New mobile phones: delay nine months, spend ’24pc’ much less
Buying an iPhone 5S when it launched exactly nine months in the past would have cost 24pc much more than if you bought the handset nowadays, says uSwitch 
Photo: Alamy
In today’s tech-savvy globe, we’re bombarded with information of the most current iPhone or HTC handset, and with smartphones now an important item in everyone’s pocket, it is difficult not to be tempted to buy the newest shiny handset.
Sadly, buying a brand-new Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy just right after its launch can price a small fortune. When the iPhone 5S was launched final September, the handset alone was priced at amongst £550 and £700, dependent on the quantity of data it could keep.
While some individuals devote hundreds getting the handset outright, notably if their contract nonetheless has some time to run, most men and women correct to a month-to-month contract to get a less expensive deal on the handset, or to spread the value above a yr or two.
In accordance to investigation launched final week by comparison website uSwitch.com, these who took out a pay out-monthly iPhone 5S contract just right after its launch would have paid £9 a month much more than if they had waited till now to acquire the handset – 9 months following the launch.
In September 2013 the value of an iPhone 5S 16GB contract would have been £38 a month. Nowadays the same contract would price £29, a fall of 24pc.
Contracts for two older versions of the iPhone, the 5C (16GB) launched 9 months in the past and 4S (16GB) launched 15 months ago, have fallen in price tag by 17pc and 23pc respectively.
And there are even starker differences with the popular Samsung Galaxy S4. When launched 15 months in the past, a month to month contract cost £37. Right now it is just £21, a difference of 43pc. The price tag of the newer Samsung S5 model, launched just three months ago, has currently fallen by 22pc. In March 2014 a regular monthly contract value £37, these days it is £29.
Supply: uSwitch.com
Rob Kerr, a mobile expert at uSwitch.com, stated: “You pay out a considerable premium for a best-of-the-assortment handset and deals go down in value extremely speedily. If you’re not desperate to own the newest gadget, going for the model before the newest 1 can save you a fair whack on your contract, as you might be paying out this premium for the up coming two many years.”
There are a quantity of other ways for mobile mobile phone users to cut their payments. Mr Kerr suggested that men and women initial looked at their mobile mobile phone utilization to see what they wasted, and what they employed.
Investigation from billmonitor.com, a internet site that assists shoppers determine the greatest mobile discounts, has shown that more than half of consumers are having to pay as well considerably for their contracts, in impact wasting much more than £150 a year, by not making use of their full minutes and text allowances. By selecting a tariff that caters particularly to what you need, mobile telephone users could cut a large chunk off their yearly payments. For example, someone who requirements a big text allowance but does not need to have unlimited calls or information must discover a tariff that matches those needs.
Mobilife.com , which has been approved by Ofcom, suggests the most cost-successful tariff for your usage, in accordance to each contact, text and byte of data on your bill.
Following checking your usage, mobile users should make contact with their current provider to see if it will offer you a very good deal in exchange for not leaving. If you are satisfied with your existing handset, contemplate switching to a spend-as-you-go Sim, which is far cheaper than a month-to-month contract, or a “Sim‑only” deal.
“Companies usually supply a greater deal on-line, such as additional minutes and texts or a reduce month-to-month value,” Mr Kerr additional. “But if you desire going into a shop you may be in a position to get cost-free extras this kind of as a headset, case or battery.”
More: How to haggle your mobile bill down by £105
The ideal spend-month to month deals for well-liked handsets
Apple iPhone 5S 16GB Gold
Vodafone (24 months) – limitless minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data: £33 a month. Handset free of charge
EE (24 months) – unlimited minutes, limitless texts, 2GB information: £34.99 a month. Handset free
O2 (24 months) – limitless minutes, limitless texts, 5GB information: £38 a month. Handset cost-free
Samsung Galaxy S4 16GB
Three (24 months) – 600 minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data: £25 a month. Handset free of charge
T-Mobile (24 months) – 500 minutes, limitless texts, limitless information: £27.99 a month. Handset cost-free
O2 (24 months) – unlimited minutes, limitless texts, 5GB information: £33 a month. handset cost-free
HTC A single M8 Grey
O2 (24 months) – unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB information: £28 a month. handset free of charge
EE (24 months) – unlimited minutes, limitless texts, 2GB data: £34.99 a month. Handset totally free
O2 (24 months) – limitless minutes, limitless texts, 5GB information: £38 a month. Handset totally free
Sony Xperia Z2
T-Mobile (24 months) – 500 minutes, limitless texts, unlimited information: £27.99 a month. Handset £89.99
EE (24 months) – one,000 minutes, limitless texts, 1GB information: £29.99 a month. Handset totally free
O2 (24 months) – unlimited minutes, limitless texts, 5GB data: £38 a month. Handset free of charge
The greatest ‘Sim-only’ offers
giffgaff – 500 minutes, limitless texts, 1GB information: £10 a month
Virgin – limitless minutes, limitless texts, 2GB data: £15 a month
T-Mobile – one,000 minutes, limitless texts, 3GB data: £16.99 a month
Examine far more of the very best mobile telephone discounts with The AgenciesMobile Comparison service