Advice on The Best New iPhone XS Plan Telstra, Vodafone or Optus

abdalian on 16/09/2018 - 20:54
Last edited 16/09/2018 - 21:51

What is the Best New iPhone XS Plan Telstra, Vodafone or Optus?

I have used Vodafone on a 24 months contract with VODAFONE which has finished now. Keen to get a new 24 months plan but I am not sure service wise. Vodafone has definitely improved its service in Sydney Metro and I am satisfied with the service now (it was bad 2 years ago). Been with Vodafone for 8 years now. Used Optus previously - was not happy and 3 mobile before that.

What's important for me:
1. Enough / Large Data
2. Free or International Calls included
3. Good experience/value for money
4. Want to own phone (not lease)

These are the plans I have shortlisted for iPhone XS 256GB:

TELSTRA:
$ 144 per month
90GB DATA then reduced to 1.5Mbps unlimited
Unlimited Talk Time
LINK: https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/mobiles-on-a-plan/i…

EDIT: Telstra BYO same plan is $89 pm on a 12-month contract. The price difference is $55 per month. Which is a total cost of the phone to be $1320
iPhone XS 256GB retails at $1879
Savings on phone: $1879 - $1320 = $559
https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/plans-and-rates

VODAFONE:
$60 data plan + $78.29 phone = $ 138.29
60GB data then reduced to 1.5Mbps unlimited
Unlimited Talk Time
LINK: https://shop.vodafone.com.au/mobile-details/iphone-xs-64gb-g…
Edit: Vodafone claims that they are not offering the mobiles on the plan anymore. They split the cost on the phone (handset) which can be spread over 12, 24 or 36 months. And the mobile plan is separate and they claim there is No contract for the phone plan. I am not sure if this is the way to go. But your thoughts are welcome.

OPTUS:
$ 130 per month
200GB DATA
Unlimited Talk Time
LINK: https://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobile/phones/iphone/iphone-xs…

OPTION 4:

Should I wait for a few weeks until new plans are released? Would they be any better? Would Telstra offer any better deal (not sure how Telstra offer plans) like Vodafone often offer better plans down the track when the FOMO fades.

Thoughts??

Poll Options

  • 14
    TELSTRA $ 144 per month
  • 2
    VODAFONE $60 data plan + $78.29 phone = $ 138.29
  • 19
    OPTUS $ 130 per month
Mobile Apple Mobile Phone Phone Plan

Related Stores

Telstra
Telstra
Optus
Optus
Vodafone
Vodafone

Comments

  • AdosHouse on 16/09/2018 - 21:04
    +8

    Holy cow, I remember when $100/month got me a 12 month contract with Vodafone for a new Samsung flagship phone.

    But as for your options, Telstra. 90GB is (profanity) ridiculous, and I (emphasis on "I", as in my opinion in my area) find their network the best.

    • abdalian on 16/09/2018 - 21:07

      I agree, I was shocked when I saw the new Vodafone plans

      Edit: Vodafone claims that they are not offering the mobiles on the plan anymore. They split the cost on the phone (handset) which can be spread over 12, 24 or 36 months. And the mobile plan is separate and they claim there is No contract for the phone plan. I am not sure if this is the way to go. But your thoughts are welcome.

      • AdosHouse on 16/09/2018 - 21:18
        +4

        I personally hate the new Vodafone price structure. They now charge you RRP for the phone, spread out on a payment plan, AND you have to buy a plan contract. The whole point, to me, of buying a contracted phone was for the combo to be cheaper than buying them separately.

        I'd scrub the Vodafone option. 30GB less data than Telstra and only saving $5.61/month. Vodafone have come a long way in the last few years, but I'd still take Telstra any day.

        As for Optus, I tried them once, had a bad experience, never again.

        Also this is my personal scenario, in my house, Vodafone and Optus, 1 bar of 4G, maybe 5Mbps, and constant dropouts. Telstra 210Mbps.

        • JimmyF on 16/09/2018 - 21:24
          +3

          The whole point, to me, of buying a contracted phone was for the combo to be cheaper than buying them separately.

          No such thing, the phone has to be paid for. The cost was always hidden in the 'plan'

          Just look at phones on a plan vs BYO plans. Also better value on the BYO plans!

        • jimbobaus on 16/09/2018 - 21:25
          +3

          FYI you have never not paid full RRP for a device on a plan
          it was hidden in the plan…
          Optus plan $60
          same plan with Voda: $40 etc
          just now Voda shows you the exact amounts you are paying for each part.

        • abdalian on 16/09/2018 - 21:50
          -1

          @JimmyF:
          Telstra BYO same plan is $89 pm on a 12-month contract. The price difference is $55 per month. Which is a total cost of the phone to be $1320
          iPhone XS 256GB retails at $1879
          Savings on phone: $1879 - $1320 = $559
          https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/plans-and-rates

        • burgermaniac on 16/09/2018 - 22:12
          +1

          @abdalian: Don't forget that if you go to JB Hi-Fi and sign up on a 12 month contract they will give you a $200 port in bonus. But do you really need that much data? How much of it is YouTube and video streaming that isn't needed when you are out of the house anyways.

        • abdalian on 16/09/2018 - 22:42
          +1

          @Hungrybonegaming:
          I have started doing a lot YouTube streaming recently by the way… I am using 20GB data a month now by limiting my data use - so I do need a fair bit as I am out and about most of the time.

