Google has officially shut down its travel-planning app Google Trips, and shifted its features into Maps and Search.
Trips’ departure was announced in June, and today Google has officially ended support for the app. If you didn’t manage to back up your notes and destinations in time, don’t worry – you can still access them through Search when you’re logged into your Google account.
Feeling lost? Google has published a guide to help. To find activities in Search, simply type ‘things to do’ or visit the revamped Google Travel site.
The Google Travel site also lets you make and browse travel reservations. You’ll soon be able to add and edit notes here, as you could in the app, letting you jot down memos like essentials to pack and any special documents you need to take.
Swiping up on the ‘Explore’ tab in Google Maps will also reveal things you can do at a certain destination. You can save places to visit at a future date, and soon you’ll be able to see future reservations as well.
Tripping through time
Google Trips only graced our screens briefly, having launched in 2016 as a tool for taking the stress out of planning a holiday, building an itinerary, finding activities, and even storing your boarding passes. It stored as much data as possible on your phone before you left home, reducing the risk of expensive roaming charges.
It was a handy tool, and thoughtfully designed, so it’s good to see that its best features have been integrated into Google’s main services where more people will be able to find and use them. Bon voyage, Trips – it’s been fun.
We’ve been chomping at the bit for more news on The Last of Us: Part 2. When will it release? What’s the story going to be? Where the heck is Joel? And will the long-awaited sequel be coming to the PS5?
While concrete details are still thin on the ground, voice-over veteran Troy Baker (aka Joel from The Last of Us) did tease fans about upcoming title at Manchester Comic-Con (via Resetera).
“There is nothing about this game, nor the reveals, that hasn’t been 100% carefully crafted and methodically curated,” Baker told fans. “All I can tell you is that as much as you’re clamoring for it, you’re not ready.”
Baker’s comments suggest it may be a while before we get our hands on The Last of Us 2, or even hear more about it (which we hope isn’t the case).
Sony has remained pretty tight-lipped about the title since it was announced, and even skipped E3 2019.
We think it looks likely that the Last of Us: Part 2 will launch alongside the PlayStation 5, which is due to launch at the end of 2020. Baker’s comments teasing that the sequel is a while off, alongside Sony’s radio silence, suggest that 2020 will be Sony’s big year rather than 2019.
Either way, it sounds like the continuation of Ellie and Joel’s story is going to tug at our heartstrings…
Luxembourg’s data privacy watchdog says it is in discussions with Amazon about voice recordings made of customers who have used the firm’s Alexa smart assistant.
The regulator is the lead supervisory authority for the company in the EU, meaning that it co-ordinates investigations into the business on behalf of the other member states.
At this point it has not launched a formal privacy probe.
Amazon declined to comment.
But a spokesman for the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD) said that citizens could “file a compliant with our authority or his/her national supervisory authority” if they had concerns.
“Unfortunately, at this stage, we cannot comment further about this case as we are bound by the obligation of professional secrecy,” he added.
It said the recordings had sometimes been triggered by Amazon’s smart speakers mishearing the command that is supposed to restrict when audio is transmitted back to the firm. It reported they had included everyday conversations as well as instances of suspected sexual assault.
Amazon says it uses human reviewers to improve its voice recognition tech’s accuracy as well as to develop new features.
While some of this work is done in Amazon’s own offices, it has emerged that some outsourced contractors have been encouraged to do the transcriptions from home.
In June, Amazon’s Alexa chief Dave Limp told the BBC that only a fraction of 1% of Alexa recordings were checked by humans.
But he acknowledged that the firm’s terms and conditions could have been “more specific” to make clear that the audio could be subject to human review.
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At the end of last week, the firm added an option in Alexa’s smartphone app to allow users to have their recordings excluded from the relevant database.
“The voice recordings from customers who use this opt-out are also excluded from our supervised learning workflows that involve manual review of an extremely small sample of Alexa requests. We’ll also be updating information we provide to customers to make our practices more clear,” it said in a statement.
A spokeswoman told the BBC that this move was not related to the CNPD’s actions.
Last week, Apple revealed it had also halted all human review of recordings made via its Siri virtual assistant, while Google said it had suspended similar checks made of audio captured via its Assistant across the EU.
The lead supervisory authority for these two companies is Ireland’s data watchdog.
It told the BBC that it was in contact with both firms.
“The Data Protection Commission is engaging with both Google and Apple to establish further details on the processing of personal data in the context of the manual transcription of audio recordings collected by these companies’ digital assistants, and to establish how the companies concerned believe that such processing of data is compliant with their GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation] obligations, further to which we will be making our assessments and conclusions,” a spokeswoman told the BBC.
“We note that both companies have ceased this processing, Google from mid-July and Apple in recent days.”
How to opt out of Alexa recording reviews:
Open the Alexa app
Select Settings via the menu bar
Tap Alexa Privacy
Press the text Manage How Your Data Improves Alexa
Unselect both the “help improve Amazon services and develop new features” setting as well as the ‘use messages to improve transcriptions” option for each household user
Acer is a household name in the PC gaming space with its high-end Predator series and the budget-friendly Nitro series. At an event in Mumbai today, Acer expanded its Indian product lineup with 8 new gaming laptops, streaming devices and monitors.
Acer now boasts of a fairly diverse portfolio consisting of laptops at various screen sizes, latest Intel processors, Nvidia RTX or GTX graphics cards and prices ranging between INR 59,999 and INR 4,49,999.
