Best network for iPhone

If you’re thinking of buying an iPhone on contract, you’ve got a SIM-free iPhone and want to sign up to a contract, or are nearing the end of a contract and want to go with a different provider, you’ll be wanting to know which network is best for you. This article is the right place to find out.

We go through the various network providers available in the UK and discuss their pros, cons and general performance – you should be able to find the right choice for you in no time.

We also go into more detail about the research and reports we use to determine our verdict for each network further into this article.

THE NETWORKS

In the UK we have four big networks:

• EE
• O2
• Three
• Vodafone

There are many further providers, but they all ‘piggyback’ on the infrastructure of one of the above. So EE is piggybacked by BT Mobile, Plusnet and Virgin Mobile; O2 is piggybacked by Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile; Three is piggybacked by iD Mobile and Smarty; and Vodafone is piggybacked by Talk Mobile and VOXI.

This piggybacking arrangement will be relevant when we discuss coverage, speed and reliability because the smaller providers are reliant on the physical infrastructure of their chosen big network, and will be susceptible to the same problems.

WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM YOUR NETWORK?

When selecting a network there are lots of different criteria to consider. You will probably have to compromise in one area to get what you’re looking for in another.

Price

For a rough comparison of prices, in