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When you’ve had your phone a while, it can start to slow down and become less responsive. Frustrating, we know. So we’ve come up with some simple tips and tricks to help get it back up to speed. 1. Keep your system software up to date If you’re someone who always hits ‘later’ when it’s time to do a software update, that could be the reason your phone has slowed down. Regularly updating the software keeps your phone optimised for the many apps and services it uses, so it runs as smoothly as possible. Every month or so, security updates are released. They iron out any bugs and make sure any safety issues are fixed, so don’t ignore them when they pop up. There are major updates released every year too, so check regularly for them or tap ‘install’ as soon as they appear. To check for updates yourself, just go into the settings on your phone and type ‘update’ in the search bar at the top. If there’s anything to install, follow the instructions on the screen. 2. Make sure your apps are updated The apps you use have software updates too. They fix bugs and push out new features regularly, so you need to keep them up to date to make sure you’re using the best version. Here’s how to check for app updates: · On an iPhone – go to App Store > Updates > Update All. · On an Android phone – go to Google Play Store > Menu (the three horizontal lines) > My Apps & Games > Update All. 3. Keep your browser cache clear Once you’ve had your phone for a while, there’s a good chance you’ve browsed through a fair number of webpages. But your phone saves data and images while you do, so if you don’t clear out the cache it could end up taking up a lot of your precious storage space. To get the space back and lighten the load on your phone, here’s how to clear your browser cache: · For Safari on iPhone – go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data · For Chrome on Android or iPhone – open Chrome and go to Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data > tick ‘Cached Images and Files’ > Clear Data 4. Clear out any old apps and games If you’ve got a habit of downloading new apps and games and then forgetting all about them, they could be draining your phone by taking up a lot of storage space. The best thing to do is check what you’ve got installed and get rid of anything you don’t use. When you’ve given up crushing candies, here’s how to delete those hefty apps: · iPhone – go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and Uninstall any apps you don’t use. · Android – go to Settings > Apps and Uninstall the ones you don’t use. 5. Get rid of live wallpaper Those animated live wallpapers on your home screen can be a lot of fun, but they can also slow your phone down. While you might get a few seconds of joy after unlocking your screen, your phone’s battery and memory are taking a hit, so we suggest ditching them and choosing a motionless, neutral background instead. 6. Start fresh with a factory reset When you’ve tried everything, and your poor old phone still isn’t responding, the last resort is a factory reset. This will delete everything and restore your phone to how it was when it was brand new, so it’s not an option to be taken lightly. If you decide to go ahead with a factory reset, it’s important to make sure you have all your apps, games, photos and videos (and anything else important) safely backed up so you don’t lose them. Once everything is safe, you can hit the reset button: · iPhone – Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings · Android – Settings > System > Reset > Reset phone Over to you, Community chums. Have you tried any of the tips above? Did it speed up your phone? Or if you think there’s anything we’ve missed, post a reply below to share it with the iD Community.

January can be a long month when it comes to money. Or, maybe you hit the January sales a little too hard? If so, here are some top tips on how you can save cash with your phone. Get a Monzo account If you’re not great at keeping track of your spending habits, and want more control over your budget, why not try a Monzo bank account? It’s different to other bank accounts because the accompanying app lets you see an easy summary of your spending, and lets you set budgets for things like the weekly shopping and going out. When you go on a bit of a spending spree, you’ll get a notification to let you know you need to slow down a bit, so you can stick to your budget. You can use the Monzo app to pay for things too, so if you’re used to using Apple/Google Pay, you can still use your phone to get that coffee in the morning. It’s free to sign up, and is available for both iOS and Android, so get your account today and take back control of your finances. Make calls using Wi-Fi If you make lots of calls, especially to family and friends overseas, you might find your monthly mobile bill has extra charges on it. Try using apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. As long as you have a good Wi-Fi connection, you’ll be able to enjoy as many conversations as you want, without worry about using up all your minutes. When you want a face-to-face instead, both apps support video calling, so you can save your data and use Wi-Fi for that too. Get WhatsApp for free on iOS and Android. Try the Yolt app Keeping track of what you spend can be tricky, especially if you have more than one card on the go. Did you put that petrol on your debit or credit card? Yolt could tell you. This app lets you connect all your bank accounts and credit cards, so you can see everything in one place. You can see any upcoming bills, keep an eye on the coffee habit and easily set up budgets for yourself. One of the most unique features of the app is how it’s able to search for better deals on the things you already pay for – like energy and internet. It really does take care of every little penny. Get the Yolt app for free, on iOS or Android. Indulge in entertainment for free Trips to the cinema to see the latest blockbuster are great fun, but it can end up being quite costly with tickets averaging £12 each. Your phone has probably got a pretty good screen, so why not try streaming instead? Some services you have to pay for, like Netflix, NowTV and Amazon Prime Video. They cost about £10 per month (still less than that cinema ticket), but there’s free stuff available too, if you really want to tighten the purse strings. Apps like BBC iPlayer are packed with award-winning programs like ‘Luther’, no subscriptions necessary. Nip to the supermarket and grab a multipack of popcorn, and the whole week can be filled with super-cheap entertainment. Download the BBC iPlayer app on iOS and Android today. How do you use your phone to save money? Are there any tips that we’ve missed? Share yours in the comments below.

Some love it, some hate it. One thing’s for sure, you’ll find a notch at the top of most new smartphones. But what is it – and why is it there? Read on, and you’ll find out. What is the notch? It started with Apple, as often seems to be the way. The first notch was seen at the top of the iPhone X, but it wasn’t just about looks. Oh no, there was a good reason for it. So, a bit of background. For years, phone makers had been trying to get the screen as close to the edge of the phone as possible. But once they’d added in a speaker and a selfie cam, that removed space at the top of the screen. Apple had an answer to this (of course). They stretched the screen right to the edges but kept a small area at the top for the camera, speaker and light sensor – and that, friends, is the notch. It’s time for a look at our favourite notch phones… Apple iPhone X With an impressive screen-to-body ratio of nearly 83%, the iPhone X certainly pushes edge-to-edge design to the, er, edge. And there’s still room for a speaker, TruDepth camera, FaceID and a light sensor. The time, battery, Wi-Fi, and signal icons are in the space either side of the notch, so no space is wasted. But if the notch isn’t for you, you can hide it. Here’s how - download the Notcho app (it’s free) from the App Store, and create a custom wallpaper which makes it look as if your phone’s notch-free. Take a look at iPhone X Huawei P20 Pro The camera on the P20 Pro really is something to behold, with an awesome 40MP main camera and a 24MP front camera for super selfies. Notch-wise, it’s smaller than the iPhone X, but there’s still room for a camera, speaker and light sensor. The screen’s impressive as well, with 6.1-inches and an 82% screen to body ratio – when you consider it still has a physical ‘Home’ button below the screen, that’s pretty impressive, it has to be said. Take a look at the Huawei P20 Pro Google Pixel 3 XL The Google Pixel 3 XL is a stylish beast, with an enormous 6.3-inch screen that takes up a massive 83% of the phone. There’s a selfie cam on the front, as well as all the usual sensors and a pair of stereo speakers. And wow, those speakers… They’re just perfect for mobile gamers, music streamers or TV bingers alike. Prefer no notch? Then go for the Google Pixel 3 (not XL). It’s slightly smaller, but does all the other stuff that the XL does. Take a look at the Google Pixel 3 XL OPPO Find X You may not have heard of Oppo before. Well, once seen, never forgotten. Their Find X truly is a wonder. On first glance, you may be wondering where the selfie cam is. Well, the Oppo Find X has a party piece, the camera is hidden inside, ready to pop out when you need it. And you know what that means, don’t you? The 6.4-inch screen can take up even more of the phone - a staggering 87% to be precise. Are you a notch fan? Or more of a no-notch kinda person? Let us know in the comments below, and share your favourite notch phones with us.

