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cheap Samsung deals

Cheap Samsung Deals

Find the best Samsung deals, incl the Galaxy S21 5G, S20 FE, S10 Lite & S20 5G

Chris Knight
Chris Knight | Edited by Gary Caffell
Updated 2 March 2021

While a new Samsung handset is never MoneySaving, if you've got your heart set on one, read our tips to help minimise the cost – including our pick of the best Galaxy S10 Lite, 20 FE and S21 5G deals.

 

The MSE Cheap Mobile Finder 

We recently launched our Cheap Mobile Finder tool, which compares more than 50 different retailers and resellers, covering all major networks to find your top deal. We've the pick of the deals in this guide, but use the tool for loads more options.

illustration

Top Samsung contract deals

Latest Samsung Galaxy top picks

Top deals on older Samsung models

The top Samsung need-to-knows

Should you get a Samsung Galaxy on a contract? What other ways are there to get one? Our Samsung need-to-knows should help you decide, as well as giving you some tips on selling your old phone and getting the most out of your current tariff.

  • 1. Never just go direct to a network – compare ways of buying first

    When buying your new phone, never just go direct to the network as this is almost always the most expensive way. Resellers usually offer the same contract deals for £100s less, while paying for a handset outright and pairing it with a cheap Sim-only deal can sometimes be the cheapest option.

    To make it easier to find the cheapest deal, our Cheap Mobile Finder tool looks at 1,000s of deals from more than 50 retailers and resellers to find the cheapest way to get your new Samsung, be that on contract or by buying the phone outright and pairing with a cheap Sim.

    Consider a second-hand or refurbished handset

    Don't forget to check out second-hand models on eBay* and refurbished ones directly from your network.

    See our Refurbished Mobiles guide for full information and tips.

  • 2. Don't overestimate how much data you need – most use less than 3GB a month

    If you don't get close to using your allowance of minutes, data and texts each month, you're essentially overpaying for your contract. Bust your limit, though, and the extra charges can be costly. 

    In our last MSE data usage poll, 78% of the 4,000 respondents said they use less than 3GB a month, while only 7% of people use more than 10GB a month. 

    If you want to check your usage, our handy Data Calculator in our Cheap Mobile Finder tool can help you. Key in your usage (for when you're not using Wi-Fi) and it'll give you a general idea of how much data you need.

    Alternatively, if you're an EE, O2, Tesco Mobile, Three or Vodafone customer, you could use Billmonitor*. It's currently the only tool that'll tap in to your actual mobile bill. Once you've provided your login details for your mobile provider, it will analyse your bills from the last three months to determine your average usage and suggest deals based on this.

  • 3. You can back up your Samsung phone and its data for free (or cheap)

    lock

    Losing your data, photos and contacts is a nightmare. But there are a number of easy ways to protect your mobile and data, many of which are free.

    Regardless of how expensive your phone is, the info you've got stored on it can also be mega-valuable, and it's a headache (and probably a lost cause) to retrieve contacts, photos, apps, games, messages after losing a handset.

    To beat this, free services can back up this crucial info before you lose it.

    Rather than old-fashioned cables, most now back up to 'the cloud' – which means storing your data on remote servers, allowing you to free up space on your phone.

    Back up to 'the cloud'

    This type of backup is becoming increasingly common – storing on 'the cloud' means storing your data on Samsung's own servers. Set it to back up automatically each day and you'll always have a backup of your phone should the worst happen, or you just need to free up some storage space. Samsung's cloud-based service, Samsung Cloud, allows you to back up phone settings, message, calendar and your music library.

    Storage costs vary depending on size, but currently it's free for it's basic plan (15GB) if you have a qualifying device. Take a look at this step-by-step guide on Samsung's site for how to back up data.

    There are other free apps available such as Dropbox, Google Photos, and Google Drive which allow you to transfer content from your phone to 'the cloud' – where your files are stored digitally – which can then be securely accessed from any device.

