Best Mobile Broadband Deals

Compare the bet ‘free’ laptop mobile broadband deals

‘Free’ laptop mobile broadband deals are incredibly popular.  All the big providers are bundling laptops with their mobile broadband usb modems, although some laptops now come with the modem built into the laptop itself.

It’s important to note upfront that the laptops aren’t really ‘free’, much like mobile phones aren’t ‘free’ with a contract.  You will pay £5 to £10 a month more than the cost of mobile broadband with just a usb modem, so it’s just like paying for your laptop in small installments.

The best free laptop mobile broadband deals

Free Laptop	Operator	Monthly Cost	Data	Buy Now
Free Dell mini 1210 laptop*		£20 per month now £17.50 per month	1GB per month
Free Samsung N130 laptop*		£24.99 per month	1GB per month
Free Asus 1005H laptop* Not quite free – a small upfront fee is payable		£25 per month	3GB per month and 500MB of WiFi hotspot access

Please note: T-Mobile does not currently offer free laptop deals.

Last updated: 7 March 2010

* These laptops are known as webbooks or netbooks.  They are smaller, lighter laptops that are designed to be much more portable.  They typically have a limited range features when compared to a a full sized laptop so check carefully that it matches your needs.

FAQ

5 Tips to get the best mobile broadband free laptop deal

1. Make sure the ‘free’ laptop itself matches your needs and expectations.  Many of the free laptops with the cheaper mobile broadband tariffs are the more simple webbooks or netbooks.  If you want a full laptop similar to the PC you may use for work then you’ll probably have to pay a bit more.  Consider the hard disk storage, size of the screen, battery life and operating system.
2. Most ‘free’ laptop mobile broadband contract deals require you to sign up for a minimum of 24 months.  Cancelling before the contract has finished will leave you with a hefty bill – the operator will want to cover the cost of the shiny new laptop they gave you! If you think it’s likely that your personal circumstances will change, perhaps you plan to move to another town which may not have good mobile broadband coverage, it may be better to get a standard or pay as you go mobile broadband deal and buy the laptop separately.
3. As with any mobile phone deal, always check the mobile broadband coverage for the areas where you will use the service.  We have links to the 3G and mobile broadband coverage checkers for all the providers.
4. Make sure the data allowance is large enough for your needs. If you plan to use your free laptop exclusively with the included mobile broadband connection, and don’t have broadband at home, you’ll probably need a larger data allowance.  1GB may be suitable for email, simple internet browsing and Facebook but services such as iPlayer, uploading photos to Flickr and sending large attachments will need a larger allowance, perhaps 3GB.  Downloading films or large amounts of videos and music on a monthly basis
5. Be aware of the cost of optional added extras.  Laptop and usb modem insurance can massively increase your monthly bill.  Laptop insurance can cost as much as £9.99 per month with usb modem insurance a further £2.99.  It may buy peace of mind but think about the total cost over a 24 month contract versus the retail price of the laptop.