Articles and competitions.

Check out some of the latest mobile news, reviews and advice to help you get more out of your smartphone.

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549 Topics

Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Virtual Summer Events

What’s usually an extremely busy time for festivals, parades and other events is upon us but owing to the current climate most if not all of the events we would have been looking forward to have been cancelled. While it may feel like life has given us lemons, the entertainment industry is making them into lemonade by hosting a whole manner of ‘virtual’ events to make us still get those festival vibes.   We may not be able to go to Glastonbury, take part in a Pride march or visit Comic Con but through the wonder of the internet we can still go visit a local park, meet up with our social bubbles and stream the events through our devices!   Just a reminder; you can always stay on top of your data allowances through the iD Mobile App so you don’t run out of data, you can also change your price plan to give you more allowances should you need to and even add data bundles! If you haven’t done already download the iD Mobile app to your device and head here to find out more.            

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Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
3 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Streaming Content Outdoors

With the weather getting consistently hotter, the days already longer (read about that here) and our restrictions easing even more the options for leaving the house are widening.   A lot of us have been so used to being on Wi-Fi during lockdown we’ve not been taking full advantage of our mobile data plans, we thought we’d remind you about some of the great apps and services available to stream content! Whether you are on a long car journey, in a field or enjoying the sun from the garden there’s something for everyone!   Just a reminder; you can always stay on top of your data allowances through the iD Mobile App so you don’t run out of data, you can also change your price plan to give you more allowances should you need to and even add data bundles! If you haven’t done already download the iD Mobile app to your device and head here to find out more.   Sports!             With most sporting leagues being postponed earlier in the year there is a lot of catching up to do now mos

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Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
3 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

How to switch your old data to your new iPhoneBlog

[b]If you’ve got new iPhone congrats. It’s an amazing piece of tech. But before you ditch your old phone for good, there are a few things you should do.[/b] [h3][b]First things first, set up your iCloud account[/b][/h3] If you already have an iCloud account (also known as Apple ID) then good for you - ignore this step. But if you don’t, set one up now – then you can do all sorts of things like downloading apps from the App Store. Here’s what you need to do: 1. Go into [b]Settings.[/b] 2. Tap [b]Don’t have an Apple ID or forgot it?[/b] 3. Tap [b]Create Apple ID[/b] 4. Enter your [b]birth date[/b], tap[b] Next.[/b] 5. Enter your [b]first and last name[/b], tap [b]Next[/b]. 6. Select your current [b]email address[/b], or get a new iCloud email address. 7. Enter your [b]email address[/b]. 8. Create a [b]password[/b], then [b]verify[/b] it. 9. Select a [b]security question[/b], type in the [b]answer[/b] (repeat this stage twice). 10. [b]Agree[/b] to the Terms an

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P
iD Mobile Employee
3 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

June Community Newsletter Competition - CLOSED

Welcome to the June competition!    What’s the prize? Last month’s giveaway was so popular, we decided to do it again for June! You could be in with a chance of winning a £50 Currys PC World voucher to use online so you can treat yourself to some of the latest tech!   How to enter For a chance to win, all you need to do is tell us ‘What is your most cherished summer time memory is’   Make sure you post your answer in the comments below. Don’t miss out! The competition ends at midnight on Sunday 7th June, and we’ll reveal the lucky winner shortly after.   Best of luck and we hope you have a great month!   The legal stuff Terms and Conditions apply

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sharonbarnes
Newbie
3 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Top Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Battery.Blog

[b]Does your phone die an early death each day? There’s nothing more annoying than when you’re about to air guitar your favourite riff, only for your phone to pack up and die on you. So, to ensure you keep rockin’ from door to door, check out our battery boosting tips below. [/b] [h3][b]Dim the screen brightness or use auto brightness[/b][/h3] It’s fight night: “In the red corner! the big, beautiful, colourful display. In the blue corner! the infamous, battery.” Red corner’s going to win every time – the display eliminates battery life at a rapid pace. More so than anything else on your phone. Either turn the brightness down or select auto-brightness that will adjust the screen's brightness to appropriate levels to save battery. [h3][b]Don’t leave apps running in the background[/b][/h3] It’s like leaving someone hanging on the line while you take another call, it’s not cool. Let the apps have a little rest, close them down. They won’t take it personally, they know you’re just

