Articles and competitions.

If you’re coming to the end of your two-year smartphone cycle, you’ll be due an upgrade very soon. And you’ve got lots to look forward to, as tech in the smartphone world moves on very quickly. Let’s take a look at what we were doing in 2017, compared to now… Samsung Galaxy S8 v Samsung Galaxy A70 The S8 gave us our first glimpse of Samsung’s Infinity Display. The ultra-thin bezel design was described as futuristic at the time, and customers loved immersing themselves in the sharp and colourful 5.8-inch screen. But what may have seemed like a vision of the future in 2017 didn’t prepare us for the sheer beauty of 2019’s Galaxy phones. And we’re not even talking about the top-of-the-range S-series. Samsung’s mid-range A-series is packed with amazing screen tech too. The A70 is a stunning phone, especially when you consider the price. The 6.7-inch Infinity Display is much bigger than the S8’s, and it uses the same Super AMOLED screen tech famous for its deep blacks and rich colours. In short, everything you do on the A70 looks fantastic. The A70’s camera has come on leaps and bounds too. It’s now a triple lens setup that gives you the power to shoot everything from ultra-wide landscapes to arty portrait shots. And when it comes to security, the A70’s fingerprint scanner is in a much more convenient place – under the screen, rather than hidden round the back. Check out the Galaxy A70 deals on iD Mobile Huawei P10 vs Huawei P30 In 2017, the Huawei P10 wowed us with not one lens, but two on its camera! This made arty blurred backgrounds possible – the ‘bokeh’ effect, in other words. And for its time, the 5.1-inch Full HD display was very decent indeed. Fast forward to 2019, and the Huawei P30 is a very different beast, upgraded in almost every way. It now has a triple lens camera with up to 30x digital zoom that lets you get right up close to far-off objects and capture pro quality shots. You can even photograph the moon in incredible detail. The P30’s design and display has had a complete overhaul too. There’s not a bezel in sight on the 6.1-inch all-screen dewdrop display, and the Full HD+ resolution gives you a much better viewing experience. Check out the Huawei P30 deals on iD Mobile Nokia 6 (2017) vs Nokia 8 (2019) The Finnish phone giant Nokia made a welcome comeback in 2017, with a range of smartphones that included the flagship Nokia 6. It boasted a 5.5-inch Full HD display, a 16MP main camera, and an 8MP selfie camera. In the world of smartphones, yesterday’s flagship is today’s mid-range marvel. The tech that you’d only find on the most expensive phones a couple of years ago can now be found on much cheaper phones. This is great news for customers on a budget. The new Nokia 8 (2019) is a great example of this. Even though it’s priced solidly at mid-range level, almost of all its features are better than the Nokia 6. The 6.18-inch Full HD+ display is bigger and better. The camera is dual lens, not single. And you get double the amount of inbuilt storage – 64GB compared with 32GB. How can you resist? Check out the Nokia 8 (2019) deals on iD Mobile Prepare to upgrade… A lot has changed in the world of smartphones, and will continue to do so - that's what makes it so fun! Keep in touch with the iD Community for the latest news, or head to our pay monthly phones page and check out the latest deals for yourself. If you’ve got time to do a little research now, you’ll know exactly what you want when that big upgrade day comes around! If you’ve any questions in the meantime, drop a comment below.

It’s true – loyalty to another network will cost ya serious dosh! Why? Because you save an average of £212 with us vs. going to a major network* Tell you what, let’s turn this into a competition. First prize is, oh, let’s say £212 of credit added to your iD Mobile account! Here’s how to enter. Just imagine you’ve saved £212 by switching to iD Mobile. How exactly would you spend all those spondoolies? Shoes? Music? Accessories for your phone? 424 pints of milk? Post a comment below telling us how you’d splash the cash. You’ve got until Friday 26 July to enter, and we’ll then pick a lucky winner at random. The winner will be announced on this page, and we’ll also send them a private message with all the deets of their prize. T&Cs apply, of course. Along with all you amazing people, see here why Georgia Steel chose to switch to iD Mobile. Good luck! *Average saving based on pricing of a new contract between 10th March and 8th June 2019. iD were cheaper for 95.7% of tariffs we were able to directly compare the total cost of ownership of on idmobile.co.uk vs. network's direct price (Vodafone, O2, EE and Three), on identical tariffs. Match criteria used the same handset, minutes, texts and data combination. Tariff comparison sample of 3,347 tariffs. Total cost of ownership calculated by: monthly cost x 24 + upfront cost - any cashback.

Summer is well and truly underway and selfie rates are about to go through the roof. Here’s how to make yours perfect… Selfies are one of those things that made it from fad to everyday life. They’re now firmly embedded in our society as a way for people to express themselves. Capturing the perfect shot also means big business for tech development, with new devices being fitted with better cameras on every release to help us get our “good side”. A film-makers dream – the Samsung Galaxy S10 One phone that sets a great example of transforming the humble selfie is the Samsung Galaxy S10. The singular front lens may seem fairly average at 10MP, but it’s the 4K UHD recording that makes up for it. It means your selfies are still packed with vibrant details, while those unmissable moments are recorded with stunning clarity. The one on the rear is an impressive triple-lens camera with 12MP, 12MP and 16MP to make sure every angle is captured in all its glory. Interested? Get the Samsung Galaxy S10 today. Looking for something a little different? The long-awaited Google Pixel 3 XL This is another phone that’s been specifically created for those of us who might be a bit selfie-obsessed. It’s got a dual-lens 8MP camera on the front, which has a choice of F1.8 or F2.2 aperture, as well as facial recognition to capture all the best bits in detail. The edge-to-edge screen combined with the wide-angle feature means group selfies are much easier to get, without everyone having to squash in. And, with all those amazing pictures, you need somewhere to store them. Luckily, Google thought of this too, and so they off free, unlimited online storage in original quality for all your photos and videos. So, all you have to worry about is which angle gives you the best look! Take a look at the Google Pixel 3 XL.

Most of us probably have more possessions than we really need and can benefit from the occasional de-clutter. Give Something Away Day on 15 July, gives us all the perfect opportunity to share what we have by giving something away to others. There are plenty of ways you can get involved. Whether it’s taking some of your old clothes to a charity shop, donating food or drink to a homeless shelter, or simply buying a bunch of flowers for a loved one. The act of giving brings joy to others and makes you feel pretty good about yourself too. To celebrate the day, we’re giving away a £50 Currys voucher to one of you lucky peeps. To be in with a chance to win, share with us the best or worst gifts that someone has ever given you. If you can upload an image – even better! So, get rooting through your cupboards and join in the philanthropic fun #givesomethingawayday

