Where to buy the cheapest iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus and is Apple Payments worth it?
Apple’s newest smartphone is officially launched in the UK today - but how do you find the best deal?
TODAY is the day that Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus launch in the UK.
The latest must-have gadget doesn’t come cheap. In the UK, the iPhone 7 starts with a price of £539 for the 32GB model and up to a whopping £919 for the iPhone 7 Plus 256GB.
However, you might have to wait a few days to get your hands on one.
Apple said yesterday that stock for its iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7 in jet black had run out and anyone heading to an Apple store today would only be able to pre-order a handset.
How to find the cheapest iPhone 7 contract
Many people are loyal when it comes to their mobile phone network but there are definitely savings to be made if you shop around.
If you’re already on a contract then the best way to find a new deal is by using a comparison services that matches you to your perfect plan based on how you currently use your phone.
Billmonitor compares your previous three months usage to work out how much you’re actually using. You’ll need to sign in using your details from your online mobile account.
It only works for customers of EE, O2, Tesco Mobile, Three and Vodafone.
Another similar comparison tool, MobilePhoneChecker has a similar feature to Billmonitor but it’s not as comprehensive.
Mobile firms are clever. They know that people want to get the latest smartphone as soon as possible and will offer you a price that seems manageable.
However, when you add this up and see how much it will cost you over the entire contract you will see how much it is really charging you.
For example, a network offering you a £45 a month contract over 24 months with an upfront cost of £99 = £1,179
Once you minus the cost of the handset (£1,179 – £599) you will see that you’re really paying £24.16 a month for your contract.
Do this for each contract that you’re considering to see how much you’ll pay each month to see if it’s a good deal or not.
The best deal for you really depends on how much you will use your phone and what for.
The top pick from Mobile.co.uk for the iPhone 7 32GB comes from Vodafone at £37 per month, giving you 1GB of data, unlimited text and minuites and an upfront cost of £99.99.
It’s closely followed by EE, which gives you 7GB data, unlimited texts and minutes and an upfront cost of £100 for £40.99 a month.
Get up to £124 in cashback on a new handset
Cashback websites, such as Quidco and TopCashback, pay you when you click through them and purchase something.
Your transaction is tracked and once it has been approved by the retailer it is added to your cashback account.
You can get the cash paid directly into your bank or paypal account once you’ve earned more than around £5.
The sites are free to use but they have premium options which give users access to exclusive cashback rates and faster payments.
You’ll pay £5 a year for access and this is taken from your cashback earnings.
The most you can get in cashback is from Three Mobile who are offering £123.90 on iPhone 7 pre-order contracts with 30GB data.
If you can afford to buy the iPhone upfront and pair it with a pay-as-you-go SIM?
One of the most cost-effective ways to buy the iPhone is by buying it up-front.
But with such a hefty price tag it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to afford the full £600 odd quid in one whack.
If you can then it’s well worth looking as SIM-only deals as they generally offer a cheaper alternative than getting a contract with a network.
With most you’ll still be locked in for a set number of months.
One of the best SIM-only deals around at the moment is Three’s unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 4GB data on a £9 a 12 month contract.
What is Apple payments and is it any good?
For the first time Apple is offering a financing option through Barclays bank where customers can spread the cost of the handset over 20 months, interest free.
Those clever chaps at and it works out far cheaper than any mobile network contract.
For example, a 32GB iPhone 7 could cost up to £389 more through a mobile contract than buying it through the payment plan and pairing it with a SIM-only contract.
It is important to remember that this is a loan and therefore you’ll be credit checked and accepted by the bank.
You’ll need to visit an Apple store to get iPhone Payments. You must also bring along your bank details, valid photo ID and your current mobile phone.
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