what new iphone contract?

I have an ee contract with an iphone 12 mini which is about to expire. The phone is a basic one and the battery is at 89%. I dont really use much of its capability which is why I got the mini.

I am a fairly light user, but I go to Europe 5 or 6 times a year and pay an extra £10 for roaming each time. I am sure I have wasted some money. I dont want any hassle of worrying I will run out and/or accidentally run up an extras bill if something arises. I would rather pay a little more to avoid this concern.

ee offer a sim only "all rounder sim" with 26mb which is £32pm incl VAT for 2 years. I assume ee really want to sell me a phone rather than just a sim, but they offer an iphone 15 on a similar contract for nearly £60..

I quite like the idea of a bigger screen this time round which might make me use it for so much more eg reluctantly accepting that apps have to run my life and could make it better.

There is so much info out there about sim only contracts and people offering competing deals with or without phones. I dont mind spending a couple of quid extra every month but dont want to feel a fool and be stuck with the wrong thing for 2 years.

I am confused and need someone to tell me what to do. Keep the old phone, get a sim only with ee or someone else. Or get a new phone (with or without ee, which contract and which phone?). Must be apple. Lovely day.

Have a look at Money Saving Expert website - always has the best deals for iPhones. I’ve done well from mobiles.co.uk and equivalents, and found these deals on MSE.

Network wise, have just switched over to iD - they offer fairly good coverage and European roaming is included which works very well and saves a fair bit of money. 3 and maybe o2 also do the bundled roaming.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/cheap-iphone/

Giffgaff are decent and keep your existing phone

How much would you want for the 12 mini?

Recently got an o2 sim only contract via uswitch, was better than direct and included EU roaming. £8 a month. Factoring in the phone (pixel 6a that was really cheap with a trade-in), it is costing about £16 per month over 2 years.

https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/compare/sim_only_deals/

good question. If I go down the route of a different phone I will get back to you. and thank s everyone for the info - am following it all up.

Smarty seem to offer decent usage abroad.

Three seem to be reintroducing some amount of "included in allowance" foreign usage, not as good as the old system of your entire allowance up to 40gb/month being valid but cest la vie, removal initially being a #brexitwin

Lebara seem reasonable if Vodafone reception is decent for you - roaming and some international calling included in most of their deals. (I'm paying a fiver a month for 5Gb, 1000 UK minutes, 100 int'l minutes - I don't even touch the sides of any of that usage, and it's all available roaming subject to not taking the piss)