The iPhone 4S is on sale now -- so what's the best deal for the latest Apple smart phone? Three, O2, Orange, Tesco Mobile, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U are selling the iPhone 4S, and we've waded through the various options so you don't have to.
We'll be updating this page when new deals emerge. (Latest update: 13 October, to add Tesco deals.) So remember to check this page before laying down your hard-earned cash. Commence bargainification!
First things first: iPhones ain't cheap. But if you know what you need from your contract -- are you a talker, a texter or a Web surfer? -- you can find the best deal to suit you. Remember though that the most important thing is that your chosen network offers a decent signal at your home, work, school or favourite haunts.
You need two things, and at least one will be expensive: an iPhone, and a phone contract. You can buy the iPhone from Apple (expensive) and bag a contract separately (cheap), or you can buy the contract from a network (expensive) and bag a phone along with it (cheap).
SIM-free iPhone 4S deals
In the long run, the absolute cheapest way to own an iPhone is to buy it SIM-free -- without a contract -- from Apple, then shop around for a cheap contract. Which deal you go for depends on whether you want extra minutes, texts or data, but for us there's one clear winner: GiffGaff.
You may never have heard of GiffGaff, as they save money by eschewing advertising. But the network is insanely cheap, there's no fixed contract so you're not locked into anything, and, best of all, you get unlimited data. Yes, proper unlimited data.
The only problem is you need to fork out at least £500 for the phone up front. But once you've swallowed that, all you need to do is buy a £10 goodybag and you've got 250 free minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited Internet, and free calls to other GiffGaff users every single month. Over two years -- the length of most iPhone contracts -- that's a mere £740. Only Tesco's year-long contract for the 16GB 4S can beat that. Bargain!
Network iPhone 4S deals
We've compared solely on prices here, because if we start comparing how many minutes, texts or bytes of data is included in each contract our brains will dribble out of our ears. Be warned: all smart phones eat data even when you're not looking, as they check your email, social networks and apps.
If you go over your data allowance, it can seriously cost you, so even if you don't do that much browsing of the Web unlimited data is one less thing to worry about. GiffGaff and Three are the only networks to offer unlimited data all the time -- on selected tariffs.
Cheapest 24-month iPhone 4S deal
If you prefer to deal with an established network, or you don't have a monkey up front, there are plenty of deals to choose from. Most deals last two years. O2 wins here, costing you £15 per month -- all the other network's deals start at £30 per month -- totalling £672 for a 16GB model up to £892 for a 64GB model. The catch is that O2 makes you buy data separately as a 'bolt-on' -- so when we look at O2 in this comparison, we'll include the 500Mb data bolt-on which costs £6 per month.
Cheapest 18-month iPhone 4S deal
O2, Vodafone and Orange offer 18-month deals, and the cheapest is O2's £21 tariff, netting you a 16GB iPhone for £230 and a total of £718, including that 500Mb data bolt-on. Meanwhile Orange and Vodafone's 18-month deals are basically identical.
Cheapest 12-month iPhone 4S deal
12-month deals mean you're not tied to one network for quite so long, and your contract will be up when next year's hot phone turns up. Tesco, O2, Vodafone and Orange offer year long deals -- but Orange only offers a pricey 12-month deal on the 32GB model and O2's year-long deals are only for existing customers. Tesco is the winner here with a range of deals starting at £25 per month, for a total of £635 over the year -- that's also the only deal that's cheaper than Giffgaff.
Best free iPhone 4S deal
Fancy netting an iPhone for nowt? It's possible, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg in the long term. If you do have £43 burning a hole in your pocket each month, Three will furnish you with a free 16GB phone and, in return, relieve you of £1,032 over the next two years.
Priciest iPhone 4S deal
If you're going to a party at Monty Burns' place and you really want to impress Scrooge McDuck and Bruce Wayne, the most expensive contract comes courtesy of Orange. In exchange for 3,000 minutes, 3,000 texts and 2GB of data, Orange wants £100 up front and £61 every month for the next two years -- making a grand total of £1,563. Ka-ching!
