Best SIM free phone deals

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SIM-free mobile phones

While most mobile offers you’ll find online will be contract or pay as you go (often called PAYG, or prepay), you don’t always need a new SIM or a subsidised handset on a long contract. This is where a SIM free phone can be the answer.

Put simply, SIM free mobiles are exactly what they suggest – just the handset and charger in a box, without being tied to a particular mobile network.

Interestingly, while contracts with ‘free’ phones are big here in Britain, it’s uncommon or unheard of in many other countries. So what are we missing out on in terms of SIM free mobile phones in the UK?

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The positive side of SIM-free phones

There are lots of potential advantages with SIM free mobile phones, whether you’re a tech geek, world traveller, or just an everyday mobile phone user.

First, it gives you real freedom in terms of what deal you go for as well as which mobile network. SIM free phones in the UK can be used on any network, so they don’t need to be unlocked if you change provider and get a different SIM. This means of any of the five actual networks (O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Three and Vodafone) as well as the ‘MVNO’s who piggyback on them (Tesco, Virgin etc).

Second, you’re not tied to a tariff. There are lots of advantages over the long contracts traditionally attached to a so-called ‘free’ or cheap handset. Most importantly, you can upgrade to a new handset whenever you want to.

Also, you can set exactly what you want to spend, and when; you can go PAYG or get a rolling contract that you can change whenever you want. If you get the handset on a long contract, you’ll be stuck with that deal for a year or more – so if you find you’re getting loads of calls, data and texts you’re not using, you’re stuck with them.

There are lots of other reasons to go SIM free too:

• Hassle-free roaming: If you go abroad, you can simply pick up a foreign SIM and slot it straight into your handset. The only caveat is making sure the handset itself will work in the country you’re going to (if this is likely to be something you want to do outside Europe, you’ll probably want to look into get a tri-band or even quad-band smartphone).
• The new hotness: If you’re the kind of person who wants the latest handset as soon as it hits the shelves, SIM free is definitely the way to go. Why wait for the end of your contract to get that shiny new handset – or even for it to be available by your network of choice?
• No provider software: One of the biggest pains in mobile is the rubbish ‘extras’ many networks enforce on the software of their branded handsets. This is not an issue with SIM free phones, as they just come equipped with the standard software the manufacturer intended.
• No number change or contact porting: When you swap your old SIM into a new SIM-free handset, it pops in and away you go – no hassle (as long as you had all your contacts on your SIM, of course!).

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So what’s not to like?

Having to pay up front for a handset just doesn’t sit well with many people; either because they’re used to wetting free upgrades or because money is too tight to save in this way for one.

Also, if you have found the right contract conditions that suit you, and are happy with your network, why bother? While you'll read a lot of people complaining about their mobile phone or provider, the truth is that the vast majority of us are happy with our lot when it comes to phones.

so why indeed – SIM free certainly isn’t for everyone. Mobile Genie has masses of pay as you go and contract deals too; just use the tabs at the top of the page to check out the rest of the site.

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Cheap SIM free mobile phones

If you do decide to go for a SIM free deal, you’re going to want to get the best – and cheapest – deal possible. That’s where Mobile Genie comes in. Instead of you having to go to a whole bunch of provider sites and retailers to find the best prices, we collate all the best deals we can find and put them into one handy comparison table.

At Mobile Genie you can compare handsets from all the major mobile makers at both ends of the price spectrum. You’ll find the top-end Apple iPhones, plus smartphones from BlackBerry, HTC and the rest. But we also cover all the budget mobiles too, with great little handsets from the likes of Nokia, Sony, Motorola and Samsung.

In many cases you’ll find reviews and specifications of each SIM free mobile phone too, which can help answer any niggling questions you may have about a particular model.

Once you’ve decided on the right SIM free handset for you, simply click ‘Go’ to be taken to the website of the retailer of your choice where you can complete the purchase directly with them.

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