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Do you actually need 5G?
Almost every plan and phone now says 5G. Whether it changes anything for you depends on where you are and what you do with your phone.
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Guides
Plain-English mobile guides
How to read a phone deal, what you actually need, and where the small print hides. No sponsored rankings.
15 Sep 2026 · 2 min
How much phone storage do you need?
Storage is the upgrade that quietly adds the most to a contract. Here is how to work out whether 128GB is enough, and when it is not.
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12 Sep 2026 · 1 min
Wi-Fi calling: the feature that fixes bad indoor signal
If your phone works everywhere except your own kitchen, Wi-Fi calling is the answer — and not every network or plan includes it.
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10 Sep 2026 · 2 min
Switching network: the PAC code, the STAC code and what to do in which order
Moving your number to a new network takes one text message and one working day. The mistakes happen in the order you do things.
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9 Sep 2026 · 1 min
eSIM or physical SIM for your main UK number?
More UK networks now offer your main plan as an eSIM. It is convenient, mostly, with a couple of traps worth knowing about.
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8 Sep 2026 · 3 min
Contract, SIM-only or buy outright? The maths most people skip
The headline monthly price tells you almost nothing. Here is the one calculation that shows which way of paying for a phone is actually cheapest — and why the old "always buy outright" rule no longer holds.
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6 Sep 2026 · 2 min
Phone insurance: worth it, and what the alternatives are
Insurance sold at the checkout is often the most expensive way to cover a phone. Here is how to think about the risk and where else cover might already exist.
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5 Sep 2026 · 2 min
How much mobile data do you actually need?
Most people pay for far more data than they use. A quick way to work out your real number, and what pushes it up.
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3 Sep 2026 · 2 min
Choosing a first phone and plan for a child
The plan matters more than the phone. What to set up before you hand it over, and why pay-as-you-go is usually the right start.
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2 Sep 2026 · 2 min
Refurbished phones: what the grades mean and when they are worth it
Grade A, Grade C, "pre-owned", "good as new" — the labels differ by retailer. Here is how to read them and what to check.
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31 Aug 2026 · 1 min
Dual SIM: one phone for work and personal
Two numbers on one handset means one thing to charge and carry. How it works, and what to watch for with data and calls.
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28 Aug 2026 · 2 min
Travel eSIMs vs roaming: what to check before you fly
A prepaid travel eSIM can be a fraction of the cost of roaming — but only if your phone supports it and you set it up properly.
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26 Aug 2026 · 1 min
Battery health: when to replace the battery and when to replace the phone
A phone that will not last the day is not necessarily a phone that needs replacing. How to read battery health, and what a new battery costs against a new handset.
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22 Aug 2026 · 2 min
Mid-contract price rises: what changed and what to look for
Annual price increases used to be tied to inflation plus a percentage. The rules have changed — here is what a contract signed now can and cannot do.
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19 Aug 2026 · 2 min
IP68 and friends: what water resistance ratings really mean
The two digits in an IP rating each mean something specific, and none of them mean "take it swimming".
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15 Aug 2026 · 1 min
Which network am I actually on? The UK host-network map
There are dozens of UK mobile brands but only four sets of masts. Knowing which brand uses which network is the key to cheaper deals with the same coverage.
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13 Aug 2026 · 2 min
A phone for an older relative: what actually matters
Big-button phones exist, but a mainstream smartphone set up well is often the better answer. What to prioritise and how to set it up.
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10 Aug 2026 · 2 min
Your contract has ended. Why your bill did not go down
Millions of people keep paying the full contract price for a phone they finished paying off months ago. Here is how to tell if you are one of them.
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8 Aug 2026 · 2 min
Foldable phones: who they are for, and what to check before you buy one
Foldables have matured into two distinct products — the flip and the book. Here is what each is good at, and the trade-offs that have not gone away.
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5 Aug 2026 · 2 min
Cashback deals: automatic versus redemption, and why the difference is the whole deal
Some of the cheapest-looking contracts only reach that price if you claim cashback five times over two years. Missing one claim can wipe out the saving.
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1 Aug 2026 · 2 min
Unlimited data: fair use, speed caps and what the small print says
"Unlimited" is not one thing. Some plans slow you down at peak times, some cap speed on the cheapest tier, and some really are unlimited. How to tell them apart.
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29 Jul 2026 · 2 min
When is the best time of year to buy a phone?
Phone prices move in predictable cycles around launches and shopping events. Buying a few weeks earlier or later can be worth a lot.
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25 Jul 2026 · 2 min
How long will your phone get updates? Support policies by brand
A phone stops being safe to use before it stops working. The length of software support is now one of the biggest differences between brands.
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21 Jul 2026 · 2 min
Spend caps, bill shock and the charges nobody reads about
A spend cap turns a surprise £200 bill into a text saying you have hit your limit. Every UK network has to offer one; most people have never set it.
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18 Jul 2026 · 2 min
Switching between iPhone and Android: what moves across and what does not
Both platforms now have official tools for moving your stuff to the other side. Most things transfer cleanly; a few need a plan.
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14 Jul 2026 · 2 min
Trading in your old phone: how to get the most for it
The same phone can fetch very different amounts depending on where you sell it and how you prepare it. A short checklist before you post it anywhere.
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