Are we doing a deal or are we doing a deal?
What's the best iPhone 4S deal you've spotted? Are you in the perfect contract already? Tell us in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 48
Add your comment
HarryMonmouth 7 October, 2011 19:13
It is a big shame that the only company offering a decent service at my girlfriends place is orange.
norbie 7 October, 2011 19:45
What about the ex-exclusive O2? I'm still with them.
anonymous 7 October, 2011 20:39
Three have the best deal by far!! O2 have their work cut out to keep me
anonymous 7 October, 2011 22:35
is tesco doing their deals on the Iphone 4S?
anonymous 7 October, 2011 22:54
yep o2 has got to pull something out of it's ass to keep me as well.
So 3 mobile want £279 up front and £35 per month after that for 24 months for that little amount you get!!!
every thing you will ever need iPhone 4S 64 GB in black or white 2000 mins 5000 texts (who phones and texts that much) also all you can eat data (and it has no fair usage policy) rock on.
o2 will never match that and with the iPhone having HSDPA (that with 3 can be picked up a lot of places and o2 signal being bad everywhere you want to use it) you will need data 3 let you tether your phone with no extra fee.
No brainer top brand new phone that can be used as it should be used for the same price as I pay o2 (who seem to give pay and go customers all the extras and nothing to there pay monthly)
Enjoy your new phones.
Rob47 8 October, 2011 00:49
The One Plan on 3 is amazing it's what i'm looking at getting.
anonymous 8 October, 2011 02:10
Does GiffGaff do the micro sims that the iPhone uses? I never had an iPhone 4 but I'm assuming the iPhone 4s would be the same, am I correct?
anonymous 8 October, 2011 11:13
The orange deal you are quoting as the most expensive is for a 64gb handset. You can get a free 16gb handset on a £46 tariff, totalling £1104 for the whole contract. Seems unfair to label it the most expensive, when the best free deal you quote is for a less expensive handset.
anonymous 8 October, 2011 12:02
3 are the best for smartphone prices, the one plan is untouchable.... apple also say 3 are best network for the product !!
anonymous 8 October, 2011 12:05
I've been toying with the idea of getting an iphone 4s and after checking out all the prices, 3 offer the best deals by far.
anonymous 8 October, 2011 12:35
3's internet is sloe where i live and so is orange .... will be getting the super fast o2 network iphone 4S on the 14th. but i am disappointed u cant pre-order like other carriers.
anonymous 8 October, 2011 14:42
I have just followed the Vodafone link for the 12month deal for a 32GB iPhone 4s and guess what the phone purchase price is not £319 as stated here it is actually £399, which makes the deal less competitive. Di you get it wrong?
Also could offer a good alterative when they get start marketing iPhone 4s's or indeed provide just the SIM for a phone purchgased from Apple like the GiffGaff recommendation above.
anonymous 8 October, 2011 17:29
3 are a brilliant network. Im with them & there data charges are miles better than the others. i got a sim only for the mrs other day & got 300 mins xnet unlimited text & 1GB data for a flat £10. The other networks give next to nothing for £10. I switched to 3 because other networks believe 500mb is normal usage, well i think not & three don't think so either.
anonymous 8 October, 2011 19:43
giffgaff dont do micro sims!
anonymous 8 October, 2011 21:15
you can get GiffGaff micro sims no problem at all just look on their forums.
