iPhone Plans & Prices

Vodafone customers can choose from six different iPhone models on the telco’s postpaid plans – the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S Plus, and the iPhone 6. Each of these devices is available on Vodafone’s phone repayment plans, for periods of 12, 24, or 36 months.

Regardless of which iPhone you choose, or the length of your payment plan, your phone contract is entirely separate from your mobile service. This means that the telco’s postpaid plans are all month to month, so you can switch plans without cancelling your phone payments.

Like Vodafone, Telstra offers a great selection of Apple devices – available iPhone models include the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, and the iPhone SE. If you’d like to buy on a standard two-year contract, you’ll make 24 equal monthly payments.

Telstra also offers the three newest and most popular iPhones – the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus – on Go Swap lease plans. 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.

Optus stocks the same selection of iPhones as Telstra, so everything from the high-end iPhone X, 8 Plus and 8, to the smaller and more affordable iPhone SE. And like with Telstra, if you’re buying 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 mobile lease.

Lease plans are available for the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, 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 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 pair your device with one of the telco’s plans.

While you can’t yet buy an iPhone on a plan from Amaysim, the popular MVNO – which runs on the Optus 4G Plus network – does allow customers to buy devices either outright, or on 12 or 24-month instalment options. You can buy your choice of iPhone, then match it with a SIM-only Amaysim plan.

Like Vodafone, Amaysim keeps its phone payment plans separate from its mobile service, so you’re not locked into a SIM-only plan for more than just one month. Available iPhones include the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

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 $60 Unlimited Red plan (with 40GB of fast data), or the $80 Unlimited Red plan (with 80GB at full speed). 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 Xtra Large plan (featuring 60GB of fast data) and the unlimited high-speed Ultimate plan for $199 monthly.

With several buying options available for Apple phones, it’s not always easy to figure out the best deal. However, as general rule of thumb:

• 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.
• 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