Ancient phone just died, what are my options re new phone/SIM?

smiscandlon — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 23:03:47 GMT

Hope someone can help. I'm a bit behind when it comes to technology - never owned a smartphone - and will probably need things explained to me like I'm an idiot.

- The feature phone I've been using for about the past 17 years (Samsung SGH-G600) has just died.

- It has in it the old larger SIM card, also 17 years old. To (possibly) complicate matters, it's an Orange SIM from before they were taken over by EE.

- My EE account is pay-as-you go. I think it's on the EE Talk and Text plan.

I'd like to know what I can do to get a new phone, and keep my existing number and plan with EE. I'm on a very tight budget (say less than £100) but am only looking for something pretty straightforward and "entry-level" - it won't see much use.

Questions I could use some help with are:

- Do I have to buy a phone from EE if I want to keep my existing phone number and basic PAYG account?

- Or can I buy a phone from elsewhere as long as I put a valid EE SIM card in? I'm wondering if something like this one from Amazon would fit my requirements: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blackview-Sim-Free-Unlocked-Fingerprint-Smartphone-Shadow-Black/dp/B0FR8SRR5B. When it says "SIM-free & unlocked" does that mean I can use an EE SIM and keep my number?

- I assume I'll need a replacement mini/micro-SIM to fit newer smartphones? How easy is it to get this from EE? Like I said, I want to keep my current number.

Unfortunately I'm currently undergoing treatment for cancer and am mostly housebound, so going into a phone shop isn't really an option. I also need to sort this all out pretty quickly as my phone number is linked to my online banking and other payments.

I'd be grateful if someone could give me some pointers.

Re: Ancient phone just died, what are my options re new phone/SIM?

bristolian — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:44:37 GMT

You can obtain a replacement EE multi-SIM from any retail store or by request from EE-CS over the phone. They can arrange a postal replacement to your registered UK address, by second-class post. An instore replacement will require photo-ID, a postal replacement inevitably has a 3-4 day delay.

That will be a pop-out style that you can cut down to whatever size you need, to suit whatever unlocked phone you choose.

topic Re: Ancient phone just died, what are my options re new phone/SIM? in SIM cards & Porting

Ancient phone just died, what are my options re new phone/SIM?

Re: Ancient phone just died, what are my options re new phone/SIM?