Quick answer: There are 3 realistic ways to win a PS5, iPhone or Nintendo Switch 2 in the UK: free brand and retailer giveaways, media competitions, and tech prize competitions with a free entry route. Before you enter, check the exact model and storage, that it is new UK stock with a warranty, any cash alternative, and the delivery date.
Key takeaways
- Free giveaways from brands, retailers and media cost nothing to enter but attract huge numbers of entries, and most never say how many.
- Paid tech prize draws in Great Britain must offer a free entry route, and the better ones state a maximum number of entries so you can work out your chances.
- "PS5" can mean a PS5, a PS5 Digital Edition or a PS5 Pro, and "iPhone" can mean anything from an iPhone 16 to an iPhone 18 Pro Max, so read the exact model first.
Want to see exactly what you could win before you enter anything? Every MrRaffle game shows its full prize list and how many of each prize are left, and new players can claim free tickets.
How can I win a PS5 in the UK?
Enter giveaways run by console makers, retailers and media brands, which are free, or enter tech prize draws, which take paid entries but must also accept free entries, usually by post. Your chance depends on how many entries each draw takes, so favour draws that publish a maximum number of entries.
| Route | Cost to enter | Do you know your odds? | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Console maker promotions | Free | Rarely | Region or membership limits in the terms |
| Retailer and mobile network giveaways | Usually free, sometimes linked to a purchase or account | Rarely | "Purchase necessary" conditions |
| Radio, magazine and newspaper competitions | Free, or paid with a free postal route | Sometimes | Different costs for different entry methods |
| Social media giveaways | Free | No | Fake accounts copying real brands |
| Tech prize competitions | Paid, plus a free postal route | Usually, if an entry cap is shown | Long entry windows and vague prize descriptions |
Console makers do run their own promotions. PlayStation, for example, ran a PlayStation Plus Season of Play competition and published the (partly masked) usernames of its winners by region once it closed. That is the pattern to look for: a named promoter, full terms, and winners you can see afterwards.
How can I win an iPhone for free?
The free routes to an iPhone are brand and retailer giveaways, mobile network promotions, media competitions, and the free postal entry on paid competitions. Postal entry costs a stamp and some time, but under the Gambling Act 2005 the prize system must not treat free entries any differently from paid ones.
That last route is the one most people overlook. When a prize draw takes paid entries, Schedule 2 of the Act says entrants must be able to choose a free method instead, such as a letter by ordinary first or second class post, and the Gambling Commission says it must be promoted at the same level as the paid route. Our guide to free postal entry competitions covers how to send one.
Which iPhone, PS5 and Switch 2 models are current in 2026?
At the time of writing (September 2026), Apple's UK line-up is led by the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, plus a new foldable iPhone Duo. Sony sells the PS5, PS5 Digital Edition and PS5 Pro, and Nintendo sells the Switch 2 alone and in bundles. Match every prize description against these names.
| Device | UK line-up at the time of writing | What the prize description should state |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 16 | Exact model, storage, colour, and that it is new and sealed |
| PlayStation 5 | PS5, PS5 Digital Edition, PS5 Pro | Which model, whether it has a disc drive, and any games or extra controllers included |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Switch 2 console, plus bundles such as Switch 2 with Mario Kart World or with Nintendo Switch Sports Resort | Console only or bundle, and whether games come as download codes |
Two details trip people up. First, the Digital Edition PS5 has no built-in disc drive. Sony's UK site also says that from January 2028, newly released PlayStation games will be sold in digital format only, though discs for earlier games will still play on consoles with a drive. Second, a "Nintendo Switch" prize is not a Switch 2. Nintendo's UK site still features both console families, so check the name exactly.
What should you check before entering a tech competition?
Check six things: the exact model, storage and colour; that it is new, sealed UK stock with the manufacturer's warranty; what any bundle includes; whether there is a cash alternative and how much; when the prize will be delivered; and the maximum number of entries. If any of these is missing from the terms, ask before you enter.
| Check | Why it matters | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Exact model, storage, colour | "iPhone" or "PS5" alone could mean the cheapest version | Prize description |
| New, sealed, UK stock | UK plug and charger, and a manufacturer's warranty that works here | Prize description or terms |
| Bundle contents | Games, controllers and memberships add real value | Prize description |
| Cash alternative | Lets you choose money instead, if offered | Terms (the CAP Code requires promoters to say whether one applies) |
| Delivery date | Matters for Christmas gifts | Terms (must be stated if later than 30 days after closing) |
| Entry cap or odds | The only way to judge your chance | Competition page or terms |
The CAP Code, the advertising rulebook the ASA enforces, also requires promoters to state any restriction on the number of entries and the number and nature of prizes. The DCMS voluntary code for prize draw operators asks signatories, where possible, to show information on the likelihood of winning, such as the maximum number of tickets, before you enter.