If you’re planning a summer staycation this year (a stay-at-home holiday, in other words), we’ve got some cracking tips to make it fun for all the family. Summer’s here! But that doesn’t mean we’re all heading off to some sun-kissed overseas location. There’s a real trend for staycations this year – we’re talking about holidays spent in the UK, and sometimes even right at home. So, if you’re not going abroad this year, follow our family staycation tips for some summer fun with the kids! 1. Take a family trip to a museum We’ve got some of the best museums in the world, here in the UK. A lot of them are free (yay!) and have some fantastic children’s activities. Check out Whichmuseum.co.uk and list.co.uk to find out the best museum suggestions for every interest. If you’re heading into London, you’ve got lots of choice. Junior dinosaur fans will love exploring prehistoric life in the Natural History museum, and budding astronauts will think that the Summer of Space festival in the Science Museum is out of this world! There are great museums dotted all over the country, from large ones in major cities to the fun and quirky little ones that are a real joy to discover. Be honest, who wouldn’t love a trip to see the world’s biggest pencil in the Derwent Pencil Museum? 2. Go on a picnic You can’t beat a family picnic in a scenic location - when it’s nice weather, of course. So next time the sun’s out, grab a picnic basket, fill it with home-baked goodies and freshly made sarnies (or pop into a supermarket and buy what you need), pack the car with blankets, chairs and the obligatory frisbee, and hit that local picnic spot. If you need some location inspiration, the National Trust has compiled a list of perfect picnic spots here. Oh, and don’t forget the sun cream. 3. Discover the joys of going local You don’t have to travel far for family fun these days, and there are loads of apps and websites you can use for inspiration on where to go. Hoop and Days Out With The Kids are our favourite websites dedicated to kiddy activities. Alternatively, head to TripAdvisor or Google Maps, and put your chosen location and the word ‘kids’ into the search bar. You can also use the AroundMe app to search for things like nearby theatres and restaurants. If you find a local gem and you’d like to share it with your friends on social, it’s easy to add the location on your Facebook and Instagram posts. Alternatively, keep it to yourself and make it your family’s secret hangout! 4. Play games with the family It’s summer! But it’s Britain, so it’s going to rain at some point. Sorry, but it’s true. So be prepared, with some fun family games you can play indoors. Get out those traditional family board games you enjoyed when you were a child, and see if they still hold up today, against the temptations of tablets and smartphones! Will your kids be as thrilled by Monopoly or Game of Life as you were back in the day? Check out the best family board games of 2019 here If those old board games don’t entertain - or you just want to have a rest and leave the kids to it for a while - you’ve got tablets and smartphones to call upon. You’ll find stuff for kids of all ages below, from BBC iPlayer Kids to ghostly puzzler The Room Three - older kids for this one only, please! Check out the best apps and games for kids of all ages here 5. Bring the cinema home Treat the kids to a special movie night at home. Forget about the TV – that’s been done before – why not project movies onto your wall for a big screen experience? There’s a great selection here, including an Acer Ultra HD home cinema projector that works in natural light and dark rooms, and an LG Full HD home cinema projector that gives you a huge screen size of up to 120-inches. Close the curtains, turn the lights off, pass the popcorn, and prepare to be blown away. 6. Get the tent out We’re going to end with another old-school suggestion that you might have enjoyed when you were a kid. Camping. You don’t have to lug the tent too far to enjoy a night under the stars. The back garden is a fine spot to pitch a tent if your youngsters are new to camping, and it gives you lots of advantages – like nearby toilets and the joys of a fully stocked fridge! If you want to venture further afield and go for a proper camping trip with the kids, you’ll find lots of good advice in this article from the experts at ‘Camping in the Forest’: Top tips for camping with kids We hope you find these family staycation tips useful. If you’ve got any suggestions of your own, we’d love to hear them. Post a reply below and share it with the rest of the Community. If you’d rather go solo for your staycation, we’ve got some great ideas for you too

Feel the ‘buzz’ while watching Netflix on your mobile… If you’re used to playing games on modern consoles, then you’re probably all too familiar with that now classic effect of the controller vibrating during those intense mass shoot-outs and explosions. The effect is known as haptic feedback, and it’s a brilliant way to let the player feel like they’re really part of the experience, and now some clever engineers at Netflix want to see if they can incorporate the idea into the mobile app. "You're watching your favourite episode of Voltron when, after a suspenseful pause, there's a huge explosion — and your phone starts to vibrate in your hands." The experiment is called the ‘Project Rumble Pack’, and the intention is to make mobile users feel more engaged while watching on their phone. Even if you find your attention drifting, that buzz in your hand will surely draw your eyes back to the screen so you don’t miss those epic moments. Some viewers could adore this feature, such as commuters or people who like to regularly watch on-the-go, but what about when you just want to fit in a quick episode in bed? You’ll probably want to turn it off… It’s all just an experiment right now though, so we’ll have to be patient to see if Netflix even decide to roll out the feature to all mobile users. One thing’s for sure, we’re buzzing to find out! What are your thoughts on Netflix's phone vibration plans?

Struggling to stick to your data limit? Here are some top tips to help you save data and stop getting charged. Data is your hero when you’re in a Wi-Fi dead zone and desperately need to WhatsApp your mates or upload a new story to Insta. But it can be pricey if you end up going over your monthly limit – and a huge mobile bill at the end of the month is the last thing you need. Luckily, there are top tips and tricks for curbing your data usage so you can still get online, without paying through the nose. 1.Know your total data usage Knowing your data limit and keeping tabs on your usage makes it much easier to stop before you’re charged. Not sure how to check this? On Android: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi & Internet > Data usage. A bar will show you how much of your data you’ve used – and how much you have left before hitting your limit. Check the App data usage to see how much data each app uses on its own. On iOS: Go to Settings > Mobile > Mobile Data Usage. You can see how much data you’ve used under ‘Current Period’ – which you’ll need to reset every month. 2.Use Wi-Fi whenever you can This one’s simple. Wi-Fi is free and it’s pretty much everywhere. Whether you’re in a café, park or shop, chances are there will be Wi-Fi near you. Sometimes you might have to sign up with an email address, but increasingly Wi-Fi is free to use and anybody can access it. If you do have to get a password, the good news is that your phone will remember it for next time, and you’ll be able to connect automatically. 3.Restrict background data There’s no point allowing apps to sap data when you’re not using them. Restrict your background data to stop this happening. It’s not a magical solution – you’ll still to make sure you have enough data in your plan to cover your usage – but it will help save mobile data for apps you are using. On Android: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi & Internet > Data usage > Cellular data usage. Click on an individual app, then untick Background data – this means you’ll only use data when you’re using the app. On iOS: Restrict all background data – go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and set the slider to off. Restrict individual apps – go to Settings > General > Restrictions and Enable Restrictions. Once you’ve set a PIN number, you can go through each app individually. 4. Using maps? Go offline We all depend on maps and GPS to get us around, but they can be a massive drain on data. The good news is that you can now download maps and use them offline. How? Just open Google Maps and find the area you want to map. On Android: Once you’ve found the place you want to download, tap the bottom and a larger menu will pop up. Tap Download. You’ll find your downloads under Offline maps under the Google Maps menu. On iOS: Open the menu in Google Maps, then tap Offline areas and then the plus icon on the lower right. Select the area you want to download, press Download, name it and tap Save. 5.Use streaming services with offline options Loads of us are YouTube bingers and are subscribed to all kinds of channels. The problem is that it’s easy to burn through all your data in just one kitten video marathon. Fortunately, Youtube Red is a subscription service where you can download videos and watch them offline any time. If music is what your data gets used on, try Apple Music, Google Play Music or Spotify. Most will offer a feature where you can download your favourite songs and albums. If podcasts are more your thing, apps like Castbox will automatically download episodes of your fave podcasts when WiFi is present, so there’s no need to waste data. 6.Change your browsing habits Most sites will automatically have mobile versions, but always choose the mobile version if given the option. Try not to delete your browser cache either. Yes, it does take up a little space on your phone, but it will save your phone from downloading everything from websites you frequently visit. You can also compress pages before downloading – which saves you even more data. But how? On Chrome: Tap the three dots at the top right, choose Settings > Lite mode. This is a little different to page compression, as Google rewrites the page to only give you the essentials – while saving you up to 60% of data. Other browsers like Opera Mini will do this automatically. 7.Turn off automatic downloading in messaging apps like Whatsapp Your mates may be keen to share some embarrassing pics from your night out, but some things are bad enough without throwing away mobile data too. Fortunately, you can turn off automatic downloading and just download things when you want to. Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots at the top-right corner. Go to Settings > Data and Storage Usage. Under Media auto-download there are three options: When using mobile data, When connected on Wi-Fi, and when roaming. Tap on each of these options, deselect all options, then tap OK. Look further down the page and you can also reduce the data used in a call by toggling Low data usage. 8.Be careful watching/uploading on Social Media Uploading and watching auto-play videos is one of the easiest ways to use a ton of data. Plus, images and videos are increasingly high quality, which can mean a ton of data. Instagram: You can use less data on Insta by slowing down the amount of time that videos taken to load. From the main menu, select Settings > Account > Cellular Data Use. You’ll then have the options to Use less data (iPhone) or Data saver (Android). If you’re on Android, you’ll see an extra setting allowing you to control when Instagram shows you High Resolution Media. Make sure it’s on WiFi only. Facebook: When scrolling through your feed, auto-playing videos are everywhere. Fortunately, you can turn these off. In the Facebook app, tap on the menu on the right-hand side. Scroll down to Settings & Privacy. Now tun on Data Saver. This will reduce image sizes and stop videos from playing automatically. 9.Set data usage limit There’s one fool proof way to help you avoid going over your data limit – set a warning to cut off your data when you’re close. It’s like the big red button for emergencies. A last resort to help avoid catastrophe. But beware – once you’ve hit it you’ll be confined to Wi-Fi and you won’t be able to use any data to: send and receive messages or calls on apps access the internet access social media Still want to set up a warning? Here’s how: On Android: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data usage > Mobile data usage > Settings, and then turn ‘Data warning’ on. Set the amount of data you want as your limit – ideally just under your data usage plan limit – then press Set. On iOS: You can’t set an alert directly with iOS, so you’ll need to download an app that can do it for you – like DataMan. You can also set your phone to automatically turn off your data when you hit your limit. On Android: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Data usage > Mobile data usage > Settings and turn on ‘Set data limit’. Choose ‘OK’ on the pop-up message, then ‘Data limit’ – put in your Gb limit and press ‘Set’. On iOS: Again, there’s no way of doing this directly, but you can set your iPhone to switch to Wi-Fi networks whenever they’re available. Go to Settings > Mobile Data and turn off Wi-Fi Assist.

