Discover the Most Affordable iPhone Offer in the UK
The most recent iPhone from Apple Inc. was released on Friday, attracting significant initial attention from customers, as evidenced by pre-orders for certain models being completely sold out and people lining up outside stores.
The biggest changes in the iPhone 15 are improvements to its rear camera system and the replacement of the Lightning port with a USB-C connector.
The iPhone 15 Pro model is also cheaper than its predecessor. It’s made from lightweight materials with a faster chip, and will retail in the UK for £999 ($1,225), which is £100 less than the £1,099 originally charged for the iPhone 14 Pro. The top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro Max costs £1,199.
Still, you can save even more money on the iPhone 15 if you shop smart. We’ll look at the ways below:
How to save money on a new iPhone
According to analysis by Bloomberg Intelligence, consumers can save hundreds of pounds on an entry-level phone with an unlimited data plan by buying the device directly from Apple and paying separately for a SIM-only coverage contract.
The cheapest iPhone 15, with a 6.1-inch screen and 128GB of storage, costs £799 when bought direct from Apple. The company also offers an interest-free finance plan where payments can be spread over two years for £33.29 a month. EE’s SIM-only card with unlimited data costs £630 over two years, or an average of £26.25 per month, for a total spend of £59.54 per month.
Getting the same iPhone and protection in a bundle from EE would cost an average of £69.11 a month, which equates to a £230 premium over the life of the contract.
Similar price differences can be seen in Vodafone and O2. Only on the Three network can you buy a package that is more cost-effective than buying a phone and a SIM card separately. You’ll save £73 over two years.
“The near-identical costs of EE, Vodafone and O2’s bundles suggest that none of them are looking to get a share of Apple’s latest upgrade,” said Bloomberg Intelligence industry analyst Matthew Bloxham.
Exchange
You can save more money by returning your old iPhone when you upgrade. Again, some of the best deals are available directly from Apple. The company is offering consumers up to £350 off a 128GB iPhone 13 trade-in, compared with £316 from O2, £314 from Three, £295 from EE and £295 from Vodafone. This model also broadly applies to other iPhone models.
“Apple is also the best option for UK consumers looking to replace their current device when they upgrade to the latest iPhone,” Bloxham wrote. “However, carrier switching systems are more flexible, so customers can get their money back with Android smartphones in exchange for a new Apple device.”
The cheapest iPhone 15 deals
Three have some of the cheapest iPhone deals online. It’s offering an iPhone 15 with 128GB of storage and unlimited data for a total of £1,266 over 24 months, which works out to an average of around £53 a month. Getting the same phone and data on separate contracts would cost £1,339 over 24 months, or an average of £56 per month.
Prices vary significantly between networks, with Vodafone charging up to £1,659 over 24 months for both the phone and the service. That would be almost £400 more than Three’s package deal.
It should be noted, however, that these figures are calculated from today’s prices, which are typically adjusted in the contract to rise with inflation. Some people may also be able to lower their phone bill even further: EE offers students a 20% discount on SIM-only pricing.
If you still want a cheaper deal, an older version of the iPhone is better value, as is a refurbished model.
