Best mobile phone and Sim-only deals 2026

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. To help, we've uncovered some great deals available now. You'll find a plethora of the best mobile phone and Sim-only deals right here, from iPhones to the top Android picks.

Our experts regularly trawl the deals and discounts to highlight the best offer throughout the year, including Sim-only deals from as little as £5 per month.

For more tips to help you shop smart in the sales, take a look at our guide to the best smartphones to buy in 2026.

When is Black Friday? Prepare for the sales event with our expert advice.

Best Android phone deals for October

There are several 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're Best Buys.

See all the smartphones we've tested by going to our mobile phone reviews. And if you're wondering why you can trust our independent reviews, check out how we test mobile phones.

Our Pick: Samsung Galaxy S25

Average price in the past six months: £634
Cheapest price in the past six months: £430*

• Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with 12GB of Ram and support for Galaxy AI
• 6.2-inch display
• Three rear cameras, including a 50Mp main lens

We like: Advanced camera system

We don't like: Few upgrades from the Galaxy S24

This phone was the standard model in Samsung's flagship range for 2025. It's now been superseded by the Samsung Galaxy S26, which means now's the time to pick up a deal. 

Its Galaxy AI software gives you a number of extra features. For example, you can edit people out of photographs, and AI will fill in the gap and remaster shots. The S25's cameras are the same as on the S25+ model, with a 50Mp wide lens, a 10Mp telephoto lens and a 12Mp ultrawide lens on the back and the same 12Mp wide lens on the front-facing selfie camera.

With security updates provided until 2032, you can invest in it for the long haul.

You can compare contract deals and find out our expert verdict on this model in our Samsung Galaxy S25 review.

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Samsung Galaxy A17

Average price in the past six months: £172
Cheapest price in the past six months: £120*

• 6.7-inch display with 2,340 x 1,080 resolution
• Exynos processor with 4GB of Ram
• Three rear camera lenses, including a 50Mp wide main lens

We like: Responsive touch controls

We don’t like: Photos look a bit flat

The 2025 iteration of Samsung’s mid-range A-series represents a step up in terms of screen quality and features compared with its direct predecessors and has a price point that may suit anybody who doesn't use their phone constantly or perhaps as a first mobile for a younger person.

Despite the low cost, it still features a 6.7-inch OLED display and 128GB of internal storage (of which around 100GB is available for installing apps, storing files and so on).

On the back, there are three cameras: a 50-megapixel wide ‘main’ camera, a 5Mp ultra-wide, and a 2Mp macro lens for close-up shots. The front-facing camera is a 13Mp wide lens designed for selfies and video calls.

Is this a bargain worth buying? Our Samsung Galaxy A17 review reveals all.

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Samsung Galaxy A57

Average price in the past six months: £486
Cheapest price in the past six months: £404*

Use code A575 to get this phone for £404 direct from Samsung. Or compare prices at other retailers below:

• 6.7-inch display with 2,340 x 1,080 resolution
• Exynos 1680 processor with 8GB of Ram
• Three rear camera lenses, including 50Mp main and ultra-wide lenses

We like: Fast and responsive to use

We don’t like: Camera quality is a little uneven

Another mid-range Android smartphone from Samsung, but a step up from the A17 above in terms of processing power, memory and camera setup; this model has two 50Mp rear-facing cameras instead of one.

It has a 6.7inch OLED screen and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. That suggests a phone that should have bright colours, sharp detail and smooth motion processing – all of which we put to the test when we reviewed this Samsung.

Our full Samsung Galaxy A57 review tells you all you need to know about this smartphone.

Google Pixel 9a

Average price in the past six months: £399
Cheapest price in the past six months: £286*

• 6.3-inch display with 2,424 x 1,080 resolution
• Google Tensor G4 processor with 8GB of Ram
• Two rear camera lenses, including a 13Mp ultra-wide camera

We like: Strong rear cameras

We don’t like: Front-camera videos could be better

This mid-range Android phone comes close to the capabilities of the higher-end Pixel 9 series models. It’s even powered by the same Google Tensor G4 processor as the more expensive Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro phones.

It has a pOLED (plastic OLED) display, a very high peak brightness level and a 120Hz refresh rate. Plus comes with the promise of seven years of security updates, too.