At MrRaffle, gadget prizes sit on the tech competitions page. Each game has a fixed number of tickets and a fixed prize list set before it opens, and the odds of each prize tier are shown as "1 in X" so you can compare before you play.
Can you win a console or phone in time for Christmas?
Yes, if the draw closes early enough and the promoter delivers promptly. The CAP Code says prizes should normally be awarded within 30 days, and promoters must state the delivery date if it will be later. For a gift you need by 25 December, aim for draws that close in late November or early December.
Some timing tips:
- Instant win games settle straight away: the CAP Code says players must know immediately what they have won. Physical prizes still need delivering.
- Traditional draws add a gap between closing and the draw, so check the draw date too.
- Postal entries must arrive before the closing date, so post early.
- A cash alternative, if offered, lets you buy the exact model yourself.
For festive giveaways beyond tech, see our guide to Christmas competitions in the UK.
Are free iPhone and PS5 giveaways on social media real?
Some are, many are not. Genuine giveaways come from the brand's verified account, link to full terms naming the promoter, and never ask winners to pay a fee or share bank logins. Fake pages copy product photos, ask you to click a link to "claim", then take card details. If in doubt, find the brand's official site yourself.
Our guide on how to spot a legit prize competition has a full checklist. Forward suspicious emails to [email protected] and scam texts to 7726.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free phone giveaway in 2026?
Phone giveaways run all year from brands, retailers, networks and media, but they come and go weekly, so any list dates quickly. Check official brand and retailer pages, and for paid competitions look for the free postal route in the terms. Ignore unsolicited messages saying you have already won a phone.
How to get a free console?
Legitimately, you win one: enter free giveaways from brands, retailers and media, or use the free postal route on paid tech competitions. Trade-in deals and bundles lower the price but are not free. Anyone offering a free console in exchange for card details, a survey fee or gift cards is running a scam.
Can I take cash instead of the prize?
Only if the terms offer a cash alternative. The CAP Code requires promoters to say whether they may substitute cash for a prize, so the terms should make this clear. Where a cash alternative is offered, compare the amount with the current retail price of the exact model before you choose.
What are tech competitions?
Tech competitions are prize draws and competitions where the prizes are gadgets such as phones, consoles, laptops and headphones. In Great Britain, paid versions decided by chance must offer a free entry route to stay outside lottery law. MrRaffle groups its gadget prizes on its tech competitions page.
Is a Nintendo Switch 2 prize the same as a Switch?
No. The Nintendo Switch 2 is a newer console than the original Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo's UK site still features both console families. Check that the prize description says "Switch 2" exactly, and whether it is the console alone or a bundle that includes a game.
Sources
- PlayStation UK: PS5 consoles, accessed 24 September 2026
- PlayStation UK: PlayStation Plus Season of Play competition, accessed 24 September 2026
- Apple UK: iPhone line-up, accessed 24 September 2026
- Nintendo UK: Nintendo Switch 2 bundles available for the holidays (16 September 2026), accessed 24 September 2026
- Gambling Act 2005, Schedule 2 (payment to enter and free entry), accessed 24 September 2026
- Gambling Commission: Free draws and prize competitions, accessed 24 September 2026
- CAP Code Section 8: Promotional marketing (rules 8.15.1, 8.17, 8.25, 8.28), accessed 24 September 2026
- DCMS: Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators, accessed 24 September 2026
- NCSC: Phishing scams, how to spot and report them, accessed 24 September 2026
Play responsibly
MrRaffle is for UK residents aged 18 and over. Only play with money you can afford to spend, set a budget before you start, and take a break if it stops being fun.
Browse the tech competitions to see which gadgets are live and the odds on each game, or claim free tickets first. New players also get a 25% deposit bonus + 10 free tickets on their first deposit (18+, UK only, terms apply).
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