Getting Started.

Want to up your Instagram game? Then check out our hottest camera phone tips below. These days, all half decent phones have cameras where you can just point and shoot. Press the shutter button, a nice photo appears on your screen, job done. But you can do a lot better with just a little extra planning. Follow our tips below, for quality photos that’ll light up your social feeds and rack up some serious likes. 1. Switch on your grid lines. Pro cameras have framing grids in the viewfinder window, to help you square things up and compose your shot. You’ve got this option in your phone camera app, so go ahead and switch it on. It shouldn’t be hard to find. If you’ve got an Android phone it’ll be under something like Settings > Apps > Camera > Grid Lines. You’ll now be able to keep everything parallel with any natural horizontal and vertical lines in your shot. 2. Use natural light. Natural light is a photographer’s friend. Making use of it is always a better choice than using your phone’s built-in flash. Pay attention to where the light is coming from. Ideally, your subject should always be well lit from the front, rather than having strong light coming from behind them. So next time you take that beach shot, have a quick think about where the sun is, and adjust things accordingly. 3. Hold steady A completely still phone is essential for blur-free shots, especially when the light is lacking. Most phone cameras come with pretty decent stabilisation, but there’s an even better solution out there – we’re talking tripods. Get a good tripod for your smartphone (they’re not too expensive) will make a huge difference to your landscape photography, and will help you master lots of different styles including time-lapse photography, light painting and even photos of the sky at night. 4. Boost the dynamic range Let’s talk about HDR (which stands for High Dynamic Range). It’s a feature on your phone camera that stops your photos being overexposed or underexposed. Basically, it combines three shots (overexposed, underexposed and balanced) into a single image that shows off both shadow and lighting in lots of detail. 5. Use the power of Portrait Mode. Portrait mode is on most phones, and it generally does a great job of giving your photos a professional look. With the help of multiple lenses, it keeps the subject sharp while blurring the background. Just like professional photographers do it. And it’s not just for portrait shots of people – if you’re into Instagramming about food, it really makes your dishes pop. Yum! Top tip: on some phones you can manually adjust the depth of field yourself, to create blurrier background that make your subject stand out even more. 6. Become a selfie master. There’s nothing selfish about loving selfies. If you’re front-facing camera comes with a wide-angle lens, you’ll be able to let all of your family and friends in on the action too. It also means you can get more of the background in too. If your lucky enough to be in a stunning looking place this summer, show it off! 7. Trust in AI. Remember at the start of this article when we said there’s more to taking great photos than just pointing and shooting? Okay, we lied a little. Because if your phone comes with AI technology built-in to the camera, that’s really all you need to do. The AI does all the thinking for you with sensors that can figure out what you’re looking at – then it automatically adjusts the camera settings to get the best shot. Whether you’re taking a photo of your pet in the park, a famous landmark or that best burger ever, you’ll get the most amazing pictures possible. We hope these tips help you take better photos, and give you shots worth sharing. Got any suggestions of your own? Share your comments below!