The Samsung A80 packs an awesome punch for a low price – here are some the features you can find… DJ Koh, head of mobile at Samsung, says: “The Galaxy A80 offers premium features for digital natives who want to fully engage in the Era of Live.” What exactly is ‘The Era of Live’. Well, look around. From Facebook Live to Instagram Stories, YouTube to Snapchat and all-new platforms like TikTok, we’re all streaming bits of our lives in real time. That’s why you need a phone that’s designed for keeping you keep in touch with the world, and your friends, moment-by-moment. And that’s exactly what the new Samsung A80 does. This incredible (and affordable) phone comes with all sorts of features to make it a firm and instant favourite – here are some of the best bits… What are the Samsung A80’s best features? We love: The 3,700 mAH battery that lasts the whole day Its 25W Super-Fast Charging – no more hanging around The triple-lens rotating camera with a main 48-megapixel lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 3D depth camera – all of that in just one phone! The stunning 6.7-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED screen with Infinity Display that offers unbelievable clarity The on-screen fingerprint scanner, for unbeatable levels of security Check out the design, too. The front-facing camera slides up when you need it, then hides away when you don’t, so that the display is uninterrupted and sleek at all other times. No awkward buttons, no unsightly notches, just two smooth surfaces. The cameras in detail As if having three top-notch cameras wasn’t enough, Samsung has upped its game with an all-new pop-up selfie cam. This camera automatically rotates back and forth, letting you capture the action on both sides with zero fuss. And as for the cameras themselves, expect oodles of quality crammed in. The pièce de résistance is an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens that gives you a whopping 123-degree field of vision. As a point of comparison, that’s similar to the range of the human eye. With the Samsung A80, you can capture what you see, the way you see it. The cameras also feature a Live Focus mode for both photos and videos. This lets you focus on the main subject and blur out the background for even more dynamic and life-like pictures and footage. Speaking of video, look out for the pro-level action camera. It’s super steady and uses the Ultra Wide Camera plus predictive AI to smooth out your videos. You can even shoot live, so no matter where the adventure takes you, you’ll have smooth, dynamic action footage to take home. What’s going on beneath the hood? The Samsung A80 packs some mighty hardware, but there’s also plenty of excellent technology going on behind the scenes. Here are some of our favourite features: Improve your photos with Scene Optimiser Touch up your photos using the built-in photo enhancer with up to 30 different automatic modifications. It intelligently improves your photo with modes including food, drink, beach, city, snow and… shoes? Boost your phones memory with the Intelligent Performance Enhancer Your Samsung A80 will learn your habits then optimises its processor and memory to suit you, so you’re always guaranteed to get the best – and most bespoke – performance possible. Measure anything in AR with Quick Measure This is truly incredible… the pre-loaded app uses the camera and augmented reality (AR) to produce measurements. Whether you’re installing a new sofa and want to know the length of your living room wall, or trying to figure out how far you just swam in the pool, pretty soon you’ll never know how you lived without it! Keep track of your life with Multi Window Everyone’s favourite feature is back in the Samsung A80 – stick notes and windows directly to your home screen to make your phone your personal assistant. Meet Bixby, Samsung’s Intelligent Assistant Think of Bixby as your tour guide, personal translator and general life coach all in one. Simply tap the Bixby button to activate it, and let it perform functions such as… Bixby Routines Bixby will help you get a great night’s sleep by automatically reducing blue lights on your screen and turning on Night mode. It’ll even switch your phone to battery-saving mode if you fall asleep without plugging the charger in. My Routine helps you customise your settings to make sure your Samsung A80 always has your back. Bixby Vision Need a menu translated while you’re on holiday? Just point your camera at it and let Bixby do all the work. Want to see how that new fridge will look in your kitchen? Bixby can install one with AR to give you a perfect impression. Bixby Home Bixby will learn about your phone habits and put your most-used apps and content right where you need them. It can even pull info from certain apps so that it’s easy to access with just one tap. Get the Samsung Galaxy A80 today

iD Mobile’s loyalty queen, the notoriously faithful, Georgia Steel, said: “If there is one thing I am, it’s loyal babes! I am shocked that some people are being more loyal to their mobile network than their partners! “I know its unlike me but I gotta say it…I am encouraging you to #BeUnfaithful, so dump your current network and switch to iD Mobile. You could save around £212, so it really does pay to be unloyal sometimes!” Lewis Henry, Head of Customer and Marketing at iD Mobile said: “We live in an age where we have more choice than ever before. From online dating to an increasing number of mobile network providers, there have never been more options available to us, meaning loyalty is becoming a thing of the past. “For too long customers have been loyal to the same old network, paying for things they don’t use, getting perks they don’t want or need, and not getting anything back in return. “So, if you want to save money, dumping your network has never been easier. There’s no time to waste…get ghosting and save an average of £212!”