The camera system has also been improved with a 48Mp main lens and 13Mp ultrawide lens. On the front, there’s a 13Mp selfie camera. It’s also the first A-series phone to have the macro focus feature – aiming to provide extra detail when shooting a subject up close. 

Read our Google Pixel 9a review to see if these features work as well as you hope they will.

Google Pixel 10a

Average price in the past six months: £515
Cheapest price in the past six months: £379*

• 6.3-inch display with 2,424 x 1,080 resolution
• Google Tensor G4 processor with 8GB of Ram
• Two rear camera lenses, no telephoto

We like: Simple software

We don’t like: Battery isn't huge

The Pixel 10a is pitched as a cut-down version of Google’s flagship phone and has a slower G4 processor and less Ram, with a choice of 128 or 256GB.

The rear camera system combines a 48Mp main camera with a 13Mp ultra-wide, but drops the 10.8Mp telephoto found on the standard Pixel 10. There’s also a 13-megapixel selfie camera on the front. Wireless features include wi-fi up to Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth and NFC for contactless payments. 

Wired charging and data connections are handled via USB-C, but there is no 3.5mm headphone jack or micro SD card slot.

Read our in-depth Google Pixel 10a review to see if Google cut corners with this pared-down version.

Nothing Phone (3)

Average price in the past six months: £660
Cheapest price in the past six months: £401*

• 6.7-inch display at 2,800 x 1,620 resolution
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8S Gen processor, 12GB Ram
• Three rear cameras, telephoto lens

We like: Unique design

We don’t like: Face unlock can be fooled

The Nothing Phone (3) stands out with its transparent back that shows off its internal parts. The biggest change from the previous model is the new Glyph Matrix, a small interactive screen on the back that can show pixelated graphics and the battery status, or run basic games - an intrieguing feature that makes it feel different from any other phone.

The camera system has been upgraded to a triple-lens setup, with 50Mp wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto sensors.

Find out why we hope that the facial recognition security system will be improved in our full Nothing Phone (3) review.

Xiaomi POCO F8 Pro

Average price in the past six months: £594
Cheapest price in the past six months: £389*

6.6-inch display at 2,510 x 1,156 resolution

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform processor with 12GB Ram
• Three rear cameras including 50Mp telephoto lens

We like: Good call clarity

We don’t like: Face unlock can be easily fooled

The Xiaomi Poco F8 Pro is a mid-range smartphone with a 6.6-inch OLED display, a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and a versatile triple-lens rear camera system – that's a lot to pack in to a smartphone that still maintains an accessible price point relative to what else is out there.

On the subject of cameras, this one has a rear camera setup that comprises a 50Mp main wide-angle lens, an 8Mp ultra-wide lens and a 50Mp telephoto lens, while its 20Mp front-facing camera for selfies and video calls is a better spec than you'll find on many similarly price phones.

Wireless connectivity is bang up to date with support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 standards.

Find out what our experts think of this smartphone in our full Xiaomi POCO F8 Pro review.

• The next phone up in the Xiaomi POCO range – the F8 Ultra – is also on sale at Xiaomi for £649

Best Apple iPhone deals

Discounts on iPhones are rare, but you can get a bargain on older models. See our pick of Apple iPhone deals for a full round-up, and see some highlights below.

Apple iPhone 16e

Average price in the past six months: £582
Cheapest price in the past six months: £438*

• 6.1-inch (2,532 x 1,170 pixels) Super Retina XDR OLED display 
• iOS operating system
• Camera Control button

We like: Beautiful design

We don’t like: Screen brightness drains battery life

Launched in February 2025, the Apple iPhone 16e was originally on sale for £599, but you can now buy it for around £100 less – some 18 months later.  

Although you'll find only one rear camera lens, there’s a lot of clever software inside that Apple claims gives you a ‘2-in 1’ experience. This includes built-in telephoto capabilities to help with the quality of zoomed-in shots. The physical camera is a 48Mp wide lens and on the front is a 12Mp wide lens. You can record videos in 4K quality using either. 

There are no funky colours to choose from - it’s only available in black and white. It weighs 167g, which is similar to the iPhone 16. On the side of the phone is an ‘Action button’ that can turn your iPhone to silent or be used for other functions such as turning on the torch, opening apps or custom shortcuts.

