Top alternatives to the iPhone 5

by Rebecca Rutt on 26 September 2012  |  13 comments
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So the iPhone 5 is finally here, but if you're not in the market for the new Apple phone what other options are there?

The iPhone 5 has arrived after much anticipation and hype but if you’re not a fan of Apple products and you aren’t interested in the new phone, what other options are around?

The choice is vast - there are hundreds of smartphones to choose from depending on what you want from the phone.

On top of this, for every phone there's a huge selection of tariffs to sift through, from a range of different networks, making the whole process very confusing.

Here are some of the most popular models around, along with a selection of the best tariffs for them.

Samsung Galaxy 3

As the closest rival to the iPhone, Samsung’s latest Galaxy is a popular alternative to the Apple products. It’s got a massive screen of 4.8 inches (bigger than the iPhone 5), and a whole host of gadgets and apps to rival the iPhone.

It comes in marble white or pebble blue. One of the most similar functions is the ‘S-Voice’ which allow users to check the weather, open apps, take photos and turn the phone on and off with voice commands.

Top deals:

On T-Mobile the Samsung S3 is available for £20.50 a month for a 24-month contract which includes 150MB data, 50 minutes and 250 texts.

If you need a higher allowance, you can get another 24-month contract with 3 which includes unlimited data, 5,000 texts and 2,000 minutes for £31 a month (and a £29 upfront cost).

Sony Xperia P

Sony is relatively new to the smartphone market. The Xperia P is one of the cheaper smartphones on the market and although there’s not much to make it distinct, it has got an extra white layout making it readable even in bright light (a bit like the Kindle). The eight-mega pixel camera is impressive and it’s an easy phone to use.

Top deals:

This phone has some of the cheapest tariffs around although they don’t include very many extras. For example; a 24-month contract with T-Mobile includes 50 minutes, 250 texts and 250MB of data for just £10.50 a month (plus £149.99 upfront cost).

The best-value deals including unlimited data come from 3 and start at £27 a month for a 24-month contract which also includes 5,000 texts and 500 minutes.

HTC One X

Another phone in the HTC range which is proving to be a tough competitor for older iPhone models is the HTC One X. It’s a minimalistic model with an eight megapixel camera and it’s famed for being extremely easy to set up and use.

Top deals:

The cheapest deal for the HTC One X comes from T-Mobile and includes 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 750 MB of data for £26 a month.

If you need a higher allowance, 3 offers unlimited data, 5,000 texts and 100 minutes for £34 a month for two years.

Nokia Lumia 900

The Nokia Lumia 900 is the flagship Windows Phone with a 4.3-inch display and an eight megapixel camera.

If you’re someone who regularly drops your phone then this robust model is for you. It’s described as one of the toughest models on the market and the ‘Gorilla Glass’ is proven to withstand nearly all minor knocks and scratches.

Top deals:

The phone comes free with a 24-month contract including 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 750MB of data for £26 a month with T-Mobile.

Alternatively for a higher allowance of data, Vodafone offers 2GB with unlimited texts and calls for £29 a month.

BlackBerry Bold 9900

The newest BlackBerry was released earlier in the year and it’s meant to be the best and boldest BlackBerry of the lot. It’s the thinnest model yet (although a lot bulkier than the iPhone) and features a QWERTY keyboard and is the first BlackBerry with a touchscreen.

It’s aimed at people wanting a phone for business rather than entertainment and although the size of the screen is small at 2.8-inches it beats Apple and Android offerings with its impressive email and messaging functions.

Top deals:

The phone comes free with an Orange contract for 24-months including 200 minutes, unlimited texts and 100 MB of data for £20.50 a month.

If you increase the monthly payment to £25 a month you’ll get 500 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of data, also with Orange.

Making money from your old model

Getting a phone on a contract doesn’t always make financial sense when you are looking to get a new deal. This is because the price will generally always be more expensive as the upfront phone costs are absorbed into the monthly cost.

If you’re looking to sell your old phone, either to pay towards a brand new model or just to make some extra cash, you could make up to £200 through a mobile phone recycling site. There are hundreds on the internet so shop around first. Below is an example of how much you could get if you’re trading your old (non iPhone) smartphone. 

*source:sellmymobile.com

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