Im looking to upgrade due to the death of my blackberry and from what I can see Iphone contracts seem really expensive to get a good deal on them!

Why do they have such poor contracts for mins/texts and internet for the iphone?

One that has a good amount of mins and data has a 2gb data allowance each month and i have no idea if that is alot or not enough?

Im decidiing between an iphone or s3. I already have a few expensive apps on a shared ipad which would be useful to have on my phone! but not sure which one I want just yet.

What's your monthly budget? What is your definition of "expensive"? You have to remember that a phone contract is a way of getting an expensive bit of kit on credit: an iphone 4s retails around £500, a Galaxy S3 for around £450.If you're prepared to pay more money down for the device, you'll usually-not always- save money by getting a cheaper monthly contract. So when you look at a contract-most tend to be 24 month-for a £500 phone, think of the first £20 per month as interest-free credit for the 'phone, the rest of the payment being for your services.

well I currently spend 40 a month for the blackberry torch on orange. something like 600 mins and unlimited texts with the unlimited internet and blackberry services!
I know that, just seems the iphone contracts seem alot less giving than those compared to other smart phones.

You're probably better off going with 3 or T-Mobile for unlimited Internet. On 3 you can get an iPhone 4S with 2000 minutes, 2000 3 to 3 minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited Internet for £34 per month with a £49 upfront cost. There's also £97 cashback available through topcashback. My advice is to wait for the 6th generation iPhone though, due out September or October.

Im trying to hold out. Im curently using a ten quid phone I got from going away so the upgrade is tempting to get as its the most basic phone ever.

Im kind of tempted to keep with orange as I do use quite a few of their featues like orange wednesdays etc.

If you're ok with an iphone 4 instead of the (only marginally superior 4s, T Mobile will do the same 2000 minute/unlimited data/unlimited texts deal for £26 a month, with £29 down. Or-which many would say is a far superior device to the iphone 4s-a Samsung Galaxy S2, the same £26 deal but no money down.
With the going rate for a PAYG S2 being roughly £350, I make that as £14.50 a month interest-free for the device and £11.00 for all those minutes and unlimited data.

You could do this, but if you go for a 24 month deal, you'd be using 4 year old tech by the end of it!

Wait another month and see what's announced for the next iPhone. If you're going to tie yourself in for 2 years, you may as well have the newest version of the device.

It's a good point, but the OP was originally asking about the apparent paucity of good-value iphone contracts,and implying he didn't want to spend too much. Clearly, iPhone 5 contracts are likely to be dearer.

Buy the i phone 5 direct from Apple and use Giffgaff No brainer really

Why do people always recommend giff gaff.
Giff Gaff is meant for a certain type of user only. It is not the best network, it is not the best tariff, it is not the worlds best company in the world. It has its advantages and disadvantages like every network. Infact buying the iPhone and using giff gaff can work out more expensive than other networks.

Back on topic: iPhone contracts are more expensive because apple price the iPhone high and the price rarely drops. For example an S3 a year from now may have dropped from £30pm to £20pm as the handset depreciates in value and new tech comes out. Apple keep the iPhone at the same price all the time so the contract will still cost £30pm even a year on.

The guys recommending for you to wait till iPhone 5 are right. It's better to wait till iPhone 5 as that is only when the iPhone 4s will drop in price and the iPhone 5 will launch at same price/maybe higher than the 4s is now. It's better to go for the latest tech with apple as soon as it comes out otherwise you end up forking out loads for very old tech. (look at the 3GS. It's more expensive than a Galaxy S3 in some contracts which is a 3 year newer phone with much better tech)

I'd recommend switching to T-Mobiles full monty package for £36pm. Its cheaper than you're paying now. You get more mins/texts/data. You get the same signal as Orange (same network) and you can keep your old number. Also it gives you unlimited data (which is great) as no other network apart from Three does this. That way you don't have to worry about using too much mins/texts/data on your phone as it's all included in this package for less than you pay now.

If you want a contract on Orange to keep orange wednesdays/magic numbers etc... then get one with at least 1GB of data. But if you use your iPhone to download files/watch videos online/stream radio (or anything intensive) Then you will need more than 1GB without a doubt. This is why i've recommend T-Mobile. As Orange (and other networks) charge ridiculous amountts for data while T-Mo do it much cheaper.

If your wanting to get a new phone now then I would you get a S3 or if your going to get a iPhone wait for the iPhone 5 which dew next month, the 4s is not a phone you want be tied up in a two year contract in now.

What I like about Giffgaff (other than payback ) is they allow me to have UL Data & Text without having to pay for loads of minutes I won't need all for £10 pm. The payback means Giffgaff are more than paying for my tariff

How would it be more expensive for me ?

He said 'can', not 'will'

Yes the S3 resale price will plunge which means you will get a lot less back than a Apple i phone seller. This is something most Google phone users fail to take account of when estimating the cost of ownership of i phones.