To find out more about this iPhone, see our iPhone 16e review 

If you're happy to go back a generation, the iPhone 15 is now just a fraction of what it originally sold for. Right now you can get it for £599 at Laptops Direct

Read our dedicated guide to the best Apple iPhone deals for more expert picks.

Will there be any good Black Friday smartphone deals this year?

Undoubtedly yes, but you’re better off as an Android user than an iOS fan. That’s because there are always sizable discounts off brands like Google, Samsung and Xiaomi, sometimes totalling hundreds of pounds. Meanwhile, iPhone offers from retailers are much more modest – typically £20-£50 – and you can forget about finding a discount directly from Apple.com.

That said, whether you’re Android or iOS, Black Friday is probably your chance to grab a discount. Timing is everything, though – we’ve looked at data from the last three years and found that retailers often have their best deals displayed on different days... and they don’t hang around for long. Check in regularly with our deals pages if you’re after a specific model.

When is Black Friday? Prepare for the sales event with our expert advice.

How to spot a good deal on a mobile phone

Jamie Darlow, Which? mobile phones expert, says:

• Avoid buying a phone that will imminently 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. 

Our best mobile phones page shows the handsets that impressed our experts, and you can see how your current provider ranks among the best and worst mobile providers.

Adam Speight, Which? senior researcher/writer

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 that are now only available second-hand, and read our guide on how to buy a second-hand or refurbished phone.

Apple iPhone 15 (original price £799, now around £400 second-hand)

Despite the release of the iPhone 17 series, the iPhone 15 remains a brilliant choice in 2026. The phone features a refined design with contoured edges and a soft matte glass back, making it more comfortable to hold than the previous generation. It finally swapped the old Lightning port for the universal USB-C and introduced the 'Dynamic Island' — a shape-shifting notification hub at the top of the screen. 

Under the hood, it’s powered by the fast and responsive A16 Bionic chip, and the upgraded 48Mp camera delivers professional-grade photos with ease. We expect Apple to support it with regular security updates until at least September 2029. 

We've seen it on sale for around £410 in 'very good' second-hand condition at Music Magpie. Find out the full story in our Apple iPhone 15 review.

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

• Apple iPhone SE 2022 (original price £419, now around £130 second-hand): Previously the most affordable phone in Apple's line-up, the iPhone SE 2022 gives you access to iOS on a budget, and it's very portable with a 4.7-inch display. Right now it can be bought for just a fraction of its original price, going for around £130 in 'Grade A' condition over at iOutlet.
• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (original price £1,199, now around £600 second-hand): This was the first iPhone to feature a titanium design and the exclusive 5x telephoto zoom lens. With a massive 6.7-inch display and the powerful A17 Pro chip, it remains a performance beast for gamers and photographers alike. You can currently find it for around £600 in 'very good' condition at Music Magpie.
• Apple iPhone 14 (original price £799, now around £330 second-hand): Now available at a deep discount, the iPhone 14 is a solid mid-range contender. It features the A15 Bionic chip and clever camera modes in a familiar, reliable design. You can pick one up for approximately £330 in 'very good' condition from Music Magpie.

Looking for more offers on tech products? See our pick of the best iPad tablet deals.

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.

AI news and advice: Which? experts cut through the hype to help you navigate the world of AI

Best Sim-only deals

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

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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 your circumstances change. 

Our pick: Talkmobile

With a customer score of 83%, Talkmobile ranks in 1st place out of the participating 15 providers and is both a Which? Recommended Provider and a Great Value network. To find out more about Talkmobile's value, speed, reliability and support , read our review to see how it did 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: iD Mobile 

Earning the Great Value endorsement for the fourth year in a row, iD Mobile offers incredible value for money and flexibility with it's one-month rolling deals. Unused data can be carried over to the next month and iD Mobile Sim-only deals are excellent travel companions as they include 30GB of free EU roaming in 50 destinations with unlimited minutes and texts. To find out more, read our iD Mobile review to see how it did 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: Smarty mobile 

Smarty mobile is a low-priced mobile provider offering a range of great-value Sim deals. As a Which? recommended and Great Value provider, this Smarty mobile offer for an unlimited data sim is just £17 a month. Please read here to find out more.

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. This consists 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 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 range. 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 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.

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. 

Looking for more offers on Tech products? See our pick of the best iPhone deals and best broadband deals.