Love a deal? These websites and apps are perfect for hunting down the best offers around. Let’s face it – we all love to bag a bargain. Sometimes you stumble upon a great deal, and sometimes you have to search it out. But nowadays there are loads of services available to help you get the most out of your money or get a little back when you’ve done a big shop. So, we’ve rounded up our favourites and put them into two categories – cashback (spend money, get a bit back) and discounts (get a bit off before you spend). Let’s get into it… Best apps for cashback Cashback is pretty appealing – sometimes you get a few pence back on a shop, and sometimes you get a whole load off a big purchase. We’ve all seen cashback offers around, but with these dedicated apps it’s easier than ever to hunt down these great deals. TopCashback TopCashback offers cashback from thousands of UK brands. Membership is free (but you can upgrade to a paid option), and you can choose how you get your cashback – straight to your account, via PayPal, or with gift cards to your favourite shops. To get cashback, you have to click through from the app or site, so they can get the commission and pass it on to you. Quidco Quidco is very similar, offering thousands of UK brands and almost identical claims on how much their members get in cashback a year (around £300). All you have to do is download the app or visit the site, find a deal you like, then select ‘Get cashback’ and make your purchase. Once again, Quidco also has different ways of getting your money – bank transfer, PayPal or gift cards. Best apps for vouchers and discounts Prefer to get a discount up front? Let us introduce you to the best websites and apps for vouchers so you know you’re paying the best possible price when you go shopping. HotUKDeals HotUKDeals claims to be the UK’s number 1 deals community, and it’s easy to see why. They have a huge range of constantly evolving deals – some submitted by big brands, but mostly found by the community. HotUKDeals is known for being the place to find out about sudden drops in prices, as well as errors that let people get an unexpectedly good deal. Each deal has instructions on how to redeem – sometimes it’s specific to a store, sometimes it’s an easy link to buy. And because there’s clear information on how ‘hot’ the deal is, as well as minute by minute updates, you’re sure to find the latest and greatest offers. VoucherCodes VoucherCodes lets you save from big brands, as well as theatres and restaurants - perfect for treating yourself without going overboard on the budget. You’ll be able to check discounts and deals on your phone and get vouchers easily. To use a voucher, just find the right deal and you can use the code to claim money off at the till (or give to the restaurant). There are also special discounts for students and NHS staff. Have you got any more suggestions about where to find great offers online? Tell us in the comments.

Summer’s (finally) here! And what better way to celebrate than a staycation in the sun? UK staycations have really stepped up their game over the past few years – think Cornwall, the Peak District, or the Scottish Highlands. So, if you’re not going abroad this year, follow our family staycation tips for some summer fun with the kids! 1. Take a family trip to a museum The UK is home to some of the best museums in the world. The best part? A lot of them are free (yay!) and come paired with some fantastic children’s activities. If you’re not sure which museum to go to, check out Whichmuseum.co.uk or list.co.uk to discover the best museum suggestions for every interest. If you’re nearby London, you’ve got lots of choice. Junior dinosaur fans will love exploring prehistoric life in the Natural History Museum, and budding scientists will love to find out what ‘Our Future Planet’ might look like thanks to the Science Museum’s summer exhibition! 2. Go on a picnic You can’t beat a family picnic in a scenic location – when the weather’s nice, of course. So next time the sun’s out, grab a picnic basket, fill it with home-baked goodies and freshly made sarnies (or pop into a supermarket and buy what you need), pack the car with blankets, chairs and the obligatory frisbee, and hit that picnic spot. If you need some location inspiration, the National Trust has compiled a list of perfect picnic spots here. Oh, and don’t forget the sun cream. 