MSE News: Mobile networks reveal iPhone 5 prices

Former_MSE_Helen

"Mobile networks have revealed their prices for Apple's new iPhone 5 - but how do you find the cheapest tariff? ..."

Read the full story:

Mobile networks reveal iPhone 5 prices

NFH

With mandatory 24-month contracts, it makes even more sense to pay full price to Apple for an unlocked SIM-free version (£529) and then get a SIM-only contract for under £10/month. Over 24 months, the overall cost is much lower.

This has an added advantage of being able to switch networks at any time without penalty or paying an unlocking fee, as well as being able to use local SIM cards when abroad to avoid rip-off roaming charges.

The iPhone ultimately costs £529 whether you pay this upfront or have it subsidised by an inflated monthly contract. If anyone can't afford £529 upfront, then perhaps the iPhone is not affordable for them and they should consider something cheaper because the expensive monthly contract fee is effectively an expensive loan for the phone.

diamonds

God even MSE mods have got into all this APPLE marketing caper....is MSE not about consumers & credit awareness ? No its now about a price marked up underspeced mobile phone & how to get your hands on one :rollseyes: if ever one consumer item goes against the MSE ethos its a i-phone, yet MSE give free publicity & marketing to it & its network partners !

It will only get worse when Martin leaves his paid position for moneysupermarket to make money out of such actions on the site.

NOT impressed.

LindsayReid

It should also be pointed out that if you want 4G, you cannot yet buy/sign up with EE themselves. You can only buy/signup with Orange and TMobile who say that you will be "able to switch free of charge" to EE4G when it becomes available but that you will need a new contract that will reflect the speed advantage of their 4G service. No prices yet on this and a deathly silence on the terms. Buyer beware.

Personally, I find the HSPA+.3,5G speeds on the 3 network excellent compared with O2, Orange, TMobile and Vodafone based services.

I would definitely wait until prices and contract details are published and would not tie myself in the Orange/TMobile in the hope of getting cheap 4G.

By my calculations, an iPhone5 on Orange/TMobile on a 2 year contract will cost anything between £973 for the cheapest iPhone5/package to £1353 for the most expensive - and don't forget, this is without 4G surcharges that almost certainly will apply.

yorkiepudd

As above, no indication yet of what EE are going to charge for the 4G service!!!!

Could turn EE into EEEEEEKKKKKK! I wouldn't sign up for one yet (even if I was interested, which I ain't). And it really makes price comparisons pointless at the moment as these (unknown) costs can't be factored in.

diamonds

As the only 4G service for a year EE plans will be EXPENSIVE as the market leader, however the EE/Orange/T-Mobile 3G has been upgraded to the same 3UK spec 21mbps & with a £51 unlimited data, mins & texts plan with a free i5 Orange will clean up the market for heavy users (then try sell them higher speeds for a £20+ premium on EE no doubt!)

dave333

NFH wrote: »

With mandatory 24-month contracts, it makes even more sense to pay full price to Apple for an unlocked SIM-free version (£529) and then get a SIM-only contract for under £10/month. Over 24 months, the overall cost is much lower.

Which networks are offering less than £10/month sim-only?

I'm looking at O2 and the cheapest is £13.50 sim-only (with only 100mb internet - unlikely to be enough for iPhone use). There is a £16.50/month tariff with 500mb.

O2 simplicity
£529 for phone
£13.50 per month for 24 months (12 month rolling contract)
Total cost £853

O2 simplicity
£529 for phone
£16.50 per month for 24 months (12 month rolling contract)
Total cost £925

O2 per article
£250 for phone
£26 per month for 24 month contract
Total cost £874

Gemmzie

Dave333 - probably GiffGaff?

Spend-a-holic

O2 will only provide nano sims with the acutal phone apparently so sim only from them isn't an option at the moment.

Does anyone know if exisiting customers are likely to be able to negotiate deals? Im an exisiting o2 customer and currently have an ancient 3gs on its last legs, I had a refurb 32GB handset which I got for free by calling retentions.

KTF

Gemmzie wrote: »

Dave333 - probably GiffGaff?

Giffgaff wont be providing nano SIMs 'for months' though so you would have to make your own.

NFH

dave333 wrote: »

Which networks are offering less than £10/month sim-only?

I'm on this one:
http://business.orange.co.uk/home/small/plans/standard-plans/business-sim-only

£7.76+VAT per month for 800GB, 325 minutes and 150 texts. With iMessage, 150 texts is plenty for me.