Buying the iPhone 18 Pro This Christmas? 4 Android Phones to Consider First, and When to Buy
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Quick Answer
At Carphone Warehouse, the iPhone 18 Pro costs £1,199 SIM free or £52.99 a month on a featured iD Mobile plan.
Before you buy, however, compare four Android alternatives: the Google Pixel 11 Pro (£1,079), Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (£1,129), Samsung Galaxy S26 (£879) and Motorola Razr 70 Ultra (£1,149). Then check back for Black Friday and Boxing Day offers.
The Sunset Weekly Connection Reality: Comparing flagship smartphone options and key plan structures ensures you find the right fit before committing to a upgrade. Evaluating top Android competitors alongside seasonal savings like Black Friday and Boxing Day events helps maximize value on your next device purchase.
BUY NOWiPhone 18 Pro and Its Android Rivals at a Glance
| Phone | SIM free | Featured iD Mobile plan | Upfront | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | £1,199 | £52.99 a month | £79 | 100GB |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro | £1,079 | £38.99 a month | £29 | 100GB |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | £1,129 | £39.99 a month | £29 | 100GB |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 | £879 | £29.99 a month | £39 | 100GB |
| Motorola Razr 70 Ultra | £1,149 | £43.99 a month | £9 | 200GB |
Source: carphonewarehouse.com, 256GB models (512GB for the Razr), 24-month iD Mobile plans featured on each product page, checked 12 October 2026. More plans are available on each page.
My Christmas Phone Dilemma
It happens every year. First, the evenings draw in. Then the Christmas lights go up, and my phone starts to feel a little tired. This year, though, I had my heart set on the iPhone 18 Pro.
But before I spend over £1,000 on anything, I do my homework. So I asked myself a simple question: is the iPhone really the best phone for me, or just the one I know best? To find out, I first looked at four Android phones that Android Authority’s readers rate as the strongest alternatives. Then I checked every price at Carphone Warehouse, so you can compare like for like.
Here’s what I found, and when I think it’s smartest to buy.
The iPhone 18 Pro: Where I Started
Carphone Warehouse lists the iPhone 18 Pro with a 6.3-inch ProMotion display, Apple’s A20 Pro chip and a “Pro-grade 48MP camera” with 8x optical-quality zoom. It also comes in Glacier, Black, Burgundy and Silver.
However, at £1,199 SIM free, or £52.99 a month on iD Mobile with £79 upfront, it’s a big investment. That’s exactly why the alternatives deserve a fair look.
4 Android Phones to Consider Instead
1. Google Pixel 11 Pro: The Closest All-Round Alternative
Source: GSMArena
Android Authority calls the Pixel 11 Pro the closest overall alternative to the iPhone 18 Pro. For example, according to Google, it has a 6.3-inch display that reaches up to 3,600 nits, a 4,850mAh typical battery and a 5x optical zoom telephoto camera. Plus, Google promises seven years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates.
- Price: £1,079 SIM free, or £38.99 a month on iD Mobile with £29 upfront
- Stand-out features: Gemini AI built in, Magic Capture and the Google Tensor G6 chip
- Best for: photographers who especially want a compact phone with clean Android software
2. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: The Feature-Packed Powerhouse
Source: GSMArena
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra was the clear favourite in Android Authority’s reader poll. For instance, Carphone Warehouse lists a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a 200MP quad camera system and a 5,000mAh battery. In addition, Android Authority highlights its built-in privacy display and faster charging.
- Price: £1,129 SIM free (shown as “Save £150”), or £39.99 a month on iD Mobile with £29 upfront
- Colours: Cobalt Violet, Black, Sky Blue and White
- Best for: power users who also want the biggest screen and the most versatile cameras
3. Samsung Galaxy S26: The Compact Value Pick
Source: GSMArena
If the iPhone 18 Pro’s price makes you pause, the Galaxy S26 is the gentlest on your wallet. Still, Carphone Warehouse lists a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a 50MP triple camera system and a 4,300mAh battery. Moreover, Android Authority notes that it weighs just 167g.