Confused about facial recognition and what it means for you? We’ve had a look at the security upgrades made for these features, and how they can keep you safe. Do you keep a lot of personal information on your phone? Lots of people do, so it’s a relief to know manufacturers are upgrading security measures.. Facial recognition technology has seen some recent advances, so we’ve had a look at what’s going on and what different manufacturers are doing to make things more secure. How does it work? When you scan your face, the recognition technology uses an algorithm to turn what it’s seeing into data. That data is then collected and stored, to create a personalised profile for you. Manufacturers are using different approaches to achieve this, finding clever ways to keep devices secure. How does Apple’s facial recognition work? Newer Apple models, like iPhone Xr, use a ‘TrueDepth’ camera system which uses infrared light to scan your face. It beams 30,000 invisible dots onto your face to create a ‘depth map’, then saves this map to an encrypted file in your device. It will never be backed up to iCloud, so it’s kept safe. You don’t need to worry about it being too dark to work either. The ‘Flood illuminator’ can pick your face up even when you haven’t yet turned the light on in the morning, thanks to infrared light. It’s a big improvement to the way Apple’s older Face ID works. What does Samsung do differently? Samsung has also used infrared technology in their facial recognition software, but it focuses more heavily on your eyes than the whole face. That’s because your iris has about 5 times more unique features than your finger or thumb print, so it’s more secure and personalised to you. It still scans your whole face and head and records things like the distances between your features and other things unique to you. Collecting more information about you makes the device more secure, and you know it won’t unlock for anyone but you. You’ll find Samsung’s facial recognition software on phones like the Galaxy S9. What about other Android phones? Android’s Face Unlock is relatively straightforward. It detects the appearance of your face using the front camera, then saves the scan to a file in your phone. When you want to unlock your phone, it uses the front camera to take a new scan, then compares it to the original. This can be problematic if you’re wearing sunglasses, or if your appearance changes quite a lot from day to night. There’s always the passcode or pattern as backup options though if you want to stick to more familiar territory. Got a question about using facial recognition technology? Ask in the comments and the ID Community will have a go at figuring it out for you.

When it comes to portable chargers, size matters! This handy guide will help you choose one that’s powerful enough for your whole day. Most of us know that sinking feeling - the battery has gone on your phone, no charger in sight, and you’re left looking back at yourself in the black screen of your phone. A power bank will help you keep your phone powered up all day, so you’ll never miss another photo opportunity or important phone call. There’s plenty to choose from, so which one is right for you? What size power bank do you need? It’s nice and simple to figure out which size power bank you need. Just find out how big the battery in your phone is (in mAh – milliamp/hour) and make sure the power bank is bigger. That way, you’ve got plenty of power to fully charge your phone at least once. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus has a 3,500 mAh battery, so a 12,000 mAh power bank will be able to fully charge it 3 times – with a bit left over. Enough for even the busiest day! Anything else to consider? Some power banks don’t yet support the newer USB-C type charging, so if your phone has got the latest charging technology, make sure you get one that’s compatible. Most of the newer ones are up-to-date, so there are still plenty to choose from. Got other devices that you use on the go? A power bank can provide power for most of them. A Kindle, a Nintendo Switch and even an iPad can all benefit from some extra charge, so now you can use your devices for the whole commute and still have plenty of juice for the day. What power banks are available? If you use quite a lot of power, why not get yourself a Belkin 15k (15,00mAh) power pack from Carphone Warehouse? It’s so mighty it can charge most phones five times over – making dead devices a thing of the past. Don’t need something quite so big? There’s a great range of power banks to choose from here, so you’re sure to find something to suit. Got a question on which power bank is right for you? Post it in the comments below.

Beat the January blues with an Acast comedy podcast! Whether you’re commuting, studying, working or just chilling out, tune in for a laugh with our pick of the best comedy podcasts around. Have you heard the hilarious news? iD Mobile is now Acast’s official comedy podcast partner! To give you a taste of what’s on offer, the side-splitting podcasts below are all available on the Acast app, home to some of the world’s best podcasts. When you get the app, you can follow your favourites and see similar podcast titles of interest. Plus, you’ve got the option of streaming content or downloading it for on-the-go listening. My Dad Wrote A Porno Jamie Morton’s dad wrote a dirty book. Instead of hiding in shame, Jamie’s sharing it with us. With the help of his friends, James Cooper and BBC Radio 1's Alice Levine, Jamie reads a chapter a week and discovers more about his father than he ever bargained for. You’ll learn a lot too – there are now over 100 episodes to listen to. Download the app and listen now – Google Play Download the app and listen now – Apple App Store Private Parts First porno, now Private Parts – but this one’s not quite as rude (although it does have its moments). It’s simply Made in Chelsea stars, Jamie Laing and Francis Boulle, bearing their souls – and diaries - to the world. With episode titles like ‘Who gives back a Bentley’, the dynamic duo tackle everyday issues we can surely all relate to. Download the app and listen now – Google Play Download the app and listen now – Apple App Store Griefcast Can we laugh about death and grief? Cariad Lloyd thinks we can, and invites some of the funniest people around to talk about it, including Robert Webb, Aisling Bea and David Baddiel. This makes for a refreshing take on the subject of bereavement, and the results can be shocking, poignant and hilarious - all three at once, sometimes. Download the app and listen now – Google Play Download the app and listen now – Apple App Store Athletico Mince It started off as a football podcast, but with national comedy treasure Bob Mortimer (together with sparring partner Andy Dawson), it was always going to veer off into more bizarre and surreal territory. If you like daft comedy daft packed with catchphrases, running jokes and amazing songs like ‘Sly Stallone’s Potato’, Athletico Mince is the team to follow. Download the app and listen now – Google Play Download the app and listen now – Apple App Store We’re sure you’ll love these comedy podcasts, so what are you waiting for? Download the Acast app on your phone, and give them a listen. If you’ve got an iPhone, get your free Acast Podcast Player here. If you’ve got an Android phone, get your free Acast Podcast Player here. Listened to an even funnier podcast (impossible, surely?). Post a reply below and share with your fellow Community comedy fans!

From bendy phones to 5G networks, here’s our roundup of the biggest smartphone announcements from CES 2019. The biggest mobile news from this year’s CES didn’t come in the shape of a fancy new phone, instead, it was the announcement that 5G is on its way. 5G phones from Samsung Attendees at this year’s CES had been hoping for news of Samsung’s next big smartphone, but the Korean tech giant actually gave us something much bigger … confirmation from Samsung CEO and President HS Kim, that “in the first half of this year we’ll be releasing 5G smartphones to the market”. The fastest connection you’ll get at the moment is 4G+, which lets you download a Full HD movie in around 2.5 minutes. The expectation of 5G is that you’ll be able to download the same movie in less than 10 seconds. The announcement from Samsung does indicate that it's planning to add 5G capability to more than one of their 2019 models. And we expect to see other manufacturers following suit - LG and Huawei have both confirmed they'll be releasing 5G phones in 2019. The bendy phone is (almost) here… Samsung recently revealed a prototype of its first folding phone. Unfortunately, it was just that - a peek. It had also been rumoured that LG had plans to showcase their own folding phone, but it seems we’ll have to wait a little bit longer for that one too. Surprisingly, the world’s first foldable (and usable) phone came from a little known America-based Chinese company called Royole, which specialises in flexible display screens. The phone is called the FlexPai and like most smartphones, it runs Android, albeit Royole’s tweaked version of Android. The phone itself is more a proof of concept than a finely tuned device. When you boil it down, it’s actually two phones connected by a flexible screen. It can fold completely in half letting you switch from a regular 4-inch display to a tablet sized 7.8-inch by simply unfolding it. When it comes to performance, it’s not the fastest phone out there, but that’s not this tech is about. This is a device that proves folding phones are on their way, and we’re likely to see them hitting the market in the not too distant future. Google Assistant gets an upgrade… Over the last couple of years Google’s smart assistant has added more and more convenience to our lives, and it’s about to get an upgrade Google has announced that its smart assistant will be getting an ‘Interpreter’ mode. This means it’ll be able to translate conversations in real time - and in up to 27 languages. Just say ‘OK Google, be my Italian translator’ and it’ll translate your words as you speak. Wireless iPhone charging on the go… It can be a bit of a headache keeping your iPhone charged on the go, but Moshi has something that’ll eliminate your battery blues. Charging your phone in your car usually means you’ve got wires trailing all over the place. And that’s because wireless car chargers are actually more complicated than they sound. It’s usually magnets that keep your phone in place, but they can also interfere with the charging function of the pad. Moshi has fixed this problem by positioning the magnets around the charging coils to eliminate any interference. All you need to do is pop your phone onto the pad and the magnets hold it securely in place while it charges. Griffin unveils a range of charging mats… Wireless charging has been a theme at CES this year and Griffin has revealed its range of charging mats designed for, well, everyone! Griffin unveiled an impressive range of charging mats including a stand, power bank and even a mat designed specifically for your iPhone and Apple Watch. So it’s safe to say wireless charging is here to stay, and about time too! By the end of 2019, it’s likely that most mid to high-end smartphones will be QI enabled, which means they’ll support wireless charging. What do you think of this CES smartphone news? Are you looking forwards to getting your hands on a foldable phone, or experiencing the speedy thrills of 5G? Post a reply below and share your thoughts!

