The best mobile phone deals in September 2018

With so many amazing sounding mobile phone deals and smartphone contracts out there, it can sometimes be difficult to separate a brilliant bargain from the rest of the noise. Luckily, TechRadar can direct you to the best mobile phone contract deals out there all year around - not just when retailers start getting ultra generous around Black Friday.

The big news in phone deals world at the moment is the arrival of the iPhone XS and XS Max - Apple's duo of new smartphones (the iPhone XR will join them in a few weeks). It won't surprise you to hear that they're pretty pricey, although we were hoping that their arrival would see a big drop on older iPhones (so far to no avail). Generally, the best prices out there are mostly on Android phones and Samsung Galaxy S9 deals, for example, have fallen dramatically in price since launch back in the spring. The Huawei P20 and P20 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel 2 have all proved very popular Android alternatives to the expensive Apple iPhones.

As well as rooting out today's best mobile phone deals on the best premium and budget handsets from the major UK networks and retailers (all to be found below in TechRadar's custom-made price comparison above), we also have information on specific handsets to help you choose your ideal smartphone for the next couple of years. And below, you can browse through our individual handset guides for all of the best smartphone deals out there, whether you're after a 2018 flagship or something a little older (and cheaper!). Want a free phone? Lots of data? The lowest possible monthly cost? We'll help you find the best mobile phone deal for you.

Compare mobile phone deals in the UK - today's best prices:

• Get £10 off the upfront cost of any mobile phone deal (except the iPhone XS and XS Max) at Mobiles.co.uk with our exclusive 10OFF discount code

Our exclusive £40 Currys voucher offer on the new iPhone XS and XS Max

Buying a mobile phone - what you need to know

Of course you want to find the cheapest price for your new smartphone - and our comparison chart at the top of the page will narrow that down for you - but we know there are likely to be dozens more questions you'll want answering. Keep reading below, where we answer some of the key commonly asked questions about buying a new mobile.

Can I keep my old number?

You can indeed, and it's really easy - so no need to send one of those texts to everybody in your phone book telling them your new digits.

What you need to do is grab a PAC - or Porting Authorisation Code - from your old network. We've listed the direct numbers you need for the four major networks below. As soon as they've sent it to you, which should be within a day or two, you just need to give it to your new network. Voila - brand new phone with the same old number. Easy.

It becomes slightly less easy if the deal you pick out above is on the same network as your current one. They won't let you keep your number, so you have to use this workaround. Buy a free pay-as-you-go SIM from any other network and tell your network that you're moving. They'll release the PAC code, which you then give to the substitute network. Then, you immediately get another PAC code from them. Take that to your old network, and they'll move your number to your new contract. Long winded, but worth it.

• EE 07953 966 250
• O2 0344 8090202
• Vodafone 03333 040 191
• Three 0333 300 3333
• ID 0333 003 7777
• GiffGaff 43431 from your handset
• Virgin 0345 6000 789
• BT 0800 800 150
• Tesco 0345 301 4455
• Sky 03300 412 524
• Asda 0800 079 2732

Which phone network is best?

Loyalty is an admirable trait, but could end up costing you money when it comes to the perfect phone deal. If you don't mind leaving your comfort zone, you may find that heading to one of the other major networks may well be worth it...

Nobody else can come close to EE's 4G speeds in the UK. So if you rely on fast internet while away from WI-Fi, then EE is the obvious choice. Plus, EE gives you three free months of BT Sport (or more if you get a Max plan) when you sign up, as well as six months of Apple Music. The EE coverage checker will confirm how strong it is where you live.  

The biggest lure to O2 is the network's Priority rewards (well, that and Sean Bean's mellifluous tones). From 2-4-1 dinners and free coffees to first refusal on big gig tickets, O2 is the network for regular goodies. Plus, they have 1,000s of Wi-Fi hotspots in shops and cafes that you can connect to. Use the O2 coverage checker to see whether you'll be able to access 4G.  

