Getting Started.

The iD Mobile Black Tag event has started, with some amazing mobile deals up for grabs. You don’t have to wait until Black Friday 2018, these money saving offers are available now! Ready for a bargain? That’s right, our Black Tag event is up and running with some incredible deals. You can save up to £330 on a pay monthly handset deal, or buy a SIM free phone and pair it with one of our great little SIM only deals. We’ve got something for everyone, so head to our Black Tag event page and check them out! You can save up to £330 on the incredible iPhone 7. Or if you're more of an Android fan you can save up to £96 on the Huawei P20 Lite, or save up to £100 on the Samsung Galaxy J6.

Let’s play, iPhone X and iPhone Xs owners. Animating yourself with the Animoji and Memoji feature is a lot of fun, and is sure to impress your friends. It’s really easy too, as you’re about to see. Let’s get animated Thanks to the amazing front-facing TrueDepth camera on your iPhone X or Xs, you can animate Apple’s emoji characters with your own facial expressions and create fun video messages up to 30 seconds. If you’ve ever fancied being a cute pooch, cheeky monkey or oh-so-spooky ghost, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. You can also add some audio to the mix while your chosen emoji follows your facial movements to a tee. Fancy creating something that’s a little more, well, you? Then go for a Memoji, the super fun feature that gives you the tools to create yourself as an emoji. Yep, you can finally see yourself as an awesome cartoon-style avatar! We’ve tried it out for ourselves and the result is hours of fun.

More and more smartphones are using wireless charging to get back up to speed after a hard day’s work. So you can forget about plugs, wires and cables – where we’re going, we won’t need them. Wireless charging has been around for a few years, but it’s only been quite recently that the major smartphone releases have started featuring it. And if you ask us, it’s about time. Technology that lets us power up our favourite devices without worrying about wires and searching for plug sockets? Yes please. Wireless charging is the future, and here’s everything you need to know about it… How does wireless charging work? Ready for some science? Good, because here it comes. Wireless charging – also known as inductive charging – uses magnetised coils to create an electromagnetic field. A moving magnet inside the coil generates electricity, which can be transferred to another coil nearby as a source of power. So just imagine the ot

Remember, remember it’s the 5th November! To help you celebrate, here’s a list of bangin’ apps to download before you head outdoors for bonfire night. They’ll add some sparkle to Guy Fawkes Night. iLightningCam 2 Free on iOS Originally designed for capturing photos of lightning, iLightningCam 2 works for taking pictures of fireworks too. The most impressive thing about the app is its ability to take photos automatically. Just point your camera up to the sky, and it will detect the firework straight away and take a picture. And the full resolution feature means you’ll get razor-sharp images. Boomerang Free on iOS and

With an incredible 6.3-inch screen, clever AI camera and all-round speediness, the Honor Play is a heck of a phone. Let’s take a closer look. The screen’s a gamer’s delight The Honor Play is great for gaming. Well, the clue’s in the title, really. But a great gaming phone simply wouldn’t be complete without a great big screen. And the Honor Play certainly has one of those – there’s a whole 6.3-inches to play with, the largest on any Honor phone. Plus it’s Full HD+ so you can really immerse yourself in what’s happening on screen. It has a bigger body-to-screen ratio for a better view of the action, and if you’re worried that the notch will distract you, simply hide it. Plus, with up to 16 million colours, that’ll do all your games justice.

Are you missing out on the fun of Instagram Stories? You might have noticed them already, on top of some of your friends' feeds. So, let’s get you up to speed, and show you how to create your very own slices of Instagram history. What are Instagram Stories? Instagram Stories has got to be the most eye-catching feature on Instagram. It lets you create a single story by posting multiple photos and videos onto it. The story appears just like a slideshow, and the content disappears after 24 hours. You’re basically free to come up with any story you want. You could create one of a big night out with friends, mixing up photos and videos, or you could share an evening spent trying to create a culinary classic in the kitchen. Even if you don’t get it right, it could still be worth posting – we all love a failed attempt at a Bake Off classic. If you feel like you still need some inspiration (or should that insta-ration?), there

Got your pumpkin ready? Halloween is here, which means there’s no better time to head to the nearest costume shop, daub yourself with fake blood and put on a scary movie. If that’s not your thing then fear not, because you can have just as much spookily good fun with your phone. Just check out these ghoul – ahem, cool – Halloween-themed apps to sink your fake fangs into. The Simpsons: Tapped out (free on iOS and Android)

