Five things I'd never do as a smartphones expert

We put 65 smartphones a year through more than 40 rigorous tests in the Which? lab to find the handsets that truly deliver. Years of comparing everything from the latest flagship iPhones to budget-friendly Androids have revealed essential checks and pitfalls to avoid when it comes to choosing a new phone.

I'm going to reveal five of my biggest no-nos when shopping for a handset, or getting started with a new one. There are also simple, effective steps you can take to keep your phone in better nick for longer and prevent your private data from falling into the wrong hands.

Read on to see the things I would always avoid doing as a smartphone expert.

Best smartphones to buy in 2026: see the models that aced our tough lab tests. 

1. Buy a phone on a contract without working out the total cost

Phone contracts can be a tempting way to spread out the cost of your handset instead of buying a phone outright (also known as buying Sim-free). However, what might seem like a reasonable monthly cost can disguise the premium you pay overall. Long-term contracts may also be subject to mid-contract price rises, so your monthly cost will go up over time.

In almost all cases, I would buy a phone outright with a separate Sim-only deal to save money. But before I do that, I'll do the sums on any deals I find to make sure that's the best way to go. To make this easier, you can use our contract calculator below.

2. Buy a phone that's too old 

Buying a handset that's a year or so old or buying a refurbished phone can save you a lot of money – especially when it comes to premium phones from the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google. On the whole, the upgrades we've seen from phones over the past few years haven't been anything special, so you're not missing much by stepping back a generation or two. However, make sure the handset you're looking at is still supported by updates. At a minimum, I'd recommend choosing one with at least two years of updates left, but many brands offer significant software support periods so finding a bargain that will last is now much easier.

Software updates bring the latest features to your phone's operating system. More importantly, security updates help prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in your phone.

Manufacturers usually support premium handsets for longer than cheaper ones. I wouldn't buy a phone that was released more than three years ago if it's a premium model, or two years ago if it's a mid-range or cheaper handset. We've found phones still on sale that have less than a year left of support guaranteed or are already out of support. 

Use our phone support calculator to find out when we estimate each phone will lose security support.

3. Or a phone that's too new 

It is incredibly tempting to be the first to own the latest flagship, but I make it a rule never to buy a handset as soon as it launches. Buying at the peak of the hype cycle usually means paying the maximum 'RRP' (Recommended Retail Price), which often stays high only until the initial rush of early adopters subsides. 

We have frequently seen the price of even the most popular Android handsets drop just a few months after release, and they'll likely see further discounts, so a little patience can save you hundreds of pounds. Beyond the cost, waiting a few weeks also allows the manufacturer to iron out any 'day one' software bugs or hardware quirks that often plague brand-new releases.

If you aren’t buying on launch day, it can still be tempting to opt for the first discount you see from your favourite retailer, but I would always shop around first by doing a quick search for the handset across multiple sites. A lot of phone deals come with freebies sold as 'bundles' in place of big overall discounts, such as a pair of Samsung headphones or a few months of a streaming subscription. 

It is always worth checking whether you actually want those extras, as the phone's manufacturer, independent retailers, and mobile providers often have wildly different offers. Contracts also commonly come with these add-ons, but the cost is usually built into your monthly repayment, so I always use a calculator to see if the 'free' gift is actually costing me more in the long run.

Looking for a new handset? We've rounded up our picks of the latest Android phone and Sim deals and iPhone deals. 

4. Buy an ultra-premium phone

Most major phone manufacturers reserve the absolute 'best' features for an ultra-premium device at the top of their flagship range, which usually comes with a four-figure price tag. This might include a slightly sharper display, a marginally faster processor, or an extra telephoto lens for professional-grade zoom. 

However, in our tests, we have found that most people will not even notice these upgrades in daily life. Unless you are planning to take professional-level zoomed-in photography or play the most graphically demanding mobile games, the extra money you pay for a 'Pro Max' or 'Ultra' model rarely warrants the investment.

We are also seeing a shift where the biggest selling point of these top-tier phones is now built-in AI capabilities. While these features are highly advertised, many are still in their infancy or may eventually require a separate monthly subscription to keep using them. Meanwhile, many mid-range and even entry-level phones continued to perform well in our labs. The fundamental features that actually matter, think screen quality, battery life, and speed for day-to-day apps, are now excellent on a number of more affordable devices. 

If I were looking to balance value with performance, I would always look at the standard flagship or a high-quality mid-range model rather than the most expensive one on the shelf.

Brands are going big on AI in new smartphones – find out what happened when we put Samsung's AI to the test in our labs.

5. Fail to look after a phone

If you don't look after your phone, its performance can diminish faster than it should. Here are our top tips on how to keep your phone in its best shape and how to keep your data safe if the worst should happen.

• Secure your phone as soon as you get it: If you lose your phone or it gets stolen, your best chance of finding it again will be determined by the steps you've taken before it's gone. As soon as you get your phone, set up Find My Device on an Android phone or Find My iPhone on iPhone so you can track and control it remotely. There are plenty more options to help protect your handset – read our advice in what to do if your phone gets stolen for a detailed guide.
• Clean it often: We take our phones everywhere, and they can pick up a lot of nasty bacteria on the way. I use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe to disinfect my phone, but you can also use mild soap and water with a damp microfibre cloth (we recommend a lint-free one). Our guide on how to clean your phone without damaging it has more.
• Keep things tidy: A common complaint is running out of storage, or battery life not being as good as it used to be. Offloading unused apps on iPhone – deleting an app without removing its data – can help to alleviate these issues. It's also a good idea to just delete apps you never use. In general, it's good practice to restart a phone once in a while – once a week is good, to clear things up. Read more on how to free up space on a phone. 
• Keep it updated: You might find the reminders that pop up on your phone's screen to update its software annoying, but it's important to take the time to update it so security patches are installed. Without these, vulnerabilities can appear in your phone's software and be exploited.