So, it’s been almost two years since you last took the plunge and jotted your name down at the bottom of your latest smartphone contract, and now it’s time to upgrade. It’s a magical time for any mobile phone user, with hundreds of devices to choose from, but how do you go about upgrading your phone?
It might be your first upgrade or it could be your tenth – either way, there’s always plenty of information to take in, phones to look at and deals to consider.
Should I stick with my phone? Should I upgrade my handset? Should I get a SIM only deal? All are valid questions. However, the biggest task you’ll face is dealing with your current network and finding out how to upgrade with O2, EE, Vodafone, or any of the bunch of UK networks.
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But with each provider offering different experiences, how can you find the information you need? Don’t worry – we’ve got all of your mobile upgrade information by network right here.
It's a little bit different to signing up for a normal agreement, so can be a bit tricky to get your head around, as each UK network may be different, this is why we are here to help.
Just click on any of the below networks to find out all the upgrade information you need to know.
EE is one of the biggest UK based phone networks you can opt for, so upgrading is a wise move if you want a solid 4G connection and strong service across the majority of the country. To find out if you’re eligible for an EE upgrade, simply text the word UP to 150.
Following this, you should receive a reply detailing your upgrade status on EE and explaining where to go from there. It even lets you know if you’re able to get an EE early upgrade, which relies on you being 45 days or less from your stipulated upgrade date.
Other factors which could determine whether you qualify for an EE early upgrade include the type of plan you have, whether you have any outstanding debt on your mobile contract or if you’re a business customer.
EE does allow customers to move onto a contract with a higher monthly cost after you’ve been on your current deal for three months. However you can’t find a cheaper deal and move down.
If you do want to upgrade before you’re eligible for your EE early upgrade date, you’ll be forced to pay off the remaining costs of your contract, which can amount to hundreds of pounds, if you go down this route you might want to source some cheap SIM only deals as a replacement.
Recycle my phone with EE
If you do choose to upgrade your phone with EE, the network also offers a Recycle and Reward scheme for doing so, giving you cash for your old device. It effectively lets you sell your phone back to EE before taking out another contract, although there’s no cancellation period once you’ve agreed to the deal, so once you sign up there’s no going back.
You can find out more about EE’s Recycle and Reward scheme here.
If you aren’t happy with the price EE offers for your phone, why not consider recycling with us?
Orange and T-Mobile
Both Orange and T-Mobile are part of the EE network now, with both also eligible for early upgrade opportunities using the same method as EE contract customers. Both sets of customers are able to switch to 4GEE SIMs if they are more than 60 days away from their upgrade date.
O2 is another big fish in the mobile network pond, offering perks like priority access to events and more. However, if you’re curious to check your O2 upgrade date, you’ll need to log into your online account. You can also dial 202 from your O2 phone if you’d like to speak to someone regarding an upgrade, or head into an O2 store instead.
O2 allows its customers to upgrade early through its Refresh programme, which works by splitting your bill into handset and airtime costs. The airtime cost will stay the same, covering your minutes, texts and data allowance, whilst you need to pay off the handset costs before refreshing your device.
Like EE, you can effectively buy your way out of your O2 contract if you don’t want to go for the O2 Refresh scheme. This will result in you paying off any remaining bills that are outstanding, whether it’s three months’ worth or over a year’s worth.
O2 Recycle
Once you’ve upgraded your phone with O2, you can also recycle your old device through the network. O2 Recycle works identically to the EE Recycle and Reward scheme, you get an offer for your phone, and by shipping it to O2, you’re effectively selling it back to the network for cash.
O2 has paid out over £100 million through the recycling scheme, so there’s a guaranteed way to get some cash for your device should you decide to upgrade with O2.
.jpg "Vodafone Smartphone Contract Upgrades")
Vodafone offers varying dates to upgrade your smartphone, depending on what kind of deal you originally signed up for. If you’ve got a standard pay monthly deal, you’ll be able to upgrade your smartphone up to 30 days before the end of your contract. However, if you have a Red or Red Value Bundle, you can upgrade 60 days before the end of your Vodafone deal.
If you have a 4G device but not a 4G SIM, you can update to a 4G tariff for just £10, you’ll need to ring or head into a Vodafone store to sort this out.
Like other networks, you can buy your way out of a Vodafone contract whenever you’d like by paying off the remainder of your handset and airtime bills. This can prove incredibly expensive, so it’s considered a last resort.
Vodafone Trade-in
Once you’ve upgraded your phone, instead of throwing the old handset into a draw to gather dust, Vodafone offers a trade-in service, which can be taken up online, over the phone or in-store. You’ll be paid in cash for your handset, which can go toward the cost of a new phone and accessories.
The value of our phone is determined by Vodafone, and now and then, some devices will get you a discount on your monthly line rental when traded in. For more information about Vodafone’s trade-in service, click here.
If you’ve decided to go with Three and take in all of the international roaming perks that it offers, then upgrading with the network obviously makes sense. Three upgrade dates can be found out in-store or online, or by entering your Three mobile number here.
If you’ve got a pay monthly deal you’ll be eligible for your upgrade 30 days before the end of your deal. Of course, if you’d rather upgrade before then, you’ll need to shell out to pay off the rest of your contract costs – like all other networks.
Three does offer you the chance to test out live devices in-store before upgrading, so if you’re still undecided about which phone to upgrade to, then visiting a Three store could be a useful exercise.
Trade-in your phone with Three
Three’s trade-in service works both in-store and online, however there are a few differences. By opting for an online trade-in, you receive a cash payment for your phone, which is valued online and tested upon arrival. However, in-store trade-ins are valuated on the spot, and paid out as a gift card, to spend on accessories or a device itself.
Three also promises to match any price offered by its main competitors within seven days, so you’re guaranteed good value if you recycle your old phone with Three.
If you are still worried about the best and worst mobile networks and if your phone contract is coming to an end, you might be thinking about your next move. Well thankfully, you've come to the right place. With deals from all the major UK phone networks, you can upgrade your smartphone to any of the latest handsets.
When you can upgrade depends on each network provider. Many networks allow you to upgrade if you have just one month left on your contract, though this may vary between network providers.
Most networks will also allow you to upgrade early if there's a new handset which you are desperate to get your hands on. Some networks will make you pay an extra charge for getting out of your current contract early, but again this depends from network to network.
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Your credit rating can have a serious impact on your chances of upgrading to a brand new smartphones. However, just because your credit rating isn’t good, it doesn’t mean you should be forced into a phone you don’t want when upgrading.
By taking a look at our deals for bad credit, you can find a phone that suits you at a price that’s very affordable – and even grab yourself a guaranteed mobile contract if you want assurance that you’ll bag the phone of your dreams.
Like a normal contract you can get a freebie gift with your new deal, if you want to search for the best prices with a free gift then take a look at the gifts available and choose the upgrade option. See all free gift deals here.
Whilst for some upgraders a new phone will be more than enough to keep them happy, others want a little bit more than a brand new iPhone 7. Many upgrade deals allow for customers to bag a free gift with their mobile phone upgrade.
For more information about upgrading with the popular gaming consoles like the Xbox One and of course Sony's PS4.
When upgrading it is always sensible to keep an eye on the latest upcoming phones, a 24 month contract is a long time to stay with the same handset.
Here are some of the phones you may be interested to know about
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Register for alerts for the LG G5
Register for alerts for the New One
Register for alerts for the Xperia X
