What is a burner phone and why do people use it?

If you are new here, welcome. Our blog is not your usual tech corner. There are enough places telling you how many megapixels you need to photograph your dinner. We prefer the odd questions. The ones that keep popping up on Google and make you wonder if you should already know the answer.

One of the big searches at the minute is simple enough: what is a burner phone?

A burner phone is basically a cheap, temporary phone that you can use without tying yourself to a contract. You buy it, you put in a SIM, you use it as long as you need it, then you move on when you feel like it. It became popular thanks to films and crime shows, although in real life most people using burner phones are doing far more boring things than evading international law.

People use them for all sorts of everyday reasons. Travelling is a big one. You can pop in a local SIM abroad and avoid surprise roaming charges. Some people use a spare phone for work because they don’t want their main phone covered in dust, paint, grease or the contents of a warehouse floor. Others prefer a separate phone for dating apps (we do not condemn cheating, mind you!), selling things online or dealing with customers so their personal number stays private. It is just a handy way to keep your worlds apart without buying a phone on a contract.

Burner phones are not illegal. They are simply phones that give you more control over who gets your number and what you use it for. If you are looking for something that could work as a burner phone or a spare, our SIM-free unlocked phones fit the job nicely. You can put in any SIM you like and switch whenever you need to. Use it as your main device or keep it as a backup if you like to have a plan B tucked away in a drawer. We are not saying you’re off on an undercover mission. It’s just good to have options.