iPhone 18 range: Expert shares top savings tips as Apple launches most expensive device to date

The experts at Go.Compare Mobile have shared how shoppers can ensure they get a good deal on a new iPhone after Apple unveiled its most expensive device yet at its latest launch.

Apple officially unveiled the first devices from its iPhone 18 range earlier today (9 September), including the Pro and the Pro Max. Apple also revealed its first ever folding iPhone, the iPhone Duo, with prices starting at £1,999 - the highest ever price for an iPhone device. Pre-orders will go live on 12 September for the Pro and Pro Max, and on October 16 for the Duo.* 

The base model is yet to be announced, with industry analysts stating that a spring launch date is most likely.** This means those eager to get a new iPhone will have to pay for a premium device in order to get the newest features. 

As a result, Go.Compare’s mobile expert, Catherine Hiley, has shared how shoppers can get a new device while minimising costs, including when to find the best deals, avoiding unnecessary add-ons and price drops on recent models.

Make the most of the sales

Catherine Hiley, of Go.Compare mobile, said: “If you’ve got your heart set on one of the new devices, it can be a good idea to strike while the iron is hot, as providers often offer pre-order deals on new releases. For previous generations of major devices, this has included things like extra memory or free trials for various services - the options can vary by provider. So it’s well worth seeing what you can get by buying early.

“Alternatively, remember that Black Friday is just around the corner, so it’s likely that there’ll be plenty of fresh deals and discounts to choose from in a couple of months.”

Avoid uncompetitive upgrades and compare

“Your current provider might offer you the chance to upgrade to one of the new devices, but don’t accept this without looking around first. These deals can be convenient, but they aren’t always the cheapest, so it’s sometimes best to check what you could get elsewhere. If you find a better deal but want to stay with your current provider, consider using that information to haggle with them for a better price, as they might be able to bring costs down for you.

“Whichever model you opt for, it’s important to compare deals to help you get a price that you’re happy with. Remember that if you’re still mid-contract, you might have to pay off the remaining value of your current device before getting your new phone, and any early exit fees if you’re switching providers. To avoid this, a better option could be to wait until your current contract is finished. This might mean missing out on pre-order deals and Black Friday sales, but the market is much more competitive these days, so you’ll always be able to find a good deal somewhere as long as you have a good shop around and compare providers.”

Don’t double-insure your device

Catherine continued: “With the new devices being of such high value, you might be tempted to get gadget insurance to cover it. But, if your home contents insurance includes personal possessions cover, it may already be covered by this.

“Personal possessions cover protects your belongings outside the home, so it’s worth checking if your policy includes it. If so, you likely won’t need to worry about getting gadget insurance, as you’d just be paying for two policies for the same sort of cover.

“If you are covered by your home insurance personal possessions cover, it’s important that you check the claim limit to ensure that it matches the cost of the phone, so you won’t be left out of pocket should you lose it or it gets stolen. 

“If your contents insurance doesn’t include this cover, you could contact your provider to see how much it would cost to add it on. If it’s less than a gadget insurance policy, it could be worthwhile.”

Spotting unneeded extras on your mobile plan

“The latest iPhones are some of the priciest on the market, but you can minimise your spending by ensuring you don’t get more data or add-ons than you need.

“Before you commit to your new mobile plan, check how much mobile data you generally use each month, then use this as your basis for how much to get. If you regularly exceed your limit or tend to do data-intensive activities, like streaming or online gaming on the go, an unlimited data plan could be worthwhile. Otherwise, you could save a fair bit by going for a plan with a lower allowance, rather than paying for data that you won’t use. Even a generous monthly allowance of 100GB or 200GB can be a lot cheaper than an unlimited plan.

“You should also check if the plan includes any extras that you’re unlikely to use, such as subscriptions you already have, then remove these from the plan if possible.”

Get the iPhone 17 at a reduced price

“If you’re ready to upgrade but are put off by the cost of Apple’s latest devices, now would be a great time to get last year’s iPhone 17, especially if you’re not too fussy about getting the newest features.

“Apple often drops prices on existing generations by around £100 on the night the new range becomes available for pre-order, and they usually stay at those prices for about 10 days. For example, the 256GB version of the iPhone 16 Pro Max dropped by around £130 on the night the iPhone 17 became available for pre-order last year.*** This means you get a new device that feels like an upgrade despite not being the latest model,” Catherine concluded.

More iPhone saving tips can be found on Go.Compare’s website.

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