    Other apps to store data on 'the cloud' cheaply 

    Apps such as Dropbox give you 2GB for free, whereas Google Photos, and Google Drive give you up 15GB of free storage. These basic accounts will allow you to transfer content from your phone to 'the cloud' – where your files are stored digitally – which can then be securely accessed from any device.

    If you need more storage, Google charges £1.59/mth or £15.99/yr for 100GB of space, which is enough for about 30,000 photos. If you want to store more with Dropbox, its cheapest plan costs £9.99/mth or £95.88/yr, but you get a huge 2TB of storage.

    The old fashioned way – with a cable

    If you don't want to use Samsung's cloud based service or register for the free online cloud platforms, you can still take advantage of the traditional way of backing up your Samsung Galaxy phone, via the USB cable and its Smart Switch application. Take a look at the step-by-step guide on how to back up data using your computer on Samsung's site.

  • 4. Check signal strength where you live/work first

    Many of the new Samsung models now come with 5G as standard, but it's currently only available in a number of big towns and cities. Check out our 5G guide for more info on where you can get it. 

    If you can only get 3G/4G where you live/work, the quality of the signal you'll receive will depend on where you are. Across all the networks, big cities and towns should have a decent 4G signal – while those in rural areas can struggle to get even 3G.

    All the networks have coverage checkers on their sites, but these tend to be optimistic. Ofcom's research into 4G is the most up-to-date – and unbiased – coverage info we've seen. View its mobile checker to see what signal strength is likely to be in your area before taking out a contract with a new network.

  • 5. Don't just pluck for the included insurance – you could get it cheaper

    Accidents can and do happen. Because mobiles are worth so much these days, if you lose 'em, break 'em or have 'em nicked, it can be costly to replace them.

    phone insurance

    Insurers play on this fear with hefty prices and unnecessary cover. Yet you can get insurance for your Samsung Galaxy from £70/year. Read our full Mobile Phone Insurance guide for more info and best buys.

    If your phone's stolen...

    Report it to the police and let your network know ASAP. This is important to prevent unauthorised use of your phone, and may also be critical for insurance claims.

    Watch out for the insurance hard sell during checkout

    Retailers and resellers will attempt to sell you their own mobile insurance policies. These tend to be more expensive and offer differing levels of cover.

    Whilst you can turn down the insurance, the option to do so can sometimes be small or well hidden, so look out for it.

  • 6. Happy with your provider? Try haggling for a better deal

    Haggling on monthly mobile phone contracts can slash the price you pay. If you have a contract deal and you're nearing the end of your fixed term, your network will be frantic to keep you, so it's the best time to haggle. Long-term customers have a better chance of success here.

    Our latest poll showed the best mobile providers to haggle with are Sky Mobile and Three. See our Mobile Phone Haggling guide for help with getting a better deal. Bear in mind though it's usually harder to haggle on a contract for a new phone, particularly if you're after the latest model.

    Before you call your provider, arm yourself with 'new customer' deals

    All of the deals in our Cheap Mobile Finder are for new customers, but you could use the deals listed here to try and haggle yourself a better one with your current provider.

  • 7. You could make extra savings with some cashback deals – though be warned...

    It's often possible to grab extra cashback on top when you sign up for a mobile phone contract. To get it, you need to sign up via a specialist cashback website rather than directly with the network provider or mobile reseller. Cashback websites use affiliate links to generate revenue, so if they get paid when you sign up, you'll get paid.

    Unfortunately, this cash is never guaranteed, as sometimes cashback sites don't track deals in progress, so it's generally best to pick the right tariff first and view any cashback as an added extra. To find out more about how these sites can pay you, and how you can make the most of them, read the Top Cashback Sites guide.

    Retailer cashback. Don't confuse cashback sites with cashback you can get directly through a retailer, usually through redemption. This kind of cashback isn't straightforward, and can often require you to send several copies of your monthly bills on certain days.

    We usually steer clear of these deals, unless it's sent out automatically. 