Competition time! To help keep your home safe and secure this summer we’re offering 4 lucky winners the chance to win one fantastic home security gadget in this month’s competition. You could win either a RING Video Doorbell Pro With Chime or one of three PHILIPS Hue White & Colour Ambience Wireless Bulb Twin Packs. With the RING Video Doorbell Pro, you can keep track of what's happening around your property at all times, with alerts sent to your smartphone. And you can control your lights from anywhere with the PHILIPS Hue app, sync with your smartphone and choose from 16 million colours to create your desired mood. Comment below and tell us what content you’d like to see more of from iD Mobile? You’ve got until midnight on 7 July to comment and we’ll pick the winners at random. T&C’s Apply Good Luck!

Find out more about Android Q – What is it? What new features will it have? How do you get it? What is Android Q?To put it simply, Android Q is the next update to Android’s operating system. We’ve got no idea which tasty treat it’ll be named after this time, but we’ve heard it’s got plenty of exciting new features. What’s new in Android Q?Rumours have been flying around for the last few months about what kind of features we can expect from Android Q. But thanks to Google I/O, we’ve got our first real glimpse inside Android’s next OS update. Here’s our rundown of the standout features coming to Android Q: Live Captions This works a bit like ‘automatic captioning’ on YouTube, it can recognise speech in any video and display captions in real-time. Great for anyone who’s hard of hearing, or for those times when you want to watch a video without sharing the audio with everyone around you. Google Focus Mode This is a handy little feature that shuts down any apps that might distract you from the task you’re focusing on – great for getting stuff done. Universal Dark Theme Dark themes are great for when you’re using your phone in low light conditions because they’re a little easier on your eyes, they can improve battery life too. There are a few apps that already come with dark themes included, (Twitter, for example). But what if you want to apply a dark theme to everything? Soon, you’ll be able to do just that. Parental Controls Keeping kids safe online can be a constant worry. Thankfully, Google is bringing a version of its “Family Link’ to Android Q, so you’ll be able to set usage limits on your child’s device and apps. Incognito Mode on Maps Handy for those concerned about privacy. Incognito mode makes sure that no tracking cookies or browsing data are stored on your device. You’ll be able to turn it on or off whenever you like. How do I get it? If you weren’t lucky enough to get one of the Beta versions from the Play Store, don’t worry, you won’t have long to wait. Google is due to start rolling out the final version in August. As always, when you’ll be able to get it depends on your handset. If you’ve got a Pixel 3 or Pixel 3a, you’ll almost certainly be the first to get the update. As long as you’ve got automatic updates switched on, you’ll just need to wait until you see the little icon at the top of the screen, telling you there’s an update waiting. Then, just make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi and you’ve got plenty of battery. It’s likely to be a big update, so it will use a lot of data and could drain your battery. Need a new phone? Check out our full range.

Competition time. Fancy winning an incredible Google Pixel 3a smartphone? Comment below, and tell us why you think we’ve got a million happy customers. You’ve got until midnight on Monday 24 June to comment, and we’ll pick the winner at random. Good luck! T&C's Apply

Like your movies? Then this is the one. When you’re looking for a new phone, some of the specs you’re probably keeping an eye on are the screen and the camera, since they’re both very important to consider for a phone. Sony agrees, and the Xperia 1 is a great bit of tech for a budding film maker on the go. But, before we get into it, let’s have a look at the design. Elegant and slender design The first thing you notice is that the body of the Xperia 1 is very tall and narrow, and holding it feels great. It’s thin and lightweight, but that doesn’t mean it’s made with cheap materials, no sir. The phone is covered in super-tough Corning Gorilla glass, with a metal frame around the middle. First smartphone with a 4K HDR OLED display Key features: Large 6.5-inch screen Same 21:9 aspect ratio as the cinema Cinematic multi-dimensional Dolby Atmos® sound The display on this phone has so much to offer. For a start, it’s not just widescreen, it’s CinemaWide, and it’s huge at a massive 6.5 inches. It’s OLED HDR too, which means all the colours are bright and the details practically pop off the screen. And, with a 21:9 aspect ratio (the format films are usually recorded in) you can watch the movie exactly as the creator intended, right on in your hand. Most Netflix content is available in 21:9 too, so you can use your morning commute to catch up on that episode you dozed off to the night before. You might find a few other passengers wanting to take a peek too! Take photos like a pro Key features Triple lens main camera 2x optical zoom 4K HDR movie recording 8MP selfie camera Two lenses are better than one, but the Xperia 1 has three! The triple lens main camera will let you take stunning photos that are a perfect Insta addition, with all three packing 12MP. One is also a telephoto lens, while another is an ultra-wide angle lens. But it’s shooting videos that truly takes this camera to the next level. With the built-in Cinema Pro app, you can shoot film footage in 21:9 aspect ratio, and use a range of tools like frame rate, white balance, control the lens shutter speed and change the resolution. With this phone, anyone could try their hand at filmmaking. Under the hood Key features Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 3,330mAh battery Fast charging 129GB inbuilt storage For a phone that runs nice and smooth but has buckets of power behind it, the Xperia 1 is just what you’d want in your pocket. The Snapdragon 855 chipset is the best you can get, which is what makes the Camera app so pro, and it makes the phone great for gameplay too. Once we got our hands on it, we didn’t want to put it down. There’s loads of built-in storage space too, so you can snap, shoot and play away without worrying about running out of room for everyting. Android 9 is a clever operating system that adapts to how you use it, and it’s super intuitive. For example, it can get your favourite music ready as soon as you plug your headphones in, and it’s the operating system the Sony Xperia 1 uses. If you want your phone to be the best for shooting films as well as one that can anticipate your needs, the Xperia 1 is for you. Got any questions? Pop them in the comments and we’ll answer them for you.