3. Discover the joys of going local You don’t have to travel far for family fun these days. And there’s always some kind of special feeling when you support local business. Why not take the week off and treat the kids to local dinners at restaurants you’ve never been before? Or, find some nearby activity or attraction for the whole family to enjoy. Hoop and Days Out With The Kids are our favourite websites dedicated to family fun. 4. Download some helpful activity apps Alternatively, there are tonnes of free apps out there to help solve your summer boredom. On TripAdvisor and Google Maps, you can just enter your location and type the word ‘kids’ into the search bar – and voila! You can also use the AroundMe app to search for things like nearby theatres and events, or OpenTable for summer eats. If you’re travelling somewhere new, book your perfect stay with Airbnb, and pair it with Citymapper to find the best route in a new city. Going abroad this summer? Find out what travel apps are essential for fun in the sun. 5. Play games with the family It’s summer! But it’s Britain, so it’s going to rain at some point. Sorry, but it’s true. That’s why it’s good to be prepared with some fun family games you can play indoors. Get out those traditional board games you enjoyed when you were a child. Or, if you’re looking for something slightly more modern, take a look at some of the best board games of 2022. If you’re one of those families where board games end up in an argument, you might be better of sticking with tablets and smartphones. Nowadays, there are plenty of apps and games to entertain kids of all ages. 6. Bring the cinema home Forget about the TV – that’s been done before – why not project movies onto your wall for a big screen experience? You’ll find a great selection here, including the Philips NeoPix Mini Projector which is the perfect size for travelling. Or, if you’re looking for something a little fancier, why not try out the Optoma Full HD Home Cinema projector? It works in natural light and dark rooms, and gives you a huge screen size of up to 301-inches. Close the curtains, turn the lights off, pass the popcorn, and prepare to be blown away. 7. Get the tent out We’re going to end with another old-school suggestion that you might have enjoyed when you were a kid. Camping. You don’t have to lug the tent too far to enjoy a night under the stars. The back garden is a fine spot to pitch a tent if your youngsters are new to camping, and it gives you lots of advantages – like nearby toilets and the joys of a fully stocked fridge! If you want to venture further afield and go for a proper camping trip with the kids, you’ll find lots of good advice on camping with kids from ‘Camping in the Forest’. Not holidaying with children? Or maybe you’d rather go solo for your staycation? Never fear, we’ve got some great ideas for you, too . We hope you find these family staycation tips useful. If you’ve got any suggestions of your own, we’d love to hear them. Post a reply below and share it with the rest of the Community

Summer is just around the corner, which probably means your kids are going to have a lot of free time on their hands. And that might mean a lot more time spent on their phone. Read on to get clued-up on keeping your child safe on their smartphone and discover our top tips for monitoring their mobile usage. How to encourage your kids to make the most of summer Before trying anything else, simply set some expectations when it comes to mobile phone use at home: Let them know their limits. For example, discuss how many hours they can spend on social media, make sure their phones are turned off at night, and establish ‘no phone zones’ – like at the dinner table. Plan things to do. Sign them up for some fun summer activities, or plan some trips to the museum, park, or zoo. If all else fails, encourage them to hang out with their friends. Be a good role model. Since you’re asking your child to spend less time in front of a screen, try to do the same thing. Keeping your child safe on their phone Ok, we get it, asking your child to give up their phone completely is a little unrealistic. But here are some things you can do to help keep them out of harm’s way while online: Prevent your kid from looking at adult content Thanks to iD Mobile’s content restrictions, you can protect your child from viewing anything inappropriate online. Simply log in to the iD app or my account and select 'services', then toggle adult content filtering 'on’. Just so you know, our content restriction doesn’t apply if Wi-Fi is being used, as your Wi-Fi provider has their own content rules. Find out more about keeping your kids safe when connected to Wi-Fi. Stop your kids from spending thousands on in-app purchases These days, most apps and mobile games encourage you to purchase add-ons to enhance your experience. Unfortunately, one slip of your child’s finger could end up costing you hundreds on in-app purchases. Here’s how to prevent that from happening: For iPhones: 1. Go to Settings > General 2. Tap on ‘Restrictions’ 3. Click ‘Enable Restrictions’ where you’ll be asked to set a four-digit passcode 4. You’ll then see a list of features that you can either allow or disallow 5. Toggle ‘iTunes Store’, ‘Installing Apps’, ‘Deleting Apps’ and ‘In-App Purchases’ to off 6. This removes the iTunes and App Store icons from the homepage and prevents kids from making in-app purchases For Android phones: 1. Open the Play Store, then click on the three lines in the top left-hand corner 2. Scroll down and click ‘Settings’ 3. Tap ‘Require authentication for purchases’ 4. Make sure you select ‘For all purchases through Google Play on this device’ 5. Now if your child goes