6 things you could buy instead of an iPhone 6s

Are you feeling the hype for this year’s biggest gadget release? Stop. Step away from the queue: here’s what your bucks could buy you instead.
Credit: swns.com
The new iPhone 6s is here and, according to the PR guff, is about to change your life in a way unimaginable since, well, the iPhone 6 just a year ago. Fancy getting your hands on one? You might just want to read this, first.

An unlocked 16GB model costs £539 from the Apple Store – that’s a bridge too far for most students. You can get it on contract (assuming you pass credit checks), but of course will end up paying considerably more in the end.

How much does the iPhone 6s really cost?

One of the better deals is this one from O2 on a 24-month contract:



The phone itself (16GB) costs £29.99 upfront + (£25 x 24) = £629.99. Then of course the call plan is on top (in this case £21pm), and you should probably get it insured.

We’re not saying you shouldn’t get a new iPhone but, when money’s tight, it’s always worth kicking the cost into context. And, while contracts can help you budget your outgoings, they’re not usually very flexible or easy to get out of later on.

6 things you can get for £630 or less

We’ve used a guide price of £630 (see above for the breakdown). Other deals are available, so you could pay less – or significantly more – elsewhere. However you slice it, that’s a lot of outlay for a phone. Take a look at what you could have won instead.

1. 
   

   A month and a half of rent

   
   Credit: Joost – Flickr
   With the average student rent pegged at £373 a month, for the cost of the iPhone 6s you could pay your way for an extra month and a half. Flipping that around, if you go for the phone, you’ve still got to find the cash to keep a roof over your head.


2. 
   

   3½ years of broadband

   
   Credit: Kevin Cole- Flickr
   If accessing the internet from home isn’t just too 2014 for you, there are tons of student-friendly deals out there. We’ve found one with EE that comes in at £183 all-in for a year – and you’ll likely split the cost if you live with other students so it works out even cheaper.


3. 
   

   FIFTEEN other smartphones

   
   Credit: Mark Hillary – Flickr
   Opt for O2’s frill-free Lumia deal on PAYG instead, and you’ll pay just £39.99 for your phone. Obviously, no one needs more phones than they have fingers – unless you’re either very unlucky or fairly cack-handed – but cheaper models don’t have to be sneered at if they do the job.

Whether you’re after an iPhone or vintage Nokia, compare the best mobile phone contracts using our tool.

4. 
   

   One YEAR of Nando’s fine dining

   
   Credit: Katie Brady – Flickr
   At a tenner a pop for half a chicken and two sides, you could eat out atNando’s once a week for 52 weeks and still have bus fare for every visit. That’s the kind of cheeky we could go for.


5. 
   

   A pedigree pup

   
   Credit: Kristin Shoemaker – Flickr
   If you want posh, you’ve got to pay for it. A Kennel Club registered puppy could be yours for £630 – depending on the breed, of course – and, unlike Siri, it’ll love you back.


6. 
   

   One night in an A-list hotel