So I am looking for a new Samsung phone as my contract has just expired.
Things that I would like -
Help a girl out here. What phone should I get and what network would be the best to go with?
My advice -
1. if you have the cash to buy a phone up front buy it separately - phone and SIM together cost more over the contract
2. https://www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-deals Free SIM, from £6 a month you get unlimited UK minutes and texts, and how much data you want sets which tariff you go on: you buy a "goodybag" with minutes, texts, and data, and set to to recur each month, and if you want to cancel just say "don't buy another one". The network is O2 underneath, I find the coverage is good but if you're in a bad 02 area - they're not for you. They will also sell you a phone, and have some good refurb details but if for brand new phones shop around. (Doh! Really? :-) )
3. Samsung / Android phones I can't advise on (iPhone user), I'm happy with my iPhone, you're happy with something else, "switch" would be crap advice.
Giffgaff or similar (Smarty, for example, piggybacks on Three's network) and then go looking secondhand. If you're on two year contracts then there's likely a phone that came out a year or more ago that will do well for you and is now "old".
Samsung kit holds its price a bit better than it used to, I think, but you'll be able to find something in your budget. Plus you can probably trade in your current phone.
I'm also iPhone (and budget/old iPhone at that) but it might help the Samsung-knowledgeable to know what your current phone is.
Edited by Unfocussed Mike
I bought a Samsung A71 when I ditched Apple and it does all I need easily. Good camera and the later A72 is even better. I got it on Amazon when I saw a price I could nor resist and have a sim only deal IIRC these models are at the top of the Samsung intermediate range.
Freya said
I have a galaxy s10 right now if that helps anyone with helping me :)
If your contract has expired & you are happy with the S10, then just get a sim only contract for it.
I did that once and then like a month later my phone broke abd I was stuck in a similar only contract then.
Freya said
I did that once and then like a month later my phone broke abd I was stuck in a similar only contract then.
If your S10 gets broken, you can get an immaculate replacement S10 for about £220
Difference between that an an S22 isn’t that great, except you’ve got £50 or so in your pocket each month, and the S10 will take a micro sd card.
Freya said
I did that once and then like a month later my phone broke abd I was stuck in a similar only contract then.
Another good reason to get your SIM from Giffgaff as you can cancel at any time without penalty. If you have reasonable O2 coverage where you are I can highly recommend.
CalmNudes said
My advice -
1. if you have the cash to buy a phone up front buy it separately - phone and SIM together cost more over the contract
2. https://www.giffgaff.com/sim-only-deals Free SIM, from £6 a month you get unlimited UK minutes and texts, and how much data you want sets which tariff you go on: you buy a "goodybag" with minutes, texts, and data, and set to to recur each month, and if you want to cancel just say "don't buy another one". The network is O2 underneath, I find the coverage is good but if you're in a bad 02 area - they're not for you. They will also sell you a phone, and have some good refurb details but if for brand new phones shop around. (Doh! Really? :-) )
3. Samsung / Android phones I can't advise on (iPhone user), I'm happy with my iPhone, you're happy with something else, "switch" would be crap advice.
This. Without doubt the best advice available. I like ecotalk but not a lot of price difference from giffgaff - I used to be with giffgaff but enjoy ecotalk's environmental credentials. Essentailly, buy a pohone and pick a good sim-only deal.
This may well be wrong as I always buy the phone and get a SIM only deal so don't know how phone contracts work:
If the contract has finished, does that mean you have paid off and own the phone? If so, cancel the contract and keep the phone. Move to giffgaff (or whoever) and keep your number if you want to. £6 a month (or more if you want more data). Buy a micro SD card for storage (up to 512 GB, £70 from Amazon). That covers storage and price. Is the current camera good enough, and what are you willing to pay for that if it isn't?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G 256GB on a 2 year contract with Three which costs me £45.00 per month. When I took out the contract 11 months ago, the entire cost over the life of the contract, including the up-front payment of £28.00, worked out less than I could buy just the phone for at the time. My previous provider, EE, tried but ultimately said they couldn't get anywhere near matching Three's deal - the best they could do was £66.00 per month. Not sure if it was just a lucky one-off or if Three have a track record of deals which are better value than other providers.
I have a sim only contract with Three (Unlimited everything for £20 PCM) and buy used handsets from the CeX shop, currently using a Note 10 Plus 5G, I was previously using and, very happy with a Galaxy A71, but it developed a fault and was stuck in a boot loop, though to be fair CeX did come good on their version of a warranty, and the Note 10 was the closest I could get, happy with it, but the camera on the A71, was in my opinion, better.
If I was looking now, I'd maybe look at another A series phone, I think that the A70 line has the biggest screens, if that matters, it does to me.
Edited by Simon Pole
Sim only or phone & sim contract from Tesco Mobile.. cheaper than GiffGaff and Tescos prices are fixed for the duration of your contract.
