Dan Howdle | July 13th, 2023
Arguably, the best Android phone right now is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. S23 is the best phone, and the Ultra the best version of it. Of course, brand evangelists for Google or Oneplus, say, will hae their own opinion, but us in the mobile press are largely of one opinion: The S23 beats all-comers. But it ain't cheap. In fact it's one of the most expensive Android phones ever released, which makes finding the best deal all the more important.
There have been a few criteria for finding the best deal out there. Firstly, unlimited data. Sure, many folk won't actually need this, but in the not too distant future (by 2025, we reckon), unlimited data will be the norm. Other European countries such as Norway have offered exclusively unlimited deals for years, and we thing never having to worry about your data limit is worth an extra quid or two per month. Especially on such a high-end 5G phone, and especially considering you have unlimited tethering. You could, technically, use such a plan to supply your home wifi. It wouldn't be the fastest or best, but it'd work.
Secondly, we're going for the 256GB version. While 128GB is a lot, and you can save a couple of quid opting for that, we have spent around 18 months using the S22 Ultra, Samsung's 2022 flagship (hence the name, see?) and hit our storage limit twice while trying to record video on our hols. Video and apps eat up that storage fast.
Network: Three network | 4G & 5G coverage | Roam free
The best/cheapest deal we could find considering that criteria is from iD Mobile, offering unlimited everything on the S23 Ultra on a 24-month (two-year) contract. You can also feasibly pay less per month if you seek out a three-year contract, but three years is a very long time in the world of phones, and being tied in for that long won't suit most people.
Oh, goodness yes. You can pop along to the Samsung website to see the price of the handset on its own. It's £1249! That's over a hundred pounds more expensive than this iD Mobile deal and you'll only get the handset on its own, with SIM and therefore no phone number or ability to use data. You'd need to get an unlimited deal on top of that, the cheapest of the cheapest of which will set you back another tenner a month. So yes, this deal is really, really cheap.
Since you're here, you may want to take a quick peek at the tech specs for the S23 Ultra, and we don't intend to disappoint you, so here they are:
Specification | Description |
---|---|
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
Memory | 12GB |
Storage | 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB |
Display | Type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak), 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio). Resolution: 1440x3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density). Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
Camera | Quad-camera setup: 200MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP periscope telephoto, and 10MP telephoto |
Battery | 5000mAh |
Operating System | Android 13 with Samsung One UI 5.1 |
Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC |
Dimensions | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9mm |
Weight | 234 grams |
iD Mobile is a mobile phone company founded in 2015 that offers various services to customers. They operate on the Three network and are a subsidiary of Currys plc, meaning you can get an iD Mobile deal in any Carphone Warehouse and most Currys stores. iD Mobile aims to provide affordable and flexible mobile options to meet different budgets and needs. It offers different plans, including SIM-only deals and contracts for phones. iD Mobile focuses on being transparent with customers, allowing them to create personalised plans with adjustable allowances and options to roll over unused data. It strives to make pricing straightforward, offer competitive rates, and provide responsive customer service. iD Mobile aims to deliver a user-friendly mobile experience while offering value and flexibility to their customers.