Top alternatives to the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C

We take a look at the best options available if you're not interested in getting one of the new iPhones.

There are two new iPhones on the market and they’re selling like hot cakes as Apple fans rush to pick up the latest models.

But they do not come cheaply, as prices start from £469 for the ‘budget’ iPhone 5C and £549 for the iPhone 5S.

So if you’re looking for something cheaper, or you’re not really fussed about getting an iPhone, here are the best of the rest.

Apple smartphones

There’s always a lot of hype around any new Apple launch. If you’re guilty of wanting the new phone but can’t face handing over so much cash, you can wait until prices go down.

Alternatively you could get an older model, such as the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S, which will be a lot cheaper.

One of the cheapest deals on the iPhone 5 comes from T-Mobile for 24 months. It includes 500 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data and will cost you £29.99 upfront for the handset.

If you need more minutes, Tesco Mobile offers 3,000 along with 5,000 texts and 3GB of internet, with no upfront cost. It will set you back £17 a month.

Samsung

Next in line after Apple comes Samsung. The Galaxy phones are a steady favourite and the latest phones in this range are the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy S4. These are 4G-ready and also come in a range of colours.  

The Galaxy S4 is a worthy alternative to the iPhone and is packed full of gimmicks such as letting you wave your hand over it to answer a call or pausing a video when your eyes look away. It’s also got a 13 megapixel camera and a replaceable battery.

EE has a good tariff on this phone, which includes unlimited texts and minutes along with 20GB of data for £51 a month and £19.99 upfront. For a free handset T-Mobile offers a package for £32 a month which includes 1,000 minutes and unlimited texts and internet.

Nokia

If you like the idea of picking your phone by the colour, as with the iPhone 5C, the Nokia Lumia phones are another option. They come in a range of colours, but the prices are higher for the brand new 1020 and will set you back £639 upfront.It's so much more expensive because of the 41 megapixel camera.

The cheaper 520 version is a more budget option than the iPhone. With Three you can buy a package for £16 a month which includes a free handset, unlimited internet, 5,000 texts and 100 minutes.

For a higher minutes package, go for the T-Mobile deal which includes 1,000 minutes, unlimited texts and internet and a free handset for £32 a month on a 24-month contract.

BlackBerry

BlackBerry phones have fallen somewhat out of favour in the past few years, but many people still favour them and the BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900 is one of the most popular models sold. It combines a touchtone phone with a keypad and it’s advertised as a phone which can perfectly balance your work and personal life.

With BlackBerry there’s a huge range to choose from, but when looking at the Bold Touch 9900 Orange has a tariff for £27 a month for 24 months which includes unlimited texts and minutes and a free handset along with 250MB data.

For more internet use, T-Mobile has a £27 monthly tariff which has unlimited data and texts and 500 minutes included.

How much money you can make on your old phone?

If you’ve got an old phone you’re looking to upgrade, you can make a fair amount of money for it by selling it online.

There are lots of places to do this, such as Mazuma Mobile, Envirofone and Fone Bank and the prices vary quite a bit.

The most popular phones on offer include older iPhones and the Samsung Galaxy models, as you can see from the table below.

*source: Sellmymobile.com

How to save more money

Several mobile firms, including Vodafone, allow you to trade in your old phone for money off your new one. Alternatively, try auction sites like eBay.

Compare mobile phone deals with Recombu.

Are you going to buy one of the new iPhones? Or is there another brand you prefer? Let me know in the comment box below.

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