Mayouran Jeyakumar 8 October, 2011 21:55
I have taken a contract out with 3...its a sim only. On their website its £15 rolling one month contract, 300mins, 3000texts, 1GB data. BUT if you call them, you can lock onto a 1 year contract which ends up being £10 a month over the course of 12 months...so in the end it works out £499+(24 x 10)=£740...
anonymous 8 October, 2011 23:53
Just a quick tip, if you fancy getting the 4GS on a 12 month contract, it actually costs the same on Vodafone (over the year) no matter what tarrif you pic. Slightly confusing but here's an example
16 gb iP 4S 300mins + 500 mb = 319+ (12*36) = £751
16 gb iP 4S 1200mins + 750 mb = 139+ (12*51) = £751
And now here is where it gets strange, my company get a discount on the monthly tarrif of 20%. (lots of big ones do). So it is actually cheaper to go for more minutes and to pay less up front for me!
anonymous 9 October, 2011 01:25
Those of you asking about about whether you can get giffgaff Micro SIMs - yes you can!
anonymous 9 October, 2011 11:06
What about "Visual voicemail" ? It is only on O2? How about that gifgaf, Is it offer that function? Anyone got that feature in other than O2 network? My friend on vodafone, and he need to call voicemail number, to get hes voicemail. But mine is straight on the phone. Really like it. I am talking about iPhones.
anonymous 9 October, 2011 12:38
3 all the way. Pre-ordered my 4S on The One Plan yesterday, got a great deal:
2000 minutes
5000 texts
Unlimited data, including tethering and hotspot
£35 p/m + £99 upfront
Brilliant, nobody even comes close :)
jimi90 9 October, 2011 15:51
What about the signal on three though? I am considering moving from o2 to three but have heard you dont get any signal anywhere except in big cities. Is this true? What have others experienced?
anonymous 9 October, 2011 16:57
I've found Vodafone the cheapest (except three!) if you buy the 16GB iPhone 4s on a 24 month contract it'll cost you £41 a month for 900 Minutes, Unlimited texts and 750mb (with 3 months free data test drive). The phone is £59 but if you order now Vodafone are giving you £59 back so effectively the phone is free!
Add on top of that £40 cashback from quidco and it'll come to £944 for two years which isn't bad for a well established network, three are good but I've found their signal to fluctuate in the past..
If you're lucky enough to be a student as well (I am :D) you can knock an extra 10% off your tariff a month bringing the total cost down to £845.60, pretty good deal if you ask me!!
anonymous 9 October, 2011 17:04
Quick update, just checked Quidco, if you take out "The One Plan" from three (their tariffs with 2000 minutes for £35 or £40 a month) you can get £109 cashback from Quidco! Looks like the deal on 3 has just got even better!
£35 a month contract over 2 years comes out at £830 after cashback
£40 a month contract over 2 years comes out at £900 after cashback
anonymous 9 October, 2011 23:30
£109 reduction and I can get £170 for my old phone and 3 gave me a £20 voucher for accessories so technically I have made £10 on the deal (based on a 4s 64 gb £35 per month) wow
anonymous 10 October, 2011 10:35
Don't all phone companies have to offer 12 month contracts as part of the EU Directive that came in in May of this year
anonymous 10 October, 2011 14:00
Can you do a comparison of 3G speeds on the iP4s in both rural and populated areas for the 4 main networks please?
I use sim-only deals and want the best 3G speed.
Thanks
anonymous 10 October, 2011 14:54
As said above, Yes you can get a giffgaff micro sim, they don't directly provide them but just search it in the forums and you'll see links to people who provide them.
Something to consider is that giffgaff runs on the O2 network so it's their signal!
It is excellent value though, £10 for 250min, Unltd Texts and Unltd data! (Properly unlimited too)
anonymous 10 October, 2011 15:51
dose anyone know that 3 have no backup 2g service if you loose signal from 3g you have no signal !!!!!!????
anonymous 10 October, 2011 17:08
I don't like the cut of Apple's (iPhone 4s) jib. What's the best deal out there for a Nokia 3210?
anonymous 11 October, 2011 00:26
Well it looks like 02 has lost a customer for LIFE.
Its so unfair that there 12 month deal is for existing customers only.
Surely that is braking some sort of law??
What is wrong with my money, its just as good as everyone else's money.
After seeing that, i dont think i would ever go with 02 not even on pay as you go.
