Best mobile phone and Sim-only deals 2024

A smartphone can be a significant investment – so you'll want to make sure you're getting the best value for money when you decide to upgrade.

Our experts can help – we regularly trawl the deals and discounts to highlight the best offers, including Sim-only deals from as little as £5.

Plus our guide to the best mobile phones shows the handsets that impressed our experts, and you can see how your current provider ranks amongst the best and worst mobile providers.

Best Android phone deals 2024

There are a number of attractive discounts on Android handsets, so you don't need to spend a fortune on a big-name brand. The phones we've shortlisted all performed at least reasonably well in our tests, but you'll have to read our reviews to find out whether they are Best Buys.

* References to ‘Average price' and 'Cheapest price' are based on Which? market knowledge and information supplied by our partners. Prices are checked for the six calendar months prior to publication. Not all retailers are included in our checks.

Our Pick: Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

* Average price in the past six months: £624. Cheapest price in the past six months: £499

• 6.7-inch screen
• Three rear cameras with 8K video recording
• Seven years of support from launch

We like: Big screen with high resolution

We don't like: No wireless charging

This is the cheapest phone in Samsung's flagship phone range for 2024. It was only released in October 2024 but is already seeing superb deals at some retailers. It has encouraging specs including a 10-core Exynos 2400e processor with 8GB of Ram, and three rear cameras including a telephoto lens to improve the clarity of close-up pictures. It's also the cheapest phone that comes with Galaxy AI - a suite of tools that use AI to improve processes. Also, you can edit people out of photographs and AI will fill in the gap and remaster shots.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

* Average price in the past six months: £809. Cheapest price in the past six months: £499

• Google Tensor G3 processor
• Versatile cameras
• Seven years of support from launch

We like: Streamlined and fast user experience

We don't like: Battery could be better

Google's most advanced phone from 2023 is the cheapest we've ever seen it in the sales. It has a variety of camera lenses for high-resolution shots and it's the only phone in the Pixel 8 series to get Google Gemini Nano. This is Google's AI model for smartphones designed to help simplify and speed up day-to-day tasks. It has other fancy features too, such as a sensor that lets you scan an object to measure its temperature. Google claims you can use this to check if your pan is hot enough to start cooking, for example.

Notably, it also offers seven years of security updates from launch. So even though it's a year old, you won't have to trade it in any time soon.

Compare prices below. Or check out contract deals on the 8 Pro or read our Google Pixel 8 Pro review.

• If you want the latest Pixel Pro 9 from Google check out this deal from Currys, but also compare this with other offers from the following retailers - SQUIRREL_TEXT_50017420

Google Pixel 8

* Average price in the past six months: £578. Cheapest price in the past six months: £399

• Google Tensor G3 processor
• Two rear camera lenses
• Seven years of support from launch

We like: High-resolution display

We don't like: Could be more robust

A step down from the Pixel 8 Pro and you find the Pixel 8. The screen is smaller (6.2 inches) and you don't get as many camera lenses. But the specs are still accomplished. 4K video recording, the latest Android software and a sleek design are just some of the perks you benefit from.

See the best deals we've found today below. Check contract deals and read our Google Pixel 8 review.

Google Pixel 8a

* Average price in the past six months: £475. Cheapest price in the past six months: £349

• 6.1-inch OLED screen with 2,400 x 1,808 resolution
• Google Tensor G3 chipset with 8GB of Ram
• Two rear cameras with 4K video recording

We like Long security-update period

We don’t like Shorter battery life

The Google Pixel 8a is the scaled-back version of Google's flagship Pixel 8, but you still get premium screen and processor specs. It supports 5G and Wi-Fi 6E, and the camera lenses have a high resolution and clever editing tools.

Click through to retailers below. Check out contract deals and read our full Google Pixel 8a review for the results from lab testing.