Acer Predator Triton series
(Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)
The top of the line model is the Acer Predator Triton 900 which brings a futuristic hinge that can be rotated independently of the display and can thus be propped at any angle facing either of the sides. That’s a 17.3-inch 4K IPS panel with support for G-Sync that can be floated over the keyboard for a immersive experience, traditional notebook mode and even a stand mode for using it as a touchscreen or for content creation.
Internally, the Acer Predator Triton 900 is powered by an 8-core 9th Gen Intel Core i9 processor that can Turbo up to 5GHz along with the new Nvidia RTX 2080 GPU and up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM. There are two 512GB M.2 NVMe SSDs in a Raid 0 configuration, a full-sized mechanical keyboard with a NumPad with per-key RGB lighting and additional macro keys and a custom-engineered 4th gen AeroBlade cooling technology while still being reasonably slim at 0.94-inches.
Next up is the Acer Predator Triton 500 which aims to be a compact gaming powerhouse bringing an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 2080 Max-Q GPUs to a form factor that is just 0.25-inches thick and weighs about 2 kgs. The display is a 15.6-inch panel with a FullHD resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. Pricing starts at INR 1,65,999.
Acer Predator Helios series
Acer Predator Helios 700
(Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)
The Acer Predator Helios 300 comes in a 15-inch and a 17-inch skew, with FullHD resolution at 144Hz, Intel Core i7 and an Nvidia RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU and up to 32GB of RAM. Pricing starts at INR 99,999 for the smaller variant and INR 1,14,999 for the bigger one.
The Acer Predator Helios 700 has the most futuristic design of the lot, with an entire keyboard that slides out allowing for better air circulation and uncovering two additional air intakes. Not just that, it also houses two AeroBlade fans, five copper heat pipes, a vapour chamber and CoolBoost. Internally, the Helios 700 has a 9th Gen Intel Core i9, Nvidia RTX 2070 or 2080 graphics, and up to 64GB of RAM. The base variant is priced at INR 2,49,999 and will be available next month onwards.
Acer Nitro series
The Nitro series is one of the most well-known budget gaming series. Consisting of the Nitro 7, the Nitro 5 15” and the Nitro 5 17”, these laptops are powered by the latest-gen Intel processors and Nvidia graphics and up to 32GB of RAM and storage varying between HDD and SSD options. Pricing starts at INR 59,999 for the Nitro 5 and INR 84,999 for the Nitro 7.
The event also saw the launch the Nitro Stream, the AOPEN curved gaming monitor and the Nitro VG0 and the Nitro VG1 gaming monitors, which start at a competitive INR 7,999.
Vodafone is one of the biggest networks in the world and by far one of the most powerful brands in the UK. Not surprising when they so frequently offer excellent tariffs on flagship handsets like the iPhone XR, Galaxy S9 and the market’s other favourite phones.
Vodafone seems to go through fits and spurts when it comes to how competitively it’s priced. It can go from the cheapest on the market, to pretty poor on our mobile phone deals comparison charts. Unfortunately, Vodafone seems to be going through one of its more expensive periods.
We’ve seen prices across devices rise on Vodafone lately, especially the bigger devices like the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. However, there are still tonnes of great deals floating around, it just takes more searching and luckily we’ve done that part for you.
If Vodafone appeals to you though – or if you want to bag a Red Entertainment package that gives you a year’s subscription to Spotify Premium, NOW TV Entertainment or the Sky Sports app – then that’s where this page comes in! We’ve rounded up all of the best Vodafone phone deals so that you don’t have to, just take a look at TechRadar’s bespoke comparison chart below.
Price comparison chart
Vodafone phone deals on the Huawei P30 Pro
The latest and greatest from Huawei, the P30 Pro is now easily our choice for best smartphone camera on the market. Combine top of the line camera quality with an impressive battery life and beautiful screen and you get easily one of the best phones on the market.
Huawei P30 Pro | FREE upfront | unlimited data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £39pm After a recent move into the world of unlimited data, Vodafone has this excellent offer. At a price much cheaper than Three’s unlimited deal for this phone, this could be a brilliant offer for those big data hunters. However, be warned that Vodafone’s unlimited plans do have caps when it comes to speeds. Total cost over 24 months is £936
Huawei P30 Pro | £220 upfront (with code 10OFF) | 5GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £28pm This contract is for all of those people who want their monthly bills as low as possible. Knocking the bills all the way down to £28 each month, this P30 Pro deal’s only downside is its upfront cost – £220. For that cost you get a pretty fair 5GB of data. Total cost over 24 months is £1,030
Samsung’s newest release, this phone is rocking a completely flat, notch-less screen with a pin hole camera, giving it a unique style. Whether it’s the triple cameras on the back, fast processor or reverse charging, there is a lot to love here.
Samsung Galaxy S10 | FREE upfront | Unlimited data, minutes and texts | £39 per month For those wanting unlimited data, it doesn’t get much better than this. There is nothing to pay upfront and the monthly bills come in at just £39 – the only downside, Vodafone restricts its speeds on these packages, so you won’t be getting the full benefits of your unlimited data. Total cost over 24 months is £936
Samsung Galaxy S10 512GB | £230 upfront | 5GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £28 per month For those who hate the idea of paying a lot each month, this deal could be for you. Yes, a lot of that cost does instead go into the upfront. However, offering 5GB of data and an impressive 512GB of storage, that cost feels well worth your time. Total cost over 24 months is £902
Samsung’s brand new budget flagship, the S10e features high-end specs for an affordable price. If you want the best Samsung has but don’t want to have to pay through the roof to get it, this is the way to go. With all of the same features as the S10 with a few cutbacks, this is a high-end phone with mid-range pricing.
