Best mobile phone and Sim-only deals 2023

Or check our mobile phone reviews for popular handsets now only available second-hand, and read our guide on how to buy a second-hand or refurbished phone.

Samsung Galaxy M22 (original price around £300, now around £155 second-hand)

We've noticed the Samsung Galaxy M22 popping up in second-hand retailers priced £140-165 for an unlocked device, depending on condition. The mid-range device comes with a 6.4-inch screen and four rear cameras for versatile shots, but it doesn't have 5G. It was released in October 2021, and Samsung will support it with regular security updates until October 2025. 

The cheapest deal we've found in stock for one in a grade B condition is from CEX in black for around £155, which comes with a two-year warranty. Find out the full story in our Samsung Galaxy M22 review.

Also consider these popular phones that can now be found cheaper at multiple second-hand retailers:

• Apple iPhone 12 (original price £799, now £329.99 second-hand) With the recent release of the iPhone 14, more and more iPhone 12s are appearing on the second-hand market. You should find them for £300-575, depending on the phone's condition, and the cheapest one in good or grade B condition we found is at iOutlet for around £329.99.
• Apple iPhone 12 Pro (original price £1,149, now less than £400 second-hand) The iPhone 12 Pro is an upgrade from the 12, with better cameras. It currently goes for less than half its original price in 'good' second-hand condition. We've seen it on sale for £397 at Music Magpie.
• Apple iPhone 13 (original price £799, now less than £500 second-hand). It's newer than the iPhone 12 range and is a sought-after handset, but there's plenty available second-hand. We've seen it on sale for around £485 in 'good' second-hand condition at Music Magpie and Envirofone.
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (original price £699, now £290 second-hand) This is Samsung's toned-down version of the Galaxy S21, with excellent specs. It was released in January 2022 but is already prominent on the second-hand market for £290-520. It's available in good or grade B condition in olive at CEX for £290.

Find out more on how to make big savings on a second-hand phone.

Mobile phone contract calculator

A key question will be whether you buy outright or on contract. How much each will cost overall can be difficult to work out, so use our calculator below to discover the best deal for you.

Best Sim-only deals

If you're buying a phone outright, you'll need a Sim card. Here's our pick of some of the best low, medium and high-data deals in the sales.

Best low-data Sim-only deals 

You shouldn't pay for data you don't need, so if you're a light user, opt for a cheap monthly contract that gives you the ability to switch around as circumstances change. 

Our Pick: Lebara (Vodafone network) 6GB of data

Lebara offer great deals, especially if you are looking to use your phone abroad. This deal includes 100 International mins to 41 countries, plus no added charge for using your data in the EU or India. Read our Lebara mobile review to see how it fares in our survey.

Other low-data deals to consider

Alternatively, check the low-data deals below for more packages that we think represent good value for money.

Best medium-data Sim-only deals

These deals could be suitable if you use mobile data fairly frequently but don't require large amounts for activities such as HD downloading or streaming.

Our Pick: iD Mobile (Three network) 20GB of data

iD Mobile is a virtual provider owned by Carphone Warehouse. This means it uses another provider's infrastructure to deliver calls, texts and data – in this case Three's. Read our iD Mobile review to see how it fares in our survey.

Other medium-data deals to consider

Alternatively, check the medium-data deals below for more packages that we think represent good value for money.

Best high-data Sim-only deals

A high-data deal is ideal if you're after continuous connectivity, downloading, streaming and hotspot use. These types of deals may require a 12-month contract, so consider how committed you are and how much data you're likely to use. 

Our Pick: Smarty (Three network) 100GB of data

Smarty is including EU roaming in this high-data deal. It's on a one-month contract, so it won't tie you down. Read our Smarty mobile review to see how it fares in our survey.

Other high-data deals to consider

Alternatively, check the high-data deals below for more packages that we think represent good value for money.

Not found one that's quite right for you? Browse all the best Sim-only deals on Which? Mobile Switch.

Pros and cons of buying a mobile phone on a monthly contract

With a traditional monthly contract, you pay a fixed minimum fee by direct debit each month, made up of paying for the phone (usually through a credit agreement, meaning you get credit-checked) and the Sim itself, with an allowance of calls, texts and data. You'll have to commit to a period of time, typically two years. Depending on your plan, there may also be an upfront fee, which is worth considering if you're set on a contract. 

What are the advantages of monthly contracts? 

