If you’ve just moved to the UK — or you’re planning to — you’ll probably want to get a UK mobile phone. It’ll make talking and texting with friends, family, and work colleagues way easier. Or, you might only need to get a new SIM card instead. It’ll be a lot cheaper too!
So if you’re thinking about getting a UK phone or SIM card, we’ve rounded up some of the best options for you. These should give you a hand when it comes to managing your life here in the UK.
Please note: This article talks about products sold at carphonewarehouse.com. Carphone Warehouse is part of Currys.
Do you need a new mobile phone?
This is the first thing to ask yourself. Do you really need a new mobile phone for the UK, or would you rather use your smartphone from home? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons:
Yes, I want a new phone
If you’re moving to the UK from far away — especially anywhere outside of Europe — then getting a UK phone makes a lot of sense. That’s because some international phones just won’t work properly in the UK. Or, you’ll have to unlock the phone you already own. But more on that in a bit…
No, I want to use my old phone
If you’re coming to the UK from Europe, there’s a good chance that you’ll still be able to use the phone from your home country. That’s because UK mobile phones use GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) like most European phones.
So, all you’ll need to do is get a new SIM card when you land in the UK. Just make sure to double check that your phone uses the GSM system before you do!
Unlock your phone
If your phone won’t link up to the UK GSM network, you’ll either need to buy a UK phone or unlock your phone and get a UK SIM. But don’t worry — unlocking your phone is pretty easy. And it’ll still end up being a lot cheaper than buying a new handset.
To unlock your phone, contact your network operator and ask them to unlock it for you. How this works (and how quickly they do it) will vary from network to network though. Some might even charge you too. But they’ll take you through the process step-by-step to make things super easy. And once you’re unlocked, you can grab some great SIM only deals in the UK. Very nice.
Getting a UK SIM card
If you’re getting a UK SIM card, you should try to buy one as soon as you get here. Then you’ll be able to organise all that important stuff as quickly as possible. But first off, you’ll need to pick whether a SIM-only or Pay As You Go SIM (PAYG) deal is right for you:
SIM only
UK SIM only deals are a great option, especially if you’re only staying in the UK for a few weeks or months. You’re only tied to the deal for a little while (usually a minimum of 30 days) depending on the deal you go for. So, that keeps things nice and flexible and means you can end or change your deal really easily.
Because you’re not paying for a phone as part of the deal, you can pick up great SIM only deals on the cheap too. A big plus of 1-month “rolling” contracts is that, when applying for UK SIM cards, a credit check should be easier to pass than if you were applying for a longer contract or a new phone. This is great news if you’ve just landed and haven’t built up a UK credit history yet.
Pay As You Go SIM
A Pay As You Go SIM (PAYG) is another good option if you already have a phone that’s unlocked and ready for life in the UK. With a PAYG SIM, you only pay when you use a service on your phone. So, the amount of mobile data you use — or text messages and calls you make — will be reflected in the cost. Your SIM can then be topped up with credit online or with shop-bought vouchers.
Getting a UK contract
A UK phone contract is a good choice if you’re planning on staying in the UK for over a year. But there are a few things to be aware of. For example, most UK mobile phone contracts will lock you in for a minimum of 12 months. And you’ll usually have to provide proof of a UK address, plus details of any other addresses you’ve lived at over the last few years.
There are loads of great, cheap mobile phone contracts out there if you qualify for them. But you’re more likely to be eligible for a SIM-only deal instead of a phone contract if you haven’t been in the UK for long.
Can you get a UK phone contract with no credit history?
If you haven’t got any credit history in the UK, then it’s bad news we’re afraid. It’s not really even worth trying. So, a SIM-only deal is a better bet. Especially as some networks like VOXI don’t need you to complete a credit check before signing up. You need to already own an unlocked phone though or be prepared to buy a new one.
How to get a mobile contract in the UK
If you want a UK mobile phone contract, and reckon you can qualify for one, then check out the range of contract phones at Carphone Warehouse. Think about how you use your phone and choose a package with enough talk-time minutes, data, and texts. And don’t forget to find out about network coverage too.
If you qualify, you can sign up for a new mobile phone contract in-store or online. If you sign up in a shop, then you’ll usually get your new phone there and then. You’ll have to wait a bit if you order online though. But the phone should be sent out to your UK address within a week.
When you sign up for mobile contracts and a UK SIM card, you’ll need some details and documents. Like proof of identity (passport or driving licence), proof of your address in the UK (like a utility bill) and proof that you have a UK bank account to pay your contract with. You’ll probably have to go through a credit check too.
If you’re able to buy online, you’ll get a 14-day cooling off period. This means you can switch mobile network during the first two weeks if you’re not happy with your phone, service or contract.
Can you get a UK phone contract at 16?
In short, no. You can’t get a mobile phone contract if you’re under the age of 18. In the UK, you must be 18 or over to sign any kind of legal contract. It would be against the law for a mobile provider to let anyone under 18 sign up for a mobile phone. Sorry, kids!
Dual SIM phones
Dual-SIM phones let you use two different SIM cards in one device. So, they can be a good choice if you regularly travel between the UK and your home country. This way, you won’t have to use a different phone for each one! You can just switch from one SIM to the other depending on where you are. Clever stuff.
Dual SIM iPhone
Various iPhone models have dual SIM tech. These include the iPhone 14, the iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 13, iPhone 12 and iPhone 11.
Other dual SIM phones
There are a few dual SIM Android mobile phones out there too. Check out Samsung Galaxy phones like the S23 Ultra. Or look at Google and the dual SIM phones from their Pixel range. Motorola has dual SIM tech on their Edge 30 Ultra, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G is a great shout if you’re on a tighter budget.
Main UK mobile networks
Vodafone
Vodafone is one of the UK’s biggest and best mobile networks. They offer a huge range of options, from pay monthly mobile phone contracts to Vodafone SIM only and Pay As You Go deals.
VOXI
VOXI is one of the best Pay As You Go SIM networks and is powered by Vodafone. This means that it has reliable and fast UK-wide coverage. A VOXI Pay As Go SIM card is super flexible and gives you the choice to change network or package at any time. You can also use VOXI SIMs when you’re in Europe. All you’ll need to do is buy a roaming package first. Simple!
iD Mobile
Powered by Three, iD Mobile offers a great range of pay monthly and SIM only deals. They boast 99% UK network coverage along with some great offers on Apple iPhone and Samsung phones. An iD Mobile SIM only deal also has a cool data “rollover” feature. This lets you roll any unused data over to the next month for free. Sweet!
Other UK mobile networks
Aside from the ones above, you’ve also got a bunch of other great UK mobile networks to check out. 3 (or Three) is a popular mobile network that powers iD Mobile too. And there’s also O2, who offer cool services like O2 Priority — where you can skip the queue at venues and get gig tickets 48 hours before general release. Don’t forget about EE either, who boast some of the fastest network speeds in the UK.
Any other questions?
Now that you know how to sort out your UK phone situation, why not protect your mobile with one of the best phone cases you can buy? Or if you’re a big Apple fan, here are some of the best iPhone accessories to pair it up with.