Looking for a new phone but not sure whether to go for Android or Apple? Let’s weigh up your options… When it comes to choosing the best phone, you’ve probably narrowed it down to the two most popular options: Android and Apple. And if you’ve made it that far, you’ve also probably noticed there’s no clear winner. Both offer everything you need, and more. Both have all those important features like cutting-edge cameras and contactless payment technology. Both have their downsides, too. At the end of the day, it’s really a matter of personal taste. But if you simply must know which phone is better for specific functions, we’ve put together a handy head-to-head to help you decide… Good looks aren’t everything… …but when you’re going to be eyeing up your phone every day for the next couple of years, you’ll want it to look stylish. As the original pioneers of smartphone design, Apple doesn’t compromise on the effortlessly sleek look of its phones. Its latest model, the iPhone XS, features an edge-to-edge display, while older models retain the single, bezel-worthy Touch ID button at the bottom. Android devices, meanwhile, come in all shapes and sizes. From the Samsung Galaxy S10 with its Infinity-O Display to the lightweight Google Pixel 3 with its handsome curved edges, there’s plenty to choose from. We’re going to give this one to Apple, purely because it’s always one step ahead. It’s a close race though, so we advise making other features your priority. Winner: Apple Splash the cash or pinch the pennies? Your budget could make or break your final decision. There’s no denying that an iPhone will set you back – but then, you get what you pay for with Apple. The latest iPhone XS is available for monthly payments starting at £37.99 (with an upfront cost). With much more choice on offer, it’s no surprise that Android is a clear winner in this department. The premium option, the Galaxy S10 Plus, comes in at roughly the same monthly price as the iPhone XS – but you could still get the brand-new Google Pixel 3a from as little as £16.99 per month. Winner: Android An Apple a day keeps the doctor away This seems to be the case for online bugs as well. One study found that 97% of malware and viruses were found on Android devices, and zero for Apple. This is not to say Apple software is totally immune, but its devices are often less likely to be targeted. Not only that, despite being around for a shorter time, Apple’s Face ID is more advanced and secure than Android facial recognition. So, if security is top of your list, there’s only one choice… Winner: Apple Who deserves your App-lause? Both brands offer an extensive range of apps available via Google Play and the App Store, and both have their pros and cons. Put simply, Google Play has more apps – so if you’re looking for the most choice, you’ll be right at home with Android. But that’s saying nothing about quality. We know Apple is stricter with the apps it allows onto the App Store, vetting low quality and scam apps. New, anticipated releases also debut first on the App Store. And as for games, it’s actually Apple which offers the greatest choice. As it was the first to challenge Nintendo and Sony’s domination of the gaming world, developers are more eager to pitch their games to Apple first. However, Android has a higher percentage of free games, and is catching up on other fronts. You can sleep peacefully knowing each option provides all the essentials and games galore. It’s a tough one to call, so let’s just say it’s a… Draw! Who’s got the stamina? Life comes at you fast. If you’re a busy city-slicker, jumping from one meeting to the next, or a bit of social hub, spending your days WhatsApping and ‘Gramming, you’ll need a phone with a battery you can depend on. Apple has faced a lot of criticism about batteries over the years, but its latest devices can go all day and night, and boast fast charging on a par with Android. However, with iPhones you need to buy the fast-charging adaptor separately, while many Android devices feature it as standard. Plus, the best out-of-the-box batteries are still usually found on Android devices. This is a close one, but we have to give it to… Winner: Android Get some Siri-ous Assistance Both operating systems provide a handy voice assistant to answer all of your burning questions. If you’re looking for a wittier sidekick, we think Siri is best. But Google Assistant proved itself to be more knowledgeable, when Loup Ventures put both to the test. Out of 800 questions, Siri answered 79% correctly and Google Assistant 86%. With voice search the next big thing in mobile technology, it seems Android is firmly in the lead here. Winner: Android Will it fit in with your friends? For fellow tech heads, phones are likely to become part of a collection of devices. But to create a family, they need the same DNA – and there’s no question about it, Apple wins this one. Not only will your iPhone integrate seamlessly with devices such as your MacBook, Mac Pro and iPad, it can even mingle with Apple’s excellent accessories, such as the Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV and the HomePod. On the other hand, Android operating software is almost exclusively limited to phones. If you use your Google Drive and Google Apps a lot, you’ll love it, but for everyone else, you’re probably better off with Apple on this front. Winner: Apple So the end results are split either way, with both devices earning 3½ points apiece. But depending on which of the above mean more to you, hopefully we’ve settled your dilemma. Whichever phone you go for, you’re almost guaranteed satisfaction – and with competition between Android and Apple so fierce, there are surely many more great things on the horizon. Take a look at our Apple iPhone deals here Or alternatively view our great Android phones here

It’s summer. It’s hot. It’s holiday season. If you’re doing some late planning for an overseas trip, there’s a lot to think about. So check out our tips below, and be fully prepared. Bon voyage! 1. Pre-book your parking and transfers to the airport Airport parking can fill right up at this time of year, so it’s a good idea to pre-book it as far in advance as possible. And while you’re doing that, check if you need to book your transfer from the car park to the airport terminal. Most of the time you just need to hop on a bus, but it’s worth being sure – hanging around for ages in a car park isn’t a good way start to a holiday. If you do need to pre-book your own transfer to the airport, go for a reputable company like GetTransfer.com, Uber or Taxi2Airport.com. You can make bookings on their websites or through their free apps (although there doesn't seem to be an Android app for Taxi2Airport.com just yet). 2. Check if you need the two Vs (that’s visas and vaccines!) Do you need a visa to visit the country you’re travelling to? If you don’t know, check as soon as possible (you can do this on the Visa Central website). Remember – if you need a visa, it can sometimes take a long time to get one (we’re talking months in some cases). You might also need some vaccinations, especially if you’re travelling to a destination that’s classed as a high risk for health. The NHS Fit For Travel website has information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad, so check it out. Some vaccinations need to be started a couple of months before departure, and require more than one shot spread out over a few weeks. So don’t delay! 3. Don’t forget the iD Mobile app – your perfect travel companion The iD Mobile app lets you control your account anytime, anywhere. Yes, even overseas. And it doesn’t use up any of your precious data either. Download it here if you haven’t got it already, and when you’re on holiday you can keep a close eye on your data usage, and buy add-ons if you’re running low. Our data add-ons start at just £1.50 for 100MB, and they’re much better value than running out of data and racking up out-of-plan charges! You can also use the app to manage settings like roaming and voicemail. It’s a great little piece of kit, and it doesn’t take up an inch of space in your luggage. Get yours now! 4. Get your holiday money sorted, cash or card Of course, you can exchange money before you travel. Having some local currency in your pocket when you arrive at your destination is never a bad thing. But remember, currency exchange centres always charge a fee. So if you’ve got a cash card that comes with a 0% foreign transaction fee, you might want to use a cash machine at your destination instead. Oh, and be sure to tell your bank and credit card companies that you’re going abroad. If you don’t, they might think that your overseas card usage is suspicious and deactivate it! 5. Be prepared for emergencies Travel insurance is important, so make sure you’re covered. The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) is free and valid until 31 October 2019. It’s not an alternative to travel insurance, but it does give you some rights to healthcare in EU countries. Find out more on the NHS website. A lost phone is another emergency you should prepare for, just in case. You’ll find details of what you need to do in this iD Community article: What to do if you lose your phone. 6. Be prepared for delays Use the Flightview app to see the status of all flights in your trips. If your flight is delayed, make sure you’ve got enough stuff to keep yourself entertained. Buy all the snacks, games, books and magazines you need. Or do it all on your phone, and download your favourite eBooks, music and movies. Then when you get on your flight, you can enjoy them all when you’re offline in aeroplane mode. There’s nothing worse than running out of power on your phone when you’re stuck in an airport lounge, so make sure it’s fully charged before you leave the home, and take a mobile charger as back-up. 7. Take some backup Scan copies of all your important travel documents: passport, visa, airport parking, flight and hotel confirmations, travel insurance policy, emergency phone numbers and anything else you can think of. Then email them to yourself, so you’ve got easy access to all the info in case you lose the physical copies. 8. Make a list of the essentials Don’t forget to pack the essentials. And the best way of remembering everything is to make a list before you travel (the Evernote app is a great way of creating lists and reminders on your phone). It’s up to you what you pack, of course. If you’re on a long flight, make it a little more comfortable with a travel pillow, earplugs and eye-masks. And to keep yourself connected and powered up all through your hols, don’t forget things like phone chargers, leads and universal sockets. Oh, and no matter where you’re travelling to, it’s always a good idea to pack some spare toilet paper. For obvious reasons. 9. Take a translator Having the Google Translate (free on iOS and Android) on your phone makes chatting with non-English speakers a whole lot easier than it used to be. It can translate bilingual conversations in 32 languages, and 103 languages if you type in the phrases. If it’s not a person you need to understand, but rather a menu or a street sign, you can hold up your camera and Google will magically translate the words in front of your eyes, as if by magic! We hope you find these top holiday planning tips useful. We think we’ve covered everything, but if you’ve got anything you’d like to add, post a reply below and share it with the Community.