Good news for jet-setters - Vodafone lets you use your data, calls and texts allowances in 50 countries around the world without charge (except on its Basics tariffs). But things really start to get good when you splash out on its bigger Red Entertainment data plans, as Vodafone will give you your choice of a NOW TV Entertainment Pass, Spotify Premium or Sky Sports Mobile subscription. Click to check if Vodafone covers your home.  

Three remains the king of the big data deals, and still the only one of the big four networks to offer unlimited, uncapped, all-you-can-eat delicious data. We also like that you can use 4G to make calls and texts via the dedicated Three inTouch app, and you can connect to Wi-Fi in the London Underground if you ever find yourself in the capital. Its Wuntu app gives weekly perks, too. But 4G coverage isn't as strong as the other networks - check whether your postcode is covered with the Three coverage checker.  

What phone contract length should I get?

Well if you're buying a new phone plan with a contract, you haven't got much choice. It's 24 months or nothing, these days. If you don't want to be tied down to that kind of commitment, then you'll have to go down the SIM only route and buy the handset separately - we've rounded up the best SIM-free phone deals to help you make your chocie.

How much phone data do I need?

The answer to this one will be different for everybody. If you only really carry your phone for emergencies, then go for the minimum amount of data and save a packet. If you like to scroll through Facebook on the bus and stream Spotify, you'll need a bit more. And if you frequently stream videos and download masses of files, then 30GB or even unlimited may be worth paying extra for.

As well as checking your phone to see how much you tend to use a month at the moment, the below guidelines will also help you pick out the perfect plan:

• 1GB Some networks offer 500MB plans, but realistically we think you should get at least 1GB. It won't be much more expensive (if at all) and will afford you a little bit of Google Mapping, WhatsApping and emailing when you need them.
• 2-3GB If you like to scroll through your social media feeds and emails while out and about without fear of extra cash to pay on your monthly bill, then up your data.
• 4-8GB The likes of Spotify and Apple Music have promised us all our favourite tunes wherever we roam. Kit yourself out with a bit more data and you'll have plenty for music streaming and the occasional video, too.
  10-16GB This should be more than enough for most users. Loads of data for streaming music, downloading podcasts and enjoying social media videos. Because there's no such thing as too many cats falling into bins.
• 20-30GB Big data for the big phone user. Perfect for watching Netflix videos, downloading content and streaming loads of music. And these plans often have extra freebies thrown in, too.
• Unlimited The Three network is still the only one of the 'Big 4' to offer unlimited data. It can be really pricey though, so think long and hard whether you really need it.

Should I get unlimited calls and texts?

Actually these days, the vast majority of phone contracts feature unlimited calls and texts. We do see some of the cheaper plans sometimes limit them, but even if they do, you can use your data allowance on popular apps like WhatsApp, Skype and Hangouts to make calls and texts if your minutes run dry.

How much phone memory do I need?

You're likely to be one of two kinds of person:

Person 1: You like all your photos, music, downloads and other media to be saved directly on to your phone. If that sounds like you, 16GB or 32GB handsets may not be enough and you should use our comparison chart to find the most affordable 64GB, 128GB or 256GB models.

Person 2: You're a stream demon. You've got subscriptions to Spotify and Netflix and you save all your Word docs and snaps into the cloud. Save your money and go for a cheaper, lower memory handset.

OK person 3, calm down - you fall somewhere between the two, right? If you can afford to get a smartphone with more memory, that is probably safest. But don't forget that most phones do allow you to insert an additional SD card if you run out of space - most phones apart from iPhones, that is.

Are refurbished phones good to buy?

Refurbished phones can provide a alternative to a new handset if you're budget is a shoestring. 'Refurbished' often means that the previous owner simply changed their mind about the phone soon after buying it, so it's still practically brand new - and the potential savings can be substantial.

If you do spy an unbelievable deal on a refurbed phone, the main thing to make sure of is the warranty. Double check that you are properly covered for a decent length of time. A year's warranty is preferable.

Sound good? Then head to our dedicated buying guide to the best refurbished phone deals.

How do the mobile phone deals comparison tools work?