I am really pe'ed off about that.
anonymous 11 October, 2011 13:24
Giff Gaff is not really that great if you want any more than 250 minutes. I am planning on an iPhone 4S on O2 with 1200 minutes and the £6 data deal on a 12 month contract. This will work out cheaper than Giff Gaff plus a SIM free phone.
jko001 11 October, 2011 19:32
is this article sponsored or something, because a lot of people have read it, & put the article right in that three are offering the best deal, which after looking is spot on?
anonymous 13 October, 2011 12:08
Right Three Mobile it is then just got the Mrs an iphone 4 a month before the release (to test the water) and she seems to have no network coverage issues so bye o2 nice being with you but obviously you don't want my custom anymore......anyhow (£279 lighter) 64GB iphone 4s on 'the One Plan' coming my way and I am going to tether,tether and more tethering. By far the best deal out there.
anonymous 13 October, 2011 16:50
O2's 12 month deal for existing customers seems pretty good. It's only marginally more expensive than Tesco but gives benefits such as early upgrades, O2 priority etc. If you go for the 12 month 1200 minute tariff (£46pm) + their all rounder data bolt-on (£6pm) then you can get an iPhone 4S for £713.99, £763.99 or £833.99 for 16, 32 and 64GB iPhones respectively.
One thing this article doesn't mention is that you can also reduce the contract on O2 after 6 months if you so desire. So you could, in theory, get an iPhone 4S on the 12 month 1200 minute plan + all rounder data bolt on and reduce it to the 100 minute plan if you have no need for the minutes. This would bring the cost down to well below Tesco's at £563.99, £613.99 and £683.99 for the year. Reducing the tariff at 6 months down to the 600 minutes or below tariff would make it cheaper than Tesco.
Of course, most people would forget to do this - although you could on the day of getting the iPhone ask Siri to set you a calendar reminder six months from now...
Also you can get O2 pre-orders via Carphone Warhouse. Not that that helps people now what with their phones likely shutting in ten minutes time!
anonymous 13 October, 2011 21:18
Ok O2 and tesco are the same network. tesco uses O2's infer-structure, so you still get the bad signal and if you go with O2 the poor customer service.
O2 want you to actually pay as a bolt-on your data allowance the alrounder as they call it is only 500mb if you want to tether the phone you will find you will run out quite quick if you watch videos or iplayer as an hour program will use half of that.
At the end of the day yer you might not use the mins but with the iPhone 4s having HSDPA you will want to use it 3 allows you to use your phone how it was ment to be used and I think they no people are not going to use 2000 mins and 5000 texts but why not it makes the other networks look bad and O2 look very expensive even against the other main networks.
going back to HSDPA O2 coverage is shocking if you get a dongle form them if you can find an HSDPA signal when you want one you will be very lucky. 3 on the other hand I have never been let down by the MiFi I have from them.
O yer have you used priority moments they seem to be a useless idea that O2's accountants thought up to make more money but not have to spend any.
It used to be Pay monthly customers got the perks and the praise for being customers but now as specially with O2 it is all about pay and go because they can leave when they like so pay monthly (captive ordinance in more ways than one) don't get anything other than early upgrade, that I think all networks give you but don't make it sound like it is a service you get extra.
As for down grading your plan yes you can but you lose any early upgrade you have from being a customer will be taken away and you go back to one month.
Rant over O2 (what a pi?> poor performance)
anonymous 13 October, 2011 21:57
As stated Tesco works out at £635 on a 12 month contract and by buying the iPhone 4s from apple at £500 and a 12 giffgaff with a £10 goodybag allowing 250 mins unlimited texts and unlimited data comes to £620 hence that's not the deal cheaper than giffgaff
anonymous 14 October, 2011 06:30
For various reasons I'm stuck with O2. As an existing customer, I've went for the 12 month deal, £89 up front for 16gb 4s, 1200 minute package for £46 monthly, £10 data bolt on. I can upgrade after 9 months. So that's £56 x 9 plus £89, total contract cost is £593. Then I can get a shiny new iPhone & sell it for a few bob!