Hot tips to keep your phone cool this summer... Whether it’s a rare heatwave set to hit the UK or you’re going on a siesta to Spain, we Brits love it when it’s warm. Your phone however, isn’t so keen. It can get overheated, and your phone’s battery could take some serious damage if it’s left out in the sun for too long. Keep your phone cool in the hot weather with these essential tips. Why do you need to keep your phone cool?When you just want to relax in the sun and top up your tan, it can be easy to put your phone down next to you and forget about it. But your phone doesn’t love sunbathing as much as you do, and keeping it cool is important. Prolonged heat exposure can cause your battery life to take a hit, and your phone could feel slower to use too. Here’s some easy things you can do to keep it cool. Don’t let your phone get sunburntYour phone doesn’t enjoy basking in the sun like you do, so you should really find a way to keep it in the shade, or put it away. On the beach? Put a towel over it! Chilling in a beer garden? Then find a shady spot or, better still, put your phone in your pocket when you’re not using it. We wouldn’t recommend leaving it behind in the car though… Don’t leave it in the car eitherEvery year there are warnings about leaving pets in cars on hot days, but the same goes for your phone too. A car can get hot inside really quickly with the windows closed, and that heat could damage your phone’s battery and even the processor, so make sure you take it with you! Set your phone free from its caseOur bodies sweat to help us cool down when it’s hot, but your phone doesn’t have that option, so it just gets hotter. This is especially true when it’s in a case. Removing the case will let your phone breathe (in it’s own way) and cool down faster. You wouldn’t wear a jumper on a hot day, would you? Turn off any apps you’re not usingApps use up memory and the processor has to work hard to keep up with all the different ones your phone can run at a time. Even if it’s running in the background, it still takes work, so you should close any that you’re not using. Turn on airplane modeIf it’s really scorching and you don’t need to use your phone for a while, another good way to keep the temp down is by putting it in airplane mode. This will turn off all data, Bluetooth and other connection settings, so your phone will stay much cooler and you’ll also save some battery! Try not to charge your phoneYour phone can get quite warm while charging, so you should delay charging it unless it’s absolutely essential. If you can wait until you get home, that’s even better. For a phone that will last all day, the Google Pixel 3A XL has an amazing battery life so you won’t have to worry about charging it during the hottest part of the day, unless you forget the night before. But, even if you do, the super-fast charging will give you the juice you need in no time, with no overheating worries. Interested? Get the Google Pixel 3A XL today. Turn down the backlightEven something as simple as turning down the screen brightness can prevent overheating, because it reduces the battery use. You might already have it set to ‘automatic’ but you can still turn it down more. You might even get a bit more time out of your battery life, result. Play fewer gamesBig, heavy games will make your phone get warm when you play even on the coldest of days, so when it’s roasting outside playing your favourite games too much could result in your phone going into overdrive. Try to limit how much you’re playing if it’s hot out. There’s no need to stop altogether, just keep an eye on how warm your phone is getting, and stop if you feel it’s too hot. Got any more tips for keeping your phone cool in hot weather? Then share them with us in the comments below.

Polish up your hashtags and strike those selfies, it was Social Media Day on 30 June. A day to recognise and celebrate the role social media plays in our society. Thanks to social media, we’re able to connect with each other like never before. It’s a great way to make new friends and re-connect with old ones. Whether you like to watch cat videos, show the world what you’re having for dinner, or find information on causes and world events that matter to you, social media gives everyone a platform to create their own content, voice their opinions and connect with like-minded peeps. To celebrate this year’s Social Media Day, we’re running a fab competition. For your chance to win a £50 Currys voucher, all you have to do is follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/idmobileuk/ or Twitter https://twitter.com/id_mobile_uk?lang=en and comment on our recent post saying why or what you love about iD Mobile? (Competition closed) So, start a hashtag, upload a selfie, update your status and join us to celebrate #socialmediaday

Summer’s here, school’s out, and with holidays, festivals and day trips on the horizon, there are plenty of reasons to get out and about and enjoy the warm weather. While you’re having fun in the sun, keep your home safe and secure with our top 6 security tips. 1. Smart lights Smart lights can be programmed to turn on to make your house seem occupied when you’re out or away on holiday. Some lights use your phone’s location to switch on lights to welcome you home. Look out for smart lights you can sync with movies and music from your smartphone and colour changing bulbs that can create different moods. In this month’s competition, we’re giving 3 lucky winners the chance to get their hands on a Philips Hue Dual Pack of smart lightbulbs . 2. Wireless security cameras See what’s going on both in and outside your home when you’re not there, with wireless security cameras that you can monitor from your smartphone. Built-in night vision means you can see what’s happening 24/7 and you can even set up alert notifications when sound or movement is detected. Check out iD Mobile’s great selection of smartphones to help with home security. 3. Smart doorbell Using wi-fi to notify you via your smartphone when there’s someone at your door, a smart doorbell allows you to see, hear and speak to callers even when you’re not at home. You can save and review front door footage to help keep your home secure when you’re away, and when you’re in, you can see who’s outside before you open your door. Make sure you enter this month’s competition for your chance to win a fantastic RING Video Doorbell Pro with Chime . 4. Home security systems Put all these elements together with a complete smart home security system, which include a combination of wireless security cameras, motions sensors, alarms and lights. Smart home security systems connect to your home wi-fi and are controlled by an app on your smartphone. So, you can be in total control of your home security while sipping a Pina Colada on the beach. 5. Secure your garage If your house can be accessed from your garage, make sure all internal and external doors and locks are well-secured. Keep everything of value out of view and invest in a sturdy lock or smart door lock to keep your garage and its contents safe and secure while you’re away from home. 6. Lo-fi security Even without smart tech devices, there’s plenty you can do to keep your house safe. Make sure all your doors and windows are secure, lock gates, sheds and other outdoor buildings and don’t leave any tools or ladders on display in your garden. Remember to cancel the milk and paper deliveries and ask a friend or trusted neighbour to check on your home whilst you’re away. Why not consider joining your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme so you can enjoy total peace of mind as you head for the airport. Wishing you a safe and secure summer.

With Glastonbury about to kick off and Wimbledon just a few days away, nothing says summer more than National Sunglasses Day on 27th June. There’s no better day to don those shades and give your eyes some much-needed protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays, while looking super-cool. And for the ultimate in super-cool gadgets, check out the Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses. The frames come complete with mini acoustic chambers, which produce rich, immersive sound. Open-ear audio allows you to stay aware of your surroundings while enjoying your music, and the integrated microphone means you can take calls and access Siri or Google Assistant. The premium lenses block up to 99% of UVA/UVB rays. So, all you have to do is choose from 2 designs, a classic angular look in the Alto [https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio-and-headphones/headphones/headphones/bose-frames-alto-audio-sunglasses-black-10193032-pdt.html] or distinct rounded lenses in the Rondo [https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/audio-and-headphones/headphones/headphones/bose-frames-rondo-audio-sunglasses-black-10193033-pdt.html]. Grab yourself a pair of Bose Audio Frames, or don your fave shades and get involved with National Sunglasses Day by sharing a selfie with shades using #NationalSunglassesDay and #SunglassSelfie (Competition closed) You’re so cool, you probably wear your sunglasses at night.

