The Three Best Mobile Phone Deals (Updated July 2022)

By Juan J. Nava On Jul 5, 2022

The UK’s third largest network is aptly named Three and has been on an upward trajectory since its inception in 2003. A fun fact you might not know is that it’s called Three because the company was founded on the same day. when 3G connectivity came into use in the UK.

Three shine the brightest when you start comparing its big data plans to other competitors in the network: EE, O2 and Vodafone. Three’s data plans from 50GB and up are among the most affordable of the four major networks, and that’s especially true when it comes to their 100GB options.

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your plan with Three. First of all, the competitive pricing seen in its higher tier data plans is rather absent once you start looking for lower GB options. Bonuses aren’t exactly Three’s forte either.

Now the good news is that all three phones are unlocked, which means you don’t have to be tied down to a contract if you don’t want to. You can buy the handset you’ve set your eyes on either monthly or at full price upfront.

Last but not least, while Three sells brand new phones, it also sells refurbished phones, so if you’re looking to save some cash by buying an older, refurbished handset, you have that option too.

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Three phone deals right now

Three has the lowest monthly bundled phone rates among UK carriers and are adamant that you know this with an accurate summary of exactly how much you save per month when you get a phone deal. Most phones come with extra perks, like a few months free subscription to major streaming services, or in some cases, an entirely different phone thrown into the mix.

Best iPhone deals on Three

Three will add a free 3-month subscription to Apple TV+ with your new iPhone. Plus, it promises to beat everyone else’s unlimited plan offers on an iPhone purchase, so let’s see what’s on offer. You also get a £200 prepaid Mastercard when you upgrade to Three.

Best Samsung phone deals on Three

For Samsung phones, Three offers slightly different deals than those offered for iPhones. You get a £250 prepaid Mastercard if you switch to Three from another operator.

Best Xiaomi Phone Deals on Three

If you want to be different from the rest of the pack and carry around a Xiaomi phone instead of a Samsung Galaxy or Apple iPhone, Three gives you a lot on a Xiaomi flagship handset.

Are three phone deals worth it?

Yes, if you’re looking for a phone plus a plan, you can hardly beat Three’s UK offerings. The carrier promises £11 less per month than the competition for the same phone on unlimited plans and it manages to deliver.

Plus, with Three’s advanced plans, you can unlock your data plan for use abroad in over 71 countries across multiple geographies – from a low daily cost of £2 in Europe and £5 in the rest of the world.

Can I keep my number if I switch to Three?

Yes, you can keep any carrier number you have had so far with a UK carrier. If, for example, you leave an EE phone and plan and your contract with them has expired, you can text PAC to 65075 to get your PAC code.

Then you need to pick a phone and plan from the best Three phone deals here and order one online or in-store. Ring Three customer support team on 0333 338 1001 and give them the PAC number you got from EE.

Is it easy to pass Three?

Very easy, as your current carrier is mandated to make sure you get your PAC number needed to unsubscribe within a maximum of two hours, so PAC shouldn’t be a problem.

Three will then activate your phone on their network with your old EE number but will save the original SIM number just in case, as carriers do not transfer numbers on weekends or holidays.

How good is Three’s coverage in the UK?

Very good, especially in the city center and in high traffic areas. Despite this, it started out as a budget carrier in the UK, and largely remains that concept, Three’s total network coverage footprint has gradually increased to 99% of the UK population.

As for Three’s cell phone coverage area, it’s not as big as EE’s 4G LTE coverage, but again, Three offers much cheaper plans and phones.

Of course, the population stat could very well mean that major centers like major cities and busy highways are covered, but in villages and boondocks you might not get enough coverage from Three. This is true for all carriers, so we recommend getting a prepaid SIM card from Three and checking coverage in the areas you frequent the most before buying a phone and plan from Three.