In short
Mobile phones for business should be chosen on more than price or brand. Check that the phone runs your apps, its published security update period covers the time you will keep it, it enrols in your device management, and it supports 5G, eSIM and dual SIM. We focus on getting your airtime costs down, so you can buy phones separately, and we can help you source and set them up.
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What makes a phone right for business
A phone used for work carries email, files, customer details, sign-in apps and often your company's reputation. That changes what matters when you choose one. A handset that suits an individual can be the wrong choice for a team if it cannot be managed centrally, stops receiving security updates halfway through the time you plan to keep it or does not support the network features you rely on.
The questions worth asking are practical:
- Will our apps run well on it? Most business apps work on both iPhone and Android, but specialist apps, scanners and in-house tools sometimes favour one platform.
- How long will it get security updates? Since 29 April 2024, UK law has required manufacturers of consumer connectable products such as smartphones to publish the minimum period they will provide security updates for.
- Can we manage it? Every company phone should enrol in mobile device management software so you can apply policies, install apps and wipe it if it is lost.
- Does it support the network features we need? 5G and 5G Standalone, eSIM, dual SIM and Wi-Fi Calling all depend on the handset as well as the plan.
- Will it survive the job? Office staff, drivers, engineers and warehouse teams put phones through very different days.
Our guide to how to choose the best phone for business use turns these into a checklist you can use with your team.
iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and other Android phones
Business phones generally run either Apple's iOS or Android, and many organisations use both.
iPhone
iPhone suits businesses that want one consistent platform, simple set-up for staff and tight integration with Apple's business tools. Apple Business (the new name for Apple Business Manager) lets you assign iPhones to your device management service and enrol them automatically out of the box when they are bought through a supplier linked to your account. Read more in our guide to business iPhone fleets.
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy phones cover a wide spread of budgets, from the Galaxy A range through the Galaxy S range to the Galaxy Z foldables, plus rugged models for frontline work. Samsung Knox adds business security, bulk enrolment and update control on top of Android. Our guide to Samsung business phones explains Knox and Galaxy Enterprise Edition.
Other Android phones
Other manufacturers also make Android phones that suit business use. If you consider them, check the published security update period, whether your device management tool supports them for zero-touch enrolment and whether they work with your network's 5G and eSIM services. Mixing too many makes and models makes support harder, so most businesses settle on a short approved list.
Rugged phones, tablets and smartwatches
Not everyone in your business needs the same device.
- Rugged phones and tablets suit construction, logistics, field service and manufacturing. Samsung's rugged range, for example, is built for water and dust resistance and drop protection, has programmable keys and a replaceable battery, and can work as a barcode scanner with Samsung's separately sold Knox Capture software.
- Tablets with a SIM or eSIM give field teams a bigger screen for forms, drawings and signatures without relying on Wi-Fi. They are usually added to the account on a data plan; see business data SIMs.
- Smartwatches with eSIM let some staff stay reachable without carrying a phone. Networks such as EE Business support adding an eSIM to compatible Apple and Android watches.
- Shared devices for shift workers, such as a phone that stays on site, can be locked to a few apps through device management.
Tell us what your teams actually do day to day and we can suggest a sensible mix rather than one phone for everyone.
Need help choosing?
We will recommend what fits your organisation and explain why, in plain English.
5G, eSIM and dual SIM support
Network features only work when the handset supports them.
5G and 5G Standalone. Many current phones support 5G. The newer 5G Standalone networks need both a compatible handset and a compatible plan, so check before you order. Our page on 5G for business explains what Standalone adds.
eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM built into the phone, so a line can be activated remotely without posting a SIM card. Most recent iPhone and Samsung Galaxy phones support it. See our guide to business eSIM.
Dual SIM. Many phones can hold two lines at once, usually an eSIM plus a physical SIM or two eSIMs. That lets a member of staff carry a work number and a personal number on one handset, which is one of the options in our guide to getting a business mobile number.
Wi-Fi Calling. Useful where indoor signal is weak, but it depends on the handset and the network supporting it. If coverage is a concern, read about business mobile coverage before you choose phones.
Security updates and device management
A phone that no longer receives security updates is a risk to your business, and an unmanaged phone is hard to protect or recover. Two habits make the biggest difference.