To set you up for 2019, we’re giving away a Samsung Galaxy smart watch! For a chance to win, answer the following question with a comment below: You’ve got one song to work out to for the rest of your life, what is it and why? 🎶 The next time you listen to it, it could be on your brand-spanking new watch. The competition is only open for 48 hours so you’ll have to move fast to enter - on your marks, get set, go! Competition closes 23.59 on the 8th January 2019. Click here for the competition T&Cs

2019 has arrived but what does the year have in store for smartphones? Here are five of our biggest top mobile trend predictions for this year – from folding phones to pop-up cameras. 1. In-display fingerprint scanners Fingerprint sensors are the new norm. After all, who has time to enter their password every time they want to access their phone? And now, lots of new handsets are expected to feature in-display fingerprint scanners come 2019. Having the fingerprint in the screen will reduce the bezels on the latest models even further. So you can expect bigger screens with superior ultrasonic fingerprint readers nestled nicely under the display. There are already a few phones on the market offering this feature – two of which being the OnePlus 6T and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. 2. 5G We’ve been hearing rumours on 5G for a while now – but 2019 is the year it finally rolls out with some of the biggest manufacturers confirming 5G-ready handsets. However, 5G isn’t just about internet speeds. It could boost the way we use virtual and augmented reality. Word on the street is that it’ll see the merge in computer graphics with the real world. We could also see a surge in holographic displays, on hand to give you directions through your street map apps. Always running out of space on your phone? 5G could be the answer, as it claims to take cloud computing to a more advanced level. So, you can get ready for a future with tons of free space on your devices. 3. Foldable phones Last year, Samsung revealed its first ever foldable phone that opens up into a 7-inch phablet, and we couldn’t be more excited about this innovative new stride in tech. Basically, foldable phones will be two devices in one – your compact smartphone and your bigger device ideal for watching content on. Samsung isn’t the only one working on this new breakthrough, though. Rumour has it both Huawei and Xiaomi have models in the pipeline, which could hit the market sooner than you think. Who knows, at this rate, you could folding your way into 2020 quite nicely. 4. An increase in waterdrop notches If you’re not sure what a waterdrop notch is, we’ll explain. It’s a small discreet curve at the top of a phone’s display where the front camera lens sits. This minimalistic design lets phone makers create an almost bezel-less screen – meaning you’ll get even more screen as well as your selfie camera. With a few phones already using this design feature, we can expect bigger brand releases with waterdrop notches in 2019 – like the up and coming Huawei P Smart. 5. Pop-up cameras If a little waterdrop notch still takes up more display room than you’re willing to give up, a pop-up camera could spark your interest. One of the latest trends in hardware innovation, this sliding mechanism pops up when you open your camera, revealing both front- and rear-facing camera. The result being a completely bezel-less phone. That’s right, 100% screen. However, this new technology has been met with mixed reviews so far. We think 2019 will be the year to make or break this new trend. Heard any other rumoured 2019 trends that we’ve not mentioned? Which of these would you like to see become mainstream this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Do even more with your phone, with amazing VR tech. It’s addictive, exciting – and it’s surprisingly affordable to get started. All you need is a headset, and that’s where this article comes in. We all love our phones and the things we can do with them. We can take incredible pictures, listen to our favourite music in amazing quality and get truly lost in our favourite films. But you could be getting even more out of your phone. You could be exploring whole new worlds and inhabiting exciting fantasy lands – now that beats a trip to the supermarket, doesn’t it? We’re talking virtual reality or VR for short, and we reckon you’ll absolutely love it. We’ve picked out some of the best VR headsets currently available, so you can start exploring. Daydream View With the Google VR Daydream View you’re firmly in control, and it well and truly lives up to its Daydream name. With this headset, you get amazing-quality optics that’ll fully immerse you. It comes with a handheld controller which you can use with interactive games. You can get even more out of your headset with the many Google Daydream VR apps out there. So, what are you waiting for? Get the Google Daydream View from Carphone Warehouse Google Daydream View 2017 We have already looked at the Daydream View, you’re probably thinking. Well, yes, we have, but this is the upgraded version. It can do all the things that the Daydream View can do, but slightly better. There’s a wider field of view so you see even more. We reckon it’s comfier to wear too. If you wear glasses, you’ll particularly appreciate this – the soft fabric frame fits around your specs nicely, so you can play on without any discomfort. Experience gigs, sports and films in a full 360-degree panoramic view, and check out a huge collection – and growing – of apps and games. Get the Google Daydream View 2017 from Carphone Warehouse Samsung Gear VR Headset with Controller Here at iD Mobile, we love Samsung, and if you’re anything like us, this headset will be right up your street. Because it’s compatible with USB Type-C and micro USB devices, it’ll most likely work with your Samsung phone (anything from S6 and beyond should work fine). Like the previous headsets we’ve looked at, there are loads of apps you can get stuck into. With virtual reality powered by Oculus, this one gives you access to more than 600 apps– a number that’s growing all the time. And it comes with a handheld controller that connects to your headset and smartphone through Bluetooth – so everything works together perfectly. Get ready to immerse yourself in stunning 3D gaming! Get the Samsung Gear VR Headset with Controller from Carphone Warehouse Goji VR Headset with Speakers Here’s another great VR headset option, and the good news is it’s affordable too. Play games using your phone as its screen, and enjoy stunning 360-degree videos. Now, you don’t need us to tell how important sound is to the overall gaming experience, and you’ll be pleased to hear that it’s a winner here – with the detachable stereo headphones, you can well and truly get lost in new worlds. You’ll like the design too. It’s light, comfortable and easy to carry – and it’s compatible with screen sizes from 3.5- to 6-inches. Get the Goji VR Headset with Speakers from Carphone Warehouse Those are our top headsets for discovering VR. Got any more that we missed? Or maybe you want to share your VR tips. If so, go ahead and post a reply below.

Is your phone’s memory getting too full? Find out how to get a decent amount of storage space back on your phone with these handy hints and tips. If you don’t have enough storage space on your phone, it might stop you doing the things you love. You won’t be able to install new apps, get the latest updates or even save your photos. The big question is, do you know how much room you’ve actually got left? To find out how much free space is on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Storage > iCloud Usage. You’ll be able to see how much space you’ve taken up and how much you’ve got left. You can also check what things are taking up most space, so you can clear out any old apps that you don’t use anymore. On an Android phone, storage space can vary a lot depending on the phone. You can still easily check how much you’ve got though. Just go to Settings > Storage. If you find it’s filling up too fast, here are a few tips to help you out. Slot in a memory card Most Android phones will let you add a memory card (MicroSD card) that you can save all of your pictures and videos on to. They come in a variety of sizes depending on what you need. A 256GB memory card will store over 100 full-length HD films, or over 50,000 photos. Now you can leave your phone storage for your apps and updates. Some newer Android phones will let you save some apps to the memory card, but it will depend on the app itself. To check, go to Settings > Applications > Manage applications and choose the app you want to move. If you can move it, you’ll see Move to SD card. Get a memory card from Carphone Warehouse now. iPhones don’t have a slot for a memory card, but you can use something like a SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive which plugs straight into your iPhone. Then you’ll be able to copy photos and videos from the phone to the drive, giving you that valuable space back. Have an app clear-out From time to time you should have a look through what apps you have installed and clear out any that you don’t use anymore. Not only do they use up that precious space, they can start to slow your phone down too. So if you haven’t played Pokémon GO in the last year or so, it could be time to let it go. Don’t worry about deleting apps that you’ve paid for, you’ll be able to download them again for free from the app store. Some apps save a lot of ‘temporary files’ to help them run smoothly. These files take up space and need clearing out too. You can find them in Settings > Apps (or applications) > Manage applications. You’ll need to go into each app and choose Clear cache. There will also be a ‘Clear data’ option but be careful with this, because it’ll delete all information stored in the app, like login details and messages. Use cloud storage Saving things to the cloud is the best solution for anyone who loves to take photos and videos. There are a lot of different options to choose from, but the most popular ones are Google Photos, iCloud and Dropbox. Google Photos and Dropbox have ‘Auto back-up’ options. Turn these on and your photos and videos will automatically back up to your cloud account. iPhones automatically use iCloud to store your photos. If you’re not sure, check by going to Settings > iCloud > Photos and make sure ‘iCloud Photo Library’ is turned on. Got a question on your smartphone’s storage? Then post it below, and one of your fellow Community members will have a crack at answering it.

