The iPhone 16 line-up is the latest and greatest from Apple. Not only is this latest generation more powerful than the previous, they're also cheaper. The basic iPhone 16 is $100 cheaper than the iPhone 15 was at launch, while the 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are all $50 cheaper than their older counterparts.
If you've landed on this page, you've probably already made up your mind on going with Optus for your iPhone 16 plan, but it's still wise to see what the other two major telcos have to offer.
We'll quickly cover Optus' iPhone 16 plans for each model, then compare the cheapest plans from each provider to give you an idea of pricing and inclusions. Lastly, we'll look at the extra perks offered by Optus, Vodafone and Telstra, just in case anything catches your eye.
Optus iPhone 16 plans
Optus plans offer a good balance of price vs. mobile coverage, while also offering some additional perks. We'll compare them to Vodafone and Telstra, but to give you a quick overview, here are the 36-month Optus iPhone 16 plans with entry-level storage options for each handset:
iPhone 16 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$93.86/mth
Min. cost $1,453.96
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$65 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$103.86/mth
Min. cost $1,463.96
|
|
#3
|
Optus
$79 Optus Promo Plan
$107.86/mth
Min. cost $1,467.96
|
|
#4
|
Optus
$85 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$123.86/mth
Min. cost $1,483.96
|
iPhone 16 Plus 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$99.40/mth
Min. cost $1,653.40
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$65 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$109.40/mth
Min. cost $1,663.40
|
|
#3
|
Optus
$79 Optus Promo Plan
$113.40/mth
Min. cost $1,667.40
|
|
#4
|
Optus
$85 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$129.40/mth
Min. cost $1,683.40
|
iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$104.96/mth
Min. cost $1,853.56
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$65 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$114.96/mth
Min. cost $1,863.56
|
|
#3
|
Optus
$79 Optus Promo Plan
$118.96/mth
Min. cost $1,867.56
|
|
#4
|
Optus
$85 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$134.96/mth
Min. cost $1,883.56
|
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Plans
|
#1
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$114.68/mth
Min. cost $2,203.48
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$65 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$124.68/mth
Min. cost $2,213.48
|
|
#3
|
Optus
$79 Optus Promo Plan
$128.68/mth
Min. cost $2,217.48
|
|
#4
|
Optus
$85 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$144.68/mth
Min. cost $2,233.48
|
Optus iPhone 16 plans vs. Vodafone and Telstra
When you get an iPhone 16 plan, your monthly bill comprises two things:
- iPhone 16 repayments
- Your mobile plan (i.e. calls, texts, data)
No matter the provider, you'll end up paying roughly the recommended retail price for your handset, unless one of them has special iPhone deals going. The real cost difference comes down to the price of their mobile plans. Optus iPhone 16 plans usually sit between Vodafone and Telstra in terms of price.
There are three available repayment periods: 36, 24, and 12-months. But very few people opt for the latter's high monthly bills, so we'll leave them out of our comparisons below.
36-month iPhone 16 plans compared
A 36-month repayment period means the cheapest per-month bills, and it's the most popular option on our website for most phones.
These are the cheapest iPhone 16 plans in our database from each provider:
iPhone 16 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$77.86/mth
Min. cost $1,437.96
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$93.86/mth
Min. cost $1,453.96
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$103.86/mth
Min. cost $1,463.96
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 16 Plus 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$83.41/mth
Min. cost $1,637.76
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$99.40/mth
Min. cost $1,653.40
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$109.41/mth
Min. cost $1,663.76
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
Editor's Pick
$49 Small Plan
$88.97/mth
Min. cost $1,837.92
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$104.96/mth
Min. cost $1,853.56
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$114.97/mth
Min. cost $1,863.92
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$98.69/mth
Min. cost $2,187.84
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$114.68/mth
Min. cost $2,203.48
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$124.69/mth
Min. cost $2,213.84
Link not supplied
|
24-month iPhone 16 plans compared
Monthly fees for a 24-month repayment cost a bit more than the 36-month period, but are still half that of a 12-month contract.
These are the cheapest 24-month iPhone 16 plans in our database from each provider:
iPhone 16 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$97.29/mth
Min. cost $1,437.96
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$113.29/mth
Min. cost $1,453.96
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$123.29/mth
Min. cost $1,463.96
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 16 Plus 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$105.62/mth
Min. cost $1,637.88
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$121.60/mth
Min. cost $1,653.40
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$131.62/mth
Min. cost $1,663.88
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 16 Pro 128GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
Editor's Pick
$49 Small Plan
$113.95/mth
Min. cost $1,837.80
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$129.94/mth
Min. cost $1,853.56
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$139.95/mth
Min. cost $1,863.80
Link not supplied
|
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB Plans
|
#1
|
Vodafone
$49 Small Plan
$128.54/mth
Min. cost $2,187.96
|
|
#2
|
Optus
$55 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$144.52/mth
Min. cost $2,203.48
|
|
#3
|
Telstra
$65 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$154.54/mth
Min. cost $2,213.96
Link not supplied
|
Want more iPhone 16 storage or more plan data?
In this guide, we’ve been comparing the cheapest Optus iPhone 16 plans of the entry-level storage option for each iPhone 16 model. We've kept it simple to give you an easy comparison of pricing differences between providers. Plus, most people don't need or want more data than you get from the cheapest plans from the Big Three providers.
If you want to compare every single iPhone 16 plan, and for more provider comparisons, check out these guides:
Optus iPhone 16 plan perks
We know Optus sits in the middle of the pack on price, but it offers some interesting extras with its iPhone plans you might want to consider. Some noteworthy ones are great 4G coverage, no overage fees, access to Optus Sport and Optus Fitness, and access to Optus SubHub.