Google Pixel 7a

* Average price in the past six months: £326. Cheapest price in the past six months: £279

• 6.1-inch OLED screen with 2,400 x 1,080 resolution
• Google Tensor G2 chipset with 8GB of Ram
• Two rear cameras with 4K video recording

We like Versatile cameras

We don’t like Sub-par zoom quality

The Google Pixel 7a is meant to be the scaled-down version of the Google Pixel 7. However, the differences are minor and you still get a lot for your money. This is an older model and therefore you won't get security updates for as long as the Pixel 8a above - we estimate they'll stop around May 2028. But if that isn't an issue then this could be the phone for you.

Check out contract deals and read our full Google Pixel 7a review for full details.

 Samsung Galaxy A55

* Average price in the past six months: £360. Cheapest price in the past six months: £233

• Exynos 1,480 chipset and support for Wi-Fi 6 and 5G
• 6.6-inch OLED display
• Three rear cameras, including a 50Mp main lens

We like  Quick processor, bright screen

We don’t like No wireless charging

This is the highest-spec phone from Samsung's 2024 A-range, which aims to combine performance with more affordable prices. Its display is a good size, with a high 120Hz refresh rate to keep content loading quickly for smooth browsing. The main camera has a high resolution and IP67 certification, which means it should be dust-resistant and survive 30 minutes in water up to a depth of one metre.

See retailer prices below. Or compare contract deals and read our full Samsung Galaxy A55 review.

Sony Xperia 10 VI 

*Average price in the last six months: £331 Cheapest price in the last six months: £259

• 6.1-inch OLED screen
• Twin rear camera
• 128GB storage

We like Long battery life

We don't like Weaker front-facing camera

This is Sony's latest mid-range phone released in the summer of 2024. It’s no slouch when it comes to power with a large battery and a Snapdragon 6 Gen processor running at a clock speed of 2.2 GHz, coupled with 8GB of Ram. The screen has a high resolution (1,080 x 2,520) and is the same size as the one you'd find on a standard iPhone. It has two camera lenses on the back with a 48Mp wide camera and 8Mp ultra-wide camera to increase the scope of your shots.

Check discounted Sim-free prices below, compare the best contract deals and read our Sony Xperia 10 VI review.

Honor 200 Lite

* Average price in the past six months: £224. Cheapest price in the past six months: £149

• MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset with 8GB of Ram
• 6.7-inch screen
• Three rear cameras lenses

We like Durable

We don’t like Lacklustre cameras

If an expensive phone isn't for you, the Honor 200 Lite might be just the ticket. It has a large 6.7-inch screen and lots of storage (256GB) – a rarity for a cheaper phone. It comes with a 35W fast charger, so there's no need to buy one separately.

Check discounted Sim-free prices below, compare the best contract deals and read our full Honor 200 Lite review.

How to spot a good deal on a mobile phone

Amy Axworthy, Which? mobile phones expert, says:

• Avoid buying a phone that will soon lose its security support. Sometimes deals can look great, but if it's a much older model, it might be at risk of losing important security updates fairly soon after you buy it. Security updates and patches are important to keep your data safe. We only recommend deals on phones (see above) that we estimate have at least two years of security patches remaining.
• Decide what's most important to you in your new phone. Cameras are generally the biggest expense, but you might find the pricey camera features aren't important to you. Often, a long battery life and crystal-clear screen can be found on much cheaper phones. Check out our mobile phone reviews to explore all there is to offer.
• In general, Android phones are cheaper than Apple iPhones and the deals are likely to be better, too. Find out the cheapest we recommend in our mobile phone reviews by using the Great Value filter. 

Best Apple iPhone deals

Discounts on iPhones are rare, but you can get a bargain on older models. Interested in the latest range? See our pick of Apple iPhone 16 deals.

Apple iPhone 14

* Average price in the past six months: £606. Cheapest price in the past six months: £539

• 6.1-inch (2,532 x 1,170 pixels) Super Retina XDR display
• Dual-camera system with a larger sensor
• Estimated minimum of six years of security updates from launch

We like Camera upgrades

We don’t like No Dynamic Island notch on the display

The Apple iPhone 14 from 2022 has dropped in price at a number of retailers. It's the standard model in the 14 range and the cheapest, but it has a number of premium perks. The processor – called the A15 Bionic chip – is the same as in the iPhone 13, but it received an upgraded five-core GPU and 6GB of memory. The front-facing camera has powerful autofocus, making it smarter at focusing in pictures.