28762
Mohammed
iD Mobile Employee
3 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Helping you manage your account – improvements to our app and online account services

Now more than ever, we know how important it is for customers to be able to manage their accounts quickly and easily. We’ve taken on board feedback from our community members and comments in the app stores to make some key improvements to the iD Mobile app and My Account online. When you next log in to the iD Mobile app, you’ll be prompted to download the newest version from the app store (either the App Store if you use Apple or the Google Play Store if you use Android). If you’ve got automatic updates turned on, this will happen in the background. You don’t need to do anything to access the latest version of My Account online, you’ll see this automatically when you next log in.   What updates have been made?   Compatibility   We’ve made sure the iD Mobile app and My Account online work with all the newest internet browsers and phone operating systems, to ensure smooth running on the very latest technology.   Listened to your feedback   We heard you and have taken action. We’ve a

54906
drnhsarja
Newbie
3 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

June Community Newsletter Competition T's&C's

Terms and conditions 1. To enter this promotion, you will have to register to the iD Mobile Community and answer the question on the corresponding topic thread: "June Community Newsletter Competition". 2. No purchase necessary. 3. The closing date for entries is 23.59 (GMT+1) on 7th June 2020. The prizes to be won as follows: One of two £50 Currys PC world vouchers. 4. This promotion is open to all UK residents aged over 18 years (except for employees and their families of the Promoter and their group of companies, agents (including affiliates), suppliers and anyone connected with this promotion). 5. Only 1 entry per person is permitted, duplicate entries will not be entered into the draw. 6. The Promoter may, in its absolute discretion, disqualify any entries which it feels do not comply with these terms and conditions or where any form of bad faith is suspected. 7. The entry must be submitted personally by the entrant. Entries by third parties, collective entries

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Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
3 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

How to manage your Cloud

The traditional methods of storing data such as hard drives and USB sticks or memory cards have been around for many years. While they have their advantages there are also a number of pain points, what happens if the hard drive breaks or the little USB stick gets lost? The rise of the smartphone over the last decade has also brought with it a more innovative method to store your precious photos, videos and documents – The Cloud.   So, what is ‘The Cloud’? In the simplest of terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data like your photos and videos, over the Internet instead of your computer's hard drive. The cloud is just a metaphor for the Internet.   There are a number of free cloud storage options available these days, here we highlight some of our favourites.   Google Drive Android – Built In or Google Play Store (free) iOS - Apple app store (free) Google Drive, for Android users is the best known cloud storage service as it is built directly into your device. Th

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Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
3 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Streaming content from your phone to your TV

That big HD or 4K screen in your living room is the perfect way to view the photos and videos you have saved on your smartphone or tablet. Now that most TVs have built-in Wi-Fi, it's simpler than ever to connect your mobile devices. In this guide we'll explain how to quickly and easily get your mobile device and TV talking to one another so you can start making more use of that big screen in your home   Google Chromecast – Android and iOS Google has created a very affordable way of getting things from your device to your big screen with something they call a ‘Chromecast Dongle’. It’s a little device that plugs into a HDMI port on your TV and connects to your WiFi so your phone can ‘cast’ to it. 'Casting' is a general term that means sending content from one device to another, in this case from your mobile device to your TV. It's easy to spot when you can cast something because you'll see a specific icon.  You'll usually see the icon on video apps such as YouTube and Netflix. If y

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Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
3 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Maintaining your wellbeing during lockdown

Mental health awareness week may have already passed, but that doesn’t mean the spotlight on your wellbeing should be ignored. Now more than ever, in these difficult times, our state of mind needs more attention.   We’ve pulled together some helpful tips and advice which you may find of use. Some of these have appeared in some previous articles we’ve published and include the link to read more should you find them helpful.   Avoid social comparison (taken from https://community.idmobile.co.uk/blog-posts-and-competitions-45/7-tips-for-your-digital-wellbeing-30842) We all love scrolling through our social media feeds, but the downside is that it’s easy to feel like you’re in competition with others. Remember, what you see online isn’t an accurate portrayal of reality – so if anyone’s images make you feel insecure, try and ignore them. Better still, unfollow or block that person.   How to keep connected with friends and loved ones The best way to stay in touch with family and f

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Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
3 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