Samsung Galaxy S10e | £99 upfront | 5GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £24pm While this offer has recently been hit by a pretty major price rise, it is still one of the best prices for those wanting cheap monthly bills. After you pay the slightly higher than normal £160 upfront, you are then rewarded with £24 a month bills, a brilliant price for a device like this. Total cost over 24 months is £675
The iPhone XR hits a sweet spot between high tech and reasonable pricing. It looks a lot like its more powerful brethren – both in appearance and on the spec sheet – and boasts a glorious 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display and A12 Bionic chipset without a £1,000 price tag.
iPhone XR | £199 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 5GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | £28pm This contract offers up some more than affordable monthly bills of just £28. However, to get those impressively low costs on this device, you do have to pay £199 upfront (if you use the code 10OFF). That price lands you 5GB of data and a comforting overall price. Total cost over 24 months is £871
iPhone XR | FREE upfront | Unlimited data | Unlimited calls and texts | £45pm For those who want to go all out on data, look no further than this iPhone XR deal. It costs absolutely nothing upfront and just £45 a month, at that price you’re getting no caps whatsover on your internet usage, meaning non-stop streaming. Total cost over 24 months is £1,080
OK, so the Samsung Galaxy S9 doesn’t make massive strides on the S8, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still one of the premier Android phones on the market. The cameras in particular are awe inspiring and tangible improvements have been made to the biometrics and position of the fingerprint scanner.
Samsung Galaxy S9 | £9.99 upfront | 1GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £32pm Vodafone is realistically not the network to go for with this phone – other networks have much better pricing. But if your set on Vodafone, this is the best offer on the S9. There’s nothing to pay upfront but the bills are high and the data is low. Total cost over 24 months is £777.99
Oh gosh, Apple went and did it. After years upon years of incremental upgrades, it finally made something special to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. For the iPhone X it has dropped the bezel altogether, while the 5.8-inch Super Retina HD is scarily good – and then it tweaked things a year later for the XS. Marvellous!
iPhone XS | £87.99 upfront | 5GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £52pm Unfortunately, Vodafone isn’t on its best form when it comes to the iPhone XS right now. At £52 a month and £91.99 upfront this is one of the cheapest Vodafone offers around. Considering you’re only getting 5GB of data, we would recommend one of the other offers on this page. Total cost over 24 months is £1,335.99
iPhone X 64GB | FREE upfront | All-you-can-eat data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £49pm Recently, unlimited data has become a relatively affordable option. This offer drops the upfront costs and gives monthly bills of just £49, making it cheaper than any other unlimited offer on the iPhone X – perfect for those big streamers out there. Total cost over 24 months is £1,176
Best Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Note 8 deals on Vodafone
Samsung has now well and truly put the flaming memory of the Note 7 behind it. If the Note 8 was exceptional (6.3-inch infinity display and 6GB RAM), then the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is even bigger and better (6.4-inch infinity display and 8GB RAM). If you want the best big screen Android phones on the market, then look no further.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 | £23.99 upfront | Unlimited data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £44 per month For the best Galaxy Note 9 deals on Vodafone, look no further. You don’t have to pay anything at all upfront and the monthly bills are just £44. Paired with the unlimited data cap you’re getting, this tops all other Vodafone Galaxy Note 9 deals currently available. Total cost over 24 months is £1,056
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 | Vodafone | £44.99 upfront | 5GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £36pm Cut the data down slightly and you could save yourself some money. Coming in at £36 a month and a low upfront of just £39.99 this is one of the more affordable Galaxy Note 9 deals out there. But if lots of data on Vodafone is important for you, go with the offer above. Total cost over 24 months is £903.99
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | FREE upfront | Unlimited data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £36pm For the best Note 8 deal on Vodafone – look no further. With an unlimited data cap at £36 a month this is certainly a good sign that Vodafone is finally becoming an affordable option on this device. You don’t even have to pay anything upfront. Considering its not really that much more than most deals, this seems like a great price for an unlimited data cap. Total cost over 24 months is £680
Thanks to the spectacle that was the iPhone X launch, the reception for the iPhone 8 was a little bit flat. Perhaps unfairly – it improves on the iPhone 7 with wireless charging and an improved camera. Plus, it’s quite a bit cheaper. So if you’re looking for the best iPhone but balk at the iPhone X expense, try the 8 on for size instead.
iPhone 8 64GB | FREE upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited mins and texts | £35pm Who says unlimited data has to be an expensive option? Coming in at £35 a month and nothing upfront, this is some purely excellent value for those trying to score an iPhone 8 with unlimited data. The only issue, there is a cap of 10Mbs meaning you may struggle with intensive gaming and heavy downloads. Total cost over 24 months is £840
The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL are relatively new devices on the flagship scene but they have very quickly become two of our favourites. Powerful processors, loud speakers, but most importantly they have what is arguably the best cameras you can get on a phone right now.
