Long lines and plenty of pre-orders were placed in preparation of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus’ release. Unfortunately for those who waited until the release to begin looking, you may have to wait until next month to grab your new Apple product. With some time on your hands to consider your next purchase, you might as well give some thought to what is the best way to get an iPhone and which service plans are right for you. All too many most likely rushed out to grab their new iPhone in a blitz and did not shop around for the best deals on contracts. Depending on who you are and whether or not long-term savings is your goal, you may come out better buying a SIM-only contract and purchasing your iPhone at full price (the best deals can be found at SIM Only Expert).
Considerations of Your New Plan
Before you make any decision on what plan to choose, you must first ask yourself a few simple questions. How much time do you spend searching the web through your mobile device? Do you stream music a lot, or send emails consistently? Do you communicate via text often, or do you use data primarily as a way to communicate with others? How many calls do you make on a daily basis? These are all questions that having the answers to will help determine which plan and service type is best for your needs.
Those who only check their email, do light browsing and watch a movie here and there will be perfectly fine having just 2 GB of data or less. If you stream music consistently and use your device more than a desktop, then you may want to consider anywhere from 4 to 10 GB of data. Some people may even need 20 GB of data or more, depending on how they use their iPhones.
Many of the basic phone packages available come with 200 to 500 minutes of talk-time; this usually is enough for most people, but those who travel for business or spend ample amounts of time gossiping will probably need a more comprehensive plan in this regard. It is fairly common for most plans to come with unlimited texting these days, but you may be able to find a cheaper plan without this feature if you do not text or use it rarely.
SIM-Only Contracts Versus Normal Contracts
Depending on your finances and plan selection, you have two choices. The first is to go with a SIM-free contract, where you buy the service plan (usually for one year) and purchase your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus separately.
In regards to the iPhone, you’ll pay £540 for the base model with 16 GB of storage, and £700 for the iPhone 6 with 128 GB of storage. If you want to go with a bigger screen and get the iPhone 6 Plus, then expect to pay £620 for the base model and £790 for the 128 GB version. You may be able to find each version for a slightly lower or higher price, but buying through Apple makes the most sense due to a very limited price fluctuation in the market (to avoid any potential scams).
When it comes to SIM-free service, you have two well-priced options to consider. The first is GiffGaff, which offers its users 500 minutes of talk time, at least 1 GB of data and unlimited texting. This particular plan can be purchased for £10 per month with a one year agreement, bringing your total cost of ownership over one year to £660 with the base iPhone 6 model and £930 with the top of the line iPhone 6 Plus with 128 GB of space.
Another alternative is Three, which gives users the ability to get up to 600 minutes of talk time, the same amount of data as GiffGaff and unlimited texting for the same price (£10 per month). This deal is also contingent upon a 12-month agreement of service. More details can be found here: http://www.three.co.uk/iPhone/iPhone_6.
For those who don’t have the money to buy a new phone upfront, several two-year contract options also exist. You can go with O2, for instance, which offers a £199 fee for the iPhone 6 with 64 GB of storage. With this contract, you’ll also receive 2 GB of data (4G), unlimited calling and unlimited texting. This plan costs £38 per month.
EE also offers plans with perhaps the best data network in the country. Our recommended plan provides 2 GB of data per month, unlimited calling and unlimited texting for £46 per month (with a £149 upfront fee for the iPhone). If you want to find the full line-up of what EE offers, visit their website at http://ee.co.uk/.
Conclusion
It goes without saying that the iPhone 6 is the hottest phone in the market, but don’t let it burn a hole in your pocket. Always do the proper research beforehand and consider which plan – a SIM-only contract or a traditional contract – is right for you. The deals outlined above can be used as a starting point in your search, but other plans may be better suited for your needs.
Tips, you can transfer all the data on your old iPhone to new iPhone 6 with iPhone transfer software.
