Looking for a mobile phone shop or accessories for a phone you already own?. PhoneShop.co.uk offers impartial advice as to the best deals online and offline.
Buying Phones Direct From Network
Advantages
- Cut out the middlemen.
- Deal direct with the networks in terms of customer service.
Disadvantages
- Somewhat smaller choice of handsets.
- No cash-back or free gift offers.
Buying Mobile Phones Online
Advantages
- Fast delivery – often within 24 hours.
- Massive choice of phones and tariffs.
- Compare deals in your own time – no hard sell.
Disadvantages
- No face to face advise
- Possibly too much choice so it’s hard to decide !
And don’t forget, one you have got a new phone, you can recycle your mobile for cash. Use our comparison tool to find out how much money you can get for your old phone.
Mobile Phone Buying Guide From PhoneShop.co.uk
Choosing a new mobile phone can be an overwhelming experience, with so many offers for different makes and models and providers fighting for your custom. Not only do you have to choose a phone, you also have to choose a network and a contract plan from the thousands available. Here are a few tips on how to choose a mobile phone to help you make an informed decision and get the right phone for you.
Calls and messages
If all you want to do is be able to make and receive calls and text messages then a basic phone will be all you need. They can be purchased for as little as £10 and will have all the basic functions and some little extras such as a calendar and calculator. The operating systems are simple and user friendly, perfect for those who can be baffled by technology!
Music
Carrying a mobile phone and an MP3 player can be a pain, so if you want to just use one device look for a handset with its own media player.
Camera
Most mobile phones now have an integrated camera, however if you would like to use your mobile to capture all the special moments in your life it is worth getting a model that has photography in mind. A good LED flash and optical zoom can be found on devices like the Sony Ericsson Cybershot and Samsung Pixon.
Applications and web browsing
If you are likely to spend a lot of time browsing the internet and watching videos on YouTube, a phone with wifi is a must to avoid large data download charges. Wifi is also a good idea if you are going to use the phone to download applications from one of the applications markets. Android and Apple markets have thousands of available applications to download, from games to tracking your overtime at work.
Internal Memory
When using a phone to take pictures and download games a good internal memory is essential. To have plenty of storage space, look for a handset that has 16GB of memory. It is well worth checking there is the option to use an SD card to make room for even more photos and music. Some handsets come with a card which can save you money.
Tariff
There are two main ways to pay for your mobile phone. A Pay As You Go tariff, where you ‘top up’ and preload minutes or credit to your number. This means no unexpected big bills! Check for special offers, such as free text messages and internet browsing when you spend £20 a month.
The other option is Pay Monthly. You are required to enter a contract for a predetermined length of time. Most tarrifs offer free minutes, text messages and data download, and the cost of the handset is spread over the contract length meaning you can get a top range handset for a reduced price, or even free!
Phones with cashback – worth it ?
Some mobile phone retailers offer “cashback” to entice you to take a particular contract. Some people who have taken out one of these type of deals have complained that it is difficult and complicated to redeem the cashback, with certain time windows that copies of your phone bills have to be sent. Ask yourself if it’s worth the hassle before taking one of these types of phone deals.
Shop Around
Lastly, always shop around to get the best deal. Once you have chosen your handset, visit provider websites (online contracts tend to be cheaper than in store) to see where you will get the most for your money!
And Finally… (just a bit of fun!)
First up, don’t go to the Phone Shop shown in this video….
And if you need an upgrade, make sure you don’t go here…..