        • burgermaniac on 17/09/2018 - 15:50

          @abdalian: Maybe the 40GB Telstra BYO plan might be useful? Then again I never use more than 10GB in a month (including full HD YouTube video streaming) so that is never an issue for me anyways haha.

  • smuggler on 16/09/2018 - 21:17
    +1

    what about a Pocophone?

    • jimbobaus on 16/09/2018 - 21:24
      +1

      are they coming to Aus?
      every review i have seen has raved about that phone :)

      • smuggler on 17/09/2018 - 18:01
        +1

        I doubt it. It's better to buy from HK

  • nahi11 on 16/09/2018 - 21:36
    -7

    Just go for the most expensive one as you seem to have more money than sense

    • abdalian on 16/09/2018 - 23:04
      +11

      The question was an advice on the plan for what's out there for the new iPhone. You don't need troll. Be respectful! This is a public forum - not your therapy session!

      • HeyHeyHeyIsItADeal on 16/09/2018 - 23:45
        +2

        some people get jealous man… You can still save money when you're buying expensive things people tend to forget. Even when you're "wasting" money on expensive things you can still save.

        Example before I get roasted. I buy a 65" TV for 1k but i can still shop around and "save" if i find it cheaper else where.

    • aeoz on 17/09/2018 - 09:02
      +1

      Honestly, spending $100 per month is not much for most people. Work harder and smarter mate.

    • Blurem on 17/09/2018 - 10:53

      Wanna make it any more obvious you're broke?

  • Diji1 on 17/09/2018 - 00:55
    +1

    Seems like a crazy waste of money to me (I spend about that on home internet so I'm a hypocrite) but if you must hasn't Telstra got a $200 month unlimited plan or something for mobile?

    • abdalian on 17/09/2018 - 04:04

      You are right, however If you are referring to talk and text, it’s unlimited on all these plans. The Telstra $199 plan has unlimited talk and text internationally to ALL countries as well. Couldn’t see any other difference with the $199 plan. That’s a pretty steep price difference of $56 a month

      • aeoz on 17/09/2018 - 08:58

        You are not getting it right. He's not talking about talk and text, anyone can get that with a $10 prepaid MVNO.

        Telstra offers unlimited internet data for the $199.

        • abdalian on 17/09/2018 - 09:06

          Thanks, however on the $144 plan Telstra is offering 90GB data on max speed and then after that it’s unlimited internet data with speeds capped at 1.5Mbps. The $199 plan offers untethered internet on unlimited data

        • aeoz on 17/09/2018 - 13:32

          @abdalian:

          The $199 and $144 is obviously a different plan that's why I called you out in the first place because you thought they were the same:

          Couldn’t see any other difference with the $199 plan.

          Why are you lecturing me back with something I already know, I just frickin called you out on it.

          Get the $139 plan instead if you're looking for cheaper lump sum for the phone because this one also has "unlimited internet".

          And you didn't even mention how much data you need per month.

  • aeoz on 17/09/2018 - 09:00
    +2

    Do you need 200GB of data on your phone? If not just get the 20GB, or heck the 4GB data on Optus for $20-30 cheaper than your $130.

  • StingyBritches on 17/09/2018 - 09:15
    +2

    (Slightly?) Off-topic:

    I'm also looking at plans and wondering if it is better to buy outright and then do a sim-only plan, instead of the usual contact phone/plan?

    Is it the general consensus that it's better (i.e. cheaper over 24 months or longer) to buy your own iPhone?

    • abdalian on 17/09/2018 - 09:26
      +2

      I did think the same, but on the Telstra plans I figured out we save around $559. See above comment.

      “ Telstra BYO same plan is $89 pm on a 12-month contract. The price difference is $55 per month. Which is a total cost of the phone to be $1320
      iPhone XS 256GB retails at $1879
      Savings on phone: $1879 - $1320 = $559 “
      https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/plans-and-rates

  • Karfaffel on 17/09/2018 - 13:18

    If you don't need a lot of data it's better value to buy outright and go on a cheap plan (I bought my iPhone 8+ from Apple and am with Amaysim 10$ per month plan as I don't need much data when I'm out). Works perfectly well for me.
    BTW Apple has a no interest payment plan that can be 12 or 24 months if you don't like the idea of splurging all at once.

    The way I see it the providers are encouraging users to go on bigger plans with the bundles. You get some "discount" on the phone… they get something by forcing you to pay a lot each month for a big data and calls plan. So if you need a lot of data anyway it might actually make sense to consider a bundle.

    • burgermaniac on 17/09/2018 - 15:53
      +1

      Don't forget, for many retailers (like JB Hi-Fi) they can hook you up where you get the phone for 10%ish off RRP, then give you a cracker deal on a case and screen protector.

      • abdalian on 17/09/2018 - 21:03

        Thanks buddy

    • srhardy on 18/09/2018 - 19:25

      if $10 is your limit, try https://www.belong.com.au/mobile/plans (telstra) with 64kbs data once you use up your inc data. Also add $5 for international if you need it

  • [Deactivated] on 18/09/2018 - 05:51

    Don't forget Qantas points with Vodafone, if that weighs into your decision.

    If you're thinking of buying outright this works better:

    Get 10-20k points
    Wait til credited
    Leave
    Pay RRP of phone (ETC)
    Go to provider of choice

    vs just buying outright.

    • abdalian on 18/09/2018 - 11:30

      Thanks, how exactly QFF points work?

  • popcorn on 18/09/2018 - 10:23

    just an add on to the Optus deal proposed, you maybe eligible for 10% off monthly plan fee plus 1 month free if you are a new customer to Optus, ABN required.

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