The comparison tools you find on the page above will hopefully be very easy to use. You can select what your budget is, whether it be upfront cost or monthly fee or both. And you can say how much data you need or how many minutes and texts. You can even filter by network if you really want to be on a specific carrier. The deals will automatically update as you drill down in your search, always favouring the cheapest options over the more expensive ones. If you ever want to refresh and start your search again, simply select the 'CLEAR ALL FILTERS' option to begin again from scratch.

How do we order these mobile phone deals?

Our mobile phone deal comparison tools sift through millions of different deals and surfaces the ones we think are the very best. Essentially that means finding deals that work out the cheapest over a 24 month contract while still supplying at least 1GB of data, as you've told us that 1GB is your absolute minimum. If you need more data, use the filters and we'll display the cheapest prices for your increased amount.

On this specific page, we have many mobile phone options displaying in one comparison table. In this case, we try and find you a balance between paying the cheapest price and getting the best phone for your money.

How do we select which networks and resellers to display?

TechRadar strives to include all mobile phone deals from all UK networks and resellers so that you can search through all the available deals in the UK without having to look on all the websites separately. However, for sites to be included they need to supply us with a feed of their deals. This is the only reason why a phone reseller or network wouldn't appear in our system – but the vast majority do.

Best value mobile phone deals of the month:

Our editors look at all of the available deals for all of the best smartphones every week of every month of every year - not just when the going is good around Black Friday. In this section, we've picked out the best deal available right now for each phone, as well as a link through to the 'best deals' guide for each individual handset.

iPhone XS deals

Taking the recipe that won Apple all the plaudits for the iPhone X and improving it ever so slightly, the iPhone XS has made tweaks to the camera technology, added an extra 1GB of RAM and introduces a mighty 512GB storage model. Perhaps the 6.5-inch Max model is more exciting this year.

We've found the best iPhone XS deals and iPhone XS Max deals

iPhone 8 deals

It's really the iPhone 7S by another name, as it's little more than an incremental upgrade on the iPhone 7. And it has had its thunder stolen by the iPhone X somewhat. Wireless charging is the big new feature - the first time we've seen it on an Apple phone.

Here are the best iPhone 8 deals and iPhone 8 Plus deals

Samsung Galaxy S9 deals

We really loved the Galaxy S8, so we probably shouldn't be that disappointed that its successor only offers a relatively minor improvement. But to be fair to the latest Samsung handset, the Galaxy S9's cameras are nothing short of extraordinary and it's definitely among the best Android phones on the market.

See more Samsung Galaxy S9 deals and Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus deals

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 deals

Currently in its pre-order phase, the Note 9 improves again on the greatness of the Note 8. It's grown in size (now 6.4 inches) and power (up to 8GB RAM) and the S Pen is more useful than ever. It's bonafide Android royalty.

See more Samsung Note 9 deals

iPhone X deals

We know it's a word that bugs a lot of people, but please let us use it this once - GAMECHANGER. After years of incremental gains and upgrades, Apple finally unveiled a radically improved handset to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone.

We've found the best iPhone X deals

iPhone 7 deals

Prices on Apple's recently surpassed flagship phone are now finally starting to fall to more palatable levels. We've seen prices as low as £22.99 a month on the UK's fastest 4G network EE!

Discover more iPhone 7 deals and iPhone 7 Plus deals

Samsung Galaxy S8 deals

We were a little surprised by how expensive Samsung's latest flagship was on release, but prices have fallen significantly since then and it's now dirt cheap. If you need something bigger and can't stretch to the Note 9, the even larger Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is closer to a phablet.

See more Samsung Galaxy S8 deals and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus deals

Huawei P20 deals

The phone that seems to have broken the stranglehold of Apple and Samsung over the mobile phone market. With 128GB storage as standard, pretty 5.8-inch screen and Android Oreo, it's well worth the reasonable deal price.

Learn more about the best Huawei P20 deals

Huawei P20 Pro deals

The triple lens Leica camera and equally impressive 24Mp selfie-snapper have made the Huawei P20 Pro stand out from the crowded phone market. We love the big battery and speedy CPU, too.