May Community Newsletter Competition - CLOSED

Welcome to the May competition! The High St might be shut, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to some of the latest tech online!   What’s the prize? This month we are giving away two £50 Currys PC World vouchers to use on the website for two lucky winners! Fancy starting or adding to a smart home setup? Been looking for that new TV or sound system to bring the cinema to your living room? Or maybe you are looking to treat your kitchen to some shiny new appliances.   How to enter For a chance to win, all you need to do is tell us ‘What is your most used home appliance is and why you’d want to upgrade it’   Make sure you post your answer in the comments below. Don’t miss out! The competition ends at midnight on Sunday 10th May, and we’ll reveal the lucky winner shortly after.   Best of luck and we hope you have a great month!   The legal stuff Terms and Conditions apply  

138662
N
Newbie
3 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

May Community Newsletter Competition T's&C's

Terms and conditions 1. To enter this promotion, you will have to register to the iD Mobile Community and answer the question on the corresponding topic thread: "May Community Newsletter Competition". 2. No purchase necessary. 3. The closing date for entries is 23.59 (GMT+1) on 10th May 2020. The prizes to be won as follows: One of two £50 Currys PC world vouchers. 4. This promotion is open to all UK residents aged over 18 years (except for employees and their families of the Promoter and their group of companies, agents (including affiliates), suppliers and anyone connected with this promotion). 5. Only 1 entry per person is permitted, duplicate entries will not be entered into the draw. 6. The Promoter may, in its absolute discretion, disqualify any entries which it feels do not comply with these terms and conditions or where any form of bad faith is suspected. 7. The entry must be submitted personally by the entrant. Entries by third parties, collective entries or multiple entri

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Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Smart phone home improvements

With spring now in full swing, one of our favourite pastimes as a nation is to get our DIY and home renovation fix on. Unfortunately, things have been a little difficult to source recently with the current climate preventing a trip to the local DIY or furniture store and online sites restricting the purchase of paints and sofas.   However, being in the modern age, we can still scratch that redecorating itch! The advancements in smart phone tech coupled with features like augmented reality (AR) mean you can use your phone camera and a simple app to style your home in ways you only daydreamt in your head without lifting a finger or spending a single pound!   Let us talk you through some of the best home renovation services all available through your phone’s app store.   Dulux Visualizer FREE - iOS App Store & Google Play Store on Android   We’ve all been guilty of staring at the same 4 walls in our living rooms, kitchens, hallways and bathrooms, wondering how they’d look a differe

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Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
Richard.CiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Helping you stay contact free in the ‘New Normal’

Living in this new world brings with it a ‘new normal’ and how we interact with what used to be mundane irrelevant tasks has changed significantly with our new hygiene conscious focus. Reducing the amount of physical contact, we have with others and objects is more important than ever, luckily our smart phones already have a wealth of apps and services that enable us to live as contact free a life as possible.   As we need to leave the house for essentials or start acclimatising ourselves to being back out in public places here’s a reminder of or an introduction to how your device can help you live a more contactless, smart and tech savvy way.   Contactless Payments All iPhones and Android phones (from 2014 onwards) have a contactless payment service already built in, Apple Pay and Google Pay, which lets you pay for goods using your debit or credit card but through your phone! As long as the payment is no more than £45, the limit was increased from £30 on the 1st April 2020, all you

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Richard.C
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Google Pixel 4 & XL available for pre-order now!

Have you been waiting for the latest instalment in Google’s line of smartphones? Well, you don’t need to wait any longer, as we’ve got them available for pre-order right now!What’s new about the Google Pixel 4’s design?The first thing you’ll notice about the latest Pixel phone is that Google have ditched their traditional two-tone colours in favour of a single, bold colour. There are three colours to choose from: Just Black, Clearly White, and the limited edition Oh So Orange. Whichever colour you choose, each handset features a black band around the handset that adds a striking contrast to the white and orange rear colours. The power button also contrasts the band and stands out even in poor lighting, so fumbling around to turn on your phone is a thing of the past. Once you’ve turned your phone on, trust us, you’ll be blown away by the display. The Pixel 4 features a 5.7-inch FHD+ OLED screen, while the Pixel 4 XL’s display is a 6.3-inch QHD+ OLED. Don’t worry about comparing resoluti

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A
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

