Our phones have become an extension of us. Whether your current phone is reaching the end of its days, you’re buying a phone for someone else, or you want to treat yourself to an upgrade, we have a wide range of SIM free mobile phones starting from €199 so you’re bound to find something to suit your needs.
What is a SIM free phone?
A SIM free phone is an unlocked phone that can be used with any network. When you buy a SIM free phone, you’re free to shop around and find the best network and pay-as-you-go or sim-only package to suit your needs.
Are all SIM free phones unlocked?
When you buy a phone on contract, it’s locked to your network for the duration of your contract. When you buy a phone SIM-free however, it’s unlocked and yours to do with as you please. This is particularly handy if you have plans to travel for a few weeks to anywhere outside of the EU roaming zone and want to get a local SIM for your trip.
Is pay-as-you-go, SIM only and SIM free the same thing?
No, generally when you buy a prepay or pay-as-you-go phone, you’re still tied to the network. If you check the service contract, it will note that the phone is restricted to use on that specific network and often there’s a fee to unlock it. Whereas if you’re buying a SIM free phone, you’re just buying the unlocked phone and then are free to shop around for the best pay-as-you-go or sim-only deal so you can easily change network to suit your needs. Once you buy your SIM free phone, you can choose a SIM only deal from your preferred network, which is a rolling 30 day contract (no need to remember to top up every 30 days!) and costs substantially less than a 24 month phone contract.
Is a network contract more expensive than buying a SIM free phone?
Buying a phone upfront can seem daunting as it feels like such a big chunk of money to spend at one time. This makes contracts attractive as it’s a lower upfront cost and then your monthly bill, especially if you wan the latest model.
Most contracts last for 24 months and the monthly cost can be anywhere from €30 to €70. Whereas with a Sim-Free phone, you pay the upfront phone cost and then you can shop around for the best pay-as-you-go or sim-only deal to suit your needs and budget. This gives you more flexibility to choose the network you want and change on a monthly basis if you find a better deal.
For example, the 128GB iPhone 14 is currently €899 with Currys. If you get €20 in credit a month, it’s a total cost of €1,379 over two years. In comparison, some two year contracts on the market, you could pay just over €1,900 for your phone and usage.
Buy a SIM free phone with Currys
If you are thinking about switching to a SIM free phone, we have a huge range of sim free phones. You can buy a SIM free phone outright online or you can buy it in one of our 16 stores.
Spread the cost
If you want a new SIM free phone that costs over €559, but can’t afford the upfront cost, you can buy it with credit. Currys credit offering, provided by Creation Finance, allows you to purchase your phone, and spread the cost over 36 months at 22.99% APR. Also, you choose a 6,12 or 18 month holiday period where you pay no interest if the balance of your phone is paid off in full. To do this, you’ll need to be a resident in Ireland, a 10% deposit, proof of ID and PPSN, utility bill and bank statement, a debit/credit card and be aged 18+. Our colleagues in store will be able to talk you through the process.