Google Pixel 3 | £14.99 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £34pm After a recent price hit, it appears that the network of Vodafone was hit the hardest. If you want to go with Vodafone, this seems to be the most affordable option available right now. The big redeeming feature here is the 30GB of data you’re getting. Total two year cost is £545
Google Pixel 3 XL | £7.99 upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £38pm For Vodafone’s best offer on the Pixel 3 XL, you can turn to Fonehouse. Offering 30GB of data for £38 a month, this isn’t the best offer out there but it is still pretty great. You only have to spend £7.99 upfront so there isn’t even any surprises there. Total cost over 24 months is £919.99
With 4G coverage of roughly 95% of the UK population, Vodafone won’t let you down when it comes to connection. Sign up for a Vodafone red entertainment plan and you can get access to the likes of Now TV, MTV and Sky Atlantic.
No matter the plan you’re on, you will be able to use Vodafone’s Veryme rewards scheme. This will occasionally give you access to free coffees and snacks, giveaways and discounts.
Can I keep my number when I switch to Vodafone?
If you switch over to a Vodafone deal but want to keep your old number, then simply give your old network a ring, get a PAC code and transition it over.
If you were previously with Vodafone, you can still keep your number but it is a slightly trickier affair. They won’t let you keep your number, so you have to use this workaround. Buy a free pay-as-you-go SIM from any other network and tell your network that you’re moving.
They’ll release the PAC code, which you then give to the substitute network. Then, you immediately get another PAC code from them. Take that to your old network, and they’ll move your number to your new contract. Long winded, but easier than learning a new number!
Can I use my Vodafone device abroad?
With any Vodafone deal you can use your data allowances without any additional costs while travelling within Europe. That includes locations such as French Guiana, St Martin and Martinique.
When travelling outside of Europe your costs with a Vodafone deal will jump up. Anywhere outside of Europe is a ‘roam-further destination’, this means you will be charged £6 a day to use your data.
However, get a Vodafone red entertainment plan and you will get to use roaming for free anywhere in the world.
O2 has been killing it with deals recently, we’ve been seeing some of our absolute favourite offers coming up with this provider in the start of 2019. While offers from O2 themselves aren’t too strong, 3rd party retailers (like Mobiles.co.uk and Carphone Warehouse) have been throwing out consistently strong deals with O2.
The company has been one of the best networks in the UK for some time. It’s the network that’s renowned for its extra Priority reward giveaways. And if you switch to the O2 network you obviously want to be sure you’re getting the best deals that O2 has to offer, and that’s where this page comes in!
We’ve rounded up all of the best O2 phone deals on the best handsets – from the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10 down to the cheaper P20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S9.
And if you’re still not sure about O2, you can browse the best phone deals at other networks, too – simply head to our best mobile phone deals page.
And if the deal you’ve found is being offered by retailer Mobiles.co.uk and costs at least £10 upfront, then make sure you enter our exclusive 10OFF discount code at the checkout to knock a tenner off.
Price Comparison chart
O2 phone deals on the Huawei P30 Pro
The latest and greatest from Huawei, the P30 Pro is now easily our choice for best smartphone camera on the market. Combine top of the line camera quality with an impressive battery life and beautiful screen and you get easily one of the best phones on the market.
Huawei P30 Pro | £215 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 3GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £28pm If you’re willing to put a little bit more upfront then you can drop your monthly bills down to £28, a price much lower than most P30 Pro deals. Usually these kind of tariffs involve minuscule amounts of data but here you’re still getting a healthy whack of 3GB of data and unlimited calls and texts. Total cost over 24 months is £887
Huawei P30 Pro | FREE upfront | 60GB data | Unlimited mins and texts | £45pm Completely avoid upfront costs with this O2 contract. Costing just £46 a month and absolutely nothing upfront this works out as an extremely affordable way to get a P30 Pro deal. You don’t even have to worry about running out of data, with 45GB you’ll be set every month. Very good value tariff, this one. Total cost over 24 months is £1,080
Samsung’s newest release, this phone is rocking a completely flat, notch-less screen with a pin hole camera, giving it a unique style. Whether it’s the triple cameras on the back, fast processor or reverse charging, there is a lot to love here.
Samsung Galaxy S10 | £66 upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited texts and calls | £37pm Offering monthly bills of £37 and an upfront spend of £66, this lines up as the best Samsung Galaxy S10 deal on O2. It isn’t the cheapest contract out there, but offering 30GB of data, it is a pretty great value option. Total cost over 24 months is £954 View this great value S10 deal at Mobiles.co.uk
Samsung Galaxy S10 | FREE upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited texts and calls | £40pm Offering monthly bills of £40 and absolutely no monthly speds, this lines up as the best Samsung Galaxy S10 deal on O2. It isn’t the cheapest contract out there, but offering 30GB of data, it is a pretty great value option. Total cost over 24 months is £960
Samsung’s brand new budget flagship, the S10e features high-end specs for an affordable price. If you want the best Samsung has but don’t want to have to pay through the roof to get it, this is the way to go. With all of the same features as the S10 with a few cutbacks, this is a high-end phone with mid-range pricing.
