PAYG mobile for under a tenner; can you grab one?

MSE_Martin

What's the deal?

With a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) mobile you simply get the phone and add credit before you need to use it. Currently they're available for under £10, which is dirt cheap.

The Cheapest PAYG Phones based on handset price

Remember this doesn't include the cost of calls; but if you're just looking for an emergency phone or want the handset then this is perfect. Remember, often cheap handsets mean expensive tariffs, so if this phone is being bought to make lots of calls on; you're far better off to instead read the Mobile Phone Cost Cutting article to find the right tariff.

Available Online

These are arranged in order of how much you will have to lay out, but some include airtime actually making them cheaper overall if you intend to use that tariff too.

• £9.99 (free delivery) Alcatel OT-E205* from Orange. A basic phone with a colour screen and polyphonic ring tones from Orange. Usually you need to buy £10 top-up with all PAYG phones, but with this one you don't. If you use this as a PAYG tariff, to keep it operable you will need to top it up (i.e. add £10) at least once every six months. Update 12pm Wed 22 June: Orange has now changed this so you need to buy £10 top up – not too big a deal, but it does mean you will be laying out £20 for this phone.

• £19.39 (free delivery) Nokia 1600*: Another basic phone with both polyphonic ring tones and colour screen available from Amazon. It qualifies for Amazon's usual free delivery deal, although can take up to 6 weeks to arrive. If you use this as a PAYG tariff, to keep it operable you'll need to top it up at least once a year and make a call or send a text at least once every three months.

• £19.99 (incl. £10 airtime & free delivery) Alcatel OT-E230*: Available on Orange's website, this white, tiny flip phone has polyphonic ring tones, is dual band and allows conference calling. If you use this as a PAYG tariff, to keep it, it'll need to be topped up, with at least £10, once every six months.

• £24.95 (incl. £10 airtime & free delivery) Nokia 1112 Blue: Made purely for talking and texting, Carphone Warehouse is selling this phone on Virgin Mobile when bought with £10 airtime. You'll need to top-up this Sim card once a year to keep it operable.

The Cheapest In-store

• £9.99 in-store (currently out of stock online) Alcatel OT-E230 at Woolworths. Exactly the same as the one available at Orange, although this is in a funky metalic pink on T-Mobile. Not much stock is available in-store so call up to check at your local branch before making a special trip. If you use this as a PAYG tariff, you'll need to top it up at least once a year, plus make a call or send a text every three months.

• £14.99 in-store (£19.94 delivered) Alcatel E105 at Woolworths. With a monochrome screen, polyphonic ringtones and vibrating alert, this PAYG is available on Virgin Mobile. Top up here is only needed once a year.

FOUND A CHEAPER PAYG?
If so please report it in the thread below.

For those that use cashback websites, you may be able to find further discounts on the above by using them. If you don't know what I'm talking about read the Top Cashback Sites article.

Who are PAYG phones good for?

They're a cheap way of buying a new handset as you simply get the phone, unlock it for free and then insert your own Sim card (the thing that gives the phone its idenitity in there.

Plus they're the only real option for under 18s or anyone who has a poor or limited credit history and so can't get a contract mobile.

Contract mobiles are cheaper for most users

If you can get a contract and you are likely to make regular calls, then it will be cheaper. For full details read the Mobile Cost Cutting System to get the best deal, or if you're fed up with the current tariff Batter Down Your Contract.

For further info read the Related Articles:

• Mobile Phone Cost Cutting
• Unlock Your Phone For Free
• Batter your mobile contract down by up to £600
• Recycle old Mobiles for Cash

Martin

* Using these links helps the site stay ad-free and free to use, as they’re ‘affiliated links’ which invisibly take you via commercial price comparison services like Moneysupermarket or Find, which then pay this site per click. You shouldn’t notice any difference, the links don’t impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things I write) is NEVER impacted by the revenue. If it isn’t possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it is still recommended and still included. For the sake of transparency go to orange.co.uk or amazon.co.uk for an unaffiliated link. Click on the following link for more details on how this site’s financed.

hsbi

Remember that Quidco give 5 quid cashback on Orange PAYG phones web orders. So that makes the cost 4.99.

Odd_Fellow

I'm interested in the cheapie Alcatel on Orange. Martin's post says we'd need to top it up every six months to keep it operable.

My intent is to use it as a replacement contract phone with an Orange SIM.

Does anyone know if this will work - permenantly?


Odd

aphrodite_2

Yes, your contract sim card will work permanantly in a pay as you go phone. It's the sim card that will stop working if you don't top it up, not the phone itself.

karendb

Can this phone be unlocked for free?

Capyboppy

I have just gone to look for the Orange Alcatel at £9.99 and it appears you have to take one of three packages out before purchase. You can't just buy the phone.

UNICORN_1052

Woolworths are doing an Alcatel flip phone in a girly shimmering pink colour for £9.99:money: :money: :T

hurrah

UNICORN_1052 wrote: »

Woolworths are doing an Alcatel flip phone in a girly shimmering pink colour for £9.99:money: :money: :T

Yes Martin MSE says this in the Original Post in this thread.:D

hurrah

karendb wrote: »

Can this phone be unlocked for free?

No about £5 to £10 at unlocker eg market stall.

karendb

hurrah wrote: »

No about £5 to £10 at unlocker eg market stall.

Thanks! :j

vroomfondel

For further info read the Related Articles:
...
Batter your mobile contract down by up to £600
Recycle old Mobiles for Cash
..
The 3rd link goes to the same place as the 4th..