to make a purchase, your Google password or fingerprint is required Set up two-factor authentication This adds extra security as it requires your child to enter a unique one-off code before they can sign in or make purchases. You can use it to restrict their use of certain apps and services by entering your mobile phone number as the contact method. This way, they can’t sign into apps or make purchases without your say so. How to monitor your child’s screen-time Androids and iPhones come equipped with ways to monitor the activity on your child's phone. Here’s how to access them: How to monitor your kids’ phone usage on iPhones using Screen Time Screen Time allows you to see real-time reports on your (and your kid’s) mobile activity. To turn this feature on, simply: Go to Settings > Screen Time Tap ‘Turn On Screen Time’ Tap ‘Continue’ Select ‘This is My iPhone’, or ‘This is My Child's iPhone’ You can also set up a unique passcode to lock the settings – meaning your child can’t extend their screen time or make any changes. Plus, use Family Sharing to see reports and adjust settings from your own phone. How to monitor your kids’ usage on Android phones using Digital Wellbeing Android’s Digital Wellbeing feature can track your kid’s daily screen time and notifications. Here’s how to get it working: Go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls Tap the three lines on the top-right and select ‘Manage your data’ Toggle on ‘Daily device usage’ Your child’s phone will now record app usage, notifications, and device unlocks You'll also need to link their phone to your email before you can manage their screen time and other settings: On your child’s phone, go to Settings > Digital wellbeing & parental controls Click on ‘Set up parental controls’ Tap ‘Get started’ and choose between ‘Child’ or ‘Teen’ From there, follow the on-screen prompts The best parental control apps for smartphones Take a look at our favourite third-party parental control apps for limiting your child’s phone usage and monitoring what sites and apps they use: 1. Norton Family Location-tracking, time-scheduling, web-filtering… you can do it all with Norton Family. The best part? It has extremely strong content filters and can monitor your child’s YouTube viewing and keep them focused when it’s time to do homework 2.Google Family Link If you’re looking for something that offers individual permissions for each app, Google Family Link is for you. It also lets you decide what apps – if any at all – your child can download from the Google Play store. And, it’s absolutely free! 3. Qustodio Qustodio is one of few apps that can record your child’s texts and calls, and can even let you block certain numbers. It also can limit your kid’s time spent on individual apps and devices. You’ll even get alerts every time something suspicious is happening. What’s your favourite tip for monitoring your kid’s phone usage? Let us know in the comments…

So, you’re here because you use Google Maps, and well, so do we! Google Maps is a great way to find your way around on foot, on a bike or in a car, no matter where you are. And based on Googles algorithm, you’ll get a reasonably accurate ETA based on the time of day you’re travelling. You’ve also got the option to select if you’d like to visit some amenities on the way! Google Maps is especially popular among Android users as the app comes pre-installed on the phone. Anyway, enough about Google maps, we’re here to talk about alternatives, and there are quite a few of them, but here’s our top two: Waze: While probably not the best app to use on foot, Waze is a community-driven map service that is fast to navigate and intuitive. It’s a highly interactive system that lets users warn other drivers of changes in traffic, roadworks, speed cameras and potential hazards. Because of this, you’ll get a more accurate depiction of how long your journey will take before and during it. You’ll also be able to see where other ‘Wazers’ are on the map during your journey. Once you’ve reached your destination, there’s an option to rate the route, and your feedback will go on to help other users who may be planning a similar journey. Waze was proven so popular that Google bought the company in 2013. Despite Google acquiring Waze, it’s a credit to the app that it remains a separate entity from Google Maps Free to download: iOS / Android Citymapper Finding your way around a different city or town can be overwhelming, especially when you’re on holiday. Citymapper covers over 80 cities worldwide and makes it easy to navigate your way around with a variety of routes to get you from A to B. Citymapper offers users a multi-mode journey planner which includes buses, trains, trams, cabs and even scooters! Plus, in many cities, it won’t just tell you how to make your journey but also how much it will cost. Goodbye expensive taxi fares! Free to download on iOS and Android Have you used any of the above apps? Do you have another alternative navigation app? Let us know below and keep the iD Community in the know.

