I've been an avid phone lover for years now, and new phone deals always turn my head when it comes to finding great value from devices you wouldn't expect. At this time of year, you'll have normally had at least two major flagship launches in the four or so months prior, and you'll have at least one just around the corner – this year, the Samsung Galaxy S24 for example – but it's the phones that these new releases are replacing that interest me.
Whether it's the phones the new releases are directly replacing or the competitors that are supposedly going to be made obsolete by the newer device, there are great ways to find value in switching devices at this kind of year – and the January phone sales make that all the easier.
As a result, I've been scouring the best winter phone deals from some of the UK's biggest network providers and retailers to see just where some of the best value of the season lies, and this year, there are some absolute corkers. Whether it's saving nearly £530 on a Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, Saving £600 on a Google Pixel Fold, or even £300 off a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, there are loads of new and interesting ways to save on some of the best phones of 2024 that you can get your hands on right now, so to help you out a bit, here are some of my top picks.
Today's best winter sale phone deals
Should I upgrade my phone now?
Getting the best smartphone deal in January sales can either be an extremely effective, or a somewhat wasteful, way of getting your hands on a new device.
The difference comes down to the impact that yearly price increases will have on the value of the deal you are choosing. On a yearly basis, your phone bill will increase in line with UK inflation, and your mobile network will likely add a percentage extra on top of this increase as a rather unappreciated extra. The extra your provider will add depends on who you are with, but often an extra 2-4% will be added outside the inflation-based increase.
Should you choose to get a phone contract at this kind of year, it may be worth making a quick calculation to see if you are still happy with your contract once the price increase takes place, repeat the process one or two more times (depending on how many years are in your contract) and you will be able to see a rough estimate of the final total you will be paying per month for your phone.
If the figure you are left with is not one you are happy with, it could be worth considering a cheaper plan or mobile device, or simply waiting until a better deal comes along. In general, the best long-term value can be found after these price increases have taken place for the year, so aiming to take a contract out in April or May could be the best choice for you.
