I'm hoping to buy a new phone to replace my ageing Samsung Galaxy Ace 2. I want one of the "better" phones i.e Galaxy S6, HTC M9 or LG G4.

Problem is I really have a major aversion to contracts and pay monthly deals - there's less flexibility and in the end I find that contract deals work out costlier in the long run (considering I use my phone relatively infrequently).

First question is why do manufacturers or operators insist on new launches being made only available on contract? Second, does anyone know when these nice new phones will be released on PAYG tariffs? I know O2 are in the process of rolling them out already on PAYG, but they still insist on me signing up to monthly bundles which again, I don't want.

Thanks everyone.

Another problem with buying them via a network on PAYG is that they can be locked to that network (3 are the exception as they don't lock any phone that they sell).

I'd guess they do it because money - especially if it's an exclusivity agreement, like O2 had for the iPhone at one point

check amazon for proper unlocked phones independent of network.

also I know when I got my s5 901f, when also calculating what I got in the contract the phone was cheaper to get on contract than an outright purchase. Even if adding the cost to unlock it at a later date.

i've got a sim free LG G3, bought from Currys on Thursday

took an age to download all the software update

at one stage i thought there was a fault until noticed a different date for each one..

anyway.. it works great.. the QHD screen is superb, great sound

still getting familar with the functions..

as i said it doesn't have a sim card.

i was thinking of using the payg sim card i have on my other phone which is with vodafone.. which i could top up anytime..

i haven't decided which company to buy a sim card from yet as i can't find one that fits most of my criteria.. there's no rush though

I got the Samsung Galaxy S6 I am on Three 1-2-3 PAYG and ended up buying it 40 so pounds cheaper from Samsung's on-line shop
Carphone warehouse did not want sell one without contract

I noticed the same on Carphone Warehouse. I also looked on the Three website earlier - looks promising. Might just look into that - is the data connectivity reasonable with Three?


PS. I notice we're both West Sussaxons! Small world

The 3 2 1 payg is 3p a min calls, text 2p, 1p a MB data which works out at £10 a GB and topups dont run out till used
Get a sim from three and buy from Samsung shop it was £40 cheaper for a sim free unlocked handset

3's network is one of the best if you care about data - second only to EE really (same 3G coverage but EE has superior 4G coverage at the moment).

The prices are good too - but if you did buy the phone via 3, it's unlocked anyway, so it doesn't matter if you want to stay with them

EE has the best overall network in the UK for data but it is usually more expensive for 4G data than Three.