Samsung Galaxy S10e | £75 upfront | 3GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £28pm Prices on O2 haven’t been great, until now. This offer knocks down the upfront cost making it one of the more affordable options. If you don’t mind spending slightly more upfront, this is definitely the way to go for an O2 S10e offer. Total cost over 24 months is £747
The iPhone XR hits a sweet spot between high tech and reasonable pricing. It looks a lot like its more powerful brethren – both in appearance and on the spec sheet – and boasts a glorious 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display and A12 Bionic chipset without a £1,000 price tag.
iPhone XR | £90 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £37pm The price of this contract recently shot up by £50 but it was so good before that this is still our favourite offer. Costing just £37 a month and £90 upfront (with our checkout code 10OFF) we would peg this as the best of all of the iPhone XR deals. Total cost over 24 months is £978
iPhone XR | £189 upfront | 3GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | £28pm For those hunting down the best offers on cheap bills, this one stands out as a true winner. With monthly bills of £28 and a reduced upfront of £189 (with the code 10OFF), this deal is an absolute bargain. The only real downside is that data allowance of just 3GB. Total cost over 24 months is £861
OK, so the Samsung Galaxy S9 doesn’t make massive strides on the S8, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still one of the best Android phones on the market right now. The cameras in particular are awe inspiring and tangible improvements have been made to both the biometrics and position of the fingerprint scanner.
Samsung Galaxy S9 | FREE upfront | 20GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £31pm When it comes to the Galaxy S9 on O2 we honestly can’t imagine it being any better than this. With absolutely no upfront costs, and just £31 a month it doesn’t push much higher than the average S9 price. It even offers 20GB of data which should be plenty for most people out there. Total cost over 24 months is £744
Oh gosh, Apple went and did it. After years upon years of incremental upgrades, it finally made something special to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. For the iPhone X it has dropped the bezel altogether, while the 5.8-inch Super Retina HD is scarily good – and then it tweaked things a year later for the XS. Marvellous!
iPhone XS | £165 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 60GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £49pm At one time, there was an O2 offer to top all iPhone XS deals. While that is now gone, it has been replaced by a suitably brilliant option from Affordable Mobiles. £49 a month, data allowances of 60GB every month. The only downside is the upfront cost, a suitable payout to drop your monthly cost. Total cost over 24 months is £1,341
iPhone X 64GB | £48 upfront | 60GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £45pm If you saw the O2 offer above and the upfront costs put you off, this deal could be better suited to you. With monthly bills of £45 and an upfront cost of £48 – this blends in perfectly as an average iPhone X price, but you get 60GB of data, a brilliant amount to get through each month. Total cost over 24 months is £1,128
Samsung has now well and truly put the flaming memories of the Note 7 in the past. If the Note 8 was exceptional (6.3-inch infinity display and 6GB RAM), then the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is even bigger and more powerful (6.4-inch infinity display and 8GB RAM). If you want the best big screen Android phones on the market, then look no further.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 | O2 | FREE upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £37pm Almost identical to the EE offer below, just £1 a month more. You’re not paying anything upfront, you’re getting tonnes of data and the monthly cost is brilliant. However, we would reccomend going for the EE version instead (if you’re not emotionally tied to a certain network). Total cost over 24 months is £888
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 | O2 | £145 upfront | 12GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £29pm Dropping the monthly bills to £29, if you’re willing to pay an upfront cost of £151.99 this contract is excellent. You’re even awarded with an impressive 12GB of data for that cost, making this one of the most affordable Galaxy Note 9 deals available. Total cost over 24 months is £847.99
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | O2 | FREE upfront | 3GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £26pm After a short period of uncertainty, O2 has returned with some top level deals. Nothing upfront, £26 a month and 3GB of data puts this in line with plenty of other deals on the Note 8. If O2 is what you were looking for, this is the way to go for it. If you want O2 but with more data then the deal below could be perfect. Total cost over 24 months is £624
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | O2 | FREE upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £37pm | £85 cashback If you want to go completely absolutely all out on your Note 8 deal, why not go for 30GB of data. While this might seem excessive to some, for others this is the perfect data cap. It costs £37 a month but that price shoots back down to £33.46 thanks to a £85 cashback offer that comes with it. Total cost over 24 months is £803 (after cashback)
Thanks to the spectacle that was the iPhone X launch, the reception for the iPhone 8 was a little bit flat. Which we think is unfair – it improves on the iPhone 7 with wireless charging and an improved camera. Plus, it’s quite a bit cheaper. So if you’re looking for the best iPhone but the price of the iPhone X is too much to cope with, try the 8 on for size instead.
iPhone 8 64GB | £50 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 20GB data | Unlimited calls and texts | £31pm Want to be on O2 but the offer above doesn’t have enough data? This could be the contract for you. The monthly bills are slightly more expensive at £31 but then you do get 20GB of data each and every month. Total cost over 24 months is £794
The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL are relatively new devices on the flagship scene but they have very quickly become two of our favourites. Powerful processors, loud speakers, but most importantly they have what is arguably the best cameras you can get on a phone right now.
Google Pixel 3 XL | £48.99 upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £43pm After a pretty major price rise on the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL, this contract went up quite a bit. You now have to pay £43 a month and £48.99 upfront to get it. It does however offer up 30GB of data each and every month to really make it worth your time. Total cost over 24 months is £1,080.99
Google Pixel 3 | £51.99 upfront (with 10OFF)| 3GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £35pm Prices for Google Pixel 3 deals on O2 seem to have just shot through the roof, now costing a fair bit more than some of the other networks. With 15GB of data on offer, you won’t be lacking in internet usage, the cost is just a little high. Total two year cost is £891.99
When it comes to benefits of a O2 phone deal, the best known part comes in the form of O2 Priority. This is a scheme which offers the likes of competition entries, free tickets, coffees and other benefits.