Kids and the internet stick together like glue, but there are a few things you can do to make sure they’re safe online… Whether it’s socialising with friends or getting help with homework, the web has all sorts of useful information and can provide kids with really useful skills as they make their way through life. But, alongside the good websites, there are just as many that you wouldn’t want them going anywhere near so here are a few of the best ways to keep them safe. Download a parental control appWhen you’re working with one computer for the whole family it can be easy to keep everyone safe and monitor what’s going on, but personal devices like phones and tablets are a whole different story. By downloading some parental control software (if the device doesn’t have it built-in) you can monitor your kids screen time and even password protect some areas. QustodioQustodio is a great little app that can filter web content, monitor calls and even has a child location feature. There’s also a panic button included, so if your child has an emergency they can contact you quickly with just one click. Free for Android and iOS. Restrict purchasesIf you’ve been the victim of losing your hard-earned money to a computer game, you’ll know just how frustrating it can be, especially if you can’t convince the game company to refund it. Luckily, it’s easy to put a stop to those sneaky in-app purchases. On Android you can put password protection right there on the Google Play Store app. Just open the app, go to Menu > Settings > Require authentication for purchases > For all purchases. Now they won’t be able to buy anything without your permission. To do the same on an Apple device, go into Settings > General > Restrictions. Tap Enable Restrictions > enter a PIN, then go to In-App Purchases in the list of options under the ‘Restrictions’ tab. Job done. Make YouTube and Facebook saferSocial media is everywhere these days, and kids are going to use it. So, here’s some things you can do to keep them safe while they catch up with their mates and share stories. FacebookThe last thing you want is your child chatting to strangers or coming across inappropriate videos while on Facebook. While there aren’t any filters to restrict explicit content, you can block any individuals, groups, pages and apps through the settings. Remember, there is a minimum age requirement of 13 to have a Facebook account, so anything on there is intended for audience of that age and upwards. If your child is a bit too young, there are plenty of other ways for them to keep up with their friends antics. YouTubeRather than let your child have access to the full YouTube site, Google offers an easy to use app for kids, whether they’re on an Android or iPad. It’s free to use, and it has algorithms built-in to make sure unsuitable content isn’t shown in search results. Stay in the loop with Google Family LinkBy giving your kid their own Google account, they get to feel like they’ve got some freedom and you get to keep an eye on exactly what they’re doing. You can manage what apps they’re using and set a bedtime for phones, so they’re not overdoing it on screen time. Set some rulesIt’s one thing to put all these tech restrictions in place, but it’s hugely important to make sure children are educated about the risks associated with going online. Kids are digital wizards these days, so the best way to know what they’re up to is to encourage them to share it with you. Let them know what’s acceptable online, and that they can come to you for help if they see or receive anything inappropriate. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up being the next champion of Fortnite! Is there anything we’ve missed? What precautions have you got in place to keep your kids safe online? Let us know in the comments.

Whether the sun is out this Summer or you’re putting up with the typical British Summer, find out how to take the best photos with your phone to capture the memories. Your camera knows what it’s doingMost modern phones now have some kind of Artificial Intelligence built into the camera, and that helps you take those pro-looking photos. The clever tech figures out what you’re looking at and then changes the settings to give you the best result. Whether you’re snapping action shots of pups on the park, tempting your Insta followers with the sizzling BBQ food or showing off your travels, the artificial intelligence in your camera will help you get the best picture – without spending an age fiddling with the settings. One phone which has some extremely clever AI tech built into the camera is the Huawei P30. There is a powerful processor packed in there, as well as huge 28-hour battery, so your phone won’t start to slow down even if you spend all day on those power-hungry editing apps. Interested? Get the Huawei P30 today. Get a doubly good photoThese days, more than one lens is commonly packed in under the hood, sometimes as many as three! But, are two (or three) lenses really better than one? The short answer is, yes. That’s because a dual-lens camera can switch between both easily and on the go, so you’ll get different results depending on your subject. You’ll get much sharper images packed with details, and when you’re shooting ultra-wide angles with a shallow depth of field, the focus of the image will really stand out. For a phone that looks as good as it performs, take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S10. It’s got a stunning edge-to-edge display to fully appreciate the amazing photos captured with the TrueVision triple-lens camera. This ultra-wide lens helps to bring your landscape shots to life, and you won’t ned to squish everyone together for that group picture any more. Get yourself a Samsung Galaxy S10 now. Harness the power of Portrait ModeGetting a picture of the whole group, whether it’s friends or family, never seems to look quite as good as those professional headshots. But, that might be down to the settings on your phone. Portrait mode uses a dual-lens camera system to keep your subject sharp, while blurring out the background. It works especially well for bright, sunny backgrounds, so get snapping while summer is here. You can even get the same effect for your selfies, just switch over to Portrait mode once you’ve turned the camera and you’re good to go. One phone that impressed us with it’s portrait mode is the iPhone Xs. Its advanced sensor means you can even get those beautiful pictures after the natural light has faded so the shooting doesn’t have to stop when the sun goes down. And, you won’t have to put up with those dark pictures where you can’t tell if it’s your bestie or the cat. Take a look at the iPhone Xs. Become a selfie masterLots of people love a good selfie, and if you’re on of the ones wanting something good for Instagram this summer, you’ll need a dual-lens camera with a wide-angle lens on the front. They’re perfect for taking group selfies or ones where you want to make sure the background is captured too, so now there’s no need to awkwardly ask a passer-by to get that photo of you and your mates by that infinity pool. The Google Pixel 3 is amazing for selfies, and the wide-angle front camera means everyone will be able to fit into the frame. The low light sensor is pretty high-tech too, so if you’re going camping you can get some great pictures under the stars. Take a look at the Google Pixel 3. Boost the dynamic rangeYou might have seen the acronym HDR on your camera, which stands for High Dynamic Range. Simply put, this takes three pictures in one at three different exposures; one overexposed, one underexposed and one balanced. It then stacks all three together, producing a beautifully bold image with rich shadows and highlights. When you put your phone camera on HDR mode, it will help you to eliminate those over/underexposed anxieties and you’ll be left with nothing but crystal clear photos. One phone that does this brilliantly is the Honor View 20. It’s got a massive 48MP main camera, and a speedy AI processor to give you Insta-worthy shots anywhere, anytime. Check out the Honor View 20. Got any other phone photography questions? Does your phone take perfect summer snaps, and it’s not mentioned in our list? Let us know in the comments below.

Just when you thought the Samsung Galaxy A Series couldn’t get any better, the stunning Galaxy A10 is the latest model to be released... With a 6.2” Infinity-V display and a big bundle of tech packaged into a compact design, the Samsung A10 is well worth a look. So, we did and here’s what we found: Simple slender design The Galaxy A10’s slender 8.1 mm body is designed to sit perfectly in the palm of your hand and slip effortlessly into your pocket. With a choice of a sleek black or blue glossy finish, this phone looks the business. And it’s far more than just a pretty face … A phone you’ll love to watch With an immersive 6.2 HD+ Infinity-V display, you won’t be able to take your eyes off this screen. From blockbuster movies to intensive games, the edge-to-edge v-cut screen puts you right at the heart of the action. Pretty impressive for such a slender, compact design. Capture and create With the 13MP Wide rear camera and the 5MP front camera, you can keep those precious memories vivid, bright and clear with the simple tap of a button. And with the Galaxy A10, you can enhance the moment with AR stickers, stamps and filters to embellish your fave shots. Who says the camera never lies? Power for your everyday The Galaxy A10 comes complete with a powerful 3,400 mAh battery to keep pace with your life all day, every day. With the freedom to share and stream, you can do more of what you love on a phone that lasts. This handset’s got real stamina. Personalised protection As you might expect, the Galaxy A10 takes security seriously. Facial recognition technology gives you personalised protection, so only you can access your phone. Simply hold the handset to your face for an easy, secure way to unlock your phone fast. Under the hood The Galaxy A10 positively purrs under the bonnet thanks to an Octa Core processor with the power to keep everything running smoothly. You get 2GB RAM and 32GB storage, with the option to boost it up to 512GB with a Micro SD card. Our verdict With its slender compact design packed with cutting edge tech, the Galaxy A10 offers you the chance to get your mitts on the Samsung A Series at a more affordable price. It’s a definite Yes from us. Interested? Then here’s the good news. You can order a shiny new Samsung Galaxy A10 from just £9.99 at iD Mobile. Check out the full range of deals here.

