Vodafone launches Red Hot 12-month smartphone rental plan

Vodafone launches Red Hot 12-month smartphone rental plan
Get an iPhone 5, trade it in for an iPhone 5

Vodafone has today launched its new Red Hot smartphone tariffs, which will enable customers to rent a new handset each year.

Similar to car-leasing arrangements, users can borrow a smartphone like the iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S3 for a higher monthly rate and then swap it out for the new model at the end of the year.

For the all-conquering Galaxy S3, the Red Hot deal will set you back £47 per month for handset rental, 2GB of data, unlimited calls and texts and insurance on the device.

If you want to own the handset, the same plan (minus insurance) is £42 on a 24-month contract with a free phone. Alternatively the 12-month equivalent of owning the phone costs £51, offers 1GB of data, no insurance and requires a one-off £99 fee.

Goodbye early-upgrade fees

The plans are likely to be popular with smartphone users on two-year contracts who find themselves coughing up early-upgrade fees each year, in order to get the latest model.

That second year with a previous generation iPhone can be a long one for some Apple loyalists, so the Red Hot deal could be a fine option for those who want the latest and greatest.

If you'd like to obtain an iPhone 5 on the Red Hot plan, it'll cost £59 a month, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will be £52 a month.

O2 currently gives its customers a similar option with the O2 Lease plan.

Via Crave

Chris Smith

A technology journalist, writer and videographer of many magazines and websites including T3, Gadget Magazine and TechRadar.com. He specializes in applications for smartphones, tablets and handheld devices, with bylines also at The Guardian, WIRED, Trusted Reviews and Wareable. Chris is also the podcast host for The Liverpool Way. As well as tech and football, Chris is a pop-punk fan and enjoys the art of wrasslin'.

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