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Best iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus plans: Optus vs Telstra vs Vodafone vs Virgin

The best iPhone 7 plans for data, value, dollar and more

Nick Ross (PC World)
21 September, 2016 13:12

There's a great deal to like about the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Especially the Jet Black versions.

We’ve examined all the best iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus plans from the major carriers and come up with the best ways to buy all of the variants: 32GB, 128GB and 256GB.

We’ve also included the price of the raw phones from the Apple Store and provided a selection of SIM-only plans that you can use on a BYO (Bring Your Own phone) basis. Doing this gives you more data and doesn’t lock you into a two-year contract, but you have to stump up a lot of money up front.

Unusually, choosing a two-year contract now means you can get the iPhone cheaper than buying outright – in some circumstances.

Below we show you the best plans we've found in our huge search. We've also included some BYO plans for Third-party Carriers who offer services as partners of the major networks.

To skip to individual models to see how we worked out our best value choices and check out our charts, graphs and analysis click on these links now:-

Page 2 – Best iPhone 7 32GB plans
Page 3 – Best iPhone 7 128GB plans
Page 4 – Best iPhone 7 256GB plans
Page 5 – Best iPhone 7 Plus 32GB plans
Page 6 – Best iPhone 7 Plus 128GB plans
Page 7 – Best iPhone 7 Plus 256GB plans
Page 8 – Best Third Party Carriers BYO iPhone plans
Page 9 – Summary

Why you'll want the bigger phone

Assuming this will be your primary phone for the next two years you’re looking at a median price of $2,040 for the 32GB iPhone 7, $2,200 for the 128GB model and $2,350 for the 256GB model.

For the iPhone 7 Plus you’re looking at around $2,230 for the 32GB model, $2,400 for the 128GB model and $2,540 for the 256GB model.

Considering that payments are being spread over two years, that low range of $2,040 for the 32GB iPhone 7 to $2,540 for the 256GB iPhone 7 Plus might surprise some people: upgrading to a bigger/better model can work out surprisingly cheap per month if you choose wisely.

Because of these figures, we can also get a good idea of where some of the other plans from partner carriers fit in the value scale of things and we'll discuss some of those too.

Data differences

Along the way you’ll get wildly different amounts of data options so there are many sweet spots in value to be had and we’ll highlight those as we discuss each variant.

In terms of network coverage, Telstra still tends to reign supreme across the country (as a whole - including the rural bits) but you’ll generally pay through the nose for it and get less data. However, the difference is nothing like it used to be and in metropolitan areas in particular, Vodafone and Optus (and Virgin which uses the Optus network) are competitive (actually they’re frequently better nowadays). But coverage will always have blackspot foibles for each network and you’ll know more about your local area than we do.

Just remember that plans tend to change all the time and that special offers can come and go, so there maybe fluctuations in data amounts in the actual plans listed below by the time you come to buy.

Be sure to check out our Summary to see the Best overall value to be had for all of the phone variants.

The Best iPhone Plans

Note, in every case, the very best value can be gained from buying the phone outright from Apple and choosing one of the following BYO plans.

The best iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus BYO plans

The best iPhone 7 32GB plans

The best iPhone 7 128GB plans

The best iPhone 7 256GB plans

The best iPhone 7 Plus 32GB plans

The best iPhone 7 Plus 128GB plans

The best iPhone 7 Plus 256GB plans

Next: Best iPhone 7 32GB plans

Page 1 – Introduction
Page 2 – Best iPhone 7 32GB plans
Page 3 – Best iPhone 7 128GB plans
Page 4 – Best iPhone 7 256GB plans
Page 5 – Best iPhone 7 Plus 32GB plans
Page 6 – Best iPhone 7 Plus 128GB plans
Page 7 – Best iPhone 7 Plus 256GB plans
Page 8 – Best Third Party Carriers BYO iPhone plans
Page 9 – Summary

Page Break

Best iPhone 7 32GB plans

For each phone variant we've created a table showing the contract plans for 1GB data, 2-5GB of data and 8-10GB of data plus a bunch of SIM-only plans. We also show the cost per month of the phone, what that comes to over two years of payments plus an overall cost over two years. We then plot a graph showing the cost of the iPhone over two years against the overall cost of the phone plus the plan over two years. We analyse the results below:-

All major 32GB iPhone 7 plans and prices.

