
Get exclusive tech offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
Updated
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Telstra has offered the New Phone Feeling package since 2014, with the alluring promise of a new phone after only twelve months on a 24-month contract or after 24 months on a 36-month contract.
Don’t like the phone you signed up for, or tempted by a better model that’s emerged since you signed on the bottom line? No problem – or at least that’s the theory.
Before you sign up, it’s worth knowing the full details of how the service works.
When it originally launched New Phone Feeling, Telstra charged $10 per month to add the service to its mobile plans. Now, Telstra's New Phone Feeling is included automatically on all 24-month and 36-month contract plans at no extra cost.
If you choose to take up Telstra’s New Phone Feeling offer, you'll need to pay a one-off charge of $149 in exchange for your new phone. You'll also need to sign up for a fresh 24-month or 36-month contract.
The other part of redeeming against the New Phone Feeling offer is that you have to hand back your original handset in "working order". Telstra defines "working order" as a device that:
Telstra will accept phones replaced under an insurance policy (its own or others) or under warranty as being the same thing as your original phone for the purposes of the New Phone Feeling offer.
Telstra will allow customers to use the New Phone Feeling offer without you handing in the original handset, but in that case you’ll need to pay off the entire handset cost of the device remaining under contract before doing so.
New Phone Feeling works by effectively "cancelling" your existing contract. After paying the $149 fee, you need to sign up for a new 24-month or 36-month handset contract. This new contract comes with its own New Phone Feeling service, so you'll be able to upgrade again in the final 12 months of your new contract.
In effect, taking advantage of New Phone Feeling means committing to an extra 12 or 24 months on top of your original contract.
As always, that’s dependent upon your circumstances, but there are some situations under which it could be very appealing. If you find the handset you’ve signed up for unsuitable for your purposes, whether you don’t like the size or the camera or storage or any other factor, switching out to a phone that more closely matches your needs could well make good sense.
Equally, because you’re signing up for a completely new contract when you take up the New Phone Feeling offer, you can also reassess your actual usage over the year. If you’re not using all the inclusions on your plan, notably data, you can opt to switch down to a lower cost plan. You will most likely pay more in handset costs that way, so it’s a delicate balance. Equally, if you constantly run out of data and end up buying lots of $10/GB extra data blocks, jumping up plans might make good financial sense.
If you're interested in Telstra's New Phone Feeling program, you'll want to check out our comparison of Telstra's mobile contract plans to find the one that fits your needs and budget.
Optus has a fundamentally identical scheme, launched in 2016 which it calls "New Phone Trade Up" with much the same 12-month phone-swap feature built in.
You can get international roaming on most of Telstra’s postpaid mobile plans for just $10 a day.
Today's best Finder Daily deals include: 50% off car essentials at Catch, half-price meat thermometers, eBay Plus tech sale.
Samsung’s mid-range 2021 flagship phone combines some serious camera zoom and a powerful processor.
Samsung’s new flagship Galaxy S phone combines impressive telephoto muscle and a few tricks borrowed from the Samsung Galaxy Note line.
Millions of Australians have not switched electricity plans despite feeling like they’re on a bad deal, new research by Finder, Australia’s most visited comparison site reveals.
Optus is finally offering “unlimited” data on its SIM-only plans, but how does it compare to “unlimited” data from Telstra & Vodafone?
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is a big phone – big in size, big in camera features and big in price – making it a phone only suitable for a small number of people.
Vodafone has some great deals if you're looking for an affordable way to own a new iPhone, with no excess data charges involved.
The Nokia 8.3 5G has been long delayed in Australia, but the wait was (mostly) worth it.
TPG’s new MVNO, Felix, comes with ‘unlimited’ data but at capped speeds. Is it worth it, or are there better plans out there?
Get no excess data charges on these unlimited data mobile plans.
Save money with these top no-contract deals.
Avoid bill shock and control your spending with the best-value offers.
Easily compare every Australian iPhone plan.