O2 mobile review 2024: Is it any good?
Dan Howdle • October 3rd, 2024
O2 is one of the Uk's four mobile network providers, the other three being EE, Vodafone, and Three. All other providers piggyback off of one of these networks. As a network provider it offers a great deal more than your typical provider, with tablets and laptops, smartwatches and other paraphernalia all available in addition to your typical SIM-only and phone plans.
O2 has recently merged with Virgin Media and also owns half of Tesco Mobile. Its rollout of 5G is continues apace, and it offers some great deals, if you know where to look. The question for this review however remains a simple one: Is O2 any good? Let's find out.
Tariffs and plans
O2 offers superb flexibility when it comes to choosing a new pay monthly contract with its Custom Plans. The bill in the case of handset plus airtime deals is split into two parts: the device (the cost of your handset) and the airtime (the cost of your data, texts, and minutes), allowing you more flexibility if you want to change things up at any point.
You can customise the length of your device plan to anything between 3 and 36 months at the point of signing your contract. This allows you to decide how much to pay upfront and how much to spread over the term. Regardless of the chosen length, you can upgrade your device at any time by paying off your remaining device balance.
You can also change your SIM plan every 30 days, meaning you can adjust your data allowance to suit your needs as you please – very handy if you're not using the data you're getting or you keep running out. After paying off your device, you can move to a rolling monthly airtime plan, which you can cancel with one month’s notice. O2 also offers a range of tablets, laptops, smartwatches and so on.
Pay-as-you-go and SIM-only
If you're after a pay-as-you-go plan, O2 offers a selection of more affordable or simpler phones, but you won't find the latest iPhones or Samsungs here. It’s a good option if you just need a basic phone and want to keep things flexible.
O2’s PAYG SIM deals come in the form of Big Bundles. These give you plenty of data, along with unlimited texts and calls each month. The best part? Any data you don’t use gets rolled over to the next month, as long as you renew your bundle. Just make sure you’ve got enough credit in your account for the renewal – if not, you’ll be charged at O2’s standard rates.
If you already have a phone you love, O2’s pay-monthly SIM-only plans might be perfect for you. You can choose between 30-day, 12-month, or 24-month contracts, with plenty of data options ranging from just 1GB to Unlimited. No matter which you choose, you’ll always get unlimited texts and calls. The price depends on how much data you need and how long you're happy to commit to.
O2 Travel
Since the UK’s exit from the European Union, many providers have reintroduced daily charges for using minutes and data in Europe. However, O2 continues to offer free European roaming for up to 25GB, with no extra charges for pay monthly and PAYG customers. If you exceed 25GB, you will be charged £3.50 per GB, however.
For destinations outside Europe, both phone and SIM-only customers can benefit from the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt-on for £6 per day. This bolt-on offers unlimited data, texts, and minutes in 27 non-European countries, with data speeds capped at 2Mbps. The countries included are Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Greenland, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, and the United States.
For Pay As You Go customers travelling to destinations like Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Monaco, or Switzerland, the O2 Travel Pay As You Go option costs £1.99 per day. This provides 100MB of data, with calls charged at 4p per minute and texts costing 1p each.
Phone and device range
O2 offers a wide selection of pay-monthly and PAYG handsets, ranging from affordable models to the latest high-end smartphones. You can choose from well-known brands like Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, as well as slightly more off-piste premium smartphone brands like Oppo and OnePlus. O2 also provides the option to pre-order new handsets prior to their release.
For those looking for more budget-friendly options, O2 sells 'Like New' handsets on pay monthly deals. These second-hand, refurbished phones are carefully checked, data wiped, and come with the same customisable plans and extras as new phones.
You can also sell your existing phone to O2 through the O2 Recycle scheme, which is open to all users regardless of their network provider. You will usually be able to get a lot more money for your old handset on eBay though, depending on it being in good condition and having original box and so on.
In addition to smartphones, O2 offers a variety of smart tech, including Apple Watches and Samsung Galaxy watches. They also sell VR headsets, wireless earbuds, fitness trackers, and Bluetooth speakers, providing a comprehensive range of tech gadgets.
Customer service
Industry regulator Ofcom’s latest report found that O2 rated second-lowest for customer satisfaction in the UK, with a score of 85%. It had the third-lowest percentage of customers with a reason to complain at 9% and 53% of customers that did complain were satisfied with how their complaint, which is the same as the sector average.
In comparison, 21% of Three, 17% of Vodafone and 12% of EE customers had a reason to complain. Customers of these providers who were satisfied with how their complaint was handled were in the 50% to 56% range. So O2 has been doing better than some of its main rivals on this front.
Value for money
O2 isn’t the cheapest network out there. You’ll probably find a better deal from a mobile virtual network operator or 'MVNO'. These networks piggyback off the likes of O2 and EE, offering the same network coverage but usually cheaper deals.
O2 also levies mid-contract price hikesm (all providers raise their prices at inflation plus 3.8% every April 1), which means your monthly cost will increase before the end of your contract. According to Ofcom, if the price increases beyond the Retail Price Index plus 3.8% during the contract, you can leave without penalty within 30 days of the price change coming into effect.
Network coverage
O2 is one of four mobile networks in the UK, alongside Vodafone, EE, and Three. Other providers, such as Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile use O2’s network to offer their services. Following the merger of Virgin Media and O2, Virgin Mobile has now fully switched to the O2 network and while the Virgin Mobile brand technically still exists, you can't get a Virgin Mobile deal anymore – it's all O2.
O2 covers over 99% of the UK population with its 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. As for 5G, O2 now provides 5G coverage to more than 50% of the UK population, with connectivity available in over 3,200 towns, cities, and smaller locations. This includes major areas such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow, as well as smaller urban areas like Derby, Coventry, and Hull.
In 2024, O2 also launched its 5G Standalone network in key cities including Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow, which offers faster speeds, lower latency, and improved capacity, especially in crowded areas. This network is part of O2’s ongoing '£1 million-per-day' investment in its mobile infrastructure.
You can check O2’s network coverage on its website to see the availability of 4G and 5G services in your area. Even if you're not in a 5G zone, you can still use O2's reliable 4G network with a 5G-enabled device.
Extras
O2 regularly offers extras to new customers such as free subscriptions to Disney+ and Amazon Prime. In addition, all new customers get access to O2 Priority, O2’s customer rewards scheme, which offers some decent perks. You can buy advance and discounted tickets for gigs, West End shows and art exhibitions, as well as having the option to enter various prize draws for holidays and meals out.
The O2 Priority app also offers discounts from various high street and online brands – these change regularly, but normally include a free coffee from a mainstream coffee chain.
O2 also has over 15,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots around the country, which O2 mobile users can log onto for free, thereby saving their data allowance.
Conclusion
O2’s a solid choice for mobile users, and offers excellent flexibility when it comes to prices and contract length. The coverage is good, with its 5G network growing all the time, and there’s plenty of choice of handsets and tariffs. O2 Travel is a quick and easy bolt-on for jetsetters.
If you go to a lot of gigs or events, then opting for O2 for your phone is a no-brainer. O2 Priority gives you access to pre-sale tickets, exclusive exhibitions and highstreet discounts. You can take tour pick when it comes to network providers, because there's not an awful lot to choose between them besides which offers you the best coverage where you spend the most time away from your Wi-Fi.