Those that sign up with O2 also get access to events that O2 is sponsoring and most importantly, O2 covers 98% of the UK when it comes to coverage meaning you should never be worrying about signal.
Can I keep my number when I switch to O2?
You sure can, if you switch over to an O2 mobile deal and want to keep your old number, then simply call your old network, get a PAC code and transition it over.
If you were previously on O2, you can still keep your number but it is slightly more complicated. They won’t let you keep your number, so you have to use this workaround. Buy a free pay-as-you-go SIM from any other network and tell your network that you’re moving.
They’ll release the PAC code, which you then give to the substitute network. Then, you immediately get another PAC code from them. Take that to your old network, and they’ll move your number to your new contract. Long winded, but easier than learning a new number!
Can I use my O2 phone abroad?
Like all of the other networks, O2 covers your roaming charges when you’re in Europe. Stray out of that area and you will have to start paying additional costs for the data, minutes and texts you use.
Travelling outside of Europe? O2 has a number of different schemes and packages to help you deal with that – you can find them all on the O2 website.
Google Pixel 3 XL | O2 | £20 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £37pm After a pretty major price drop on the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL, this contract dropped by at least £200. You now just have to pay £37 a month and a measly £20 upfront to get it. It even offers up 30GB of data each and every month to really make it worth your time. Total cost over 24 months is £908
The Galaxy Note 9 has been out for a while now and Samsung Galaxy S10 deals are readily available, which in theory should make Galaxy Note 8 deals old news. Right? Well that’s what you would think.
But the 2017 model is so incredible that it still performs just like a new model and not to mention it is so much cheaper than its successor. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 deals are definitely still well worth a look. And it’s still getting cheaper!
When the Note 8 first came out EE had deals locked down tight, but now there is a pretty good spread across providers so no matter your preference you don’t have to switch, Although EE still does have some of the very best deals on this device. Samsung Note 8 deals are now well under the £900-mark in total over the two-year contract and can go as low as £750.
The Note 8 is not by any means a budget device, however. It’s a absolutely massive smartphone, not just in size but also in raw power. It’s got the screen size and specification smarts to be a competitor to the highly praised iPhone X or iPhone’s new massive iPhone XS Max and neither of those come cheap. But there are now some excellent Note 8 deals floating around. Check out our comparison chart and handpicked favourite Note 8 deals below.
Now we know some of you may have fiery memories of the Galaxy Note 7 in your head when looking at this device but leave those worries behind. Both the Note 8 and 9 have massively improved their batteries and you won’t be facing overheating problems anymore. The Note 8 truly is miles ahead of the 7 in every way.
5 best Galaxy Note 8 deals in the UK today:
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | EE | £41 upfront | 4GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £23pm As tempting as the exclusive Fonehouse deal on EE below is, this deal is a great choice for those trying to get the price even lower. For just £23 a month and a £41 upfront cost you can get one of the cheapest prices on the Note 8 right now. This deal doesn’t even cut down the data to get to this price, you’re still getting 4GB each and every month. Total cost over 24 months is £593
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | Vodafone | FREE upfront | 5GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £30pm | £40 cashback For the best Note 8 deal on Vodafone – look no further. With 5GB of data at £30 a month this is certainly a good sign that Vodafone is finally becoming an affordable option on this device. You don’t even have to pay anything upfront. Combined with the £30 cashback, this is only slightly more expensive than the exclusive offer below. Total cost over 24 months is £680
Exclusive Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | EE | FREE upfront | 9GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £29pm | £96 cashback When it comes to Note 8 deals, we really can’t think of a better option than this. Absolutely nothing to pay upfront and then just £29 each month – that is a brilliant price for this phone. It gets even better with the 9GB of data Fonehouse is offering on top and when you realise this deal is exclusive to TechRadar. Throw in the £48 cashback at the end and it is near perfection. Total cost over 24 months is £600
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | O2 | FREE upfront | 3GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £26pm After a short period of uncertainty, O2 has returned with some top level deals. Nothing upfront, £26 a month and 3GB of data puts this in line with plenty of other deals on the Note 8. If O2 is what you were looking for, this is the way to go for it. If you want O2 but with more data then the deal below could be perfect. Total cost over 24 months is £624
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | O2 | FREE upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £37pm | £85 cashback If you want to go completely absolutely all out on your Note 8 deal, why not go for 30GB of data. While this might seem excessive to some, for others this is the perfect data cap. It costs £37 a month but that price shoots back down to £33.46 thanks to a £85 cashback offer that comes with it. Total cost over 24 months is £803 (after cashback)
EE Phone deals are one of the best options with a UK network, here’s why. Having built its reputation around being the UK’s fastest 4G network, an accolade they wear with pride and one that encourages many to switch to this super popular network, EE has marked its top position with ease.
EE phone deals are frequently the best options in price for top devices, ranging from iPhones to Samsung, Huawei and Google, there are a host of brilliant EE deals out there.
No matter what mobile phone deals you’re looking for, there is likely to be an EE phone deal for you. All the EE phone contracts in our comparison charts are updated daily so that they remain current, in-stock and represent the best value currently available.
