Need a New Phone and Plan - about $40-50 Per Month

Laurenlauren on 26/03/2017 - 17:40

My Samsung Galaxy s5 has just died (won't charge), no longer in warranty and my BYO mobile plan with Telstra is just about to expire (30/04). I've since moved and no longer need Telstra service so I was looking to move to a cheaper provider over the next few weeks anyway. I currently have 10GB and unlimited calls but can drop that down to about 6GB with the new plan.

A few options I have looked at are:
- getting the Samsung S5 repaired (quoted $120-200) and using Kogan mobile 10GB plan for $39.90pm
- using Optus 25% off deal and getting the S7 with 7GB for $53.75 with Gear fit (which I don't need)on a 24mth contract.
- buying a new S5 outright (about $360) and using Kogan mobile 10GB plan for $39.90pm (which works out to $54.90pm if it were to last 24mths)

The first option is cheaper, the second gets me a better phone and the third gives me the flexibility of not being locked into a contract.

Are there any other options I should be considering around that price range?

Mobile

Comments

  • Kangal on 26/03/2017 - 17:58

    How much were you paying for your Telstra-10GB service? Sounds pricey, like a $75/month deal.
    Do you need Telstra coverage? Or 10GB's of data?

    There's plenty of Optus coverage, and 5-8GBs of data deals out there.
    And you should ditch the Galaxy S5, and I would tell you to not get a S7-variant either (the S8 is ready to sell).

    • Laurenlauren on 26/03/2017 - 20:32

      It was a bit pricey, $60 sim only 12mths. I know the s8 is just around the corner but I can't imagine being able to get that on any $40-50 plan

      • Kangal on 27/03/2017 - 00:17

        $60 is cheap for Telstra, and 4G, and 10GBs. Well done.
        Although they're much more competitively priced today, still, that's not really a bargain.

        I'm on Jeenee $35/month, no contract, Unlimited, 8GB Optus 4G.
        As for the phone, I use a Nexus 5X (32GB) which I got for $350.
        Not the best bargain service, not the best bargain phone.
        But the service is good/no issues and the phone is decent, and gets weekly/monthly support direct from Google.

        Just to put into perspective your cost and my cost would be over 24 months:
        Mine: $350 + $35 x 24 = $1,190
        Yours: $380 + $60 x 24 = $1,820
        Difference: $630

        You should look into switching to a MVNO/no contract one, and buying the phone you WANT outright.
        Always ends up cheaper. And at the end of the day, you get what you want (without paying for inflated profit margins).

  • datafellows on 26/03/2017 - 18:19

    I have plans on Optus (moved earlier from Telstra because of the price) and recently signed up one new service on Virgin S7e with free gearfit and some ~$100 bonus (ie ~2 months free) because pricing again.

    Virgin uses Optus network and has worked just fine and the price for my plan was the cheapest.

    Check out their site if you find something that you like :)

    • Laurenlauren on 26/03/2017 - 20:51

      Thanks, the Samsung S7 is available on the $50 plan but only with $300 calls and 500mB

      • datafellows on 26/03/2017 - 21:33

        I could cope with the $300 calls as I call out less than a minute per day on average but 500MB data is a killer.

        I managed with 1.5GB on Telstra still few years ago but now we enjoy Optus data pooling with our family and I can flex it to about 3GB and leave my wife and daughter about 12GB to share :P

  • datafellows on 26/03/2017 - 18:23

    Or if you don't need the newest and greatest buy for example a Xiaomi redmi note 3 pro outright and get the cheapest BYO deal you can find.

    IMO that phone is just great and the battery life is just awesome :)

    • cheapisgood on 26/03/2017 - 19:11

      I notice that you seem to be mentioning that phone quite a lot. Are you trying to advertise for them?

      • [Deactivated] on 26/03/2017 - 20:40

        Its the oZb mobile of choice.

        On optus $70 month for 25gb data.

      • datafellows on 26/03/2017 - 21:27

        Nah, we don't sell Xiaomi phones, I just share good experiences :)

        I bought one for our office and tether internet for office PCs and several other devices on Optus $2 days prepaid plan (with unlimited data). Internet bill for us is just about $50pm which is great.

        The battery lasts for the whole day and the tethering speed is really good, up to 600mbits.

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