April Community Newsletter Competition - Closed

It’s Easter! That means it’s time to gorge on chocolate eggs, feast with family and get stuck into some great Easter movies. If you’ve got a great TV to keep yourself and the family entertained, that’s perfect! Only one more thing will take your shows, movies and games up a gear: a brilliant sound bar. We’re offering one iD Community member the chance to win a Samsung Harman/Kardon HW-Q60R 5.1 Wireless Sound Bar to help make your Easter the best one yet. With eight speakers and Acoustic Beam technology, that big action sequence will feel like it’s taking place around you. Plus, as soon as you start up your games console, the sound bar will instantly switch to Game Mode Pro. So, you’ll hear pinpoint sound accuracy that’ll give you the upper hand. How to enter? Entering this egg-cellent competition couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is answer the following question: “If you won, what would the first movie you’d watch with surround sound be and why?” Make sure you post your answer in

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N
Newbie
4 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Great apps for making video calls on your Android

The best way to stay in touch with family and friends right now is through a video call. There are lots of video calling apps to choose from, so we’ve put together a list of some great apps for you to try out if you haven’t done so already! As always, when using apps for things like video calls, always ensure you are staying on top of your data usage through the iD Mobile App or through My Account on the iD Mobile website. Or by connecting your device to WiFi, ensuring the Wi-Fi symbol is displayed in your notification bar.   Google Duo What is it? Duo is Google's answer to Apple's FaceTime, and it makes one-to-one calling between Android phones, and from Android to iPhone, very simple with its intuitive app. If you are an android user, you probably already have this great app already pre-installed on your device!   Key features Highest quality video-calling app Easy to use Might already be installed Knock Knock feature lets you see your friends before you answer Where can I find it? P

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iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Great apps for making video calls on your iPhone

The best way to stay in touch with family and friends right now is through a video call. There are lots of video calling apps to choose from, so we’ve put together a list of some great apps for you to try-out if you haven’t done so already! As always, when using apps for things like video calls, always ensure you are staying on top of your data usage through the iD Mobile App or through My Account on the iD Mobile website. Or by connecting your device to WiFi, ensuring the Wi-Fi symbol is displayed in your notification bar.   FaceTime What is it? FaceTime is Apple’s own video calling service for users of its iPhones, iPads and Mac computers and is really simple, fun and intuitive to use. It comes pre-installed on all Apple devices so there’s no need to wait for it to download. Key Features High quality video calling Easy to use Can support group calls with upto 32 people Add a effects with Apple’s Animoji feature and put text or filters on the screen Where can I find it? The FaceTime a

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iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

April Community Newsletter Competition T&C's

To enter this promotion, you will have to register to the iD Mobile Community and answer the question on the corresponding topic thread: "April Community Newsletter Competition". No purchase necessary.                                                                                                                   The closing date for entries is 23.59 (GMT+1) on 12th April 2020. The prizes to be won as follows:                                                                               One prize will awarded; SAMSUNG Harman/Kardon HW-Q60R 5.1 Wireless Sound Bar         This promotion is open to all UK residents aged over 18 years (except for employees and their families of the Promoter and their group of companies, agents (including affiliates), suppliers and anyone connected with this promotion). Only 1 entry per person is permitted, duplicate entries will not be entered into the draw   The Promoter may, in its absolute discretion, disqualify any entries which it feels do not comply

13560
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
PavD
Superhero
PavDSuperhero
published in Articles and competitions.

Our top tips on WFH

For many of us, this is the first time we’ve ever worked from home. It’s not always an easy transition to make. After all, your office is literally designed for productivity while your home is geared towards comfort. That means it’s more important than ever to figure out how to keep on top of your workload, maintain a healthy work-life balance and nurture your business relationships So, here are some tips that will make it easier to stay productive at home and keep up to date with your work: Set some ground rules The first and most important thing to do is set a schedule for each day. Make sure you stick to it and have clear guidelines for when to work and when to be doing other things. If you have kids and they’re studying at home, get them involved and make a schedule that works for everyone in your house.  That way, you can all keep on achieving. Make sure your household all know about each other’s meetings, lessons, assignments and workloads. That way, you won’t be disturbed when

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PavD
Superhero
4 years ago
PavD
Superhero
PavDSuperhero
published in Articles and competitions.