Smartphone camera tech has never been better. It’s easy to take great-quality shots with a simple aim and shoot. But how much do you know about the different modes on your camera? Let’s take a look at what each mode does and when to use it, so you can get the most out of your camera. Auto Mode / Photo Your camera’s default setting (Auto Mode or just Photo on iOS) makes all of your photography decisions for you. Some of the newer phone cameras also have Intelligent Auto Mode, which cleverly analyses your setting and automatically puts you on the best mode. It knows whether you need a flash or not, and sorts out your lighting as well. When to use it: Need a close-up of a document or object? Auto Mode will capture all of the detail you need. The shot might not look as aesthetically pleasing as it would if you used a different mode but it’ll give you an in-depth, clear look at what you’re photographing.

It’s important to choose the right amount of data for your mobile plan. If you get too little, you might end up buying add-ons every month. If you get too much, then you’re paying for something you don’t use. So, let us help you get it right - and we’ll also throw in a few data saving tips for good measure. The amount of monthly data you need depends on what you use your phone for. If it’s purely for work, the chances are you’ll mostly be sending emails and browsing the web. For that type of usage, a 500MB allowance should be enough. But if you use your phone like most of us do - for fun, leisure and timewasting on your daily commute (streaming music and videos, playing online games… you know the kind of thing), then 2GB data is probably the minimum amount you need a month. And even then, you’ll need to be careful with video streaming. Watch a Netflix film in glorious HD and your 2GB will be gone in less than an hour.

The waiting is finally over, and Apple’s latest smartphones have been unveiled. The new iPhones will be known as iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, and they all share features and tech that are truly off the scale. But first of all, let us explain the key differences between each one. The 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max – the biggest display ever on an iPhone – is truly awe-inspiring. It has the most storage space in any iPhone, up to a massive 512GB, which is enough space to hold 200,000 photographs. It packs dual 12MP cameras for great-quality photos and Face ID for secure unlocking and payments. The iPhone XS comes with the same amazing features, but with a 5.8-inch screen – the same as on the iPhone X. The iPhone XR is truly ground-breaking. Not only does it have all the great specs as you’d get with the iPhone XS and XS Max, but it does it all with the most advanced LCD in a smartphone. The screen comes in at 6.1-inches – a bigger display than iPho

Do you ever think where we would be without smart people? Without them you wouldn’t have amazing life-changing inventions such as the lightbulb, the car, or even the smartphone. Being smart is cool. So, join us as we celebrate Smart is Cool Day, with a look at some of the best brain training apps around. You’ll definitely feel smarter after playing around with these. Luminosity Android (Free) / iOS (Free) Luminosity is one of the most popular brain training apps around, and for good reason. It’s crammed to the brim with games to exercise a range of mental skills including memory, attention span and problem-solving. It’s the perfect app to re

Why do one thing when you can do two? This article takes a closer at multitasking on your phone. How to do it – and why you should. How to launch split-screen It’s easy – just a case of dragging and dropping. Open your chosen app, then select the app switcher icon (a square on the right of the nav bar) and select the first app. Drag the app to the top of the screen to drop it into place, then simply tap the second app and it’ll magically appear in the bottom half of the screen. Why multitask? Research while you write Got research to do for a piece of work, or writing an important email but need more details? Constantly switching between your web browser and your emails or word doc can be a right pain. Well, with split screen, half of the screen can be your writing and the other half can be your webpage etc. Research while you write, and save time. You can copy and paste from

So, you’re an Android user. Good choice. Not only is it an operating system that you can customise but it’s also very user-friendly. However, this doesn’t mean annoying niggles can’t crop up from time to time. If your Android’s playing up or is on its last legs, here are a few quick fixes to common problems that could save the day. 1. Apps playing up If your apps aren’t working the way they should, there are a few things you can check. Firstly, see if there’s an update available for the problematic app. If there is, update it. But if that doesn’t do the trick, force the app to close by pressing the square button on your home screen to bring up your multi-tasking menu. Then, locate the app and swipe it away. This way when you re-open the app any corrupted data will hopefully have been wiped away. Still hasn’t worked? It’s time to uninstall the app completely, and reinstall it. If that doesn’t work, try getting in touch with its

