Samsung Phone Plans & Prices

Currently, Telstra customers can pick from multiple Samsung devices, including the 2021 release Samsung Galaxy S21 series (including the S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra), the Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra, and some devices from the Samsung Galaxy S20 series such as the S20 FE (stocks of the S20 series may no longer be available), plus the Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Z Fold2, the Galaxy A11, Galaxy A51 and more. You’ll have to repay the phone over a 12 or 24-month period and bundle it with a month-to-month SIM plan.

There are four ‘Upfront’ (pay-in-advance) plans to choose from, with no excess data charges on all of these plans. Once you’ve reached your data allowance, you’ll be able to continue using data but at capped speeds of 1.5Mbps, which may still be fast enough for standard definition video streaming. You’re free to switch between plans as your data needs change, however cancelling altogether will require you to pay off the remainder of your handset.

Keen on the Samsung 5G phones? While Telstra’s 5G network is only available in a small number of places, the telco is continually expanding this technology, so its worth looking to see if you’ll have access to the 5G network before picking up the device. For 5G network access, you’ll need to the Medium, Large or Extra Large plans, as 5G access is not included on the Small plan.

How much you pay for your phone plan each month depends on the device you choose. You’ll then be able to bundle with one of the following four Telstra phone plans.

Telstra Samsung plans summary

Optus allows customers to pay off selected Samsung phones on payment period of 12, 24 or 36 months, which can then be bundled with a month-to-month postpaid plan. If you’re looking at a Samsung device from Optus, you’ll be able to choose from the Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra phones, some of the Samsung Galaxy S20 series phones (depending on availability), the Galaxy Note20 series, the Galaxy Z Flip, the Galaxy A21s, the A51 and A71 5G and more. How much you pay each month is dependant on the payment period length, the plan you choose and device storage size. Then you’ll bundle with one of the postpaid phone plans, which all include no excess data charges, once you use up your data inclusions (although this ‘unlimited’ data is at the capped speed of 1.5Mbps). These Optus postpaid plans are listed below.

Optus Samsung plans summary

Vodafone currently offers quite a few Samsung devices on postpaid plans. Postpaid options include the Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra, some devices from the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, the Galaxy Note20 and Note20 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy Z Fold 3 and more.

If you do buy your phone through Vodafone, you’ll be able to choose from a 12, 24, or 36-month repayment period that’s separate from your mobile plan. The device you choose, payment period and plan you choose to bundle with your device, will determine your monthly bill. The postpaid plans are month-to-month and you’re able to switch between plans, however cancelling will require you to pay off the remainder of your device. All of Vodafone’s postpaid plans include no excess data charges, like Telstra, so once you use up your plan’s full-speed data inclusions, you can keep using data at the capped speed of 2Mbps or 10Mbps. The speed of your data is determined by which plan you choose. You can also access unlimited full-speed data with no caps on Vodafone’s $85 Ultra+ plan. Here are the postpaid plans you’ll be able to bundle with.

Vodafone Samsung plans summary

Woolworths Mobile offers customers the choice between phone repayments over 24 or 36 months in conjunction with your plan of choice. Plans start at $25 and go up to $45 and all plans include up to 300GB of data banking. The $35 and $45 plans also include unlimited international calls to 22 countries.

Samsung phones that are currently available on plans through Woolworths Mobile include the Samsung Galaxy S21 series, the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, Galaxy Note20 series, the Galaxy A21, A21s and A11 and more. Once you’ve chosen your device, simply pick the repayment period and the postpaid plan (listed in the table below) you wish to add on.

Woolworths Mobile Samsung plans summary

It’s not just Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Woolworths Mobile that offer Samsung phones on a plan. Both Southern Phone and TeleChoice offer a range of Samsung phones bundled with plans. These providers offer mobile phone plans on the more traditional 24-month contract, and you’ll find a range of Samsung devices to choose from, from the premium phones to the cheaper devices.

Typically you might have more selection from smaller providers if you’re looking for a cheaper Samsung phone, as the bigger telcos tend to mostly focus on the more premium and popular devices. However, if you are looking for a Samsung phone and aren’t sold on a plan from the big three telcos, you might want to check out what Southern Phone and TeleChoice have to offer.

If you’re concerned about excess data charges, all of the big three telcos (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone) offer ‘unlimited’ data plans for postpaid customers. Most of these plans include an allowance of high-speed data each month, plus unlimited slower data, which has capped speeds. These capped speeds start at 1.5Mbps from both Telstra and Optus, while Vodafone offers different speeds depending on your postpaid plan of choice (either 2Mbps, 10Mbps, or full-speed unlimited data on its $85 plan).

While this is good news for anyone who has regularly found themselves going over their data allowance, keep in mind that these capped speeds might slow down some activities. While 1.5Mbps is technically fast enough to stream standard-definition video on your phone, it might be a bit slow to load.

All three telcos offer this ‘unlimited’ data on postpaid plans, including those bundled with a new phone. So, if you’re looking for an unlimited data phone plan to bundle with your new Samsung device, you’ll be able to compare plans from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone to find the right plan for you.

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 monthly international calling extras to select countries as well as ‘unlimited’ data on all postpaid plans (either 2Mbps, 10Mbps or unlimited maximum speeds depending on plan choice). Discounts are regularly offered for students and for bundling eligible plans onto the one account. Vodafone also regularly offers discounts and bonus data to new customers.
• Optus: If you love mobile streaming, Optus includes data-free sports on selected plans. Higher-end plans also include unlimited standard international talk and text, plus Optus also offers ‘unlimited’ data but at the capped speed of 1.5Mbps.
• Telstra: You’ll get ‘unlimited’ data with all plans at capped speeds of 1.5Mbps once you go over your data inclusion. Some plans will include 5G network access and some international talk and text. You can also share all full-speed data between up to ten eligible Upfront plans on your Telstra account. Telstra customers can also access Telstra Plus Rewards, where simply paying your bill can gain you points to spend towards devices and accessories, not to mention membership-only benefits.
• Woolworths Mobile: All of Woolworth’s postpaid plans include unlimited standard national calls and SMS. Bonus data may be offered from time to time and you’ll have access to up to 300GB of data banking.

Finding the best Samsung phone plan for you is pretty straightforward. Once you’ve decided which Samsung phone you want, it’s then a matter of comparing plans from different providers that are offering the phone you want.

When you’re comparing Samsung phone plans, consider which provider you’re interested in, along with phone plan prices and inclusions, such as data. The length of contract on offer might also determine which phone plan you choose.

Keep in mind that choosing a phone plan bundled with a new Samsung smartphone, will most likely keep you locked into a contract for 12 months or longer. If you’d prefer to not be locked into a phone plan, you might want to look at buying your Samsung phone outright and pairing with a cheap SIM-only phone plan.