- Price: £879 SIM free, or £29.99 a month on iD Mobile with £39 upfront
- Colours: White, Black, Cobalt Violet and Sky Blue
- Best for: anyone who wants a flagship-feeling phone, but for a lower price
4. Motorola Razr 70 Ultra: The Stylish Flip
Source: GSMArena
Finally, the Razr 70 Ultra is the one to choose if you want something different. Above all, it folds in half, with a 6.96-inch main display and a 4.0-inch external display. Carphone Warehouse also lists triple 50MP rear cameras, a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a 5,000mAh battery and a weight of 199g.
- Price: £1,149 SIM free (shown as “Save £50”), or £43.99 a month on iD Mobile with just £9 upfront and 200GB of data
- Extras: dual SIM, with a physical SIM plus eSIM
- Best for: style-conscious buyers who love a phone that fits in any pocket
What Android Fans Think
Android Authority asked its readers which phone they’d buy instead of the iPhone 18 Pro. Overall, 2,435 people voted.
| Phone | Share of the vote |
|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | 59% |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro | 16% |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 | 9% |
| Motorola Razr Ultra (2026) | 7% |
Source: Android Authority reader poll, published 16 September 2026. The Razr Ultra (2026) is sold in the UK as the Razr 70 Ultra. The remaining votes went to a phone outside this guide.
So if you’re torn, you’re in good company. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the crowd favourite, while the Pixel 11 Pro is a strong second.
What About the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
If you love the iPhone but want a bigger screen, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is worth a look. Specifically, Carphone Warehouse lists a 6.9-inch ProMotion display, the same A20 Pro chip and a 48MP camera. As a result, it costs a little more, at £1,299 SIM free, or £56.99 a month on iD Mobile with £79 upfront.
Also Worth a Look: iPhone 17 Pro and OPPO Find X9 Ultra
Two more phones caught my eye while I was browsing:
- iPhone 17 Pro: last year’s Pro is now £999 SIM free (shown as “Save £100”), or £44.99 a month on iD Mobile. It still has a 6.3-inch display, the A19 Pro chip and an IP68 rating.
- OPPO Find X9 Ultra: a camera lover’s dream, with dual 200MP cameras, 10x optical zoom and a 7,050mAh battery. Better still, it’s £1,449 SIM free (shown as “Save £200!”), or £44.99 a month on iD Mobile with unlimited data and £189 upfront.
Current Offers at Carphone Warehouse
So here are the current offers and promotions I found on each phone’s product page today:
- Google Pixel 11 Pro: claim free Pixel Buds Pro 2 (worth £219) when you buy between 23 September and 13 October 2026, with claims open until 27 November 2026.
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: shown at £1,129 SIM free, a saving of £150.
- Motorola Razr 70 Ultra: shown at £1,149 SIM free, a saving of £50. Also, one featured iD Mobile plan includes Moto Buds Loop (worth £119).
- Accessories: on several of these product pages, code ZAGG10OFFWBW gives £10 off Zagg cases and screen protection, and CHARGER5OFF gives £5 off a Belkin 30W fast charger.
When to buy: if none of these offers tempts you, check back over Black Friday and Boxing Day. New deals or promotional offers may well appear on your chosen phone, so it’s worth a second look before you commit.
What You’ll Pay Over 24 Months
Of course, monthly prices only tell half the story. So I added up what each phone costs over two years, using the featured iD Mobile plan on each Carphone Warehouse product page. Then I compared it with buying SIM free and adding iD Mobile’s 24-month 100GB SIM-only plan, which costs £10 a month and has no annual price rises.
| Phone | iD Mobile contract over 24 months | SIM free plus SIM-only plan | Contract saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | £1,397.56 | £1,439.00 | £41.44 |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro | £1,011.56 | £1,319.00 | £307.44 |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | £1,035.56 | £1,369.00 | £333.44 |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 | £805.56 | £1,119.00 | £313.44 |
| Motorola Razr 70 Ultra | £1,111.56 | £1,389.00 | £277.44 |
How we calculated it: contract totals include the upfront cost, five payments at today’s price, 12 at the April 2027 price and seven at the April 2028 price, assuming your contract starts in November 2026. SIM free totals add 24 months at £10. The Razr’s featured plan includes 200GB of data; all others include 100GB. Prices from carphonewarehouse.com and idmobile.co.uk, checked 12 October 2026.