Learn more about the best Huawei P20 Pro deals

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 deals

Big in stature and price tag, this 6.3-inch monster will only appeal to people who use their phone as a multimedia hub. It has a QHD+ display and 6GB Ram - and isn't far behind its successor.

See more Samsung Note 8 deals

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2XL deals

With the spectre of the Pixel 3 looming large, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are super affordable Android smartphones. Particularly worth looking at if the camera is of paramount importance for your mobile phone choice.

Read our guide to Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL deals

iPhone SE deals

By far, the cheapest way to get an Apple smartphone, you'll find the iPhone SE for around £15 per month at its cheapest. It has all the power of iPhone 6S with the design of iPhone 5S. A brilliant bargain.

Read our guide: iPhone SE deals

LG G7 ThinQ deals

For its 2018 flagship phone, LG decided to make the screen bigger, the chipset faster, the camera sharper and the audio clearer. We're still unsure on the extra suffix on the name, however.

Discover more great LG G7 ThinQ deals

Honor 10 deals

If you fancy something different to Samsung and Apple mobiles, then the Hinor 10 may be the Android smartphone you've been looking for. It's really affordable in comparison and high in quality.

See all the best Honor 10 deals

LG V30 deals

LG finally showed what it could really do when it released the LG V30, and for that reason it has made a splash with shoppers. With its 16MP main camera and beautiful 6-inch screen, it is going to  areas that other LG smartphones fear to tread.

Head here to see today's best LG v30 deals

Samsung Galaxy S7 deals

It may now have been superseded, but the Samsung Galaxy S7 is still a brilliant phone. And now it's a year old, it means you can get big data deals for a reasonable price.

Get more great Samsung Galaxy S7 deals and Galaxy S7 Edge deals

Google Pixel and Pixel XL deals

The Google Pixel replaces the Nexus 5X, comes with a 5-inch 1080p display, 4GB of RAM, 12 megapixel camera and we've seen prices for less than £20 a month. The Google Pixel XL is larger and more premium but dearer.

Read our guide to Google Pixel and Pixel XL deals

iPhone 6S deals

Grab the best possible deal on the still excellent iPhone 6S with our dedicated page. You can get very attractive plans for well under £20 per month.

See our other iPhone 6S deals and iPhone 6S Plus deals 

iPhone 6 deals

Prices absolutely dived on the iPhone 6. Great news, considering it remains an excellent way to own an awesome Apple phone for meagre amounts of money.

See more ace prices with our best iPhone 6 deals and iPhone 6 Plus deals

Nokia 8 deals

If the Nokia 3310 is a fun bit of nostalgia, then the Nokia 8 means business. It's The Finnish brand's first rue flagship for a few years and it's well worth a look if you're on a budget.

Learn more about the best Nokia 8 deals

Nokia 3310 deals

Had you told us last year whether we'd be featuring Nokia 3310 deals on these pages, we would have laughed you right out of the building. But it's back and it costs an unfeasibly reasonable £39 from Vodafone.

Learn more about the best Nokia 3310 deals

Honor 9 deals

We're big fans of the Honor 9. It's a genuinely good Android mobile at a price you'd expect to pay for a Samsung Galaxy a few generations old. The design is a treat and the 20MP main camera is better than we could have dreamed of.

Learn more about the best Honor 9 deals

HTC U11 deals

Much has been made of the new HTC U11's Edge Sense technology, but some of the tariffs available are also newsworthy. Click the link below to find the best deals.

For more deals and free handset offers, head to our HTC U11 deals

LG G6 deals

LG's erstwhile flagship phone has a longer screen with a rather fetching rounded-corner design. A fine alternative to the Galaxy's Edge screen and for a lower price.

Discover more great LG G6 deals

Sony Xperia XZ deals

The Sony Xperia XZ is a great handset offering everything you'd expect from a brand new flagship phone. Want something more powerful? Then you can pay extra for the XZ Premium.

