If you have reached the end of your iPhone contract but are still perfectly happy with your iPhone then you can save a small fortune by moving to a SIM only contract. iPhone contract tariffs are quite expensive compared to standard tariffs and this is primarily because the networks need to recoup the large subsidies that they give on the initial handset costs – the new iPhone 7 Plus for example, has an unsubsidised “Pay As You Go” price of over £700 and yet it can be had for free on certain high cost monthly tariffs.
Once you are “out of contract” and able to move network or tariff you no longer need to pay this high monthly amount in order to get the best from your iPhone – your network has already recovered its device subsidy costs by this point and all you are in effect doing by staying on the same deal after the initial contract term is paying them a great deal more than you need to!
As any longstanding iPhone user will be aware, the iPhone is a unique device with a unique user interface and unique and innovative abilities and as a result it performs best on a tariff tailored to meet its capabilities.
As well as being a great way to run your iPhone for less out of contract, SIM only iPhone deals are also ideal for situations where an iPhone owner has upgraded to a newer model or different phone and has passed their old iPhone handset on to a family member or friend.
When taking out a SIM only iPhone contract you should compare the level of free minutes and free texts that are offered as well as the data allowance and any other special offers such as O2 Priority Moments, etc. The SIM card itself is free of charge but you will need to pay a monthly set fee based on the type of deal you select. The more you pay, the more free minutes and free texts will be included in your package.
| Network Operator | Package Name | Contract Duration | Included Minutes | Included Texts | Added Extras | Monthly Cost | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Three iPhone Advanced Unlimited Data SIM Only 12 Mths | 12 Months | Unlimited | Unlimited | Free unlimited 4G data, roaming & personal Hotspot | £22.00 | see deal |
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Virgin Mobile iPhone SIM Only 50GB | 12 months | 5000 | Unlimited | 50GB 4G data allowance free | £20.00 | see deal |
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Tesco Mobile iPhone SIM Only 15GB | 12 months | 5000 | 5000 | 15GB of 4G data free | £15.00 | see deal |
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50GB EE iPhone SIM Only | 12 months | Unlimited | Unlimited | 50GB of EE UK 4G (up to 60mbps) + EU roaming | £27.00 | see deal |
|
Three iPhone Advanced Unlimited Data SIM Only 30 Days | 30 Days | Unlimited | Unlimited | Free unlimited 4G data, roaming & personal hotspot | £26.00 | see deal |
iPhone SIM only benefits
The SIM only offers are generally 30 day contracts and this means that you are only tied to the contract for 30 days, which gives you the flexibility to terminate the contract quickly if you need to. On the other hand, you can continue to get the SIM only deal for as long as you like because the contract will continue to roll month by month until you choose to stop it. Some other SIM only contracts are for 12 months or even 24 months and the benefit of these is that you typically get a better deal if you commit for a longer period – these long-term SIM only deals typically include more (or unlimited) texts, more inclusive minutes and better deals on mobile data and internet browsing, and may also be cheaper than shorter contracts.
You can continue to use your existing mobile phone if you take out a SIM only contract, so you don’t have the expense of having to buy a new phone or the inconvenience of having to migrate your old data and learn how to use a new phone. It’s a great way to cut costs and keep running a handset you’re still happy with.
If your phone was on a different network to the one offering your preferred deal, you may need to have the phone unlocked and in the case of the iPhone it is simply a case of contacting the provider that supplied it.
O2 for example will in the majority of cases unlock pay monthly iPhones at any stage of your contract without charge, and more information on this can be found at http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html
If your phone was on a different network to the one offering your preferred deal, you may need to have the phone unlocked and in the case of the it is simply a case of contacting the provider that supplied it. Some providers may make a charge for this. Depending on your handset it can be more cost-effective to use a third party unlocking company to unlock your device though this is not always possible and depends on the device. This is not available for the iPhone, for example.
SIM only deals offer the best value for texts and inclusive minutes of any mobile phone tariffs with the flexibility of not being tied into a 12, 18 or 24 month contract unless you choose to be.
Fair usage policies typically apply to all uses of the word ‘unlimited’ and individual definitions can be found in each network’s Terms and Conditions.