Free AirPods 5 with iPhone 18 Pro: the rare deal explained
A free AirPods 5 iPhone 18 Pro deal has landed in the UK, and Apple fans know how unusual that is. The Currys-backed website Mobiles.co.uk is handing out Apple’s brand-new AirPods 5, worth £119 at the Apple Store, free with selected 24-month iPhone 18 contracts. Apple itself almost never discounts, so a freebie from a rival retailer is worth paying attention to.
The AirPods 5 were unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and they are a genuine upgrade. The new pair has Active Noise Cancellation that is up to 1.5 times more powerful than the previous generation, a redesigned acoustic architecture, personalised Spatial Audio and Live Translation. Getting them for nothing alongside a new iPhone is a rare treat.
The deal covers both iPhone 18 Pro models, and each handset arrives with a tech bundle worth more than £138 in total.
What freebies come with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max?
Here is the full breakdown of the Mobiles.co.uk offer:
- Free AirPods 5, worth £119 at the Apple Store
- iPhone 18 Pro: £56.99 per month on iD Mobile’s 100GB tariff, plus £169 upfront
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: £60.99 per month on the same tariff, plus £169 upfront
- 20W USB-C power adapter included in the box
- Up to £480 off when trading in an eligible device
The tech bundle is the headline, but the trade-in offer is quietly generous too. Up to £480 off for an eligible old device can make a real dent in the total cost, especially if you are coming from a recent iPhone.
There is also a cheaper route in. If you are happy spreading payments through Sky Mobile, prices start from £38 a month, though that carries a £12 upfront cost and a modest 100MB data allowance, so most users will need to pay extra for a bigger data package. Amazon customers can simply buy the handset outright from £1,199.
The catch: your bill will rise during the contract
One crucial point to bear in mind is that customers will see their monthly bill rise at least twice throughout the 24-month contract. The £56.99 plan climbs to £58.79 from April 2027 and then to £60.59 from April 2028. These mid-contract rises are now standard practice across UK networks, but they are worth factoring into your sums.
There is also no confirmed expiry date for the free AirPods promotion. Mobiles.co.uk has simply stated it is available “while stocks last”, which means the freebie could disappear at any time. If you want the AirPods, waiting around is a gamble.
Why the iPhone 18 Pro deserves the hype
If you are on the fence, the reviews have been glowing. The iPhone 18 Pro has been called “another huge hit” by industry reviewers, and it is easy to see why. It features a Super Retina XDR display, a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system with variable aperture and the ultra-fast A20 Pro chip.
Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro Max runs 20% quicker than the 17 Pro Max, while improved battery life delivers up to six extra hours of video playback. The range also gets Apple Intelligence, the new Siri, advanced Face ID security and camera tools that separate it from the standard iPhone 17. It comes in burgundy, glacier black or white.
There are gripes, though. The price has climbed again, with the iPhone 18 Pro starting at £1,199, and the new vapour chamber cooling has added weight. The Pro now weighs 211g compared with 204g for its predecessor. Soaring prices are even reportedly cooling demand, with Apple said to be cutting component orders.
Should you grab this iPhone 18 Pro AirPods deal?
For shoppers already planning to buy an iPhone 18 Pro on contract, this is one of the strongest offers available right now. Free AirPods 5 worth £119, a 20W adapter and up to £480 in trade-in value add up to a serious bundle, and Apple deals this generous are genuinely rare.
Just do the maths first. Factor in the April price rises, compare the total 24-month cost against buying outright, and check the trade-in value of your current phone. If the numbers work, this is a deal worth snapping up before the free AirPods run out.
