iPhone Plans & Prices

Vodafone customers can choose from the newest iPhone models, the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, along with the older iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus phones. These devices are available on Vodafone’s phone repayment plans, with your choice of contract length over 12, 24 or 36 months.

Once you’ve selected your device, you’ll be required to add on a postpaid plan. These plans are separate to your device repayments and they are month-to-month plans. This means you can switch your plan to another of the month-to-month plans, however cancelling will require you to pay off the remaining cost of your handset.

Like Vodafone, Telstra offers a great selection of Apple devices including the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and a few older devices are still available including the iPhone X and iPhone 8. These devices are all available on Telstra’s standard 24-month contracts.

Telstra also offers newer iPhones on Lease plans, which can generally save you around $10 on your device payments. Again, this involves a monthly payment over 24 months, but you’ll have the option of upgrading to a new phone at the one-year mark. To upgrade, you’ll need to pay $99, and return your leased iPhone to Telstra, with the device in good working order.

Like Telstra and Vodafone, Optus stocks the latest devices including the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. It also stocks a range of older iPhone models, including the iPhone X and iPhone 8. If you’re considering picking up a new iPhone from Optus, you can choose between a regular two-year mobile contract (after which the iPhone is yours to keep), or a two-year My Plan Flex lease plan.

Lease plans are available for the newer devices and consist of a two-year contract with the option to upgrade after 12 months. As with Telstra, you’ll need to pay $99 and return your iPhone in good working order to Optus in order to upgrade. If you decide not to lease your iPhone – or want to buy an earlier model that doesn’t come with a lease option – you can select from the telco’s postpaid phone plans with the device payments additional to you plan fees.

If you’re concerned about excess data charges, Vodafone and Telstra now provide ‘unlimited’ data plans for postpaid customers. Most of these plans include an allowance of high-speed 4G data each month, plus unlimited slower data (capped to 1.5Mbps).

Vodafone customers can pick from the $55 Red Plus Plan with 90GB of high-speed data or the $65 Red Plus Plan with 125GB of high-speed data. If you’re with Telstra, the telco’s ‘peace of mind’ data plans include the $99 Large option (with 30GB of high-speed data), $129 Extra Large plan (featuring 60GB of fast data) and the unlimited high-speed Ultimate Unlimited plan, which is the only truly unlimited phone plan (with no cap on your data speed), for $199 per month.

With several buying options available for Apple phones, it’s not always easy to figure out the best deal. However, to help you make this decision, it’s important to consider:

• Buying outright: This is a good option if you have the full device cost handy and don’t want to be locked into a phone plan or telco. You’ll own your phone immediately and be free to move to any SIM-only plan you like, without needing to sign contracts. The only downside is that iPhones are generally expensive devices and you won’t have options to upgrade to a new device after a couple years.
• Paying in instalments: This is still the most common way your average Australian buys a new phone, and means you’re spreading the total cost of your iPhone over 12, 24, or 36 months of payments. If you’re okay with sticking to a single plan or provider, and prefer a payment plan to shelling out hundreds (or thousands) or dollars at once, this is worth considering.
• Leasing your phone: Optus and Telstra both offer lease options for Apple smartphones. These plans mean you won’t own your phone outright at the end of the lease payment (unless you pay extra); you’re basically ‘renting’ your phone, and will have to return it to your telco after the lease period is up.

You do have the option of upgrading to a newer phone after 12 months, but you’ll need to hand back your iPhone, and pay a $99 upgrade fee. These plans may work for people who love to change phones annually, and aren’t prone to losing or damaging devices; you may also receive a cheaper or better-value mobile plan, when compared to buying a phone on a two-year contract.

Depending on your choice of telco and plan, you can score some great extras and inclusions to go with your new Samsung phone.

• Vodafone: Many Vodafone plans come with up to 20,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points, plus monthly international calling extras – up to 3,300 minutes to call various selected countries. Discounts are also available for students and current customers signing up for an additional plan, and bonus and double data offers are frequently available.
• Optus: If you love mobile streaming, Optus includes data-free music, sports, and National Geographic on selected plans, plus the option to add data-free Netflix and Stan for $5 per month. Higher-end plans also include up to 6GB of international roaming data per month, and unlimited standard international talk and text.
• Telstra: Telstra has been known to throw in a free 12-month Foxtel Now subscription with its Large, Xtra Large and Ultimate Unlimited plans. You’ll also get unlimited international talk and text with the above plans. All postpaid Telstra customers will also have access to Telstra Air Wi-Fi hotspots, data-free Apple Music (and a free six-month subscription), and data-free live sport from the NRL, AFL, AFLW, and Australian netball.
• Amaysim: All of Amaysim’s plans of $30 each month or more feature unlimited standard calls to ten countries: China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. There’s also a further 300 minutes of calls to 32 countries on Amaysim’s $40 and $50 plans.

The iPhone XS will be available to pre-order from Friday, September 14, most likely from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. It’s available in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage sizes; in gold, silver, and space grey; and at the prices listed below.

• 64GB: $1,629 AUD
• 256GB: $1,879 AUD
• 512GB: $2,199 AUD

The iPhone XS Max will be available in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB models, and in silver, gold or grey colours. Pre-orders go live September 14 on Optus, Vodafone and Telstra plans, with full prices listed below.

64GB: $1,799 AUD
256GB: $2,049 AUD
512GB: $2.369 AUD

The iPhone XR will be available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage sizes, and in six colourways: black, white, blue, coral, yellow, and the special edition Product (RED) option. Unlike the XS and XS Max, you’ll have to wait a little longer for the XR: pre-orders won’t begin until October 19, but the device will arrive in stores from October 26 and be priced as follows:

• 64GB: $1,229 AUD
• 128GB: $1,299 AUD
• 256GB: $1,479 AUD