Vodafone wins CHIP mobile shop test, overtaking Telekom

Vodafone has won the 2026 CHIP mobile shop test, overtaking Telekom for the first time in four years. The nationwide study, conducted by CHIP and K&K Mystery Shopping, involved anonymous testing of 200 shops across providers including Vodafone, O2, Telekom, and Freenet.

Vodafone achieved an overall grade of 1.8, driven by top scores in service (1.7) and consultation (2.1). O2 and Telekom both followed with a grade of 2.1, while Freenet ranked last with 2.3. The evaluation criteria were weighted as 50 percent for consultation, 30 percent for service, and 20 percent for shop appearance.

Despite the victory, the test highlighted pricing discrepancies. In only 69 out of 200 visits was the in-store offer cheaper than purchasing a tariff and smartphone separately online. At Vodafone, the price difference ranged from a 374 euro saving to additional costs of nearly 610 euros.