Technology & Social Media Buying mobile phone Outright or on Plan

Hi PC members,

Do you buy your mobile phone outright and go wuth the cheapest prepaid byo phone plan or you do see value in getting a phone on the plan ?

Currently I am using Sansung S5 which got cracked/broken-I will see uf I can repair tge screen and body but if ine wants to ho with Samsung S8 -Is it worth buying outright or on the plan ? (Not into iphone-currently use as a work phone)

 

If you want to get a flash top of the line phone then a plan is usually the way forward.

If you're happy with the S5 then just go into Officeworks pick up a moto e4 for 200 bucks throw a sim in it and you'll be fine. Waaaaaaay cheaper than a plan and a fine phone.

 

Try a cheap Huwei. They could about 30% of what the samsung would and are just as good.

 

Get this one, if you need a lot of data allowance on the best network. Pixel 2 XL (or just Pixel 2) is included in the price. Excellent value

[Instore] Google Pixel 2XL $59/Mth: 15GB, 2 Year Contract + Free Google Home Mini (New Customers, Port-in) @ Telstra / JB Hi-Fi

 

loads of good review re Moto G4 plus, it has the ability to add MicroSD, true dual SIM, I used to use it as well, can't complain. now using a Moto G5 plus. they well worth their price.

usually buying a phone outright + getting a SIM plan with one of Tels, Optus... is a good idea, value for money

 

Most $350 phones will do the job...just pair with a cheap plan like the unlimited calls/txt for $10 with Amaysim....how could you go wrong?

 

All great suggestios/opinions-I will check Moto and Huwei series too.

At the moment I am with Optus sim only abd happy with data and unlimited calls, txts and overseas 300 mins.

I do not want to spend $2K or 900$ on a phone so will look into those options.

 

If you look hard enough, you can pick up a S8 for low 700s for Aussie stock

 

Back when phones were smaller and I was younger and more regularly publicly intoxicated I always had insurance (provided by the phone company). It was something like $10 pm and the excess something like $50. I lost so many phones that was a wise investment.

 

A few years ago I purchased my iphone outright and put it on a telstra $30 prepaid plan. I pair it with the home network so never run out of data.
Around the same time my wife bought one on contract and was paying $80 p/m. She is now on a $35 Aldi via the Telstra network prepaid deal and has more data inc than I do. She has never had a problem with Aldi..

 

Last couple of phones I've had, I've bought outright. I've found it's a much cheaper option in the long run.

 

For a cheapie agree. If you've got an expensive phone and are careless it's probably worth it.

 

If you go with one of the top carriers (e.g. Telstra, Optus, Vodafone) then typically a plan with phone included will be cheaper than buying the phone outright and signing up for equivalent plan with them.

However, if you are happy to switch to the cheaper carriers/resellers (e.g. amaysim, Kogan) for a sim only plan and then import your mobile from the cheapest overseas source, then you may be able to find cheaper.

There are too many variables to give you a definitive answer. You will need to work out what you need (from your provider) and then shop around. For example one of the reasons I stick with Vodafone is their plans that allow you to pay $5 a day to use the service overseas (including data).

 

Depends what you want to use the phone for - mine is calls and photographs only - so I buy the best pixel I can for less than $200 ... monthly prepaid fee of $40 ... and phones usually last me several years before dying