Looking to get fit in 2019? Whether you’re planning on hitting the gym, pounding the pavement or looking to work out at home, these lean and mean fitness apps will help you reach your goals. J&J Official 7 Minute Workout Available from the App Store or Google Play The 7-minute workout craze has really taken off. If you’re thinking of downloading one, there’s a huge amount to choose from. There’s only one original though, and we’re pleased to say it’s still the best around. Here it is: The Johnson & Johnson Official 7-Minute Workout app gives you the famous official workout, with optional warm-up and cool-down sets now added. You can also view a video of the workout’s creator Chris Jordan doing the exercises himself, and giving you valuable hints and tips on each one. Accept no imitations. 8fit Workout & Meal Planner Available from the App Store or Google Play 8fit is a mobile personal trainer and diet planner rolled into one. It combines quick workout routines with a simple healthy meal planner to help you reach your goals. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, gain a few pounds or just lead a healthier lifestyle, the 8fit app will you help you get it done without hitting the gym. It lets you work out anywhere, anytime, with no equipment required. And when it comes to refuelling, you can feast your eyes on wholesome nutrition plans based on your dietary needs and preferences. 8fit is free for anyone to download. If you want to unlock exclusive workouts and complete meal plans, you’ll need to subscribe to the Pro version. Nike Training Club Available from the App Store or Google Play. Welcome to Nike Training Club, your ultimate personal trainer packed with more than 185 workouts that you can access free of charge. These activities range from strength and endurance to mobility and yoga, and world-class Nike master trainers are featured in every workout to give you expert advice and keep you motivated. You can create personalised training plans to fit in with your schedule and fitness requirements, and you’ll be given special daily exercises (‘Picks For You’) based on your routine. The more you train with Nike Training Club, the more personal your recommendations become! Sweat: Kayla Itsines Fitness Available from the App Store or Google Play. Sweat is the home of women’s health and fitness, with multiple trainers and programs. You’ll get all the exercise motivation you need with this personal training app, featuring expert advice from Kayla Itsines, the Australian personal trainer and fitness book author. It includes easy-to-follow workouts with minimal equipment, fitness challenges, and meal planning with pre-made shopping lists. To help you stay motivated, you’ll be able to share photos from your workouts with friends and the rest of the Sweat community. Sweat is free to download, and if you choose a monthly subscription you’ll initially get it on a 7-day trial period. So why not give it a go? Yoga Studio: Mind & Body Available from the App Store or Google Play. Fancy turning your living room into your own personal yoga studio? Then this is the app for you. It lets you create your own easy-to-follow yoga classes with wonderfully clear HD videos and full teacher commentary. Simply download, select a plan, and find the classes that suit you best! Once you’ve downloaded your content, you don’t need internet access to view it. So if you’re out in your local park and want to break into a one-legged king pigeon pose, it shouldn’t be a problem. Yoga Studio offers a 7-day free trial. After that, there are monthly and annual subscriptions to choose from. Fitbod Weight Lifting Tracker Available from the App Store. Get stronger, faster with Fitbod! When you hit the gym, Fitbod guides you through the correct sets, reps and weights you need to be lifting to reach your fitness goals. With the detailed step-by-step training the app gives you, you’ll be able to focus on the heavy lifting and putting in the work that counts. Fitbod’s powerful technology understands your strength-training ability, studies your past workouts and adapts to your available gym equipment. And it keeps your gym sessions fresh and fun by mixing up your workouts with new exercises. Fitbod is free to download and try out, but if you become an Elite member you can unlock unlimited workouts and access all the app’s features. It’ll cost you either $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year (as you may be able to work out from the dollar signs, it’s an American app). Zombies, Run! Available from the App Store or Google Play. Running can be boring - there, we’ve said it. That’s why we love this app so much. What better inspiration to keep on jogging than being chased by hordes of brain-hungry zombies? Feeling brave? Then step into your running shoes, put on your headphones, and head outdoors. Your run will become a mission where you’re the hero, at the centre of your very own zombie adventure story. Eerie sound effects will motivate you to go faster, along with radio news reports that move the story along. If you survive your run, you’ll be able to view detailed stats of your adventure. Dare you try again? Have you tried any of these apps? Or do you have a star health and fitness app that’s not on our list? If so, share your thoughts and post a reply below.

Dual-SIM phones are great. They let you use two SIM cards in your phone, and they’re super convenient. But why would you want more than one SIM card in your phone? Read on and we’ll explain why owning a dual-SIM smartphone could be the way forward. The benefits of two SIM cards There are many reasons why you’d want a dual-SIM phone. The most obvious benefit is no longer having to carry more than one phone on you. With two SIM card slots you can have two numbers in one phone, which is handy if you have a separate work and personal number. Having a second SIM also works well as a backup number just in case you’re not getting signal on your other SIM. Dual-SIM phones are handy for travellers, too. You can have a separate local and travel SIM, so there’s no need to take your local SIM out of your phone once you reach your destination. Just pop the new SIM card in the spare slot and you’re ready to enjoy cheaper local tariffs if you’re travelling outside of Europe. You’re also less likely to lose your SIM, since there’s no need to remove it. Because let’s face it, those things are easy to misplace. Intrigued? Then check out these cracking dual-SIM phones from Honor that give you all the above benefits, and some ace features. Honor 9 Lite – a great first foray into dual-SIM The Honor 9 Lite certainly isn’t light on features, and is one of the more cost-effective phones out there. It’s a beautiful handset with superb dual-lens cameras on the front and back of the phone, so even your selfies come out perfectly. And you’ll love the 5.65-inch FHD+ FullView screen, which is fantastic for watching movies on. The Honor 9 Lite also has an Octa-core processor inside, so the phone feels fast to use whatever apps you’ve got open. We’re offering great deals on the Honor 9 Lite, starting from £12.99 per month (and no upfront cost). Or for a quid more, get 1GB a month of data instead of 500MB. See more Honor 9 Lite deals here. Honor View 10 – a premium experience at an affordable price If you’re looking for something a little more premium, try the Honor View 10. It’s another dual-SIM wonder with a slightly larger 5.99-inch screen and a dual camera. An Octa-core processor makes it a powerful phone indeed, and 128GB of storage gives you all the space you need for your apps and photos. Insert a MicroSD memory card and you’ll get up to 256GB of storage, which is handy if you love to download movies to watch on the train home. If you like the sound of that then browse the latest Honor View 10 deals here. Honor Play – one of the most fun phones around Want something that’s fun, and more powerful? The give the Honor Play a go – you won’t be disappointed. It’s got a huge 6.3-inch display and a GPU Turbo processor that makes games look and play better than usual. The two 16MP cameras on the front and rear of the phone aren’t bad either. In fact, they’re amazing – photos come out with lots of detail, and there are many shooting features and modes to play around with. And you can record video in mouth-watering 4K quality. Seriously – the Honor Play 10 is one the most powerful and fun phones around. The fact it’s dual-SIM is another juicy bonus. You can get it for just £16.99 per month (with no upfront cost whichever deal you choose). Click here for all our amazing Honor Play deals. Got a question about any of these phones? Then drop us a comment in the box below.