Netflix First of all, you’ll need to ensure you’re subscribed to the ‘Standard’ or ‘Premium’ plan. The Basic plan will only allow you to stream up to 420p and not Full HD (1080p) or Ultra HD (4K) that comes with the Premium plan. Netflix will automatically stream what you’re watching in a video quality based on your network speed. Now, adjusting your video quality on Netflix isn’t as straightforward as on YouTube; you’ll need to log into your Netflix online account. Once you’ve logged in, here’s how to set your playback preference to HD: Step 1: Select a profile on the home screen (any profile will do) Step 2: Hover over the user icon in the top right corner – this will bring up a drop-down with a list of options. Step 3: Select ‘Account’ Step 4: Under ‘Profile & Parental Controls’ select the drop-down arrow on the profile you’d like to set to HD streaming Step 5: Select ‘Playback Settings’ Step 6: On the ‘Playback Settings’ page, select ‘High’ and click ‘Save’ You’re all set! Every time you watch something, it’ll default to High Definition playback. To seamlessly stream in HD, you’ll need to get a speed of at least 5Mb per second when connected to the network – which is more than achievable when connected to iD’s 4G or 5G network. If you’re unsure about your network speed, Netflix has an ‘internet speed test’ within the app. You can get there by selecting your profile picture in the top right corner of the app, then tap ‘App Settings’, scroll down to the bottom, and you’ll find the ‘Internet speed test’ option under ‘About’, select it, and a speed test will open in a browser. Amazon Prime Video If you’re a Prime Video user, setting your stream quality to HD in the app is simple. Follow these 5 steps: Step 1: Open the Prime Video app Step 2: Tap ‘My Stuff’ on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen Step 3: Select the settings icon on the top right of the screen Step 4: Select ‘Streaming & Downloading’ Step 5: Choose between ‘Better’ or ‘Best’ Anything you stream going forward will automatically be streamed in HD! YouTube Setting your stream quality preference in the YouTube app is relatively straightforward; here’s how you do it: Step 1: Open the YouTube app Step 2: Tap your profile picture on the top left corner Step 3: Tap ‘Settings’ Step 4: Tap’ Video quality preferences’ Step 6: Select ‘On mobile networks’ Step 7: Select ‘Higher picture quality

Going on holiday is supposed to be all about chilling out and getting the most out of your trip. But what with packing, booking and finding your way around, sometimes trips overseas can even seem a bit more stress and then break. That’s why it’s always good to have your phone on hand. We’ve picked out some of the best travel apps around that are designed to make every aspect of your holiday that much easier. From booking your flight to working out what’s on the menu, there’s an app for that… Before you go… Booking your flight The good thing about booking online in that you can shop around for the cheapest flights. And Skyscanner makes that easy. Just put in your destination and the dates you want to travel and it’ll compare all available airlines. You can then filter by cheapest, fastest and even which flights have the lowest CO2 emissions. Skyscanner: Android / iOS Looking for accommodation For houses, it’s hard to beat Airbnb. Enter where you want to stay and the dates you’re staying and you’ll get a map of all available Airbnb properties, with photos and reviews to help you choose. You can also filter by how many people are staying and whether you’re taking pets. The great thing about this app is that you can contact the relevant hosts with any questions you have – making for a very personal experience. Airbnb: Android / iOS For hotels, there’s a huge choice of apps, but Hotels.com is one of the best. Search by location, dates and budgets and you’ll find a decent range of hotels to suit every budget. You’ll also find regular deals on rooms – especially if you’re a last-minute booker. Use the app often enough and you can collect rewards like free stays. Hotels.com: Android / iOS Package holidays Sometimes you just want an all-inclusive break with includes food, drinks, activities and pool access. It’s a great option when you’re taking the kids with you or if you just want to chill out and have it all done for you. This is where resorts really shine, and one of the leaders is Tui. They have resorts worldwide in loads of destinations which range from bucket and spade to luxury hotel. Tui: Android / iOS Packing Not sure what you’re going to need but worried about taking everything with you? Packpoint can help you make sense of what you’ll actually need depending on the destination, length of stay and what activities you’ll likely to do. The packing list it generates will even take into account weather forecasts and local conditions. Then you can simply tick things off the app as you pack them. Simple. Packpoint: Android / iOS While you’re there… Getting around Getting lost in an unfamiliar city can be a worry, especially when you’re not sure how to read street signs or navigate public transport. Google