If your mobile phone contract is about to run out and you’re in the market for a new SIM or SIM and handset deal, the best time to snap up a great deal is now.
Black Friday is coming, with Cyber Monday hot on its heels - which means retailers and brands everywhere are slashing prices on some of their best selling products. This includes tech brands and phone networks with mobile phone packages and SIM only offers.
While tech deals are normally reserved for Cyber Monday, which this year falls on November 30, the ongoing impact of the pandemic and low footfall on the high street means the discounts are coming thick and fast even earlier this year.
But with so many great-sounding deals flying around, it can be mystifying to know what to go for.
Thankfully, online smartphone retailer Mobiles.co.uk has put together a Black Friday survival guide, full of helpful advice on shopping the best offers.
Like the Boy Scouts, be prepared
If you’re going to shop online, save any items you intend on buying to your wish list or basket for ease on the day.
Quality not quantity
Research revealed that 22 per cent of shoppers have returned a Black Friday purchase in the past, while 20 per cent admit to getting carried away on the day. Research items beforehand to help you make more informed purchases and prevent impulse-buying.
Follow your favourite brands on social media
This allows you to stay up-to-date with their Black Friday activity including which products will be going on sale, the discount they’re offering, and when their sale starts. Also try signing up for newsletters to receive the relevant information via email instead.
Set yourself a budget
Overspending was the reason that 28 per cent of Black Friday purchases were returned in 2018. Setting a budget and making a list of the items you want to buy (within your budget) is a good way to avoid overspend. Another top tip is to buy your essential bits and pieces first, then re-evaluate your spending as you may have saved enough to bag an extra little treat.
Don’t panic! Cyber Monday offers a second chance
Don’t suffer from FOMO if you’re unable to take part in this year’s Black Friday event. After all, Cyber Monday lands just three days after, so take advantage of the online sales then instead. Plus, the online deals last all day, so you’ll have even more time to grab a bargain.
We’ll be posting the best deals below, so bookmark ES Best to see the latest offers.
Three Mobile’s Black Friday deals
It’s never been more important to stay in touch with the ones you love. If you’re coming to the end of your contract or want to invest in a shiny new handset, Black Friday is the perfect time to shop for something new. Three has a slew of deals, from SIM-only to broadband internet and tablet deals.
Three will add to its Black Friday offering each week until December 7. Three is also offering next day delivery on selected products with orders placed before 4pm. Find more info here.
SIM deals
Unlimited data, calls and texts from just £17 per month. SIM-only, 12-month contract with 5G at no extra cost.
Three’s mobile phone contract deals
Get the new Apple iPhone 12 Mini 64GB, with AirPods and six months half price. £29 one-off upfront cost, plus £31.50 for six months (and £59 per month thereafter). Plus: free Apple TV+ for a year.
Save £312 on the amazing Samsung Galaxy S20 5G. £49 one-off upfront cost, plus £45 per month, for 24 months - Plus: claim four months free YouTube Premium.
Apple iPhone SE 64GB, 30GB data for £30 per month, and £19 one-off upfront cost - a saving of £168 - Plus: Apple TV+ free for a year.
Google Pixel 5 5G, £49 one-off upfront cost, £35 per month. Plus: a free Nest Audio Speaker, worth £89.99 and three months free YouTube Premium.
Three’s broadband deal
Save £120 on Three’s Home Broadband, from £17 per month.
No landline, no engineers - no waiting.
Three’s tablet deals
Looking to add new tech to your arsenal? Tablets are great for light surfing and streaming.
Get the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 and 2GB data plan, for only £11 per month with no upfront costs. It boasts an eight-inch WXGA display, and only 8mm thin. Comes with free AKG headphones with Samsung Tab S6 Lite (from 24 November).
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and 20GB data for the price of 2GB – just £18 a month and £29 upfront. And grab some free AKG Y500 headphones with purchase.
Tesco Mobile
Head over to the budget network provider for these early bird offers, available from now until November 30.
- The iPhone SE is available from £16.99 a month, reduced from £20.99, saving customers a huge £144
- The iPhone 11 is also available from just £29.99 a month, reduced from £33.99 a month, saving customers £144
- The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is available from £22.99 a month, reduced from £25.99, saving customers £108
- The Samsung Galaxy A51 is also on offer from £16.99 a month (reduced from £17.99)
O2 Black Friday deals
With savings of up to £400 on Apple and Samsung devices, with offers across handsets, SIM-only, tablets and smartwatches, these are O2’s best-ever Black Friday deals.
iPhone XR (Like New): pay £30 upfront, and then £19.70 a month for 1GB of data and six months of Disney+
iPhone 7 (Like New): pay just £10 upfront, and then £14.78 a month for 1GB of data and six months of Disney+
Go green with O2 this Black Friday
Offering greener choices, O2 is on a mission to help customers reduce their impact on the planet. For the first time, the network will offer refurbished ‘Like New devices’ in its Black Friday offers, giving bargain hunters a sustainable option that benefits the environment.
Deals include:
- iPhone 11 64GB – £60 upfront, under £40 a month, unlimited data – a saving of up to £288
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE – £30 upfront, under £40 a month, unlimited data – a saving of up to £400
- 150GB SIM for just £20 a month
Shop all O2 Black Friday deals
Carphone Warehouse
Ready to buy a new handset? Your timing couldn’t be better - check out Carphone Warehouse’s selection, starting with the brand new iPhone 12.
SIM-free Handsets
- iPhone 12 - upfront cost from £799
- iPhone 12 Mini - pre order from Friday, upfront cost from £699
- iPhone 12 Pro Max - pre order from Friday, upfront cost from £1099
- iPhone 11 - upfront cost £679
Huawei
- Huawei P30 Lite NE - free Huawei Band 4e, upfront cost £229.99
- Huawei P30 lite - free Huawei Band 4e, upfront cost £199.99
- Huawei P Smart 2020 - free Huawei Band 4e, upfront cost £159.99
- Huawei P40 Lite - free Huawei Band 4e, upfront cost £219.99
Motorola
- Motorola G8 Power Lite - upfront cost £119.99
- Motorola G8 Power - upfront cost £179.99
- Motorola G 5G Plus - upfront cost £269.99
Sim only deals
On Vodafone
- Voda 12M - 60BG data, monthly cost £16
- Voda 12M - 12GB date, monthly cost £12
- Voda 12M - 15GB, monthly cost £14
- Voda 24M - 5GB data, half price for 3 months £7.50, then £15 per month
- Voda 24M - 20GB data, Half price for 3 months £10, then £20pm
On iD
- iD 12m - 10GB data, monthly cost £10
- iD 12m - 50GB data, monthly cost £14
- iD 12m - unlimited data, monthly cost £17.50
Shop all Carphone Warehouse Black Friday deals
OPPO Mobile Phones
In the market for a new handset? OPPOs range rival that of bigger names with the same performance and features but for a fraction of the price. And on Black Friday, those prices are only set to tumble even further. Once you’ve bought the handset and found a cheap SIM-only deal, you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Here are some of the best OPPO handset offers
- OPPO Reno 4 Pro - was: £699, now: £559
- OPPO Reno4 - was: £499, now: £399
- OPPO Reno4 Z - was: £329, now: £225
- OPPO Find X2 Pro - was: £1099, now: £849
- OPPO Find X2 Neo - was: £599, now: £409
- OPPO Find X2 Lite - was: £399, now: £275
- OPPO A72 - was: £219, now: £164
- OPPO A5 - was: £149.99, now: £107
- OPPO A53 - was: £159.99, now: £129
- OPPO A9 - was: £179.99, now: £164
