The Popularity of Sim-Free Phones

These days, it seems like there are tons of options for buying phones, and with the plethora of smartphones out there, it makes perfect sense to know all your options. Rushing into anything isn’t advised wherever money is involved, but with buying smartphones like the iPhone 6, it makes even more sense to see what your choices are, and how each choice could affect your enjoyment of the phone, and your bank balance.

One of the most popular ways to purchase a phone these days is by going down the sim-free route. This is a relatively new way of securing your new smartphone, and it has proven popular for a number of reasons. In this article, we will look at the whole sim-free thing, and work out why it is such a popular option.

When it comes to understanding what sim-free actually means as regards buying a phone, it is essentially a phone that happens to not contain a sim card. It is as simple as that really, and it, therefore, means you’re not tied to a contract when you take the phone on. This is of course extremely attractive to many people, who may want a hassle free option and that lack of ties thing. Perhaps even more attractive is the fact that you are not tied down to any particular network either. This means you have complete freedom.

When you pop into the store to buy a sim, whether it is a contract or pay-as-you-go sim, you should find that it will work with most sim-free phones. Again, this shows how the entire process allows for the maximum amount of freedom when it comes to using a new phone. You choose the key elements of smartphone ownership. So whether you’re purchasing a used iPhone 6 or an Android phone, you have the luxury of choosing the phone company you have a contract with or to be completely fancy-free with a pay as you go.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages of going sim free.

There are many, and they don’t all necessarily centre around the core concept of saving money, although that is a huge part of it.

Upgrades, upgrades, upgrades

You have this immense amount of freedom if you have a sim free situation going on. Because of the absolutely incredible levels of freedom available to you, you can upgrade a phone whenever you feel like it. This means moving to the next phone up in the upgrade tree, without having to wait it out for a contract to end. This is perhaps the biggest draw for many people. Having that level of freedom when you recycle your phone, for example, is incredible, and just means that you can always have that latest phone, whenever you want it.

Combinations

Let’s put it this way, you can buy a phone and then buy the sim card separately. This means that you can quite easily find a good deal without having to worry too much about being tied down to a price. You can buy a cheaper handset and then get the sim for that handset, and this means that you can choose, effectively, how much you what to pay.

So a sim costs hardly anything, right? How about choosing the very best handset deal you can find for an iPhone 6, for example. This is more than possible, as retailers are selling this particular handset at a competitive price due to the fact the new iPhone is coming out. This gives you the choice and allows you to shop around for the best combination that results in the phone you want.

Get a good price, afterwards

That’s right, if you choose to sell your handset afterwards, you get a better price. This is because those compatibility issues are non-existent, and buyers appreciate this. You can auction off your phone, and go for the higher price. This is all down to that lack of pressure buyers have to find compatibility. You can recycle your phone and instantly be in the market for a new one without having to wait. So when you think about the fact that you can run around and choose the best handset and sim card deal, your buyer is exactly in the same position. This makes for a chance to get an amazing price for your handset when you sell it on.

Go cheaper

Sim free phones also allow you to have that ultimate low-cost option too. You can buy a pay as you go cards, which allow you to have full control of your spending on a phone. This means you get to save even more money as you move forward. This is again just a sign of the flexibility involved in having a sim free phone.

The contracts are cheaper (if you want one)

This is a crucial aspect of a sim free phone that many people really appreciate. Networks do offer sim free contracts and they are significantly more attractive price wise than those contracts that you could otherwise find yourself tying you down to.

The popularity thing

These days we have so many choices, and we expect more of them. People are no longer content to manage their phones with a heavy contract they are tied into. Remember that some contracts actually keep people tied down for over two years. This means no choice, and you need to stay with that phone and those tariffs for a huge amount of time.

The popularity of these things is down to the freedom, essentially. Freedom to choose the handset and sim deal. Freedom to choose how long you have your phone. These things all count for the modern consumer who needs flexibility.

A couple of caveats do need to be conveyed. There aren’t many, but it is worth noting, for example, that you will need to find a sim that covers the coverage requirements and the usage requirements that you will have to deal with. If you need a certain amount of minutes every month, then make sure that the sim you choose allows you to have this.

Make sure that you are also looking for the very best deal you can find. This is not always easy to do because the deals that are out there are sometimes very hard to spot, simply due to the fact that there are so many. You will need to do some research. Ensure that you have the very best deal for your requirements. Take the time to find the deal you need and you will save the optimum amount of money.

But let’s not forget the real reason why sim free cards are so popular. They give you the ultimate freedom in choosing a phone and a sim and are therefore a godsend to anyone who likes to upgrade regularly and likes to save money.

 Article Written by James at compareandrecycle.co.uk – a comparison engine for users looking to recycle their phones.