Still want more money off? If the perfect EE plan for you is offered by Mobiles.co.uk, then you’re in luck as the retailer is currently offering a further £10 off the upfront cost of the handset if you enter the code 10OFF at the checkout.
EE phone deals on the Huawei P30 Pro
The latest and greatest from Huawei, the P30 Pro is now easily our choice for best smartphone camera on the market. Combine top of the line camera quality with an impressive battery life and beautiful screen and you get easily one of the best phones on the market.
Huawei P30 Pro | FREE upfront | 50GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £43pm For the best that the P30 Pro has to offer look no further. First off the positives: A massive amount of data, the benefits of being on EE – the UK’s fastest 4G network – and some pretty comfortable monthly bills. The one downside of this deal was the relatively pricey upfront costs, but that’s now completely gone. Total cost over 24 months is £1,032
Huawei P30 Pro | £129.99 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £36pm Prefer some slightly cheaper monthly bills? With this contract the bills drop down to £38 a month but, you do have to pay a much higher £145 to get them to that price point. Usually contracts with cheaper monthly costs are lacking in data but this one piles 30GB on. Total cost over 24 months is £993.99
Samsung’s newest release, this phone is rocking a completely flat, notch-less screen with a pin hole camera, giving it a unique style. Whether it’s the triple cameras on the back, fast processor or reverse charging, there is a lot to love here.
Samsung Galaxy S10 | £199 upfront | 9GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £29pm If you’re looking for the best cheap monthly bills, then look no further. This contract asks for a fair bit upfront – £199 to be exact – but with that larger upfront cost, comes an affordable £29 a month, can’t go wrong with that. You even get 9GB of data. Total cost over 24 months is £895
Samsung Galaxy S10 | O2 | FREE upfront | 15GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £38 per month Combining a comfortable amount of data with a lack of upfront bills and affordable monthly costs, this is one of the more affordable contracts out there. Simply pay £38 a month and get 15GB of data. If you would rather have more data, consult the EE deal below. Total cost over 24 months is £912
Samsung’s brand new budget flagship, the S10e features high-end specs for an affordable price. If you want the best Samsung has but don’t want to have to pay through the roof to get it, this is the way to go. With all of the same features as the S10 with a few cutbacks, this is a high-end phone with mid-range pricing.
Samsung Galaxy S10e | EE | £49 upfront | 9GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £29pm This EE Galaxy S10e offer is pretty spectacular. There’s just a quick £45 upfront and then monthly bills come in at just £29. Pair that with the 9GB of data you’re getting and EE’s superfast 4G speeds and this is one of the best S10e deals out there. Total cost over 24 months is £745
Samsung Galaxy S10e | EE | FREE upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £33pm Realistically, nothing is going to come close to that offer from Three above. However, if you want lots of data and want to be on EE, here’s the contract for you. There’s nothing to pay upfront, you get 30GB of data each month and your monthly bills aren’t too expensive – a great contract overall. Total cost over 24 months is £792
The iPhone XR hits a sweet spot between high tech and reasonable pricing. It looks a lot like its more powerful brethren – both in appearance and on the spec sheet – and boasts a glorious 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display and A12 Bionic chipset without a £1,000 price tag.
iPhone XR | £49 upfront | 50GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £43pm Out of all of the iPhone XR deals, this is one to get especially excited about. With absolutely no upfront costs, monthly bills of £43 a month and a whopping 50GB of data, this deal can’t really do any wrongs. With all of this in mind it easily holds the rank of our favourite of EE’s iPhone XR deals, and we can’t really see it being overthrown anytime soon. Total cost over 24 months is £1,081
iPhone XR 256GB | £39.99 upfront (with 10OFF code) | 60GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £54pm Want to make sure that you have ample room for all your photos, music and podcasts? Then it doesn’t cost too much more to crank things up to the 256GB model. You’re back to the UK’s fastest 4G network here, with £54 bills and just a small upfront charge. And you don’t even get to go big on your data cap. Total cost over 24 months is £1,335.99
OK, so the Samsung Galaxy S9 doesn’t make massive strides on the S8, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still one of the premier Android phones on the market. The cameras in particular are awe inspiring and tangible improvements have been made to the biometrics and position of the fingerprint scanner. And not to mention you can get the S9 quite cheap right now.
Samsung Galaxy S9 | FREE upfront | 9GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £29pm All of the best S9 deals seem to be on EE and there is no doubt that this is the best S9 deal around right now. Whether its the near lack of upfront costs at £19, monthly costs of £29 or the 9GB of data that’s got you excited – this is the deal we’d recommend. Total cost over 24 months is £696
Samsung Galaxy S9 | Free upfront | 20GB data | Unlimited mins and texts | £31pm If you require 20 glorious GB of data for all your streaming and surfing needs away from Wi-Fi, then look no further than this Samsung S9 deal from Fonehouse. The handset is completely free upfront and then it’s a perfectly reasonable £31 per month. Tremendous value overall. Total cost over 24 months is £744
Oh gosh, Apple went and did it. After years upon years of incremental upgrades, it finally made something special to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. For the iPhone X it has dropped the bezel altogether, while the 5.8-inch Super Retina HD is scarily good – and then it tweaked things a year later for the XS. Marvellous!