Christmas is only a few days away, and you can really get into the spirit of things with a little help from your favourite possession. So just for you, here are a few ways you can get festive with your smartphone. Speakers for your Christmas playlist No Christmas is complete without a playlist of festive classics blasting out on repeat. Mariah, Bublé, Wham, Essex (David, not Joey), we love them all. So why not give yourself an early present, and get a wireless speaker to stream your favourite seasonal tunes around the home? You’ll love the big, deep audio from the compact KitSound Boomcube. And you’ll be amazed by the beefy bass on the SRS-XB10 – perfect for listening to the brass band of Jona Lewie’s ‘Stop the Cavalry’ in all its glory. Or why not add your own personal assistant into the Christmas mix with an Amazon Echo 2nd Generation? From festive games to jokes that would make a cracker blush, Alexa’s got loads of little routines to get you feeling Christmassy. Christmas Countdown app We’re counting down the days. You are too, right? But guess what – there’s an app for that. It’s the free Christmas Countdown app. It’ll help you get proper Christmassy by taking over your device with fabulously festive backgrounds and falling snowflakes on the countdown screen. There’s even an advent calendar with gifts all the way up to Christmas Eve – including fun wallpapers and festive tips. Download the Christmas Countdown (2018) app on Android and iOS. Give and get yourself a pre-Christmas gift Christmas is a time for giving. So why not give your phone away? Pass it on to a friend or family member, and they won’t mind too much when you treat yourself to a stunning new flagship, with the latest and greatest tech… Make Christmas look magical with the amazing photos you’ll be taking on the Huawei P20 Pro’s triple-lens camera. Or learn more about the world around you with Google Lens on the Google Pixel 3. Why not settle down to watch your favourite Christmas movie on the Samsung Galaxy S9’s amazing edge-to-edge Infinity display? Or take stunning selfies on the new iPhone Xs, and share with your friends and Insta-followers? And there’s more. Check out our full range of amazing handsets here. Get app happy Looking for more apps to get into the Christmas spirit? There’s a sack-full available. You can turn yourself, friends and family into dancing elves with the brilliant ‘Elf Yourself’ app (iOS/Android). Or, help those that still believe in Santa (spoiler: he is real) track his hectic worldwide delivery schedule with Santa Tracker Christmas (iOS/Android). You can even wow the little ones even more with a personalised call from the big guy himself (iOS/Android). And there you have it. Our Christmassy list of smartphone ideas. What do you think? Will you be doing any of them? Or have we missed of something? If you’d like to share your thoughts with the rest of the Community, post a reply below-ho-ho!

Fed up with blurry and grainy low light photos? Well you don’t have to put up with them anymore if you’ve got a Google Pixel smartphone. Let us explain… Google has developed ‘Night Sight’, a new feature that enables you to take incredible photos, even at night! Night Sight was originally launched on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL and it was so popular that they decided to add it to the whole Pixel range. But what exactly is it, and does it live up to all the hype? What is Night Sight? It was almost two decades ago that a camera was first added to a phone, and since then we’ve had to put up with poor quality night photos. Most modern smartphones have a ‘Night Mode’, but it tends to only work if nothing in the scene is moving and you keep your hand completely still. Otherwise, the results will usually be blurry and grainy. Even high-end modern smartphones struggle to take good quality low-light photos, meaning it’s often a better option to use a dedicated camera… or is it? Because now, Pixel phones use some very clever technology to help you take impressive low-light photos. How does Night Sight work? Dedicated cameras like DSLRs or even much cheaper digital cameras benefit from bigger lenses than you’ll find on a smartphone. This means they’re able to let a lot more light in. Because the lens on your phone is a lot smaller, it needs to use clever technology to get around the problem. It’s the software in the Pixel that makes the camera so good. When you turn Night Sight on and take a photo, it captures up to 15 frames, then it stitches all the images together to make the best possible picture. This in itself isn’t a unique feature, but Google doesn’t stop there. It has another clever feature called ‘Optical Flow’, which can tell how much movement there is in the scene and choose a different exposure time for each frame. That’s not all… it then checks the image and uses even more clever software to tidy it up and remove any of those nasty grainy after-effects you’d usually get. The image below shows the difference between a standard photo and one taken using Night Sight, both were taken at night and we didn't use the flash at all... How do I use Night Sight? Google has made it really easy to use Night Sight. When you’re taking a photo, your phone will check how much light is in the scene. If it thinks Night Sight will give you a better picture, a ‘Try Night Sight’ button will appear at the bottom of the screen. All you need to do is tap the button. It’s easy to turn on manually if you don’t see the button. When you’re taking a photo, just tap More > Night Sight. Take a look at what else the Pixel 3 can do here. If you’ve got a question about the Pixel 3, why not post it below and give someone in the Community a chance to answer it?

Picking the right size handset is a big decision. After your next upgrade you're going to have your phone for a while - so read this guide if you’re unsure of which size to to go for. Can’t decide whether to go for a phone with a 5, 5.6 or 6.4-inch screen? It’s a tough decision, but you’ll find great phones in all sizes at iD Mobile. We’ve picked some of the best to help you decide which one to go for. Is bigger really better? It all depends on what you’ll be using it for. A big screen is great if you play games on your phone, or if you use it to catch up on your favourite TV shows. Lots of storage space is also handy if you like to work on the go, whether it’s sending emails or building presentations. Here are some of our favourite big-screen phones: Samsung Galaxy Note9 The Note9 is an absolute powerhouse, and with it’s 6.4-inch Quad HD display, everything looks stunning! This new Note comes with the updated Bluetooth S-pen – perfect for working on the go. The S-pen has some clever tricks up its sleeve too. You can use it as a remote clicker for presentations, or prop your phone up and use it as a camera shutter button up to 10 metres away - great for group selfies! Black, Blue or Lavender, there’s a colour to suit everyone. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note9 Huawei Mate 20 Pro Take stunning photos and view them in all their glory on the huge 6.4-inch screen. The Mate 20 Pro is all about the camera, it comes with a Leica triple lens and a huge 40-megapixel sensor that gives you incredible detail in all your pictures. Buy the Huawei Mate 20 Pro A happy medium If you’re looking for a phone with a good-sized screen but one that’ll still fit in the pocket of your skinny jeans, there are plenty of great phones to choose from. Here are some of our favourite mid-sized smartphones: Google Pixel 3 The Pixel 3 is the latest handset from Google and it’s packed with incredible features and software. The camera is where this phone really stands out with features like ‘Portrait’ that blur the background and ‘Night Sight’ to improve low-light images, making it look like your pictures were taken by a professional photographer. It might be a mid-sized phone, but it still manages to squeeze in a 5.5-inch screen, and because it’s a Google phone, you’ll be at the front of the queue for Android updates. Buy the Google Pixel 3 Apple iPhone Xs Apple has squeezed the same tech you’ll find in the Xs Max into the more compact Xs. You’ll get all the same features like fast wireless charging, Face ID and dual camera technology – just in a smaller package. Even though it’s more compact its big brother, the iPhone Xs still has a 5.8-inch screen which is great for watching movies and TV. Buy the Apple iPhone Xs Huawei P20 The P20 comes with some of the latest smart features, like an intelligent battery that keeps everything running smoothly but also saves energy where it can to maximise battery life. You also get a 5.5-inch screen with high-contrast colours that really pop, an AI-powered dual lens camera, and a huge 128GB memory – peace of mind for even the most photo-happy snapper! Buy the Huawei P20 Have you got a question on choosing the perfect size of phone? Then post it below.