It comes in five different colours and with 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of memory. Cinematic mode records in 4K, but the cameras aren't as advanced as on the iPhone 14 Pro.

To find out if it lives up to expectations, check out our iPhone 14 review.

Read our dedicated guide to the best Apple iPhone deals for more expert picks, and see our dedicated guide to the best iPhone 16 deals. 

Best second-hand phone deals

You can get good savings on a smartphone by looking at the second-hand and refurbished market. Below, we've picked out some great deals that will save you some serious money.

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.

Apple iPhone 13 (original price £799, now around £330 second-hand)

Since the release of the iPhone 15 in September 2023, the iPhone 13 series from 2021 is seeing some major discounts in the second-hand market. It doesn't have the advanced cameras of the iPhone 13 Pro, but it doesn't scrimp on specs: you'll get Apple's A15 Bionic Chip, a striking display and the sought-after cinematic camera mode. We expect Apple to support it with regular security updates until at least January 2027.

We've seen it on sale for around £330 in 'good' second-hand condition at MusicMagpie. Find out all you need to know in our Apple iPhone 13 review.

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

• Apple iPhone 12 (original price £799, now £230 second-hand) More and more iPhone 12s are appearing in the second-hand market. You should find them for £200 to £500, depending on the condition. The cheapest one we found in 'good' or grade B condition was at iOutlet for around £230.
• Apple iPhone 12 Pro (original price £1,149, now £290 second-hand) The iPhone 12 Pro is an upgrade from the 12, with better cameras. It currently goes for almost a quarter of its original price in 'good' second-hand condition. We've seen it on sale for around £285 at MusicMagpie.
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (original price £699, now £230 second-hand) This is Samsung's toned-down version of the Galaxy S21, and has excellent specs. It was released in January 2022 but is already prominent on the second-hand market for around £210 to £375. Samsung will support it with regular security updates until January 2027. The cheapest deal we found in stock for one in a grade B condition was from CeX – in white – for around £230, with a two-year warranty. 

Find out more: 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

Compare mobile phone and Sim-only deals today

Get a great deal on a mobile phone contract, or browse Sim-only deals starting from around just £5 a month

See how much you could save

Getting a Sim-only deal for your handset can be a great way to get a real bargain on your monthly data and calls allowance. 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 don't use much, opt for a cheap monthly contract that gives you the ability to switch around as circumstances change. 

Our pick: Smarty (Three network) 5GB of data

Smarty includes 5GB of EU roaming in this great-value low-data deal. Even better, its 30-day Sim-only contracts mean customers aren't hit by costly inflation-based, mid-contract price increases. Plus, it's easy to switch if you find a better deal elsewhere. Read our Smarty 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 we think also 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: Talkmobile (Vodafone network) 60GB of data

5GB of EU roaming is included with this great-value medium-data deal. Talkmobile has announced that it won't be raising prices on monthly plans in 2024 for either new or existing customers. Out-of-plan charges, such as roaming and international rates, are excluded. Read our Talkmobile 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 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: iD Mobile (Three network) 150GB of data

iD Mobile includes 30GB of EU roaming each month as part of this deal, plus its Sim-only contracts aren't hit by costly inflation-based, mid-contract price increases. You can also easily check the renewal price before the end of each month, with the flexibility to switch easily if you find a better deal. Read our iD Mobile review to see how it did 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, which is 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 PAYG phone. 
• Hassle-free You’ll never get cut off for forgetting 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, though. 

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 because 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 information, read our guide on how to keep track of your minutes and data, and how to save money on roaming charges.

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 switch. 

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
• Three iD Mobile, Smarty
• Vodafone Asda Mobile, Lebara, Talkmobile, Voxi

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 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 discounts are available, they're usually smaller than on Android devices. However, iPhones hold their value better than older Androids, so you often see them on the second-hand market.

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, but 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 previous models, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas sales.

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 more recent phones can sometimes get 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 may be tempted by some of the reasonably priced handsets in its A, J and M ranges. Mid-range models have come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and spending £300 to £400 can get you a slim, stylish and 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. 

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