Apps for Easter

Looking for fun things to do at home with your family this Easter? Why not get creative with some Easter apps? You won’t need to go on an Easter app hunt – we’ve picked out the best ones for you. Just sit back, crack open a chocolate bunny and check out our guide. Greeting cards Easter greetings cards are a great way to keep in touch with family and friends, and they’re fun to make too. With the Happy Easter Greeting Cards app for iOS (£1.70 on App Store) you can create your own cards and send them via Facebook, WhatsApp, email and more. Personalise your messages and choose from a range of stickers, photos and emojis. If you have an Android phone, try the Happy Easter app instead. It’s a simple tool that lets you design and send your own greetings. Get it for free on Google Play. Easter egg painting  Painting and decorating eggs is good fun, especially for kids, but it can get messy. Why not use virtual eggs instead? With the Easter Egg Painter app for iOS (free, with in-app purcha

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PavD
Superhero
4 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

6 iD features that can help you this half-term

Are you ready for half term? If you have kids, you know that they can get bored at home – so they might nag you for your smartphone to keep them busy. And while there’s nothing wrong with them enjoying a great movie or playing a favourite game, you might want to keep an eye on how long they’re spending on your screen and what they’re looking at. That’s where the iD app can help out. Not only will you be able to monitor your children’s usage, you can also set limits with caps and bars. So, you can keep both your phone and your kids protected this half term. Remember to also check out our guide to keeping kids safe online. Monitor your allowance Just log into the iD Mobile App or My Account online and you'll be able to see exactly what you and they have used. You can also monitor your usage by calling 7777, where you'll be able to listen to your available allowances with our automated service. Set bill caps Worried about your little angels burning through your minutes or data? Simply ch

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Mohammed
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

March Community Newsletter Competition - Closed

If you went to school in the UK or Ireland, you’ll probably remember celebrating World Book Day every year. This charity event is all about the joy of reading and gives millions of schoolchildren free vouchers to spend on books and audiobooks.   To mark this year’s World Book Day, on Thursday 5 March, we’ve put together a list of our favourite audiobook websites. Why not celebrate World Book Day by diving in and finding something you haven’t read before?   And to celebrate World Book Day the iD way, we’re running a competition for all you bookworms out there. Comment below and tell us about a book you love, and you could win an Amazon Kindle e-reader! Find out more below.   Top audiobook websites Audible Audible, owned by Amazon, is the world’s biggest audiobook provider, with hundreds of thousands of titles available to download. The subscription fee gives you one credit a month, which you can use to buy any audiobook, regardless of the price. If you don’t like a book, you can exchang

183770
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

February Community Newsletter Competition - Closed

Competition time! Enter for your chance to win one of five £50 restaurant vouchers! Do you consider yourself a foodie, or just love going out to eat? Then take a night off from the washing up with our brilliant competition! Discover a new local culinary hotspot or revisit an old favourite on us. We’re giving away five £50 restaurant vouchers, and entering the competition couldn’t be easier. How to enter All you need to do is comment below this post and tell us “What would you do on Valentine’s Day?” It doesn’t have to be with someone special, you could just treat yourself! Make sure you’re logged in and let us know for your chance to win. Don’t miss out! Competition ends on 9th February 2020. Good luck! T&C’s apply

156957
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
iD MobileiD Mobile Employee
published in Articles and competitions.

Which Android is right for you?

 If you’re looking to upgrade to a new phone, you’re in the right place. Amazing new handsets are being launched all the time – but it can be hard to know which one is right for you. So, to help you choose the right one, here’s our roundup of the very best. Samsung Galaxy S20 Who’s it for? Stunning cameras and clever Single Take mode make the S20 brilliant for social sharers. Which S20 is right for you? The Galaxy S20 has three rear cameras (with a big 64MP Telephoto Camera leading the way) and a huge 30x Space Zoom – which makes for some amazing close ups. You’ve also got a movie studio in your pocket since it can shoot in 8K resolution at 24FPS. Single Take is a great new feature where you focus your camera at what you want to capture and then get a gallery of different pictures and videos for you to choose from. And when the sun goes, you still get great low light shots. Want all this, an extra camera and a bigger 6.7-inch screen? Then go with the more powerful and 5G-ready S20 pl

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iD Mobile
iD Mobile Employee
4 years ago
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