We’re over halfway through 2019 and it’s fair to say we are truly in the midst of the ‘golden age’ of the smartphone.
Never has there been so much choice on the market, with more and more handsets offering exceptional performance.
From heavy hitters such as the Samsung S10, to the simply iconic iPhone XS or the plethora of powerful phones coming out of China via Huawei and OnePlus, the consumer is not lacking in options.
And while this is all well and good – without genuine tech-expertise, it can be hard to distinguish a clear frontrunner on the market.
With this in mind, the deciding purchase factor will often come down to which handset (and respective provider) offers the best deal.
Where to start? Look no further than our top tips for getting the best mobile phone deal in 2019.
Consider SIM-only contracts
There’s no denying it, for most of us, the RRP of a brand-new, top-of-the-range smartphone can be pretty daunting.
Hence the option of a phone-included monthly contract (with the incentive of a handset upgrade after a period) can seem the best way of getting our hands on an exciting piece of tech.
However, if you already own a good phone and aren’t overly fussed about switching to a newer iteration, you may well want to think about keeping it and switching to a SIM-only deal.
SIM-only contracts will see your monthly outgoings drop significantly.
Do remember though, should you want to use your phone with a network other than the one you bought it with, you’ll need to have it unlocked.
Even if you do want a new phone, SIM-only is still a viable option. Head to eBay or other online marketplaces where high-end handsets are often available at slashed prices – especially in the weeks and months following the release of a new, market-leading phone.
A handset-plus-SIM-only deal is likely to be a lot cheaper than a phone-included-monthly-contract.
Consider this: The best deal for a phone was £40/month for 24 months. At the end of the contract, you’d have spent £960.
We would wager that the phone by itself, and a SIM only deal with equivalent minutes/text/data will be notably cheaper.
Take a look for yourself or head to a mobile phone price comparison site. More on that next.
Shop around – but let the experts do the work
As we’ve mentioned, the smartphone market is something of a minefield right now. There’s simply so much on offer in terms of quality – as well as more diversity among providers than ever before, with new players entering the game with regularity.
The increased offering and competition are great for the consumer, but most of us don’t have the time to be trawling the web, or high street, for the best mobile phone deal in 2019.
This is where price comparison sites come in. There are a number out there with effective tools for trawling the web for deals.
However, not all price comparison sites are made equal, and when it comes to smartphones you want to head to a specialist.
Handset Expert are the UK’s most comprehensive mobile phone comparison website and one of only four accredited by Ofcom, and they’re fiercely committed to providing unbiased, independent information.
Unlike some price comparison companies, they don’t hide better deals or offers – if they have the data available, they will use it to find the find the best deals and offers for you.
Head to their website to uncover the best mobile phone deals.
Consider how much data you really need
Your data allowance can be costly to exceed. Not only are the subsequent charges often fairly hefty, it’s incredibly easy to use data without realising.
Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp… indeed, any app that uses the internet will use up your data when you’re not using WiFi – even when the apps aren’t being used.
Use the settings on your phone to reveal the apps which tend to use up the most data and avoid using them as much as possible when you’re out and about.
You can also set apps to only work when connected to a WiFi network – reducing the likelihood of reaching your data limit in a given month.
Make sure that you are getting more data each month than you normally use. For some, 2GB will be plenty – for others, you might want to be looking at 20GB plus.
Bear in mind that you don’t want to be paying for data each month that you aren’t using.
Be realistic. Monitor your data usage over several months and make sure you pay the right amount.
NB – your current provider may be able to advise you on this. Don’t be afraid of picking up the phone and haggling for a new deal based on your requirements. There’s some handy information available online for doing this effectively.
Be savvy about insurance
According to Which? there are around ten million mobile phone insurance policies available to UK consumers.
Considering nine out of ten of us own a smartphone, this is hardly surprising.
As mobile phones become smarter and handsets become more costly, sales-people may lure you into insurance deals.
However, this type of cover is often not cheap; it can add hundreds of pounds a year to your annual phone costs.
In our experience, you’re best off to shop around for insurance separate to your monthly contract. There are some great options out there. Personally, we’ve found Protect My Bubble to be both efficient and affordable – great for peace-of-mind when purchasing a new phone.
Getting the best mobile phone deal in 2019
Choice, choice and more choice.
It’s a wonderful thing – but it doesn’t make life easy when getting the best mobile phone deal.
Recapping the above: Think about contract-type (SIM-only vs handset-included), price comparison sites, data usage and insurance.
Stick to this and you’re bound to save money.
Of course, these tips are just the beginning when it comes to saving money. For tailored advice for your situation, get in touch with the team at HandsetExpert, who’ll be delighted to take your through your options.
