Guide to 'free' laptop deals and other mobile broadband offers

Mobile broadband packages advertising laptops for 'free' have been a huge success, both with mobile broadband providers and consumers. It’s one of those situations where everyone can win: providers get more customers, the industry as a whole gets more subscribers (thereby contributing to network investment) and you, the consumer, gets a fantastic laptop. What could possibly go wrong?

The catches with laptop for free deals

The biggest catch is the laptops aren't really free. In fact, they’re not even close to free. You pay more for a deal which offers a ‘laptop for free’ than you would for the equivalent deal without the laptop - essentially, it's subsidised. So the first lesson is make sure you do the maths, and work out exactly how much you’re paying for the laptop.

Secondly, laptop for free deals limit you to a small selection of models. Whether this laptop is going to be your main computer or just a back up to travel with, you need to make sure it’s right for you: think about aspects such as size and portability, memory and processing power. Don't get a laptop for free as part of your mobile broadband deal only to find that it’s not really what you need. Make sure if you go for it that you look closely, read the spec, and know exactly what you’re getting.

Bear in mind that, if you already have a laptop - even a pretty old one - you probably don't need a new laptop to get online with mobile broadband. As long as it has a USB port to put the dongle in and at least Windows XP (if you're using either an earlier version of Windows, or a Mac/Linux OS, you should consult the mobile broadband supplier to check compatibility).  

Thirdly, laptop for free deals almost always involve hefty two-year contracts. With mobile broadband pricing being fiercely competitive, and with the technology still maturing, it’s likely new deals and better speeds will be available well before your contract has expired.

Lastly, if you find your perfect laptop for free deal, don’t forget to check the mobile broadband package it comes with is right for you. There’s no point getting the right computer if the mobile broadband package is all wrong, or the network coverage in your area is poor.

So why choose a 'laptop for free' deal?

Despite the catches, it’s no coincidence 'laptop for free' deals are so popular. With the economic climate as it is, the opportunity to spread the cost of a laptop is a blessing for many - much less of a shock that a quick £250-plus payout.

Also, the laptops on offer are generally good ones; they're brand new, good specification machines. In particular, many laptop for free deals offer ultra-portable netbooks not much larger than a paperback, which look great and make mobile broadband truly mobile. A laptop you can tuck under your arm, but which connects to the internet anywhere? Yes please. Provided you go into it well informed and shop around, there are some great deals to be had. Compare them here.

Generally, packages that include free gadgets are longer in subscription length so this means you are obliged to stick with this service provider for a longer period of time. A free laptop may sound like a great choice but it is vital to sit down and work out how much you will be spending on your service and whether you can afford it before you sign on the dotted line.

I don't want a laptop. What other special offers are out there?

Keep an eye out for great offers when signing up to a new mobile broadband package. The deals change all of the time but if you scout around you could get a cheap or free dongle, mobile phone or some free months thrown into the mix. All the latest deals with a short time span to sign up in can be found on our special offers page.

If you're just looking for a dongle as you already have the rest of the kit you need to get online (laptop, or PC etc), check out our dongle only deals page. If you take a contract, even a short one, you'll often find the dongle itself is now free, while the 'extras' column will fill you in on any other freebies!

To keep a check on all the latest mobile broadband offers, visit our main mobile broadband comparison page.

My provider has released a better mobile broadband dongle. Can I upgrade for free?

Just like finding out your mobile phone operator has added a new free snazzy phone to their range the day after you extended your contract, getting your hands on a new dongle whilst your under contract can be tricky. They tend to be used as an incentive to attract new mobile broadband customers, so there's no option for current subscribers to upgrade. However, as soon as your contract expires, you should find it easy to convince a provider to upgrade your dongle  to keep you on their books. Just hold tight!