A key decision when weighing up options is choosing the phone operating system
(iStock/The Independent)
Smartphones are our link to the outside world – especially when we can’t visit much of it during lockdown.
But they’re also our camera, video player, music source and much more – so when you’re reviewing the latest batch of mobile phone deals, you’ll need to consider much more than the ability to make calls and send texts (they all do that, of course).
Before whittling down the best phone deals, you’ll need to make one key decision – do you want the operating system to be Apple iPhone or Android?
Apple’s iOS system is only available on the iPhone but Android can be found on phones from Samsung, Sony, LG, Oppo, OnePlus and more.
Read more: Best TV deals in the UK for February 2021 – discounts from Curry’s, Argos, John Lewis, and more
If you have an iPhone currently, there’s less of a learning curve if you stick with Apple. However, if you have Android, it’s pretty straightforward to switch between brands as the underlying system is identical, even if each looks slightly different.
If you’re keen on photography, then choosing a phone with multiple rear cameras is important. In many cases, quality is so good it can almost rival a digital SLR camera.
But even with prospective savings on the horizon, budget, as ever, is paramount.
Spending more money will get you better build quality, higher screen resolution and faster performance. You’ll also find extra features, such as a fingerprint sensor that sits in the screen itself.
More affordable phones are less likely to connect to the fastest 5G networks, which make downloading a movie near-instant, for instance, and cheaper phones won’t be “all-screen”, meaning there will be empty spaces above and below the display on the front of the phone.
That said, no matter how much cash you’ve got to splash, these mobile phone deals will make whichever model you’re looking for that little bit more affordable. Here are some of the coolest smartphones you can snap up at great prices this month.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
The best mobile phone deals in the UK
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iPhone 11 Pro, 64GB: Was £1,049, now £899 at Johnlewis.com
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iPhone 11 Pro, 256GB: Now £871 at Wowcamera
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iPhone SE: Now £389 at Chitterchatter.co.uk
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Samsung Galaxy S21: Now £769 at Currys.co.uk
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: Was £1,199, now £749 at Amazon.co.uk
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Google Pixel: Was £499, now £399 at Currys.co.uk
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Sony Xperia L4: Was £169.99, now £139.99 at Currys.co.uk
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Sony Xperia 5 II: Now £516.47, Bludiode.com
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TCL 10: Now £219.95 at Argos.co.uk
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Nokia 5.3: Was £149.95, now £134.95 at Argos.co.uk
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OnePlus N100: Was £126.69 at CSMobiles.com
Best iPhone 11 Pro deals
Apple iPhone 11 Pro smartphone with 5.8in display, 64GB storage: Was £1,049, now £899, Johnlewis.com
It’s rare to see a discount on an iPhone, so this is a great find: the iPhone 11 Pro has great battery life, outstanding cameras and Apple’s standout features like Face ID to unlock it, for instance. Choose from gold, silver and midnight green colours. You can also claim up to £300 when trading in an old iPhone.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro, 256GB storage: Now £871 at Wowcamera
If you have a lot of stuff you want to store on your phone, like music or video, say, then you can step up to the next storage level. And at this price, to quadruple the storage only costs £20 more than the deal from John Lewis!
Best iPhone SE deal
iPhone SE smartphone with 4.7in display, 64GB storage Was £399, now £389, Chitterchatter.co.uk
It’s hard to find discounts on the iPhone SE because it’s in such high demand, which is why this is just £10 less than the price you’ll pay at Apple. Even so, this is a great phone, especially for smaller hands.
Best Google Pixel 4a 5G deal
Google Pixel 4a 5G smartphone with 6.2in display: Was £499, now £399, Currys.co.uk
Google’s own-brand phones have the latest software and exclusive features. Although this is a keenly-priced phone, it has dual rear cameras, one with a 16MP sensor, the other with 12.2MP.
Best Sony Xperia deals
Sony Xperia L4 smartphone with 6.2in display: Was £169.99. now £139.99, Currys.co.uk
Sony’s affordable phone packs in a lot for the money, especially with £30 off. Despite the low price, it has three rear cameras and a distinctive slim shape that is easy to hold.
Sony Xperia 5 II 5G smartphone with 6.1in display. Now £516.47, Bludiode.com
Sony’s Xperia 5 series is exceptionally good: a great OLED display, three powerful cameras built in conjunction with Sony’s high-end camera division and the company’s trademark long, narrow screen design.
Best Samsung Galaxy deals
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G smartphone with 6.2in display: Now £769 at Currys.co.uk
The latest flagship from Samsung is the Galaxy S21 series, such as this one. It has great battery life, a good 6.2in display and three terrific cameras.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G smartphone with 6.9in display. Was £1,199, now £799, Amazon.co.uk
Samsung has just updated its flagship phone range to S21, which means it’s the perfect time to find great deals on last year’s model. The S20 Ultra is a big phone with three cameras, including one with a 108MP-resolution sensor.
Best TCL deals
TCL 10 5G smartphone with 6.5in display: Now £219.95 at Argos.co.uk
TCL is a little-known brand that’s growing fast. It makes high-specification, low-price phones and the additional £100 off this 5G phone makes it a great buy. It has a big screen and four rear cameras.
Best Nokia deals
Nokia 5.3 smartphone with 6.55in display. Was £149.95, now £134.95 at Argos.co.uk
Nokia is not only a beloved brand, it makes phones at every price point, often at outstanding value – like this big-screen phone with dual cameras and two-day battery life.
Best OnePlus deals
OnePlus N100 smartphone with 6.5in display. Was £126.69 at CSMobiles.com
This OnePlus phone is great value to start with, so at this price it’s a steal. The design is attractive and the phone feels good in the hand. The triple cameras work well and unlike some top-flight phones, this one has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
You can find more impressive deals in our guide to the best TV discounts for February 2021, from Curry’s, Argos, John Lewis, and more
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