The end of the year is approaching, so what better time to look back on the coolest things that have happened in mobile over the last 12 months? Here are a few of the biggest highlights we saw in 2018. The notch made its mark It started with last year’s iPhone X, and it’s a display trend that really made its mark in 2018. It’s the notch - that little cut-out at the top of a huge amount of new handsets. There’s a good reason for the notch – it’s usually packed with exciting camera tech. But it still has its fair share of critics who prefer a notch-free display. Will this trend continue in 2019? The smart money’s on less obtrusive and different shaped notches coming into play. Watch this space. Artificial intelligence got snappier If you’ve got a virtual assistant like Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, you’ll have been enjoying the benefits of AI for a while. But this year, we’ve seen AI take centre stage in lots of smartphone cameras, and do all sorts of clever things to make photos look spectacular. Lots of AI cameras can recognise what we’re taking a picture of and where we’re taking it – otherwise known as the scenario. For example, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro recognises over 1,000 different scenarios, then adjusts the camera settings to get the best looking shot. AI in camera phones has been a hugely popular trend in 2018. And if it means we get to take the best pictures we possibly can, long may it continue! Augmented reality got real Augmented reality is when something real – like a picture of your face - is turned into something that’s not so real, with the help of things like dog ears, cartoon eyes, angel wings or something just as unusual. It’s really taken off this year, and we’re having great fun trying it out. With the Mate 20 Pro, you can even bring objects to life. Take your faithful teddy bear, for instance (it’s ok, we won’t tell) – once you’ve scanned in ted from all angles, you can see it dance around right in front of you. And with the Samsung Galaxy S9, you can change your whole look and style and create your own emoji. Pick your new hairstyle and wardrobe, and then give yourself a range of movements and faces. When you’re satisfied with the results, you can share your emoji with friends. Your home got smarter Smart technology has been around for a few years now, but it’s really come on in leaps and bounds recently. There are now loads of smart products that you can control with a mobile app, or by asking your virtual assistant to do the honours. You can easily set things up to have a friendly greeting like: “Alexa, Happy Christmas!” instantly turn on the Christmas tree and other festive lights around the house. Or you can do it remotely. So, on a cold wintry day, you can arrive home to a warm, bright and toasty welcome. We’ve seen some real advances in smart tech that helps keep your home safe, too. You can now log into cameras placed in and around your house, so you know everything’s as it should be. Or what about a smart doorbell? It can alert you when someone’s at the door, and let you see who’s there with its inbuilt video camera. Some smart doorbells have built in microphones that let you communicate with whoever’s at your door. So if it’s a genuine caller like a delivery person, you can advise them of a safe place to put that parcel you’ve been waiting for. Smartphones upped their security Okay, so we’ve talked about smart products that make your home safe, but what about the phone itself? 2018 has seen some serious advances in smartphone security. Some of this year’s best flagship phones (Galaxy Note9, iPhone XR, iPhone Xs etc.) support facial recognition technology, making sure that you and only you can access your device. That’s on top of fingerprint unlocking, which is now widely available, to make going through the hassle of trying to remember passwords, passkeys and swipe patterns a thing of the past. Charging went off in all directions The last thing we want to look at is charging, where we’ve seen a major breakthrough this year. The Huawei Mate 20 Pro supports reverse charging – a world first. What that means is that you can use the phone itself to charge up another device, by placing them back to back. So if your mate’s about to run out of juice when you’re both out and about, you can swoop in and save the day. Pretty impressive stuff, right? 2018 has been a massive year in mobile, and 2019 is sure to be the same. What were your most memorable mobile trends of the year? Post a reply below and share your thoughts with the rest of the Community!

Give the gift of an amazing display this Christmas with these five stunning phones. Movie buffs and box-set bingers can settle in with their favourite characters anywhere they want with one of these five fantastic devices. iPhone XR Impress the Apple fan in your life this Christmas with an iPhone XR. The most advanced Liquid Retina display in the world delivers brilliant true-to-life colours, reaching corner-to-corner of the 6.1-inch screen, so you get all the action right in your hand. Available in a range of eye catching colours, (Black, White, Blue, Red, Coral or Yellow) there’s one to suit even the most colourful personalities. Interested? You can order the iPhone XR here. Huawei Mate 20 Lite For a mid-range phone packed with premium features, look no further than the Mate 20 Lite. It’s a stunning phone with plenty of screen space (6.3-inches, no less) for film aficionados to enjoy all the best entertainment. With a 19.5:9 ratio screen and no distracting bezels, they can completely immerse themselves in those fantasy realms. Interested? You can order the Huawei Mate 20 Lite here. Samsung A7 With its dazzling 6-inch screen and home cinema sound, the Samsung A7 will make an amazing gift for anyone who likes to enjoy entertainment on their phone. The Super AMOLED FHD+ display has vivid colours and deep blacks to give a truly amazing viewing experience. Never miss a moment of the adventure on a phone that lets you enjoy all the best blasts just as they were meant to be seen. Interested? You can order the Samsung Galaxy A7 here. Sony Xperia XA2 An impressive successor to the popular Xperia XA1, the XA2 has a bigger Full HD display, more streamlined design and can even record videos in 4K! It might not have the biggest display in the world at 5.1-inches, but it’s been designed by audio-visual experts to provide pure viewing pleasure from images that are bright, colourful and highly detailed. Interested? You can order the Sony Xperia XA2 here. Honor 8X The Honor 8X’s huge 6.5 inch Full HD display is perfect for anyone wanting to indulge in their favourite box-sets this Christmas. With so much screen to get lost in, they’ll always be able to binge away on the latest and greatest from dramas to documentaries. Interested? You can order the Honor 8X here. A few things to remember! If you’re buying a phone as a gift for someone, you need to think about whether you’re buying it SIM-free or pay monthly, and also what features might be right for them. For some help, have a look at our article on 'How to choose a new phone' before you checkout.

Looking for an affordable Christmas gift? If you can’t stretch to the cost of a flagship phone, there are some great budget options out there. Any one of these would make a cracking stocking filler. Samsung Galaxy A70 If they love their Android devices, the Galaxy A70 is a winner. With its AMOLED screen, triple camera and better-than-Full HD resolution, it has features that give flagship handsets a run for their money. Despite the relatively low price, it’s got a powerful octa-core processor that makes multitasking and gaming a breeze - perfect whether they’re keeping productive or levelling up on the way to work or college. There’s also a whopping 32MP selfie camera housed in Samsung’s minimal Infinity U notch, so they can capture that pro-looking profile picture and still enjoy big screen entertainment. It’s worth mentioning the battery too, because it gives up to 24 hours of talk time on a single charge. And when it does run low on juice, just 30 minutes is all that’s needed to take the power over 40%. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A70 from iD Mobile Google Pixel 3a Great for the security conscious, the Pixel 3a has a security chip that’ll keep their passwords and data personal, while protecting the phone from online threats. It also offers a pure Android browsing experience, with an easy-to-use interface that comes completely clutter-free. So, it’s ideal gift if they’re new to smartphones. What about the camera? Night Sight offers crystal clear photos in dark settings without relying on the flash, while portrait mode and Motion Auto-Focus will help them capture all the detail in a single take. Once they’ve shared that winning photo on their socials, they can store as many photos as they can take on Google Photos for free. So, no need to add a memory card to their stocking. Buy the Google Pixel 3a from iD Mobile iPhone XR We don’t need to tell you why the iPhone is one of the most popular phones around, but in short: It’s fast, super responsive, has a great camera and a clean-looking operating system. The iPhone XR takes the best elements of the flagship XS and packs them into a more affordable handset. The A12 Bionic chip makes switching between apps and browsing tabs almost instant, while augmented reality makes emojis a whole lot more fun. It may not have multiple fancy cameras on the back, but they’ll still get stunning images and videos. Smart HDR improves highlights and shadows in photos, and the rear camera can even record in beautiful 4K at 60 fps – that’s better than most flagships. Buy the iPhone XR from iD Mobile Huawei Mate 20 Lite If they’re into their movies, the huge 6.3-inch screen may be all it takes for them to fall in love with the Huawei Mate 20 Lite. It’s clearer than Full HD, which means that watching on-the-go instead of on the TV isn’t such a bad trade-off. And with space for up to 256GB added storage, there’s room for an entire library of movies, shows, music and games. It’s got a dual camera both on the back and front, combined with clever AI that recognises what they’re taking a photo of and adjusts the settings for the best results. That’s pretty incredible for such a low-priced phone. If they love their games, the AI also recognises when they’re playing in order to prioritise the network signal for smooth responsiveness and minimal lag. There’s also its fast-charging capability, snappy processor, intelligent photo organisation, we could go on… Buy the Huawei Mate 20 Lite from iD Mobile So there you have it – our pick of the best budget phones that we think would make anyone’s Christmas. What do you think? Would you recommend a brilliant budget handset that’s not on our list? If so, post your reply below.

