Apple offers a trade-in for your old iPhone, listing the maximum offer by model on their website. Network operators also offer trade-ins. For example, Vodafone allows customers to trade in their current phone for a bank transfer, credit or monthly savings on their bill. EE also has a trade-in site and claims the average savings is around £170 on a phone, tablet or smartwatch.
5. Get a family or shared mobile plan
Combo Sim plans offer discounts and perks that can save you money, such as: B. transferring and sharing unused data when there are several people in the household.
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The downside is that it might be harder to switch providers in the future, as it’s an extra hassle for everyone to switch from a shared offering. Family plans work best when everyone uses a similar amount of data. Group plans are available from BT, EE, Sky, Smarty and Tesco Mobile.
6. Check reviews before buying
It’s important to read reviews before picking up an expensive phone. If a new device has annoying issues or needs an update after a year or two, it might not be worth what you pay for it. Which? offers a range of free guides designed to help buyers choose a mobile phone that is right for them.
7. Fix your old phone
If you’re looking to replace your old phone because of a cracked screen or the battery life isn’t lasting, repairing instead of replacing will save you big bucks and it’s better for the environment. A new battery could cost less than £20 and replacing a display less than £100. Which? has a helpful guide to repairing your cell phone.
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Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple And Android.
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