The iPhone 17, launched at £799 for outright purchase, remains a strong contender even as the iPhone 18 release approaches in September. However, its steep price can deter buyers. Traditional contracts often inflate costs, with EE charging £48.34 per month over 36 months, totalling over £1,700.
Mobiles.co.uk Offers Competitive Deals
Mobiles.co.uk, owned by Currys, provides significantly cheaper alternatives. For a 24-month contract, buyers can pay £29.99 per month with a £109 upfront cost, bringing the total to £861.16. This is only £62.16 above the retail price of the 256GB model, effectively covering two years of mobile service—unlimited minutes and texts with 10GB monthly 5G data. Broken down, that's £1.18 per day. The network is iD Mobile, which uses Three's infrastructure.
Higher Data Options
For those needing more data, a 100GB plan requires a £129 upfront payment and the same £29.99 monthly fee, totalling £881.16 over two years.
iPhone 17 Features and Improvements
The iPhone 17 boasts a 120Hz ProMotion display, previously exclusive to Pro models, and an always-on display for time, date, and notifications. It lacks a telephoto lens, limiting optical zoom to 2x, but offers improved colour options like sage green. It supports Apple Pay, Face ID, and MagSafe charging.
Giffgaff Interest-Free Option
Giffgaff allows existing customers to pay off the handset over 12, 24, or 36 months with no interest—£23.17 per month for 36 months for the £859 handset (£60 above retail). New customers must also purchase a plan starting at £10 per month.