We love endless running games. They’re easy to pick up and play, and can be horribly addictive. Because every time you die during a run, you think you’ll be able to go further with just one more go, right? So here you go. If you don’t mind wasting endless hours long into the night, we’ve come up with five amazing endless runners for you to take a swipe at. They're all free from Google Play or the App Store. Minion Rush Even if you’re not a fan of those lovable minions, the spectacular Minion Rush is worth giving a go. We can’t think of an endless running game that’s more fun - or diverse. Yes, you’ll be doing the usual jumping, ducking and dodging, but you’ll also be riding on rockets, sliding through water and attacking bad guys (we’re looking at you, El Macho). And we haven’t even mentioned the mini-games yet. One minute, you could be col

The last few months have seen some awesome new phones release. And they all have one thing in common – a hulking big screen. Just recently you had the Samsung Galaxy A7 – and then you’ve got other phones such as the Huawei P20 Pro that are great for previewing your photos. This got us thinking about how much we love big-screen phones, and why you should love them too. Super-sized multitasking Big screens let you see so much more – which means they’re superb for multitasking. Multitasking lets you run more than one app at the same time, and in split-screen. So, you could be watching a film while having a group chat with your friends, and you won’t miss a second of the movie. With the screen split in tw

It’s a decade since we saw the very first Android phone - it all started with the HTC Dream ten years ago. We’ve taken a look back at Android through the years, and how it’s got to where it is now. Join us in an all-out nostalgia-fest. Where it all started – the HTC Dream It seems like Android phones have been around forever, but it is in fact just ten years. But while these days we’re dazzled by phones like the Samsung Galaxy S9 or Sony Xperia XZ3, it wasn’t always this way. Take the first Android phone, the HTC Dream. It wasn’t exactly a looker – it was actually rather boring-looking, with a flat physical keyboard. But it was certainly a trailblazer – and helped pave the way for all the great things Android gives us today. It sounds like a small thing, but this phone let you copy and paste – the iPhone 3G didn’t let you do that back then. So, what made us love Android back then?

Doctor Who has returned for an eleventh series - with the thirteenth Doctor along for the ride. The first episode has had rave reviews, with lots of praise for Jodie Whittaker’s performance as the TARDIS–travelling Time Lord from far-off Gallifrey. To celebrate, we’ve rounded up the best Doctor Who downloads for your smartphone, tablet, sonic screwdriver or any other mobile device. The Woman Who Fell To Earth (video) What better place to start than with the new episode itself? If you missed ‘The Woman Who Fell To Earth” when it first aired on the Beeb, then all is not lost – you can download it onto your phone for keeps, at a small price. If you’ve got an Android phone, you can buy it from Google Play for £1.99. If you’ve got an iPhone, you can

It’s been a busy year for Nokia so far, and our favourite Finnish phone maker isn’t letting up just yet. At an exclusive London event on Thursday 4 October, the Nokia 7.1 was unveiled in all its glory. So without further ado, let’s lift the lid on the new Nokia’s best bits. Strong looks, strong glass The 7.1 has a metal (series 600 Series Aluminium, since you ask) and glass build - and with attractive diamond-cut edges, it really does look like a premium piece of kit. Super-tough Corning Gorilla Glass 3 surrounds it, making the 7.1 impressively damage and scratch resistant. An edge-to-edge, top notch display The new Nokia will be rocking a 5.84-inch Full HD display, compatible with HDR content. Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer at HMD Global, made a point of highlighting this feature at the launch event: “The Nokia 7.1 even offers real-time SDR to HDR conversion, meaning you can experience HDR quality entertainme

Mobile games are great for helping you escape from life’s little stresses, but sometimes you want something with an extra dose of adrenalin to get your blood pumping on the train home. We’re talking about the latest mobile racing games. So, rev up your engine and prepare to floor it with these five awesome racers. CSR Racing 2 If you thought mobile games offered a tame experience to console games, think again. CSR Racing 2 sets a new standard for brilliant-looking mobile titles. Just like a gleaming red Ferrari, it looks great from every angle and is an amazing drag racing game to boot with realistic graphics and the chance to team up with friends and form a racing crew. You also get to build your dream garage of real world cars, upgrade and fine-tune them to suit your style. It’s a nitrous-fuelled blast to play.