Cost of iPhone vs Overall payment with plan over two years.

The cheapest overall way to get an iPhone 7 is with Virgin (which uses Optus’ network) and this will cost you $1,584 over two years. But you only get 1GB and on a data-hungry smartphone like Apple’s finest, you can easily bust through that. Nonetheless, you’re only paying $624 for the iPhone itself instead of the $1,079 retail price.

For moderate data users, Virgin’s $60 plan looks particularly impressive with 5GB data being offered for a very respectable $1,896.

However, the secret seems to be out and stock is low. So try these alternatives...

For people who want at least 8GB the choice between Vodafone, Optus and Virgin becomes minor. But Virgin does win again by offering 9GB on their $80 plan. For $3 more per month you can boost that to 18GB! The iPhone itself only costs $168 when doing this. That said Optus is selling you the iPhone for just $48 albeit with $5 more for the plan and 1GB less data.

In terms of a low-usage BYO plan, all but Telstra are competitive thanks to its $30 1.5GB plans. There’s no huge benefit of going BYO at this level as you’ll often be locked into a 12-month contract, you’ll only get 500MB more data and you’ll get a lower price by joining a two-year plan.

However, going BYO on a $40 plan is arguably the best sweet spot of all: you’ll get 8GB from Vodafone and Optus and 7GB from Telstra and Virgin. Virgin is the only player not to lock you into a one-year contract but history tells us that this one year contract is worth sticking with as you can have the same benefits with no contract once it expires. The overall price of $2,039 is identical to the median price of all plans here.

Going higher generally means going on a $50 plan and getting 10-15GB for an overall payment of $2,279 although Telstra is charging a fortune here – 10GB only on a $70 plan.

Overall, moderate users are best off going for the $40 BYO plan but they should be aware that it’s only $150 more (less than $7 per month) to move up to the 128GB iPhone 7 variant if doing this.

Next: Best iPhone 7 128GB plans

Page Break

Best iPhone 7 128GB plans

Here are the chart and graph. Analysis follows:-

Things are a bit more simple in the iPhone 7 128GB space. Quite simply, if you can splash $1,229 for a phone upfront and then go onto a $40 plan from any of the carriers, you’re looking at 7-8GB for $2,189 over two years. That’s usually with a one-year contract which carriess on month-by-month after you've finished although Virgin offers no contract right from the start - so you’ll be relatively-free to sell up early and get the iPhone 7s or even iPhone 8 next year if you want!

If you can’t afford the phone up front, Vodafone and Virgin’s $60 two-year contract will give you a similar overall price with 4GB and 5GB respectively. Virgin actually offers some attractive incremental increases too:-

However, it’s worth noting that you can upgrade to the 256GB iPhone 7 for just $150 more over two year’s of payments. Again, that's less than $7 per month.

Next: Best iPhone 7 256GB plans

Page Break

Best iPhone 7 256GB plans

Here are the chart and graph. Analysis follows:-

If you’re choosing a two-year contract for the iPhone 7 256GB then Vodafone and Virgin’s $60 plans are your best bet (again). The phone itself comes in at around $900 instead of $1,379 and that will come with 4GB and 5GB of data respectively. Once again, Virgin offers some attractive incremental value increases.

In BYO world the $40 plans are again great value with 7-8GB across the board but you’ll need to stump up $1,379 for the phone in the first place. Most start with one-year contracts but Virgin offers no contract from the start.

If you're only looking at the iPhone 7 because you don't think you can afford the iPhone 7 Plus, it's worth noting that these overall, two-year payments of around $2,330 aren't dissimilar to the 128GB iPhone 7 Plus.

Next: Best iPhone 7 Plus 32GB plans

Page Break

Best iPhone 7 Plus 32GB plans

Here are the chart and graph. Analysis follows:-

All major plans for the iPhone 7 Plus 32GB.