iPhone XS | EE | £99 upfront | Unlimited minutes and texts | 50GB data | £53pm This deal offers a few major benefits and stands out as the best of the EE iPhone XS deals. It combines good monthly and upfront bills so you’re not paying too much in either department. On top of that is the 30GB of data available each month. Finally, there is the fact that you’re on EE – the UK’s fastest 4G network. Total cost over 24 months is £1,371
iPhone XS 256GB| EE | £75 upfront | Unlimited minutes and texts | 50GB data | £63m What’s the Carpe Diem equivalent of a phone contract? Probably this one. Costing a pretty hefty £63 a month and £75 upfront you would think this would need to be pretty special. Well offering a boost in storage of almost 200GB and a data cap of 50GB, it really is. If you’re not fussed what you’re paying for your new phone look no further. Total cost over 24 months is £1,587
EE phone deals on the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Note 9
Samsung has now well and truly put the fiery memory of the Note 7 behind it. If the Note 8 was exceptional (6.3-inch infinity display and 6GB RAM), then the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is even bigger and better (6.4-inch infinity display and 8GB RAM). If you want the best big screen Android phones on the market, then look no further.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 | £99 upfront | 9GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £29pm We’re big fans of this EE Note 9 deal. Pay just £99 upfront and the monthly costs drop to £29. You even get a pretty decent 9GB of data with it and most importantly, EE’s superfast 4G speeds. If you want more affordable bills on the Note 9, this is the way to go. Total cost over 24 months is £795
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 | FREE upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £36pm Whether its the lack of upfront costs, the big supply of data or the monthly bills below what most other Samsung Galaxy Note 9 deals are offering, this tariff is brilliant. So brilliant in fact that we can’t think of many options that are going to be better than this for the Note 9, especially around this data point. Total cost over 24 months is £864
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | £41 upfront | 4GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £23pm As tempting as the exclusive Fonehouse deal on EE below is, this deal is a great choice for those trying to get the price even lower. For just £23 a month and a £41 upfront cost you can get one of the cheapest prices on the Note 8 right now. This deal doesn’t even cut down the data to get to this price, you’re still getting 4GB each and every month. Total cost over 24 months is £593
Exclusive Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | FREE upfront | 9GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £29pm | £96 cashback When it comes to Note 8 deals, we really can’t think of a better option than this. Absolutely nothing to pay upfront and then just £29 each month – that is a brilliant price for this phone. It gets even better with the 9GB of data Fonehouse is offering on top and when you realise this deal is exclusive to TechRadar. Throw in the £48 cashback at the end and it is near perfection. Total cost over 24 months is £600
Thanks to the spectacle that was the iPhone X launch, the reception for the iPhone 8 was a little bit flat. Perhaps unfairly as it does improve on the iPhone 7 with wireless charging and an improved camera. Plus, it’s quite a bit cheaper. So if you’re looking for the best iPhone but are avidly avoiding the prices of the likes of the iPhone X and XS try the 8 on for size instead.
iPhone 8 64GB | £45 upfront | 20GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £31pm For the best EE iPhone 8 look no further. The point that stands out here is the 20GB of data on offer. To get that, you simply need to pay £31 a month and £75 upfront. That is a great price for an iPhone 8 deal on EE. Total cost over 24 months is £789
Google Pixel 3 | £29 upfront | 20GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £31pm When it comes to EE, there isn’t many choices better than this. With 20GB of data and just £44.99 upfront. Combine all of that with EE’s superfast 4G network speeds and those fair monthly bills and you’ve got an excellent offer to go for. Total cost over 24 months is £773
The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL are relatively new devices on the flagship scene but they have very quickly become two of our favourites. Powerful processors, loud speakers, but most importantly they have what is arguably the best cameras you can get on a phone right now.
Google Pixel 3 | £29 upfront | 20GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £31pm When it comes to EE, there isn’t many choices better than this. With 20GB of data and just £44.99 upfront. Combine all of that with EE’s superfast 4G network speeds and those fair monthly bills and you’ve got an excellent offer to go for. Total cost over 24 months is £773
Google Pixel 3 XL | £50 upfront | 30GB data | Unlimited minutes and texts | £33pm When it comes to EE, there isn’t many choices better than this. With 30GB of data and no upfront cost. Combine all of that with EE’s superfast 4G network speeds and those brilliant monthly bills and you’ve got an excellent offer to go for. Total cost over 24 months is £909
The standout point here is going to be EE’s speeds. Coming in as the UK’s fastest 4G network, EE beats all others for speedy downloads and scrolling.
On top of that EE offers a host of benefits, whether that’s the ability to share your data, set data caps or get free subscriptions to the likes of Apple Music or Amazon.
Can I keep my number when I switch to EE?
You sure can, if you switch over to an EE phone deal and want to keep your old number, then simply call your old network, get a PAC code and transition it over.
If you were previously on EE, you can still keep your number but it is slightly more complicated. They won’t let you keep your number, so you have to use this workaround. Buy a free pay-as-you-go SIM from any other network and tell your network that you’re moving.
They’ll release the PAC code, which you then give to the substitute network. Then, you immediately get another PAC code from them. Take that to your old network, and they’ll move your number to your new contract. Long winded, but easier than learning a new number!
Can I use my EE phone abroad?
EE offers free roaming charges in the EU with any EE phone deal. That means you can still use your allowances while you’re away in the EU. If you go outside of the EU, America, Asia etc then you will have to pay for your use of data, calls and texts while abroad.
