The greatest phones to get with Tesco Mobile this summer

Summer is almost upon us, but before you set up that out-of-office email and start packing, you may want to make sure your phone is good for the trip.

If you’ve been thinking of upgrading to a newer model, now is the time to do it. The past nine months have seen the launches of several superb handsets, and all of them perform brilliantly when paired with a Tesco Mobile SIM.

Why Tesco Mobile? Well, not only does Tesco Mobile use the O2 network for a massive 99% 4G coverage for the UK, but the company also offers superb support should anything go wrong. Indeed, Tesco Mobile won the “Best Customer Service” trophy in last year’s Expert Reviews Mobile Network awards.

On top of that, Tesco Mobile won’t spring any nasty financial surprises on you. With Clubcard price deals, you won’t get any mid-contract price rises, and there are no EU roaming fees until 2025, giving you one less thing to worry about when you’re getting ready to jet off into the sun.

Whether you’re shopping for a SIM-only deal, or considering upgrading with a new phone contract, these are the handsets to make the most of your summer plans this year.

Get a new phone or SIM via Tesco Mobile

Apple iPhone 15

Year after year, Apple keeps delivering with the iPhone – and the latest model is no exception. Easy to use and offering millions of high-quality apps, ranging from entertainment and gaming to education and culture, the iPhone 15 is a superb jack of all trades.

It’s also a big improvement on last year’s model, with a couple of useful hand-me-downs from the iPhone 14 Pro, including the superfast A16 Bionic chipset and a 48MP main camera to make your holiday snaps really pop.

The introduction of Dynamic Island – a handy expanding bar that replaces the notch around the selfie camera and reshapes itself to deliver various notifications – is also a brilliant update. And the addition of USB-C charging means you’ll have one fewer cable to take on your travels.

“The Apple iPhone 15’s improvements, taken individually, may not be all that significant, but accumulated they add up to what is a significant update,” writes Head of Reviews, Jonathan Bray, in our four-star Recommended iPhone 15 review.

Buy now from Tesco Mobile from £31/mth

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

If you’ve got the budget, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is currently top of our list of the best smartphones you can buy. Powered by the lightning-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor, this handset is as powerful as it is stylish. Better still, it has the longest battery life we’ve ever seen, lasting for a massive 34.5 hours in our tests.

It doesn’t set a foot wrong, but three things really set it apart from the pack. First, there’s its superb quad-camera array that offers superb snaps up close and at range thanks to the 200MP main sensor and dual telephoto lenses.

Second, there’s the bundled S Pen, which allows you to draw and take notes on its gorgeous 6.8in display. Finally, there’s Galaxy AI, which uses artificial intelligence to great effect, whether it’s touching up your photographs or offering real-time translations of your phone calls – both of which are extremely handy when overseas.

“If you’re really after one of the best-performing smartphones on the market, with an award-winning battery life, then the Galaxy S24 Ultra, in my eyes, is worth the high cost,” wrote our Deputy Editor, Nathan Spendelow, in his five-star Best Buy Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.

Buy now from Tesco Mobile from £53/mth

Google Pixel 8a

Google’s Pixel 8a offers everything you could possibly ask for in a mid-range smartphone.

Not only does it come with the same speedy processor as the £999 Pixel 8 Pro, but it also packs one of the best cameras you can get on any phone, period. As it’s from the maker of Android, you’re also guaranteed to get new versions first – and Google is in it for the long haul, with seven years of software and security updates guaranteed.

It’s also not short of AI tricks – some of which are purely magical. Best Take lets you seamlessly combine a series of photos for the perfect shot where everyone is smiling and nobody’s eyes are closed, while Magic Audio Eraser will get rid of unwanted background audio from videos. Magic Eraser, meanwhile, can get rid of objects with a single tap – whether it’s ugly objects or unwanted photobombers.

With all these features and its low starting price, “the reasons for users to fork out more on the Pixel 8 are surprisingly few,” writes our Reviews Writer, Ben Johnston, in his five-star Best Buy Pixel 8a review.

“The display is one of the best I’ve ever tested, the cameras get a host of new and improved editing tools, and the seven years of software support is outstanding for a phone of this price.”

Buy now from Tesco Mobile from £27/mth

Whichever phone you buy, Tesco Mobile’s award-winning customer service is sure to make the transition a breeze, leaving you to focus on the summer vibes. And with no EU roaming charges or mid-contract price rises for Clubcard customers, you’ll save a bit of money to make that summer trip all the more memorable.

Get a new phone or SIM via Tesco Mobile