It’s refreshing to see that buying an iPhone on plan can be cheaper than buying outright – it’s usually much more expensive to do so. But now you can get an iPhone 7 Plus for $600 on a $65 Optus plan: that’s less than Huawei’s pocket rocket P9 and phabulous Mate 8.

Those plans aren’t the cheapest overall, though. The $40 plans from Optus and Virgin give you an iPhone 7 Plus for $1800 and $1752 (across two years) respectively although you only get 1GB of data.

However, in terms of overall value, if you can afford the $1,269 up front for the device, then it’s well worth buying one outright and choosing the $40 BYO plans which give you 7-8GB for a two-year total spend of $2,229. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone will start you off on a one-year contract but Virgin has no contract. This value proposition is in line with the iPhone 7 but as with that phone, you may then be tempted in to splurging for the 128GB model which costs $150 more over two years.

As usual, if you want to move from 32GB to 128GB, you're looking at a $150 price increase spread across two years ($6.25 per month).

Next: Best iPhone 7 Plus 128GB plans

Page Break

Best iPhone 7 Plus 128GB plans

Here are the chart and graph. Analysis follows:-

All major plans for the iPhone 7 Plus 128GB.

The big value shout out for the 128GB variant in terms of two-year contracts is Virgin (again) with its $60 plan giving you 5GB of data plus an opportunity to spend $960 on the iPhone itself instead of the outright $1,419. This works out at $2400 over two years – or $100 per month.

However, if you can afford the $1,419 up front then the BYO $40 plans are once again worth choosing: you get 7-8GB with no contract and that gives you a total two-year spend of $2,379 making it the best value choice.

As usual, if you want to get the 256GB model, it's $150 more when spread out over two years.

Next: Best iPhone 7 Plus 256GB plans

Page Break

Best iPhone 7 Plus 256GB plans

Here are the chart and graph. Analysis follows:-

If you’re buying the 256GB iPhone 7 Plus then you probably are a hardcore phone user and shouldn’t be looking at plans with only 1GB data on them even if they save you some $300 on the asking price of this $1,569 handset.

Yes, that’s $1,569 for the phone outright. You can get a decent laptop for that.

At this level you’ll be looking to spend some $2,550 over two years to get value and the two main areas of choice will look familiar to those who have read up to this far…

In terms of plans, once again Vodafone and Virgin’s $60 plans are the best to choose with their 4GB and 5GB of data (respectively) plus $48 and $46 monthly payments for the iPhone. At the end of two years you’ll have spent a little over $1,100 for the top iPhone – over $400 of savings.

However, the $40 BYO contract space is once again the place to go if you can pay up front: 7-8GB of monthly data for a $2,529 spend over two years and with no contract.

But in this instance the monthly payments could look much more attractive, not least because Virgin’s two year price of $2,544 for 5GB is great value all round for most users.

Next: Best Third Party Carriers BYO plans

Page Break

Best Third Party Carriers BYO iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus plans

These carriers offer services on existing networks and can represent a good way to save money. We list BYO plans for $30, $40 and $50 levels.

$30

$40

$50

Next: Summary

Page Break

Summary: The best plans for all iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models

It’s quite simple in many respects, if you can buy the phone separately then going to a $40 BYO SIM-only plan is the very best way to get value. However, remember that only Virgin allows you access to it without a 12-month contract. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone will ask you to sign a one-year contract up front, but you'll usually be able to continue it on a month by month basis once it's run out.

Those plans are here:-

If you can’t pay the exorbitant up-front price then the $60 plans will suit many people – especially from Virgin and Vodafone which offer 5GB and 4GB respectively. It's worth looking closely at Virgin though as the price of the phone drops considerably as the phone plans rise, so you can get a lot more data for just a few bucks more per month.

If you need to go Telstra, check out the graphs: no Telco’s plans vary as wildly in terms of value when it comes to contracts. The company looks much more human in the BYO $40 space though, where it rivals the opposition in terms of price and data – although their offer in this area will expire soon.

And the winner is…

Ultimately, the winner has to be Virgin which offers not just the best two-year contracts in terms of value but also a great free-from-contract $40 BYO plan.

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