Back-to-school phone deals: Head back to class with these awesome cheap phone contracts
The summer might be ending, but don’t despair: make sure you return to your studies with one of these amazing phone deals
The sun may still be shining across the UK, and the summer vibes are still going strong, but the calendar is saying something else entirely: a new academic year is about to kick off in schools, colleges and universities.
This means that kids and students everywhere will be stocking up on new gear for the new term – and many of them will be searching for a brand new phone contract, ideally one that won’t gobble up their student loan. But where should you start looking for a cheap phone deal? Luckily, we’ve done the homework for you, and we’ve put together this list of the best phone deals for those who want to keep their spending to a minimum.
The best back-to-school phone deals
1. Best iPhone deal: Refurbished iPhone 7 with EE
Yes, it’s a refurbed handset that’s a few generations past its prime – but if you go with this iPhone 7 contract with EE, you’re still getting an iPhone with a monthly rate below £10, and absolutely no upfront cost. This iPhone 7 deal is perfect for skint students craving an Apple device.
Data: 1GB | Minutes: Unlimited | Texts: Unlimited | Contract length: 24 months | Monthly cost: £9.50 (£19 before cashback) | Upfront cost: None | Lifetime cost: £228
2. Best Samsung deal: Samsung Galaxy S9 with O2
If you’re looking for a slightly newer handset, take a look at this Galaxy S9 offer from O2. We’ve seen contract costs drop since the S10 knocked it off the flagship podium earlier this year – for £34 a month and an upfront cost of £29 you’ll get a superb smartphone that comes with a sizeable 15GB of data.
Data: 15GB | Minutes: Unlimited | Texts: Unlimited | Contract length: 24 months | Monthly cost: £34 | Upfront cost: £29 | Lifetime cost: £845
3. Best SIM-only deal: Three
If you’ve already got a phone that’s unlocked and ready to go, you should definitely take a look at this special contract offer from Three. That’s because for the first six months the monthly rate is half the price at just £10 – not bad at all considering it grants you unlimited texts, unlimited minutes and – best of all – unlimited data.
Data: Unlimited | Minutes: Unlimited | Texts: Unlimited | Contract length: 24 months | Monthly cost: £10 for six months (£20 after) | Upfront cost: None | Lifetime cost: £420
4. Best feature phone deal: Doro 5516 with O2
This one is for students who need to keep their spending to an absolute minimum. The Doro 5516 is a distinctly no-frills affair: a so-called ‘simple phone’ that can send and receive calls, SMS messages and MMS messages. You’ll have to go through the cashback process, but this contract from O2 will set you up with unlimited minutes and texts and 4GB of monthly data for a mere £3.50 a month.
Data: 4GB | Minutes: Unlimited | Texts: Unlimited | Contract length: 24 months | Monthly cost: £3.50 (£20 before cashback) | Upfront cost: None | Lifetime cost: £84
5. Best Huawei deal: Huawei P Smart with EE
In contrast to the ex-flagship phones on this list, here’s a Huawei handset that doesn’t shy away from its budget-level specs – and does so with great success for the most part. Take advantage of this deal at e2save, and you’ll get a two-year deal on a phone with a final bill of just £312.
Data: 4GB | Minutes: Unlimited | Texts: Unlimited | Contract length: 24 months | Monthly cost: £13 (£20 before cashback) | Upfront cost: None | Lifetime cost: £312