Every day, more than 70 million people use Snapchat lenses and face filters on their smartphones, and now, Snapchat is letting anyone become a lens creator with its Snapchat Lens Studio tool. So, whether you fancy some bunny ears or want to generally beautify yourself, you can now make a lens which can be enjoyed by millions of people. Lens Studio - taking Snapchat to the next level On social media these days, there’s no escaping the face filter selfies taken and uploaded online by Snapchat fans the world over. Ever come across a picture of a friend with dog ears or angel wings? Chances are it’s been created using a Snapchat filter. You’ll see pictures like this wherever you go – from Facebook to Twitter, Insta to dating apps.

Ever wished you could take better photos? Well, thanks to AI-powered photography, you now can. It’s the next big thing in mobile, and it could revolutionise the way we take photos for good. But what is AI photography, and how does it work? Let us explain. First of all, what is AI? AI stands for artificial intelligence. It has its roots in machine learning from the 1950s. Boffins in the U.S. taught a computer to play draughts, by programming it to anticipate and predict the moves of a human opponent. With practice, the computer learnt how to become a better player. By mimicking natural human behaviour, the computer’s playing eventually became indistinguishable from a real person. AI has come on leaps and bounds since those primitive draught-playing days. It’s now inside our phones and other smart devices in the form of Google Assistant, Siri, or Amazon’s Alexa. These AI-powered virtual assistants are clever enough to understand us, an

Are you having a nightmare with your mobile connection? Sometimes phones can develop strange random faults – like only being able to get online when connected to Wi-Fi. Frustrating, we know. Don’t worry though, we’ve put together a list of tips to help you get those connection problems sorted. Make sure it isn’t just a slow connection At times a connection can be so slow that it seems like you have no connection at all. Take a look at the signal bars at the top of your screen, and check there are no symbols that show a mobile internet connection. Prime examples would be: E, 3G, 4G, H, H+ or 46/LTE. Any of these symbols show that your phone is in fact connected to the internet – which means your issue is internet speed. Get in touch with iD to check if there are any connectivity issues in your area. Turn it off and on again Yes, that’s right, the old cliché. But believe it or not, the low-tec

Looking for a new smartphone? Sony’s Xperia range could be right up your street. They’re amongst the best Android handsets around, and they’re all packed with features. We’re talking amazing screens, fantastic photography and great design. But which model should you go for? Here’s a quick guide to help you out. Sony Xperia XA2 A feature-filled phone that won’t break the bank, the Sony Xperia XA2 is a mid-range successor to the Xperia XA1. This newer model is a slimmer device with more power. Key features It’s got a 5.2-inch Full HD display, and a superb 23MP camera that also shoots 4K footage for video that’s so clea

Have you heard about the new Honor Play phone? It’s a new smartphone built for gaming, and has something called GPU Turbo, which boosts gaming performance. It makes your favourite games look better, and feel better to play. But what is GPU Turbo, and how does it work? Here’s everything we know so far. As great as the latest mobile games are, they still have some way to go to match console games. However, they’re getting close. And that’s where GPU Turbo, which is backed by Huawei and its sub-brand Honor – comes in. What is this GPU Turbo? It’s a new feature found on the new Honor Play phone. Huawei and Honor claim it will dramatically improve your gaming experience on mobile. What does GPU Turbo do? It speeds up graphics and processing performance to boost games that use up a lot of power, such as

Torn between the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the Samsung Galaxy S9+? We’re not surprised, both are great Android phones, with amazing photography skills. We love taking photos with either phone, here’s a few reasons why you will, too. Take photos like a pro at any time of day Taking photos at night isn’t easy. Only the best cameras can take a great shot in low light. What you need is a good aperture, and the Galaxy S9 has that. It can automatically switch between two aperture sizes (f/2.4 and f/1.5), for spectacular photos during the day, or late evening in dim light. For dark scenes, the camera lens switches to an f/1.5 aperture to let in more light. You’ll find this perfect for shooting on a night out, or in dimly lit venues like restaurants. During the day, the lens goes back to f./2.4 for clear daytime photos that are sharp and full of colour. Slicker slow-motion shooting Slow-motion video recording isn’t an e