If you're the type of person who enjoys a bargain, you've probably seen that the annual Black Friday event is right around the corner, bringing with it deep discounts on all sorts of tech. Of these discounted items, one of the most surprising savings is the SIM-exclusive Black Friday deals. On all major networks, Black Friday is a time when the price of SIM-only deals plummets, typically reaching their lowest prices on record each year. But if you can't change your contract right now, you may not need to worry about missing out on a discounted price, as Black Friday is likely to shape the prices you'll pay throughout 2022.
Black Friday has a great influence on prices
If we look at the last two years, Black Friday has a surprisingly massive effect on the price of SIM plans. Retailers slash their prices to compete with each other, and then, in a battle to stay competitive, many of them hang on to those low prices. Three cut their unlimited data SIM plan from €18 to €16 per month last Black Friday and have kept that price all year. EE followed suit with its $20-per-month offer, drastically increasing data to 120GB and keeping that offer year-round. The same goes for MVNOs, cutting prices or increasing data and then holding those prices or at least picking them up frequently.Will this Black Friday be the same?
Realistically, SIM-only deals continue to get cheaper and it's hard to see how the networks can go any lower this year. While we're expecting some deep discounts this year, we're also fully aware that this could be a pretty conservative Black Friday for SIM plans. However, that could all change when the gloves come off. All it takes is a network to reach an agreement and everyone else is likely to follow. So, the most difficult thing is for the networks to return to normal. Big names like EE and Three will likely continue their impressive prices, and other names could follow in the future. Since SIM plans don't have the same inventory issues we see with smartphones, consoles, and other tech stuff, there are fewer hurdles as to how they can get through the year to stand out as the most affordable option. However, this is obviously not a guarantee. While yes, Black Friday is sure to be the best time of year to buy a SIM plan, prices could go up immediately after the event. If you can buy the same day, you better not risk waiting.- Still looking for a new phone? Check out our best price guide for SIM-free phones