Smart Phones

Pretty much all smart phones drain battery - I have an Iphone 4 and HAVE to charge it everyday.

Its because there are so many applications and the use of the internet drains it the most.

Im not sure about what kind of smart phone, but if you like the HTCs then that is a good place to start.

Also you could look at other androids like Samsung (S5 - i think its called) or a Nokia..

Best to go into an o2 shop and ask for advice and then see where you can get the best deal for the phone you want.

The best deals are usually online. Still with the same networks, and often even buying directly from the same network whose shops couldn't even match their own online deals! It'd have to be an excellent deal before I purchased a phone and contract from a shop nowadays.

If you use money cashback sites such as Quidco or Topcashback, you can expect to also make anything up to £100 cashback by buying your phone and contract online.

I'd visit a shop to get a feel for all the different operating systems (they are very different), choose your phone and tariff, then go away and get it cheaper (or more for your money online). I find that staff in phone shops are far too keen to get you signed up to expensive contracts without really listening to what you actually want (eg, going on about unlimited calls, even though you've just told them you only use it for emergencies etc).

Depending on your usage, it can sometimes work out cheaper to buy the phone on a pay as you go basis, and then shop around for a pay as you go SIM card to pop in it. I always compare the total costs over the full length of the contract and the results are often surprising.

For what it's worth, I have a Galaxy S3 and it's lovely (runs on Android). It's very customisable and as its so big, it's easy to use for the Internet. On the other hand, an iPhone does not let you customise much which is fine if you are not that bothered with that side of things, and I've always found iPhones to be very reliable (but too expensive now as the rest of the market has caught up and even perhaps overtaken them). I made the switch from Apple back to Android and am very happy that I did.

Since you're after a budget phone Jan, I'd definitely also recommend Carphone Warehouse. I have two contract mobiles for my kids with Talk Mobile which uses the Vodafone network.

Basic HTC model (running on one of the latest versions of Android):
http://www.talkmobile.co.uk/mobile-phone/pay-monthly/talkmobile/HTC/HTC-Desire-C-Black-N.html?network=talk+mobile&tariffcode=TKMKM041


'Basic' Nokia model (though even a basic Nokia is as good as most other mid range other brands - running Window mobile 8 which is actually pretty decent despite supposedly bad reviews):
http://www.talkmobile.co.uk/mobile-phone/pay-monthly/talkmobile/Nokia/Nokia-Lumia-620.html?network=talk+mobile&tariffcode=TKMKM041

Nokia's also have built in superior sat nav so they truly are multi functional devices and the build quality is always exceptional, the best of any brand.

Both £7.50 a month with reasonable allowances.

I had an android phone (LG) which was a load of pants, ended up having to get it exchanged while still under warranty and went with the Nokia Lumia 710 with Windows 7.5, now updated to 7.8 and I would not change away from Windows phone. I use Skydrive on my PC for saving documents which I can now view on my phone if need be, built in SatNav which stays updated without having to have a separate contract.

Great!!

It might be cheaper buying the phone you want sim free, not locked to a network, then joining giffgaff on the 02 network (owned by the same parent company). They are contract free and very cheap, especially if you want unlimited data. They can transfer your current number across too, mine was transferred without any problem and the service is good. Google giffgaff.