To buy outright or on contract?

This is a very personal choice, but there are pros and cons to both

There are many ways to buy a new iphone, and how you do so will come down to a variety of factors. The cheapest way to get a new iphone is to buy the phone outright and get a separate Sim-only deal with exactly what you need. But not everyone can afford such a big outlay in the first place.

Depending on your credit history

(and please make sure you can afford repayments), Apple has been known to offer 12-month 0% finance deals on orders over £500. You could use a 0% interest credit card offer too. This way, over the 24 months of a standard mobile contract, you could save up to £200.

You can always sell an old iphone to fund part of your purchase, and most tech companies will offer a trade-in discount if you hand over an old device. Paying monthly is still a good option if you prefer minimal upfront outlay, and if you shop around using comparison sites you can find some brilliant offers even on the latest iphones. These sites give you a handy ‘24-month cost’ too, so it’s easy to see your total financial commitment.

You’ll be amazed what your network carrier will be able to do if you speak to them about a better deal, especially if you’re due an upgrade or ‘threaten’ politely to leave. Remember they don’t really have loyalty to you and playing them off against each other is often the best way to get the best deal.