  • 8. Key things to watch out for when taking out a new contract, incl price rises and credit checks

    Now you know the cheapest ways to buy a new Samsung Galaxy, there are a few final things you need to be aware of...

    • Prices can rise each year

      Mobile networks are permitted to increase your monthly tariff price each year, but only if their T&Cs state so before you sign up. And all the major networks have such terms, including EE, O2, Three, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone.

      Changes are usually made in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI, a measure of inflation) between February and April each year, but recently, some firms have chosen to change the way their prices rise each year. Opting to increase by inflation, plus a percentage amount on top. We've seen such recent announcements from all of the biggies including EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three.

      If a provider hikes your monthly bill and its T&Cs don't allow this – then you can leave your contract penalty-free.

    • You'll be credit checked

      Most providers will carry out a credit check, so if you tend to struggle getting credit, you may want to check your credit score before applying for a mobile contract.

      MoneySavingExpert.com's free Credit Club gives you your free Experian credit score and credit report. While it won't tell you for definite whether you'll pass a credit check for a contract, it will give you a general idea of whether you'll be seen as a good or bad credit risk.

      If you think you're unlikely to pass a credit check, or tried and were declined, it could be better to opt for an affordable handset and pair it with a pay-as-you-go Sim instead.

    • Some deals are for new customers only

      The deals here and on most comparison sites are geared towards new customers of the relevant network. If you're already with that network, even if your existing contract is up and you try to get the deal, then technically you'll be 'upgrading' rather than taking out a new contract, and you may have to pay more as a result. 

      Of course, you can still get the deal if you take out a separate new contract. But if you do, frustratingly you won't be able to transfer your existing number across to your new phone directly.

      There is a way round this, though it's a bit of work. You can get the deal on a separate new contract, and also get yourself a free pay-as-you-go Sim from a different network.

      Port (ie, move) your existing number across to the free pay-as-you-go Sim, then port it again to the new contract once it's been set up. To port your number over you'll need to request a porting authorisation code from your provider.

    • Once your contract is over, switch to avoid overpaying

      The majority of phone contracts which include a handset are paid for monthly over a two-year period, meaning the handset is paid for at the end. Though the handset has been paid for, most providers continue to charge the same monthly price after the initial contract period is over, meaning in effect you're paying for the phone again.

      To avoid this, make a note of your contract end date, and remember to contact your provider one month before it ends to give it notice, which means you're free to leave or change deal. If you're happy with your phone, consider switching to a cheap Sim-only deal or use our Cheap Mobile Finder to compare Sim-only deals. if you're happy with your network, see our top tips for haggling a new deal. 

Top Samsung Galaxy S20 FE deals

Samsung's Galaxy S20 Fan Edition 4G was released back in October and is a more affordable version of its Galaxy S20 – see Galaxy S20 FE specs. Though it's still not cheap - so it's important to bag the best deal. There are 1,000s of different combos, so to help, we’ve rounded up our pick of the best deals. For more options, see our Cheap Mobile Finder.

MSE analysis

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE – what we'd go for

Right now, the cheapest way you can get the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is with EE via Fonehouse. It's £663 over the two-year contract.

If you're already with EE, then there's this Vodafone deal. It's £672 over the two-year contract.

MODEL DATA & NETWORK (1) TOTAL COST (2 YEARS) UPFRONT COST MONTHLY COST
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 128GB*
via Fonehouse		 4GB/mth
EE		 £663 £159 when using code FHMSE30 on the basket page. £21
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 128GB*
via e2save		 18GB/mth
Vodafone		 £672 £120 £23
Note: These are today's prices, but providers often increase prices in line with inflation or a set % during the contract. (1) All come with unlimited mins & texts unless stated otherwise and allowances are per month. Note: Deals are for newbies of that network.


Top Samsung Galaxy S21 5G deals

Samsung's latest standard model is the Galaxy S21 5G – see Galaxy S21 5G specs. It's far from cheap – so it's important to bag the best deal. There are 1,000s of different combos, so to help, we've rounded up our pick of the best deals. For more options, see our Cheap Mobile Finder.

