The Apple iPhone 16e is now available to buy in UK stores – so we rounded up the best retailers to pick if you’re looking for the best price
After a whirlwind launch and one week of pre-orders, Apple’s new iPhone 16e is now available to buy in UK stores. As of today, the budget smartphone is ‘ready to checkout’ from a variety of retailers, so we’ve scoured the likes of Sky, EE, Amazon, and Currys to pick out the best perks and prices.
Where you shop will all depend on what you’re looking for; a simple outright cash buy, or locking into a pay-as-you go contract with network data bundled in. The new iPhone 16e costs £599 direct from Apple, and that price is pretty much stuck across retailers, but there are some hidden perks.
Amazon is at the top of our list for outright shoppers – thanks to a free audible trial thrown in – while Mobiles.co.uk and Sky Mobile have caught our eye (among the plenty UK contract deals) for pay-as-you-go shoppers. And here’s why.
READ MORE: Apple iPhone 16e: Sky, Three, EE, and Vodafone pre-order deals worth looking at
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Sky Mobile iPhone 16e with £0 upfront fee
Sky is at the top of our list as it’s not asking for any upfront fees with its contract – which is rare if you look across EE, Three and Vodafone. And it’s prices aren’t too shabby either.
The device is £27 per month along with a 3GB per month data plan – this is on a 36-month contract but shoppers can switch the device after 24 months.
Mobiles.co.uk for a shorter contract
The Currys-owned Mobiles.co.uk is one of our favourite retailers thanks to its budget-friendly contracts. One of its most eye-catching deals on the new iPhone is with the 100GB iD Mobile plan for £28.99 per month, with a £9 one-off payment.
This is a 24-month contract, which is a year shorter than many offered by rivals including Vodafone and Three Mobile. If you haven’t heard of iD Mobile, it piggybacks off the Three network and also provides free roaming in 50 destinations around the world.
Apple iPhone 16e – best retailers for buying outright
Amazon for instance will give you 60 days of free Audible when you buy the device, while Carphone Warehouse will discount the cost if you trade-in an old phone, and Currys is handing out three months of Apple TV+, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade for £0 with the device.
Save £240 per year with EE One
EE customers can get it for £17.22 per month on a 36-month plan with £30 upfront, which can be paired with data plans including the discounted £22 ‘5GB No Frills’ data plan. In terms of overall price, there’s not much to write home about here compared to other networks.
But what really caught our eye is the EE One scheme, which allows members to shave £20 off their contract price every month when taking out EE home broadband, which now starts at £25.99 per month. EE will also cover up to £300 in switching fees to leave your current provider.
Vodafone with a huge trade-in deal
Over at Vodafone, the iPhone 16e starts at £15.81 per month with £30 upfront for the handset, alongside the 5GB 24-month airtime plan for £23 per month. This takes the monthly total to £38.81 and also includes Vodafone’s Battery Refresh and Lifetime Warranty at no extra cost.
Customers who order the iPhone 16e can also save up to £360 by trading in an eligible iPhone using the Trade-in Tool in the My Vodafone app, as well as benefit from the Vodafone Xchange scheme, which lets customers trade-in their iPhone for a new one every year.
Three Mobile for the extras
Three Mobile is offering a great option with £240 off its £15 per month, 150GB plan on a 36-month contract, with a £16 per month handset plan and £25 up front. Three contracts also come with a handful of benefits like three years extended warranty and a free screen repair on select Value and Complete plans, as well as a free Paramount+ subscription.
Members can also bag extra savings elsewhere with offers from big-name brands including Cineworld and Uber Eats.