Buy phone or contract, which is better?

handymand

Hello, I’ve been on. A sim only contract for 2 years and I’m now thinking of upgrading my iPhone. 

Do you know if it’s generally better/cheaper to go on a contract or to buy the phone outright from apple and stay with a sim only deal? 

I can’t decide what to do. 

TheMilkmansDad

is there a particular reason you want a brand new phone? I usually get a 2nd hand phone around a year old for about a quarter of the price and go SIM only.

DullGreyGuy

handymand said:

Hello, I’ve been on. A sim only contract for 2 years and I’m now thinking of upgrading my iPhone. 

Do you know if it’s generally better/cheaper to go on a contract or to buy the phone outright from apple and stay with a sim only deal? 

I can’t decide what to do. 

Do the maths.

If you pay for it in full, how are you going to finance that? Pay in cash from savings or a 29.9% credit card?

It will vary depending on your particular needs and what offers are going at the time you are looking. Its often cheaper than putting on a credit card and paying interest but is much more 50/50 if you arent reliant on credit to get the phone.

Frozen_up_north

IMO it is generally better to keep a phone and SIM contract separate, if for no other reason than you can keep a phone longer than 2 years and you aren't being pestered to "upgrade", an expression that really grates with me.

As you already have a SIM deal, it's down to you with your phone choice. I don't follow the herd looking for the largest, most flashy, phone around. For me a phone must fit in my shirt top pocket and the iPhone SE 2020 at £449, with 2 year warranty, from John Lewis is fine.

oldernonethewiser

There are some very good SIM only deals and you needn't be tied into any long term contract with them so that allows you to change easily.

I haven't bought a new phone for years, always go refubished now and save a good amount of money.  You can get extra cover if you buy direct from Apple if that is the route you want to go down.

Depending on what you want from your phone there are still plenty of iPhone models to be had, more than Apple can sell you.  I loved the original SE but thought the newer version was dreadful. Bought and sold it within a month. 

jon81uk

Generally better to buy the phone outright, Apple offer 0% finance if you do need to spread the cost.

Peppa537

I’ve always found it cheaper overall to buy the phone and pay for it in full then get a SIM only contract. It will depend on if you can afford to pay for the phone outright, not have to use a credit card that you pay off gradually etc.