Vodafone and Three are merging – is it time for a better mobile phone deal?

If approved, the merger would form the largest UK phone operator and could mean higher prices

If you’re in the market for a new handset, we’ve rounded up the best mobile phone plan deals you can shop today (The Independent)

It’s been announced that Vodafone and Three have plans to merge in a deal worth £15bn, which, if approved, would mean the firms would overtake rivals O2 and EE to form the UK’s largest mobile phone operator.

What could that mean for shoppers? Some industry regulators are warning that reduced competition in the market would result in higher prices for customers, so locking into a contract today could potentially save you money in the long term.

Even if given the OK by regulators, the merger isn’t expected to happen until 2024. The news hasn’t affected current pricing at either operator.

Read more: The best Android phones in 2023

The tie-in would give Vodafone and Three a combined customer base of 27 million users. Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle says it would “create a best-in-class 5G network, offering customers a superior experience”.

Vodafone and Three are two of the UK’s four top mobile phone operators, offering deals on the best iPhones and best Android phones of 2023.

If you’re in the market for a new handset, we’ve rounded up the best mobile phone plan deals you can shop today. Keep in mind that some contracts last 36 months, while others last just 24, so, while your monthly payments are lower, you could end up paying more in the long run.

Best Three deals

• iPhone 14 Pro with unlimited data: £55.97 per month, £55 up front
• iPhone 14 with 30GB data: £41 per month, £35 up front
• Samsung Galaxy S23+ with 30GB data: £47 per month, £55 up front
• Samsung Galaxy S23 with unlimited data: £46.22 per month, £40 up front
• Samsung Galaxy Flip 4 with 30GB data: £46 per month, £55 up front

Best Vodafone deals

• iPhone 14 Pro with 8GB data: £44 per month, £49 up front
• Samsung Galaxy S23+ with 3GB data: £48 per month, £49 up front
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with unlimited data: £51 per month, £49 up front
• Google Pixel 7a with 3GB data: £32 per month, £19 up front
• Google Pixel 7 Pro with 3GB data: £42 per month, £49 up front

Best O2 deals

• Google Pixel 7 Pro with 30GB data: £34.86 per month, £30 up front
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with 25GB data: £49.48 per month, £30 up front
• iPhone 14 Pro with 125GB data: £50.25 per month, £30 up front

Best EE deals

• iPhone 14 Pro Max with unlimited data: £80 per month, £30 up front
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with unlimited data: £70 per month, £30 up front
• Google Pixel 7a with unlimited data: £42 per month, nothing up front

If you’re approaching the end of your contract and you’re not ready to upgrade your phone, you can extend its life with a cheap SIM card from a pay-monthly operator. We recommend Smarty and giffgaff, where you’ll find rolling contracts with oodles of data for less than £10 per month.

Voucher codes

If you’re looking for discounts on technology or video games, try one of these codes:

• AO discount codes
• Very discount codes

Want more tech inspiration? Check out our list of the best laptops in 2023