Get a free laptop when you sign up for mobile broadband - it sounds too good to be true doesn't it? With more and more of these free laptop with broadband deals coming on to the market, uSwitch looks at whether they are really all they're cracked up to be and explains how to make sure you're getting the best value from your free laptop deal.
Can I really get a free laptop with mobile broadband?
Yes and no - an increasing number of providers are offering deals where you can get a free laptop when you sign up for a mobile broadband contract. However, as everyone knows, nothing in life is really free and while you might not pay for the laptop outright, you will end up covering the cost one way or another, either through signing up for a long contract (usually between 12 and 24 months) or paying a higher monthly fee for your mobile broadband.
How do I know I'm getting good value from a free laptop deal?
For starters, compare mobile broadband deals offering free laptops - look for the package with the shortest contract and the lowest monthly charge. With uSwitch's comparison service it's easy to find the right deal and you can filter your results by contract length and monthly cost.
It's also a good idea to look at mobile broadband packages without a free laptop too and see how much you'd pay for a comparable deal. If you're paying more than the free laptop itself is worth, then it's probably not the best deal for you.
You also need to make sure that the mobile broadband deal you're signing up for will meet your needs in terms of internet usage - check that there is coverage in your area for starters, and think about whether the speed and download limits available are high enough. If you download a lot of data or are a heavy internet user it's important that your mobile broadband deal has a data allowance that will accommodate this, or you could end up having to pay extra for the additional Gb you need.
However, if you can't afford to buy a new laptop outright, getting a free laptop with your mobile broadband could be a good way to make getting online affordable - you can spread the cost of your laptop over several months and can start using your new laptop and mobile broadband connection right away.
Find the best mobile broadband deal for you now