Optus Sport and Optus Fitness
Every postpaid plan comes with discounted access to Optus Sport and Optus Fitness.
Optus Sport is a sports streaming video service. It has the largest football (not footy) catalogue in Australia, making it the simplest way to access a wide variety of matches both live and on-demand from Australia. Optus customers can sign up for $9.99 per month, whereas it costs $24.99 per month for non-Optus subscribers.
Once you have an Optus Sport subscription, you can sign up to Optus Sport Fitness (OS Fitness) for free. This gives you access to a range of workouts you can do from home, created by leading fitness providers including FIIT, Flow Athletic and Virtual Playground, SWEAT FACTOR, Move 123 and more.
No overage fees
Optus mobile plans come with 'unlimited' data, which is an exciting way of saying you don't get charged for going over your data allowance. Instead, your speeds are slowed to a maximum of 1.5Mbps until the start of the next billing period. This is enough to perform basic functions and you won't be charged any excess data fees. If you have used up your max plan speed data Optus lets you top up for $5 – this unlocks an "Unlimited Data Day" with unlimited data for 24 hours from activation.
Optus SubHub
Customers can also manage their subscriptions in one place with Optus SubHub and save up to 10% when you bundle three or more together.
Some notable subscription services include: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount Plus, Binge, BritBox, and Microsoft 365, among others. You can also add your Optus Sport account to SubHub and it will count towards your number of bundled services, but you won't receive a further discount for it (on top of already only paying $9.99 per month).
Vodafone and Telstra plan perks
Optus iPhone 16 plans aren't the only ones that have additional features. It's worth checking out what Vodafone and Telstra have to offer, too.
Vodafone iPhone 16 plans
Data-to-dollar-wise, Vodafone is usually the cheapest provider for a new iPhone. The telco regularly offers discounted plans and bonus data alongside postpaid plans.
Like Optus and Telstra, Vodafone iPhone plans also offer unlimited data once you run out of your monthly allowance, but Vodafone caps out at 2Mbps instead. This is the fastest speed cap of any 'unlimited data' provider, but is admittedly only 0.5Mbps faster than Optus.
But of the three, Vodafone's network has the lowest coverage. Its 4G is pretty widespread, covering 96% of the population, but it doesn't provide clear details on 5G.
Regular travellers should note Vodafone's $5 roaming, which is one of the best international roaming options in Australia. Once you use your mobile plan in an eligible country, you're charged $5 and a 24-hour clock starts ticking. During this time, you have full access to your plan's normal inclusions. After 24 hours, the clock stops. Using your plan again will incur another $5 fee and start a new 24-hour timer.
This is a hassle-free and relatively affordable way to roam when you're overseas, particularly if you're mostly relying on free WiFi and only need to use your phone occasionally.
If you'd like to know more, you can check out our guide on Vodafone iPhone 16 plans.
Telstra iPhone 16 plans
Telstra iPhone plans are usually the most expensive option, but the provider’s network does cover more of Australia, particularly in regional and rural areas. There are also perks like free trials of streaming services and Telstra Plus membership which allows customers to get cheap movie tickets and accumulate points to use for discounts.
As with the other two major providers, Telstra doesn't charge for excess data usage. Instead, it slows you to 1.5Mbps for the remainder of your billing period. That's pretty slow, but it's similar to other provides that follow this system, and is better than paying unexpected overage fees.
That said, the extra perks don't cover the extra price. You're mostly paying for Telstra's superior coverage – particularly for 5G – and it's up to you to decide what that's worth to you.
If you'd like to know more, you can check out our guide on Telstra iPhone 16 plans.
Optus coverage vs. Vodafone and Telstra
The Optus network is the second-largest mobile network in Australia. It covers 98.5% of the population with 4G and 5G, and 80.5% with 5G. For now, Optus 5G is primarily available in large cities and urban areas, but its footprint should continue to grow.
The only bigger network is the Telstra network, which covers 99.6% of the population with 3G and 4G, and 89% with 5G. But within populated areas, there's barely any difference in terms of coverage maps. Vodafone's 4G network covers 96% of the population, but the telco doesn't offer clear stats on its 5G footprint.
It’s also worth mentioning the upcoming network sharing agreement between Optus and TPG, which will bolster Vodafone’s overall coverage to 98.4% of the population. This should come into effect in early 2025.
For more info, you can check out our detailed guide on Australian mobile network coverage or take a look at our coverage map below.
| Network | 4G coverage | 5G coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Telstra network* | 99.8% | 91% |
| Telstra Wholesale network | 98.8% | 75% |
| Optus network | 98.5% | 80.5% |
| Vodafone network | 98.4% | Not stated |
Numbers shown are a percentage of the Australian population.
*Boost Mobile is the only Telstra MVNO with access to the full Telstra network.
What other iPhones does Optus offer?
If you don't feel you need the latest-and-greatest smartphone, there's no shame in grabbing an older-generation iPhone, on or off a plan. They still have great cameras, are all-round good handsets, and some are available on repayment plans. But because they're older models, you can save some good money without much of a sacrifice. And if you can afford the upfront cost, you can save even more in the long run if you buy your older iPhone outright and sign up to a cheap mobile plan from a smaller provider.
The main downside of an older model is you'll get fewer years of security updates from Apple, based on when your iPhone came out. But if you're planning to replace it in three years anyway, you'd have to go pretty far back for that to be a problem.
Here are the older model iPhones currently available from Optus:
iPhone 15 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 15 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 15 512GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 15 Plus 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 15 Plus 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 14 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 14 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 14 Plus 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 13 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 13 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 12 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 12 64GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
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