Thinking about treating someone to a shiny new phone for Christmas? – or maybe you’re considering adding one to your own Christmas list. We’ve got a few ideas to get you inspired. Honor Play The Play is proof that you don’t need to break the bank to get a phone packed with great features. For a mid-range phone, the screen is huge – a whopping 6.3-inches! And it covers almost all of the front of the phone, making it a perfect choice for anyone who loves a box set binge. It’s great for snapping quality photos too, with a 16MP camera front and back, you’ll see all the detail – even in selfie mode. Panorama mode is perfect when you can’t fit everything in to a single picture and Night Shot gives you great looking low-light photos. Get the Honor Play Nokia 6.1 This might be a modestly priced phone, but holding it, you certainly wouldn’t think so. It’s crafted from a single piece of aluminium and has stunning diamond-cut edges that give the whole phone a really classy look. It’s packed with a load of handy features too. Fingerprint sensors have been a mainstay of high-end phones for a while, but now you don’t have to spend that extra cash to get added security. You can unlock the Nokia 6.1 by simply touching the sensor on the back of the phone. Know someone who’s an aspiring vlogger? With its 16MP camera, Zeiss optics and dual microphones for high-fidelity sound, Facebook posts and YouTube clips will look and sound great. Get the Nokia 6.1 Motorola G6 Plus Plenty of processing power and rugged build quality mean this is a phone that’s built to last. For a smartphone it’s… well… smart! Just turn the camera on, point it at a landmark and it’ll give you plenty of information about what you’re looking at – handy for when you’re doing a bit of sightseeing on holiday. The big 5.9-inch Full HD screen makes watching movies an absolute joy. The 16:9 aspect ratio means you see more of the picture, making your entertainment way more immersive. Ever taken a group selfie and struggled to get everyone in the picture? Just activate Group Selfie Mode and the view will expand to make sure nobody ever gets left out. Get the Motorola G6 Plus Samsung Galaxy A6 Sleek lines and a slimline aluminium body certainly make the A6 a great-looking piece of kit. But with this phone, it’s about more than just good looks… You get some impressive security features that wouldn’t be out of place on a top of the range handset. There’s a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone – just touch it to unlock. And if tapping your finger to the device feels like too much effort, you can unlock it just by looking at it using Samsung’s Facial Recognition – how cool is that? The A6 also comes with a 16MP camera on the front and back, making it a great all-rounder for photos and it’s one of the few handsets that has a flash on the front too – great for low-light selfies! Get the Samsung Galaxy A6 Huawei P20 Lite You’d be forgiven for thinking the Lite version of the hugely successful P20 might be a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing – but you’d be wrong. The P20 Lite is packed with high-end features, from its 5.8-inch Full HD screen to its stunning good looks, it’s clearly a premium piece of kit. It has a powerful processor too, and comes with an impressive 4GB of RAM, meaning it’ll cope with anything you throw at it - even the most demanding games will run smoothly and look great. If you’re after a phone that not only looks the part, but also runs like a high-end handset, the P20 Lite is a great choice. Get the Huawei P20 Lite So, whether it’s something for your own Christmas list or a gift for someone else, these are some of our favourite mid-range phones for Christmas 2018. If you think we missed a phone that should have been on our list, let us know in the comments below.

Phones with great cameras make cracking Christmas pressies. Who doesn’t love snapping a selfie or sharing shots on Instagram? If you need some gifting inspiration, here are some of the very best. Samsung Galaxy A9 A lot of phones with good cameras come with more than one lens on the back. Dual lens and even triple lens cameras are becoming more and more popular. But the Galaxy A9 is even more special, with an incredible four rear lenses. It’s a world first - and that’s not including the selfie camera on the front. So, why four lenses we hear you ask? Well, first of all, the main camera captures incredible detail and contrast in all conditions. And then there’s a 120° Ultra-wide lens. That’s the same viewing angle as the human eye – which means you can capture the scene as you see it. There’s also a telephoto lens with a 2x optical zoom to help you get in closer without sacrificing picture quality. And last but by no means least, you’ve got a depth camera for professional looking blurred background effects – those festive winter scenes will look out of this world. There really isn’t much this phone can’t do, so it’s a great gift for a photography fan that likes trying new things. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A9 Google Pixel 3 The Pixel 3 is perfect for capturing those special Christmas memories. Its best feature is something called Top Shot, which starts capturing the scene even before you’ve pressed a button. If you’re taking a family Christmas snap, it helps you select that perfect shot where everyone’s smiling, nobody’s blinking, and Grandad’s remembered to put his false teeth in. If you buy the Pixel 3 for a special someone, they’ll never have to worry about failing to capture the perfect moment - like the look on everyone’s face as the turkey’s getting carved. That’s what Christmas is all about. Buy the Google Pixel 3 Huawei P20 Pro The Huawei P20 Pro has an incredible triple-lens camera, and it's crammed with the latest in AI technology. A 3x optical zoom lets you get closer to your subject without any loss of detail, and AI-powered automatic scene recognition automatically adjusts the camera settings for you, for the best possible photo whatever you're shooting. The AI inside the P20 Pro really does make any photo look amazing, and the image quality is mind-blowing – so just think about how good your lucky recipient’s festive Instagram feed will look! Buy the Huawei P20 Pro Apple iPhone Xs Buy this phone for someone, and they’ll be amazed with the quality of photos it takes – because the camera on iPhone Xs is nothing short of fantastic. Part of that is down to Smart HDR, which adds more life-like highlights and shadow details to anything you take a photo of. And the new Portrait Mode is outstanding. You’ll notice the spot-on colour accuracy and incredible levels of detail, even in low-light. It also features an all-new bokeh slider, allowing you to manually adjust the professional-looking background blur on your photos. If you’re buying for someone who loves a selfie, they’ll get a real kick out of the front camera’s TrueDepth feature. This projects over 30,000 infrared dots onto the users face to help get the light levels just right. Perfectly lit selfies, every time…what could be a better gift than that? Buy the iPhone Xs Do you have any questions on smartphone photography? Then post them below, and one of your fellow Community members will help you out.

It's competition time. We've been overcome with seasonal goodwill, and have come up with 5 days of festive freebies for you! Here’s how it works. On each of the next 5 days we’ll post a different competition question on the iD Mobile Community, each with its very own tech prize! All you need to do for a chance to win is come back to the iD Mobile Community and comment on the relevant post for that day with your answer. It'll be easy to find as it'll be featured on the Community homepage, and it'll be at the top of this sub-forum. Here's the full list of daily competitions: • Day 1 Competition – 3rd December 2018 - Nintendo Switch • Day 2 Competition – 4th December 2018 – Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer • Day 3 Competition – 5th December 2018 – Beats Headphones • Day 4 Competition – 6th December 2018 – Google Home Hub • Day 5 Competition – 7th December 2018 – Apple iPad Make sure you come back to the iD Mobile Community and the 'Competition Time - 5 Days of Christmas Giveaways' sub-forum each day so you don't miss your chance at winning!

Want to make someone’s Christmas extra special this year with a new phone? For all interests and all ages, we’ve come up with a list of five phones to fit everyone’s Christmas stocking. Galaxy S9 Plus – for the movie buff in your life A bigger version than the S9, the S9 Plus has a 6.2-inch widescreen Infinity Display made for film fans. It covers almost the entire surface of the phone, so nothing will take their focus away from what’s happening on-screen. And with Quad HD+ resolution, they’ll see everything happen in spellbinding quality. The stereo speakers in the S9 Plus are incredible too, producing Dolby Atmos surround sound. They will feel like they’re in the cinema. They can even enjoy this next-level sound on the free AKG earphones included in the box. They’ll be fully immersed in their favourite Netflix binge on the train, without annoying the other passengers. Interested? You can order the Galaxy S9 Plus here. Google Pixel 3 – for a budding photographer It’s official - the Google Pixel 3 has one of the best cameras around. Not only is it brimming with features to make photos taken on it look amazing, but it uses the latest in AI tech to help the user snap that perfect shot. It calculates things like lighting conditions, contrast and brightness, and even adjusts the settings automatically. If you haven’t of Top Shot, get ready. This cracking feature uses AI to take a whole series of photos and then cleverly recommends the best one. So if the family’s gathered round for a Christmas photo and someone blinks, no worries - Top Shot will pop back in time to find that split second when everyone’s got their eyes wide open. Are they a selfie lover? Then the Group Selfie Cam is one for them. It uses the phone’s dual front-facing cameras for super wide-angled selfies - so they’ll get more background, friends or family into the frame. Interested? You can order the Google Pixel 3 here. OnePlus 6T – for a thrill-seeking gamer If they can’t get enough of crushing candy or go barmy for the battlefield, you’ll naturally want to get them a phone that can keep up with the action. The OnePlus 6T is a total powerhouse, and its huge 6.41-inch AMOLED display and Smart Boost mode makes it an obvious choice for gamers. For starters, Smart Boost helps games load up to 20% faster, and gives them much better frame-rates. They’ll experience super smooth on-screen action even after an hour of playing an intense 3D racer like Asphalt 9: Airborne. The OnePlus 6T will handle all of their gaming demands. And if you needed more proof, there’s even a dedicated gaming mode that keeps the display bright and stops notifications getting in the way of the onscreen action – they appear as small floating bubbles instead. Interested? You can order the OnePlus 6T here. https://www.idmobile.co.uk/search?q=OnePlus+6T+ Huawei P Smart – for the kid in the family They want an extra pricy flagship, you’re thinking of dusting off your old 3310 – why not start them off with a good quality budget phone instead? If they look after it, you can upgrade them to something fancier in a couple of years. But as far as this Christmas goes, we suggest the Huawei P Smart. The only thing budget about this phone is the price. The Huawei P Smart is jam-packed with the kind of specs that much more expensive phones would be happy to have. The lenses on the impressive dual lens camera work together to create stunning bokeh shots with blurred backgrounds. And the 5.65-inch display is top quality too. It stretches from edge-to-edge and is bright and sharp - perfect for playing games and watching movies on, and most importantly – browsing the web and finding out lots of facts for their homework. Now that’s smart parenting. Interested? You can order the Huawei P Smart here. Galaxy J6 – for a no-nonsense gran Grandparents are always the hardest to buy for. This Christmas, get them something they need, like a Galaxy J6. It’s an affordable choice that’s packed with Samsung’s best tech – a lot of which is specifically designed for older users. Switch on Easy Mode straight away, and they’ll be able to enjoy a simplified layout with bigger fonts and an overall clearer navigation. Easy Mode aside, the 5.6-inch display is bright and sharp, and covers virtually the entire face of the Galaxy J6 – keeping the size of the handset compact and light. Plus, the 13MP camera is easy to use and will take gran’s family snaps to a whole new level. Then, they can store all those precious family photos on the 32GB of inbuilt storage space. Interested? You can order the Samsung Galaxy J6 here. Those are our five phones that would make fantastic Christmas presents. In fact, they’re so fantastic, maybe you should think about treating yourself to one while you’re at it!