These are our top picks for the best phones to take on your summer getaway… It’s a great feeling to know you’ve got a holiday coming up, and there’s even apps dedicated to just counting down to your big trip! So, if you’re lucky enough to be ticking off the days to your upcoming getaway, you might want to check if you’re due an upgrade on your phone before you go. There have been some amazing phone releases this year, especially when it comes to cameras, from astonishing zoom capabilities to crystal-clear 4K video. So, whether you want to take some beautiful shots of the local architecture, or you want to capture every thrilling second on your kayaking adventure, we’ve got a phone for you. These are three of our favourite ones that’ll make the ideal travel buddy, just in slightly different ways. Google Pixel 3 – the perfect all-rounderLet’s just start off with the fact that this is a great looking phone. The rounded-edge screen and two-tone back make it beautiful to look at, but then there’s some serious software which makes this device such a good all-rounder. The camera tech is particularly outstanding. Here’s what it’s got: · Top Shot – this handy feature uses Google AI to take multiple shots when you press the button, and then recommends the best one. · Group Selfie Cam – dump the clumsy selfie stick. The Pixel 3 has dual front facing cameras for wide-angle shots that everyone will fit into. · Portrait Mode – have you ever wondered how to get that background blur effect to make your photos look like they were taken by a pro? Just tap Portrait Mode on the Pixel 3 and it will do the rest. · Night Sight – using clever AI to digitally alter images taken in low-light, the Pixel 3 produces pictures that appear clearer, brighter and just as beautiful as daytime shots. Especially perfect for those rural overnight trips away. Worried about filling up your phone with all those holiday snaps you’ll be taking? With the Pixel 3, you don’t have to. Because it’s a Google phone, you get free, unlimited storage for all your photos on Google Drive – so you can snap away to your heart’s content! And, it’s got Google Assistant built in too, so all you need to do for some help is give the phone a squeeze and your assistant will open. Get help with almost anything from currency conversions, directions, and even translating local phrases in real-time. Huawei P30 – for the photographerThe Huawei P30 and its bigger brother the P30 Pro are equipped with, arguably, the best camera on a phone that’s currently available. When you want to capture stunning videos and photos with your phone, you really won’t get much better than the P30 Pro. The image stabilisation when filming at full zoom is incredible too. And then there’s the zoom itself. The P30 has a very clever periscope system that allows it to offer 5x optical zoom. That’s something you don’t see every day! On top of all these great camera features, you also get reverse charging. So, if you’re out and about and your group is running low on power, they just rest their phone on yours to get a boost. And, with the massive battery on the P30 Pro, you should have plenty to spare. What you get with the P30 Pro: · 5x Optical Zoom – you can take incredible wildlife and architecture shots, thanks to the ingenious periscope system. · 10x Lossless Zoom – because why settle for 5x when you can have 10x? · Wireless Reverse Charging – top up your mates phone by simply placing your phone on theirs. · Optical Image Stabilisation – gives you super smooth video even at full zoom, thanks to the all-powerful Optical Image Stabilisation software. Samsung Galaxy S10 – perfect for the sun worshipperThe Samsung Galaxy S10 boasts the brightest screen capabilities on any smartphone display so far, making it perfect for using in bright sunlight without tilting this way and that for the best angle. So, whether you’re getting stuck into that holiday book you downloaded by the pool, or sneakily catching up on your favourite show on the beach, you won’t need to squint to see the screen. That screen isn’t just bright either. With an incredible 550ppi pixel density, whatever you watch will be crystal clear, even 4K content. Perfect for keeping you entertained on those long-haul flights too. The camera’s got some power too, with a triple lens main camera. It’s got a wide-angle lens for regular shots, telephoto lens for those detailed close-ups and an ultra-wide lens for capturing those stunning scenery shots. What’s packed into the Galaxy S10: · Brightest phone display ever –you’ll see every detail, even in direct sunlight. · Super Hi-Res screen – 550ppi resolution provides super-sharp results. · Triple lens camera – capture any subject in any scene beautifully, with a dedicated lens for each scenario. Got something else in mind? Check out our full range of phones to upgrade your holiday memories.

Now Closed Fancy winning a £100 Red Letter Days voucher to get out and about this spring? Simply comment below where your favourite break destination is (either home or abroad!) and we'll choose two winners! Red Letter Days provide a range of experience days or breaks for every taste, occasion and budget. Whether it's a day out at the zoo with the kids, a romantic date night or your own solo adventure, there's plenty to choose from. Hurry! Competition ends midnight on Sunday 12 May. T&C's Apply

If you’re fed up of having to untangle headphone wires before you plug them into your phone, wireless Bluetooth headphones are the way to go. Interested? Then read on and we’ll help you pack in the jack! If you haven’t already got a pair of wireless headphones, what are you waiting for? From smashing your goals at the gym to breaking up the daily commute, they make everyday life much more bearable. If you’ve already treated yourself to a shiny new pair, read on to get set up… and clued up. How to connect Bluetooth headphones Okay, so you’ve unboxed your new headphones, and you can’t want to pair them up with your smartphone or one of your other favourite devices. The first thing you need to do is put your headphones in ‘pairing’ mode. If you’re not sure how to do this, check the instruction manual. The exact method varies, but it usually involves switching your headphones on, and holding the multi-function button for a few second (that’s the button you press to answer a call). Now you need to turn on your phone’s Bluetooth settings. If you’ve got an iPhone, you can do this in Settings > Bluetooth If you’ve got an Android phone, go to Settings > Device Connection When your phone’s Bluetooth is switched on, it’ll be able to communicate with other nearby Bluetooth devices. So make sure your phone and headphones are nice and close together, wait for just a few seconds, and the name of your headphones should appear on your smartphone display. Tap on the name, and when you’re successfully paired you’ll see a confirmation message like“connection established” or something similar. Your headphones will also do something to confirm a successful connection. You’ll probably either hear a noise or see a flashing light. Can I pair multiple Bluetooth devices? It all depends on your device. Some phones, such as the Huawei P30 or Samsung Galaxy S10, let you connect two different pairs of Bluetooth headphones. So you and your friend can enjoy listening to the same tunes together – or even watch a movie if you’ve got a big-screen smartphone like the Google Pixel 3 XL. There are also a few apps which let you connect multiple Bluetooth speakers to one device, like AmpMe. Check it out if you’re interested. Why is my Bluetooth not working? If your Bluetooth isn’t working, there are a few things you can try to get it up and running again. 1. Turn both the Bluetooth and your device off and on again (yes, we know it’s an obvious one!) 2. Double-check that your devices are paired and connected (you might need to search for it on your smartphone again) 3. Restart your device Hopefully, one of those suggestions should solve the issue! Bluetooth troubleshooting Just to round things up, here are a few common Bluetooth issues, with tips on how to solve them. Location, location, location Some devices have a shorter range of connectivity than others. So if you think your devices might be a little too far away from each other, try moving them closer together. Re-connect If your Bluetooth is playing up, try ‘unsaving’ the saved connection on the device you want it to connect to. Then re-pair the devices again. Compatibility If all else fails, double check that the devices are compatible with each other. For example, some devices might be Bluetooth-enabled but not compatible with Android devices – it does happen! We hope we’ve given you some useful advice about connecting Bluetooth headphones to your phone. If we’ve missed anything out, go ahead and ask a question below.