Easy ways to ring up savings on mobile phones

SAVING money on your mobile phone can start with one simple trick: don’t upgrade as often as you used to.

The performance of the latest model smartphones is largely the same as those a few years old, telecommunications specialists say, which means most consumers have no real reason to splurge on expensive new handsets.

Telco comparison website whistleout.com.au’s publisher, Joseph Hanlon, said holding on to older phones was increasingly popular.

“In the last two years the price of phones has really skyrocketed,” he said.

“We were used to being able to get the latest phone and not make sacrifices. Before, you wouldn’t notice you were paying for it. Now, you can’t get one of the iPhone X models on a plan with Telstra for under $100 a month.”

Mr Hanlon said a majority of visitors to WhistleOut’s website were now searching for BYO phone plans rather than plans that included handset repayments.

“Phones from a couple of years ago are still fast enough to run the apps that are coming out today,” he said.

New models might offer improved photography and features such as curved screens, but consumers needed to decide whether they wanted to pay, Mr Hanlon said.

High-end phone prices start at $1500, while good quality mid-range handsets sell for $700-$800. Mr Hanlon said one Apple iPhone cost $2400 and there was talk that an upcoming Samsung handset would cost $3000.

He said stores were still selling previous model handsets, and he urged customers to consider other brands that offered the same quality for lower prices.

“Putting off buying a new phone for as long as you can is definitely a great money-saving tip,” Mr Hanlon said.

Consumers can stop older model phones from going flat quickly by buying a new battery for less than $200.

Australian Communications Consumer Action Network spokeswoman Melyssa Troy said this “could make a real difference to its performance”.

“It’s important to do your homework when buying a new phone so that you don’t end up with a much more expensive model than you need,” she said.

“Consider how you use your phone day to day. If you really only call, text and take the odd photo, chances are that you don’t need a top-of-the-line phone that can cost thousands of dollars.”

Ms Troy said BYO phone plans generally offered better value for consumers than a phone and contract bundle.

“This is because when bundling a handset and phone contract together, part of the handset repayments often go into the cost of the plan itself.”