• Free/cheap phones With a monthly contract, you'll get a wide choice of free or subsidised handsets – ideal if you fancy an upgrade. 
• Good value Paying in advance for a fixed amount of minutes, texts and data can be much cheaper than topping up a pay-as-you-go phone. 
• Hassle-free You’ll never get cut off because you’ve forgotten to top up your credit. 
• Can build your credit score Paying off a mobile phone contract monthly can be a good way to build your credit score. Bear in mind that missed payments or defaulting can make your credit score drop. 

Are there any drawbacks with monthly contracts?

There are a few. As mentioned, you may end up paying more overall, so you'll need to weigh this up against the appeal of a lower upfront cost.  

Pay attention to the length of the contract. Most last two years, but some can last three, in order to keep the monthly cost attractive. You should also make a note of when your contract ends. Some providers continue to charge you the full monthly cost, even after your contract has been paid off. 

If you exceed the minutes, messages or data in your bundle, additional charges can be significant. It's especially important to be aware of this while roaming. Most providers now set a default cap to prevent this, but if you remove it in order to continue using your phone, costs can quickly spiral. For more, read our guide on how to keep track of your minutes and data, and our guide on EU roaming and international calls. 

Consider network reception with a great mobile phone deal

Signal is another consideration. If you know a particular network is good in your area, you may want to stick with it but move to a different provider. If it isn't, it could be time to move. 

Here are the core networks the virtual providers use:

• EE BT Mobile, Plusnet Mobile, Utility Warehouse
• O2 Giffgaff, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Lycamobile, Virgin Mobile
• Vodafone Asda Mobile, Lebara, Talkmobile, Voxi
• Three ID Mobile, Smarty

When it's time to switch mobile phone provider

If all else fails, it might be time to switch. Outside the big four – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone – a wide range of operators are now competing for your business, and some offer great-value Sim-only deals. Switching is easy, and you should be able to keep your old number.

Arming yourself with a price you could get elsewhere is an important haggling tactic. Compare mobile phone contracts and Sim-only deals to find out how much you could be paying.

Smaller mobile networks consistently do better than the big four in our mobile networks survey. Read our guide to the best and worst UK mobile networks to find out more.

How to get the best mobile phone deal on popular brands

Generally, you'll find the best deals on mobile phones at retailers such as Amazon, Currys and John Lewis, rather than on the manufacturer's website. However, knowing when sales are on for specific mobile phone brands can be useful if you're trying to find the best deal on a specific model you want. 

iPhone deals

It's notoriously tricky to bag an iPhone on a budget – and when they do have discounts, they're usually smaller than on Android devices. They hold their value better than older Androids, so you often see them on the second-hand market.

However, if you look in the right place at the right time, you can get some money off. Retailers such as Amazon and Argos occasionally bring their prices down, although make sure you're buying a new rather than a refurbished handset.

New iPhones usually launch in September, so the end of the year is a good time to look for the previous models, particularly as the Black Friday and Christmas sales roll in.

Apple also offers a trade-in scheme, so you can knock the price of a new handset down slightly if you're upgrading from an older iPhone.

Browse all our iPhone reviews to see how all Apple handsets scored in our lab tests.

Google mobile phone deals

Google launches its flagship phones in October, so it's worth putting a Pixel on your shortlist late in the year.

You'll see the best bargains on older handsets, but even more recent phones can get some early discounts at major retailers such as Carphone Warehouse and Laptops Direct.

See if it's worth investing in a Pixel by reading our Google Pixel reviews. 

Samsung mobile phone deals

If you're after a discounted Samsung Galaxy, you might be tempted by some of the reasonably priced handsets in its A, J and M ranges. Mid-range models have come on leaps and bounds over the past few years, and spending £300-400 can get you a slim, stylish, powerful model that may not look too different from a high-end version.

If you have your eyes on the premium prize, though, it could be worth holding out for a top-of-the-range Galaxy S or Note series. The Samsung S series usually launches in the first quarter of the year, with the first discounts on the latest handsets beginning in the summer. It's worth keeping an eye out on Amazon Prime Day in July.

Phones in the Note range tend to launch in August, so new models are ripe for a decent discount when Black Friday rolls around. If you miss out, the Boxing Day sales are a good time to buy, too.

We've reviewed more than 40 Galaxy phones. Pick your perfect model in all our Samsung phone reviews.

Mobile phones and security updates

Deals on phones are easier to find when they've been on the market for a while, but depending on the brand and handset, this could mean they won't be receiving security updates for much longer. Check our security update calculator for models you're interested in buying. See our guide to mobile phone security  for more.