Regarding Three, I have a Mifi & I have to agree that their coverage is excellent, for about £15 a month I get 15gb data, it goes everywhere with me! If I could switch service providers I'd go there for sure.
anonymous 14 October, 2011 09:54
How much are they on pay and go
anonymous 14 October, 2011 17:30
Ok so 3 are not the best as everyone is commenting nothing against there price plans as they are excellent.
More annoyed about the fact my new iPhone will not be hear until tomorrow despite asking 3 different assistants WILL THE PHONE BE WITH ME ON FRIDAY "yes it is down for Friday delivery it will be" and to top it off Virgin mail is not receiving the emails 3 are sending out great no emails no phone and not even a posible time for it to arrive tomorrow.
anonymous 15 October, 2011 00:19
Maybe get a life ^^ - you can live a couple of days without the p*xy new aii phone
anonymous 15 October, 2011 22:17
If you buy a pay as you go iPhone for £500 you can get the giffgaff £10 a month and, if you stick with the giffgaff contract it'll be cheaper over the year than tesco and, has everything that tesco has and, adds even more with unlimited 3g, wifi and, texts. KERCHING!
anonymous 16 October, 2011 11:44
Answer: Buy your own iPhone from Apple and then get a SIM only deal but only AFTER checking the signal in your area.
3 - they can't give their contracts away because of their poor excuse for a 'network' and so have to resort luring people who don't do their homework by adding loads of minutes etc etc. Yeah but if the network can't handle the demand, which i can't, what use are all those minutes and texts? Not only that but WHEN something goes wrong and you need to discuss it with 3, you'll resort to death threats before they actually do anything and even then, they're so sub standard that they never resolve anything but instead resort to passing people around different depts. until they give up. They'll never see me again.
Orange - Their own Lies mean I don't pay them for a £35 contract! I have the iPhone4 and can't receive 3g signal in much of the City of Brighton, because i've been told that : i'm too near a tree, too near the transmitter, the transmitter doesn't have a 3g antenna, inside a building, too near a building, the weather, too far from a transmitter, Apple don't make good phones etc etc etc. I have not paid a single penny to Orange since May because THEY are in breach of the terms of their contract.
anonymous 16 October, 2011 21:48
Try telling that to the baillifs when they come a' knockin' ;)
anonymous 25 October, 2011 22:48
Good bye O2. Hello three on the one plan. Best deal out.
anonymous 27 December, 2011 23:41
Just to update on this article, GiffGaff now offers data plans for the ipad/ipad2, for £7.50 for 1gb. You can't get microsim directly for giffgaff, but you can order them for free from http://www.giffgaffmicro.co.uk
anonymous 28 December, 2011 10:02
as a customer of 3 for the past 7ish years (why i cant fathom) endless problems , shockin customer service when something goes wrong (and it will) . i sent my N95 away for repair in 09/10 , 13 times and still not sorted in the end , given an upgrade to a sony satio as they just have no clue . satio had a fault 8 months in to contract so went for repair , came back fixed but with a new fault ! sent off again but was nor repairable ???? recon handset sent to me , not working as should so was sent back again a week later only to be told the pcb was bent !!! . 3 months later and they want you to enter a new contract after all the trouble and problems . if you want endless problems and no signal most of your life , hence 2000 mins and 5000 texts , not forgetting tilking to a non english speaking dude in mumbi to try reporting problems , 3 is for you !!!!!!! do your selfs a big favour and stay well away . they really are s@it !!!!!
anonymous 5 January, 2012 20:37
With GiffGaff, by paying the £500 up front then topping up with £10 per month, once you have used your 250 free minutes how much is it then per call, per minute?? How do GiffGaff actually earn any money?? Have they got millions of customers, if yes then I can understand how they earn their money but if no then how & where do they get your money?? Just by topping up every time?? Are GiffGaff a reputable company?? If they were to go under, would i then be paying through the nose with another provider? ie:- (02), (3), (Vodafone), (Orange). Some replies would be much appreciated :)
anonymous 17 February, 2013 16:50
Buy iphone 4s deals 16 gb black.
eiphone4sdeals.co.uk