We’ve all heard of The Grinch that Stole Christmas, but what about the phone that saved Christmas? That’s right, your smartphone can save the big day in more ways than one. Let us explain. Christmas should be a time of fun and relaxation. But it can also be extremely stressful. From buying the wrong presents to undercooked turkey, it’s full of potential pitfalls. That’s where your smartphone can help. Because by downloading a few handy apps, you can avoid any of the usual festive missteps and mishaps. Sitting comfortably? Then let us show you five ways your phone can save Christmas… 1. Take the stress out of last minute Christmas shopping Let’s face it, shopping for a last minute pressie can be a major headache. The streets are cold and wet, it’s full of desperate shoppers, and every store has Cliff Richard’s ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ on repeat (or is that just our imagination?). So why not do it all online, from the comfort of your home, with a little help from the Funky Pigeon app? It’s free to download from the App Store or Google Play. Funky Pigeon has a great range of Christmas cards that you can fully personalise with text or images. A lot of designs let you add photos straight from your smartphone, to create something really special. The kids will be amazed by a card with them on the cover! You can also buy Christmas gifts like mugs, cushions and posters – and again, these can be completely personalised with your favourite photos. Funky Pigeon can also do the gift-wrapping and delivering for you - just remember to get your order in before their Friday 21st December cut-off. 2. Say hi and wave to far-off family It’s Christmas Day. Time to call your relatives around the world and wish them a Happy Christmas. These days, of course, you can make video calls with your smartphone. Grandparents always love seeing their grandchildren onscreen. And time it right, and you can see the gifts you bought being unwrapped. FaceTime is great just as long as everyone’s got an iPhone. If not, then WhatsApp (free to download from the App Store or Google Play) is the one to go for. It works across different devices, and it’s the world’s most popular cross-platform messaging service. You can make video calls, phone calls, send text messages and videos – and if you’re on Wi-Fi, you won’t use up any of your monthly allowances of minutes, texts or data. It’s completely free. We love WhatsApp because it’s so easy to use. Even elderly relatives that aren’t very tech savvy will be able to get the hang of it, and take your Christmas call. 3. Make it a perfect Christmas dinner Want to create the best Christmas dinner ever? It’s all about timing. Everything needs to come together all at once, and the Timer+ app (free to download from the App Store or Google Play) will help you do just that. Timer+ is an app that lets you run multiple timers at once, and you can label each one, so you know what’s what. You’ll be able to time every single part of your Christmas dinner to the second, ensuring everything will be cooked to lip-smacking perfection – not just the turkey, but also your roast potatoes, carrots, parsnips, pigs in blankets, and good old Brussels sprouts. Yes, it’s a simple little app. But that’s the beauty of it. Cranberry sauce, anyone? 4. Bring some music to the Christmas party Christmas dinner is over, and everyone’s had time to relax. A few Christmas tunes to round off the day is always nice, and if you get Spotify on your phone (download it from the App Store or Google Play), you’ve got 40 million songs at your fingertips. There are loads of Christmas playlists to choose from (either created by Spotify users, or by Spotify itself), then it’s just a case of turning up the volume on your phone and pressing play. Or you can stream your Spotify sounds to a Bluetooth speaker – if you’re lucky, someone’ll have bought you one as a pressie. Spotify can be downloaded for free, with adverts playing between songs. For ad-free listening, you can subscribe for £9.99 a month. 5. Control your festive spending It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also the most expensive. So be sure to use the iD Mobile app to manage your allowances and avoid bill shock. If you want another helping hand keeping on top of your finances, get the Money Dashboard budgeting app (free to download from the App Store or Google Play). It’s one of the very best. Money Dashboard gives you a single view of all your bank accounts, credit cards and monthly bills, so you don’t have to log on to lots of different sites to track your finances. All your spending is broken down into categories, with clear and helpful charts to help you see where your money goes. There’s also a budget planner that’ll help you save money to spend on the things you want – which is exactly what you need to do at this time of year. Use Money Dashboard wisely, and you’ll stay on top of your spend all through Christmas. Who knows, you might even start off the New Year with some cash in your pocket. So there you have it. Five ways your trusty phone can save Christmas. Have you got any of these apps? Or have you got any Crimbo-saving smartphone tips you’d like to share? If so, post a reply below.

Christmas is on its way and you’ve got prezzies to buy and stockings to fill. Let us solve your Secret Santa stresses with these great-value gadgets – all for under £20. Nails Inc iPhone 8 case + nail polish Turn on the style! If you know an iPhone fan with an eye for fashion, this’ll be right up their street. With the iPhone 8 Nails Inc case and matching nail polish, they’ll proudly strut their stuff. Get a colour that suits their style – there’s Leopard Print, Marble and Stars. KitVision Selfie Stick Stick one of these in their stocking. Get it? Stick? Oh, forget it. But if you’re buying for a selfie fan, this is a great choice. With the inbuilt extension pole, there’ll be able to take those difficult high-angle shots. There’s no selfie that’s beyond them with the KitVision Selfie Stick PopSockets Grip This PopSockets collapsible grip fixes to the back of phones and tablets, acting as a stand. It’ll also make holding their phone way more comfortable. Choose from three bright designs Goji VR Headset with Speakers Give the gift of virtual realty this Christmas. With a Goji Universal VR headset, they’ll be able to lose themselves in stunning games with incredible immersive visuals and sound – though maybe ask them to take it off during Christmas dinner. And if you’re not sure what size their phone is, don’t worry - this’ll work with phones with screens between 3.5 and 6 inches. KitSound Boomcube It’s boom time! They’ll be able to shake, shake the room with this great stocking filler. One charge of the bluetooth wireless KitSound Boomcube will give them six hours of music. And with a durable metallic build, it’s one tough cookie, too. Belkin 5W Wireless Charging Pad A simple solution to crossed wires. With this Belkin Wireless Charging Pad it couldn’t be easier to charge any Qi-enabled phone. Put the phone on the pad, and let it work its magic. Amazon Echo Dot “Alexa – set a one minute alarm.” That should be just enough time to tell you about the awesome Amazon Echo Dot. This great stocking filler is a smaller version of the Amazon Echo, but with a screen! Ask Alexa to play music, provide news, sport or weather forecasts – even control appliances in the home. She’s a bit clever… Some great Christmas gift ideas there, we’re sure you’ll agree. In fact, they’re so good, maybe you should treat yourself while you’re at it!