In other words, on today’s prices, each featured contract works out cheaper over two years than buying the phone outright and adding a SIM-only plan. However, prices can change, so run the same sums before you buy.
How to Get the Best Deal
- Compare SIM free with contract. First, use the 24-month table above to compare the total cost of each option.
- Factor in April price rises. Also, iD Mobile phone plans rise by £1.80 each April, and Carphone Warehouse shows the new monthly price for each plan.
- Check the upfront options. The same phone can come with different upfront costs, so choose the balance that suits your budget.
- Trade in your old phone. In addition, Carphone Warehouse’s trade-in may be available on iD Mobile and Vodafone contracts.
- Existing Vodafone customers: Carphone Warehouse also offers Vodafone upgrade plans on these phones.
Taking Your New Phone Away This Christmas
Flying to see family over the holidays? Then your network matters as much as your phone. Fortunately, every iD Mobile plan also includes roaming in 50 destinations, mostly across Europe, with up to 30GB of data a month under the fair usage policy. So you can share your Christmas photos without worrying about surprise charges.
Why Buy From Carphone Warehouse
- A trusted name: Carphone Warehouse is a trading name of Currys Retail Limited.
- Fast delivery: free next day delivery when you order by 8pm, excluding bank holidays.
- Click and collect: free collection from Currys.
- Plenty of choice: iD Mobile and Vodafone contracts, plus SIM free phones.
Which Phone Should You Buy?
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| The full Apple experience | iPhone 18 Pro |
| A bigger iPhone screen | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
| A compact camera phone with seven years of updates | Google Pixel 11 Pro |
| The biggest screen and most versatile cameras | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra |
| The lowest price in this guide | Samsung Galaxy S26 |
| A stylish phone that folds in half | Motorola Razr 70 Ultra |
Final Verdict
The iPhone 18 Pro is a brilliant phone, and it may still be the right one for you. However, the Pixel 11 Pro, Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy S26 and Razr 70 Ultra each offer something special, often for less. So compare them side by side at Carphone Warehouse, take note of today’s offers, and check back over Black Friday and Boxing Day before you make your final choice.
FAQs
How much is the iPhone 18 Pro at Carphone Warehouse?
Currently, it’s £1,199 SIM free for the 256GB model, or £52.99 a month on iD Mobile with £79 upfront.
What is the best Android alternative to the iPhone 18 Pro?
In Android Authority’s reader poll, 59% chose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, the Pixel 11 Pro is the closest all-round alternative, according to the same article.
Which of these phones is the cheapest?
Of all the phones in this guide, the Samsung Galaxy S26 has the lowest SIM free price, at £879. It’s also £29.99 a month on a featured iD Mobile plan.
Will Carphone Warehouse have Black Friday deals on these phones?
Carphone Warehouse hasn’t announced its Black Friday offers yet. So check back closer to the time, and over Boxing Day too.
Do iD Mobile phone plans go up in price?
Yes. In fact, iD Mobile phone plans rise by £1.80 each April, and Carphone Warehouse shows the new monthly price for each plan.
Is the Motorola Razr 70 Ultra a foldable phone?
Yes, it’s a flip phone with a 6.96-inch main display and a 4.0-inch external display.
How many years of updates does the Pixel 11 Pro get?
Google promises seven years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates.
Can I trade in my old phone at Carphone Warehouse?
Yes, trade-in may be available on iD Mobile and Vodafone contracts, so check your eligibility on the Carphone Warehouse website.
Editorial & Accuracy Standards
- Expert Review:
Ammara Azmat,
Senior Travel Mobility Analyst (12+ years experience) - Status: Verified for accuracy against official 2026 service data and real-time traveller reports.
- Our Process: This content follows our Fact-Checking Policy.