What to compare beyond the spec sheet
- How long the maker promises software and security updates.
- Battery life as tested, not the capacity.
- The screen: panel type, brightness outdoors and refresh rate.
- The camera you will actually use, judged on sample photos in your kind of light.
- What owners report going wrong after a few months.
- The warranty and who repairs it in your city.
Buying a phone in the UK
Phones in the UK are bought from Currys, Argos, Amazon UK and the makers' own stores, and often from the carriers. What differs there:
- In the UK you can buy a phone outright and a SIM-only plan separately, or take a contract that bundles both. Compare the total cost of each over the same period.
- Phone contracts can raise their price during the term. Look for how and when before you sign.
- Coverage differs by network and by postcode. Check the network's own coverage checker for your home and workplace.
Compare in one step
Type two to six phones into compare⁄io, say how you use a phone and your budget in pounds, and it researches each with a live web search, fills a sourced table, and gives the problems owners report a card of their own. For more on what matters, see how to compare two phones side by side.
Phone comparisons already researched
Questions people ask
What is the best website to compare phones in the UK?
For raw specification sheets, a spec database such as GSMArena. For which phone to buy given your budget and how you use it, with sources and follow-up questions, compare⁄io. Many people use both.
Can I compare more than two phones?
Yes. compare⁄io compares up to three at once on the free plan and six on Pro.
Does it use prices in the UK?
Name the model as it is sold there and mention the UK in the box under the items. The search is a live web search, so it looks for local information, but check the shop's price before you pay.