Pick your own Sony Xperia XZ deals or Sony Xperia XZ Premium deals

BlackBerry KeyONE deals

Blackberry spent many years in the wilderness, but its return with the BlackBerry KeyOne is a massive return to form.

Click for more brilliant BlackBerry KeyONE deals

Samsung Galaxy S6 deals

Like the older iPhones above, the Samsung Galaxy S6 presents an ideal way to get a superb mobile for a much lower tariff. use our dedicated deal pages to see tariffs for less than £600 over two years.

More Samsung Galaxy S6 deals, Galaxy S6 Edge deals and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus deals

iPhone 5S deals

All it takes to get this classic iPhone 5S is around £17 a month. Other than that, it's completely free, with no upfront costs. You can upgrade it to Apple's latest iOS 10.3.2, so you'll have the latest software on your cheap, cheap iPhone.

Read our guide to the best iPhone 5S deals

Sony Xperia X deals

Sony worked hard to strike a balance between top-of-the-range premium features and affordable prices - it hit gold with the Xperia X and smaller Xperia X Compact.

Follow the link for more Sony Xperia X deals and Xperia X Compact deals.

HTC 10 deals

HTC's follow up to the One M9 was a worthy upgrade. In fact, we still think it's brilliant, and a genuine alternative to the newer, pricier U11.

Read our guide to the best HTC 10 deals for more cheap prices

LG G5 deals

Get modular with LG's innovative former flagship phone. And if you just want to pick up a cheap handset that runs Android, these LG G4 deals are still worth a look, too.

Get stuck in to the best LG G5 deals

HTC One A9 deals

The HTC One A9 is a brilliant budget smartphone that could well do the job if you don't want to spend the earth.

Discover even more cheap HTC One A9 deals

Moto X Style deals

If you want a 20MP camera and 2K display without busting your bank balance, then the Moto X Style is worth considering.  

All the best Moto X Style deals in one convenient place

Sony Xperia Z5 deals

Sony's Z5 range put the iconic Japanese tech company back on the mobile phones map. You can't get them on contract any longer, so you'll have to team your Z5, Z5 Compact or Z5 Premium handset with a cracking SIM only deal.

Cheapest prices on the Sony Xperia Z5, Xperia XZ Compact and Xperia XZ Premium

SIM only deals

If you need to plug the gap between iPhone launches or are simply happy with the phone you already have, grabbing a free SIM card may be the best option. If you have the cash, you may even find that teaming up a cheap SIM only deal with a new handset is a cheaper way of getting your new smartphone, with tariffs for less than a fiver a month.

Visit our dedicated round-up of the best SIM only deals

Still wondering what phone to choose?

If you can't decide what phone your should buy, check out our best mobile phones buying guide. On that page you should find everything you need to make the choice of handset.

TechRadar's unbiased and independent mobile phone deals comparison

Thanks for visiting TechRadar's mobile phone deal comparison page! Our price comparison system includes 2.47 million mobile phone contracts from all of the major networks and resellers so that you can always find the one that suits you best.

Unlike some other major sites, our philosophy is to always display you with the absolute cheapest deals for the criteria you select. So you'll always be able to see the cheapest prices for the best phones with contracts with the most generous data allowances.

How does TechRadar make money from affiliates?

If you buy a phone after visiting this page, TechRadar will be paid a small commission by the network or reseller you buy from. This money is paid by the site you buy from and thus does not affect the amount you pay for your phone contract. If you go direct to the site you buy from, you would pay the same amount.

The money that TechRadar makes from this free service allows us to improve our product comparison tools and pay the editors who trawl through all the sites and select the best deals every month.

While some sites out there will be paid larger fees for pushing people to specific deals that aren't necessarily the cheapest, TechRadar will always find you the absolute cheapest deal. Trust and integrity is important to us, so if you ever think we're not displaying the very best deals let us know.

What is TechRadar?

TechRadar is Europe's largest technology reviews website with over 22 million visitors every month. It's our aim to provide you with the very best buying advice, always. If you'd like to read reviews of the mobile phones you see on this page, you can visit TechRadar's reviews homepage.