First, match the update period to how long you keep phones. If you replace handsets every few years, any current phone from a major manufacturer may be fine; if you run phones for longer, choose models whose published update period covers that time. Samsung, for example, says its Galaxy Enterprise Edition devices get up to seven years of firmware and maintenance updates.
Second, enrol every company phone in device management before it reaches the user. Apple Business and Samsung Knox Mobile Enrollment can both register phones bought through a supplier so they enrol automatically when switched on, which is explained in our guide to zero-touch enrolment. Forever Group can supply device management tools including Sophos Mobile and IBM MaaS360, and Forever Group's main site covers Microsoft Intune.
If staff use their own phones for work, set the rules in a company mobile phone policy and check how Cyber Essentials treats BYOD and home working.
Buying phones separately from the airtime
We focus on getting your airtime costs down. That way, companies can buy their mobile phones separately, outright or through their usual procurement, which can save them a lot of money and gives them the flexibility to refresh devices when it suits them.
Keeping phones and airtime apart also lets you:
- Choose each phone on its merits, by role, rather than from a list tied to a plan
- Keep phones in use for as long as they still receive security updates
- Refresh on your own timetable, by role, by age or all at once
- Keep enrolment simple, by buying from suppliers linked to your Apple Business or Samsung Knox account
Our sister site also covers business SIM only plans. Plan for the end of the phone's life too: manufacturers and recyclers offer recycling, and device management lets you wipe company data before a phone leaves the business.
Airtime pricing depends on the network, the number of lines and the term, so ask us for a quote.
How Forever Communications helps
We supply EE Business and Three Business, and can also supply O2 Business and Vodafone Business, so we can put your phones on business airtime on more than one network and help you choose phones against your own criteria, such as coverage where your people work. Each network is described on its own page under business mobile providers. We can:
- Shortlist suitable phones for each role in your business, based on apps, security update periods and how the phones will be used
- Check compatibility with the network's 5G, eSIM and Wi-Fi Calling services before you order
- Help with enrolment so phones you buy can, where the supplier supports it, be registered to your Apple Business or Samsung Knox account
- Plan the rollout, including keeping existing numbers and timing the change around current contracts
Contact us with the number of users and the kind of work they do, and we can suggest a starting point.
Phone guides
How Forever Communications helps with business mobile
We help UK organisations choose, set up and run business mobile: plans, SIMs and eSIMs, phones, mobile broadband, 5G and the device management that keeps a fleet under control.
- Start with what you have: we look at your current contracts, end dates, users and devices before suggesting anything new
- Four networks, one conversation: we supply EE Business and Three Business, and can also supply O2 Business and Vodafone Business, so you can choose the network that works where your people work
- Airtime first, devices your way: we focus on getting your airtime costs down, so you can buy iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and other devices separately and set them up to enrol in your mobile device management
- Moving without losing numbers: we help you plan the switch and keep your existing business mobile numbers
- Beyond the phone: 5G for business, mobile broadband and data SIMs for sites, vehicles and backup connections
- Device management and mobile security: MDM and mobile threat defence from vendors such as IBM, Sophos, Check Point, CrowdStrike and Lookout, plus Jamf, Ivanti, Microsoft Teams Phone Mobile and Mobile Voice Recording with EE Business; see mobile device management and security
Forever Communications is part of Forever Group. Ask us for a quote and we will set out the plans and services that fit your team.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best mobile phone for a business?
There is no single best phone. The right choice depends on your apps, how long you keep phones, the security update period, device management support, durability and budget. Our best phone for business use guide sets out the criteria.
Should my business choose iPhone or Android?
Both work well for business. iPhone gives one consistent platform managed through Apple Business; Android, including Samsung Galaxy with Knox, offers a wider range of prices and rugged options. Many businesses run both, managed from one device management tool.
Can I keep my staff's existing phones?
Often, yes, if they still receive security updates and can be enrolled in your device management. You can put them on business plans and replace them only when you choose.
How long do business phones get security updates?
It depends on the manufacturer and model. UK law requires manufacturers of consumer connectable products such as smartphones to publish a minimum security update period, so check it before you buy.
Do business phones come with device management?
Not automatically. Device management is a separate service or app that you or your IT provider runs. We can help you choose one and register phones so they enrol when switched on.
Still have a question about mobile phones for business?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.