MSE analysis

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G – what we'd go for

Right now, the cheapest way you can get a Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is with iD Mobile (uses Three's network). It's £919.75 over the two-year contract.

If you're already with iD Mobile, then there's this 100GB/mth deal with Three via Fonehouse. It's £925 over the 24-month contract.

MODEL DATA & NETWORK (1) TOTAL COST (2 YEARS) UPFRONT COST MONTHLY COST
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G 128GB*
via Carphone Warehouse		 20GB/mth
iD Mobile (uses Three)		 £919.75 £79.99 £34.99
Samsung Galaxy S20 128GB*
via Fonehouse

100GB/mth

Three

 £925 £109 when using code FHMSE30 on the basket page £34
Note: These are today's prices, but providers often increase prices in line with inflation or a set % during the contract. (1) All come with unlimited mins & texts unless stated otherwise and allowances are per month. Note: Deals are for newbies of that network.


Older Samsung Galaxy models

If you're not set on getting the latest smartphone, then you can save money by plucking for an older Samsung Galaxy model. Prices take a tumble once newer models are announced, but some models aren't cheap – so it's important to bag the best deal. There are 1,000s of different combos, so to help, we've rounded up our pick of the best deals. For more options, see our Cheap Mobile Finder.

MSE analysis

Older Samsung Galaxy models – what we'd go for

Right now, there are very few decent deals on Samsung's older models and some cost just as much as its latest flagships. But we've found this one for its Galaxy S20 5G model (released 2020) which costs £816 over the two-year contract.

There's also this 'budget' Galaxy S10e model (released 2019) which costs £633 over the two-year contract.

MODEL

 DATA & NETWORK (1) TOTAL COST (2 YEARS) UPFRONT COST MONTHLY COST
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G*
via Fonehouse		 30GB/mth
Three		 £816 £0 £34
Samsung Galaxy S10e 128GB*
via Fonehouse

4GB/mth

EE

 £633 £129 when using code FHMSE30 on the basket page. £21
Note: These are today's prices, but providers often increase prices in line with inflation or a set % during the contract. (1) All come with unlimited mins & texts unless stated otherwise and allowances are per month. Note: Deals are for newbies of that network.

Have you thought about getting a refurbished phone?

Some mobile resellers no longer have stock of the older Samsung models, but if you're determined to get an older model, you may find it cheaper to get a refurbished Samsung. See our Refurbished Phones guide for more. Many refurb sellers provide guarantees on their products, meaning you're covered if there's a technical fault. Refurbs may work out cheaper when paired with a cheap Sim. See our Cheap Sim-only Deals guide for more.

How to complain about your network

The mobile industry doesn't have the best customer service reputation and while a provider may be good for some, it can be hell for others. Common problems include limited network coverage, slow data speeds, unexpected charges and more. It's always worth trying to call your provider first, but if not then…

Resolver - free complaints tool

Free tool to help you complain

This tool helps you draft and manage your complaint. It's totally free to use, and it's offered by Resolver, a firm we work with to help people get complaints justice.

RESOLVER – FREE COMPLAINTS TOOL*

If the complaint isn't resolved, Resolver can escalate it to the free Ombudsman Services (or CISAS if you're complaining about Virgin Mobile).

Important: if your issue is about a voucher or incentive that was part of an MSE Blagged deal, then instead just let us know by emailing voucherhelp@moneysavingexpert.com as that's usually quicker.

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If a link has an * by it, that means it is an affiliated link and therefore it helps MoneySavingExpert stay free to use, as it is tracked to us. If you go through it, it can sometimes result in a payment or benefit to the site. It's worth noting this means the third party used may be named on any credit agreements.

You shouldn’t notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How This Site Is Financed.

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Bill Monitor, Buy Mobiles, Chitter Chatter, Fonehouse, iD Mobile, Mobiles.co.uk, Mobile Phones Direct, Metrofone, Three

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