iPhone 4 Tariffs

[Updated 29th June 2010 with Tesco Mobile iPhone 4 Tariff]

iPhone 4 will hit the UK shelves at the end of this month and some of the mobile network providers have announced their tariffs already. So who’s offering the best deal?

Well, that depends on which version of the phone you want and how long a contract you’re prepared to enter into with the provider. Here’s a breakdown…

Orange iPhone 4 Tariffs

18 Months

Cost per month£35£40£45£75
iPhone 4 16Gb handset£229£169£129£99
iPhone 4 32Gb handset£319£269£219£139
Minutes60090012003000
Texts500500500500
Mobile InternetUnlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*
Wi-FiUnlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*

24 Months

Cost per month£30£35£40£45£75
iPhone 4 16Gb handset£169£119£89£29Free
iPhone 4 32Gb handset£269£219£189£139£29
Minutes1506009001200Unlimited
Texts250UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Mobile InternetUnlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*
Wi-FiUnlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*Unlimited*

*Fair usage of 750Mb applies.

The first thing to note about Orange’s offering is that “Unlimited” doesn’t mean unlimited when it comes to Internet. Both 3G and Wi-Fi (through BT Openzone) are subject to a fair usage policy.

Unless you’re prepared to tie yourself in for two years with Orange (and pay £75/month) you will have to pay for the handset.

o2 iPhone 4 Tariffs

18 Months

Cost per month£30£35£40£45£50£65
iPhone 4 16Gb handset£209£179£119£89£29Free
iPhone 4 32Gb handset£299£279£209£179£129£29
Minutes1003006009001200Unlimited
TextsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Mobile Internet500Mb500Mb500Mb750Mb750Mb1Gb
Wi-FiUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited

24 Months

Cost per month£25£30£35£40£45£60
iPhone 4 16Gb handset£279£179£119£89£29£Free
iPhone 4 32Gb handset£323£279£209£179£129£29
Minutes1003006009001200Unlimited
TextsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Mobile Internet500Mb500Mb500Mb750Mb750Mb1Gb
Wi-FiUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited

The most notable change to the O2 tariffs for iPhone 4 is the limit on the mobile browsing. O2 tariffs across previous iPhone models have included unlimited tariffs, something the network is now putting a stop to.

Vodafone iPhone 4 Tariffs

18 Months

Cost per month£30£35£40£45£50£65
iPhone 4 16Gb handset£219£169£119£89£29Free
iPhone 4 32Gb handset£309£269£219£189£139£59
Minutes7530060090012003000
Texts250UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Mobile Internet1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb
Wi-Fi1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb

24 Months

Cost per month£25£30£35£40£45£60
iPhone 4 16Gb handset£219£169£119£89£29Free
iPhone 4 32Gb handset£309£269£219£189£139£59
Minutes7530060090012003000
Texts250UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
Mobile Internet1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb
Wi-Fi1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb1Gb

Vodafone is offering the highest mobile browsing allowance of the three networks to have declared so far with a similar pricing structure to O2. Minutes and texts on the lowest price contracts (on both the 18 and 24 month deals) are a bit stingier than O2 though.

Tesco Mobile iPhone 4 Tariffs

As of 29th June 2010, the most recent provider to announce its tariffs is Tesco mobile and it’s fair to say that its tariffs might have other networks worrying…

12 Months

Cost per month£20£35
iPhone 4 16Gb handset£349£229
iPhone 4 32Gb handset£429£229
Minutes250750
TextsUnlimitedUnlimited
Mobile Internet1Gb1Gb
Wi-FiUnlimitedUnlimited

24 Months

Cost per month£45
iPhone 4 16Gb handset£19
iPhone 4 32Gb handset£99
Minutesunlimited
TextsUnlimited
Mobile Internet1Gb
Wi-FiUnlimited

Of course, the most notable thing about the Tesco deals is that there is a 12 month option. However for those prepared to sign up to a 24 month option and stump up £45/month, you can get the handset for a very reasonable £19 or £99 depending on the model and get a great package of unlimited minutes and texts. Add to that the 1Gb mobile Internet and this is a pretty unbeatable deal.

So, Which is the Best Deal?

With fluctuations across the networks where minutes, mobile Internet and phone pricing is concerned, the best iPhone 4 tariff depends on how you use your iPhone. On paper, tesco is looking like the best deal for those prepared to commit to 2 years and pay £45, with Vodafone fitting the bill better for those looking to stick to a sub-£40 per month deal. But let’s not forget that T-Mobile and Three Mobile have all yet to release details of their iPhone 4 tariffs. Update to follow…

About Stacey Cavanagh

I’m the Head of Search at Tecmark and a lover of all things Internet and Apple. I’m a chronic #hashtagger, social media-er, compulsive blogger and a self confessed lover of inexcusably terrible jokes.