maps will always point you in the right direction and, because it’s internationally used, it’s pretty reliable. You can also download maps to view offline when you’re worried about eating through data. Google Maps: Android / iOS If you’re hiring a car on holiday, you might find Waze as a better bet. Yes, Google Maps does driving routes but these often don’t take into account local conditions and topography. Waze has a community base behind it. So, if you’re in a country that uses Waze, you’ll likely get a lot more accurate routes with updated info on things like road works and speed cameras. Waze: Android / iOS What to do Wherever you go, you’re bound to see restaurants and attractions proudly advertising their TripAdvisor score. And for good reason. TripAdvisor ratings are generated entirely by visitors like you dropping a rating. So, if a museum, coffee shop or theme park has got top marks, chances are you’re on to a winner. It’s got a very active community, so you can also hit its forums and get tips on just about anything – from food to try to where to catch the bus for that day trip. You can book most things directly through the app too. TripAdvisor: Android / iOS Being understood Go to France and you may be able to bluff some terrible GCSE French, but head to Japan and you might struggle a whole lot more. Google Translate to the rescue! It used to be that you’d type in a word and it could give you the equivalent language, but now it’s had some serious upgrading. Take a photo of a menu and it’ll turn it into English on the screen. You can even record sentences into it and it’ll then repeat that sentence back in anything from Japanese to Arabic. Probably not one to take on a date, but great if you want to know the way to the beach! Google Translate: Android / iOS Currency check Spending money on holiday is the easiest thing in the world to do because (in lots of destinations) you often feel like you’re getting a lot for your pound. But this can be deceptive. Xe Currency app is great to have on hand since you can easily check what that beer costs or how much that cab fare is really going to set you back. Not only can you check currency conversion in real time, but you can also send money to people all over the world. Super handy! Xe Currency: Android / iOS Eating out While you can find plenty of restaurants on TripAdvisor, The Fork is great for when you want to grab a bargain as well as a bite. Check out a destination or a restaurant and the app will show you when you can get a discount – up to 50% off your meal! There’s an active user community so you’ll get honest reviews from fellow travellers. Book regularly through the app and you get rewarded with Yums. You can spend these loyalty points at any restaurant signed up to the system. Dinner is on the house! The Fork: Android / iOS Splitting the bill If you’ve ever been on holiday, you know the headache of dividing up costs. There’s nothing that can sink that holiday spirit faster than bickering over bills. That’s where Splitwise rides to the general. At the start of the holiday, everybody jumps on the app and then adds every expense – from plane tickets to that round of ice creams. At the end of the holiday, Splitwise will then state who owes what. All’s square. Splitwise: Android / iOS Giveaway Time: - Closed There’s nothing worse than being out and about, taking pics on your phone, sharing with friends and family on social, and uh oh… the low battery notification pops up! Now you’re more worried about finding somewhere to charge your phone than enjoying the moment. We can help with that. Because this month we’re giving away a POWERTRAVELLER Merlin 75-Multi-Voltage portable power bank worth £95! With enough capacity to charge your phone up to 8 times, you don't need to worry about finding a plug socket ever again! Or not for a while, at least. To enter simply tell us your dream holiday destination below, whether it’s somewhere you’ve already been or are hoping to go one day, Let the Community know, and feel free to post a pic to go with your reply. Entries end on 23:59 on 20th June, and we’ll then pick one random winning post. We'll announce the lucky iD Community winner shortly after. T&Cs apply.

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If you’re looking for a new smartphone that can do all the thing you love doing, you’re in the right place. Here’s our pick of the latest and greatest Android phones, to help you make that all-important decision. Take a look – is your next dream phone one of these? Samsung Galaxy S22 5G The Galaxy S22 5G is a content creator’s dream with its revolutionary, AI-enhanced triple-lens camera setup. This includes a 50MP wide camera that automatically adjusts exposure and uses OIS (optical image stabilisation) to keep things steady - so you’ll be able to shoot the brightest, clearest, and most detailed photos ever seen on a Galaxy smartphone. And with the Nightography feature, you can now capture amazingly bright night-time videos and portrait shots. Thanks to the incredibly bright Dynamic AMOLED 2X 6.1-inch display you can stay entertained all through the sunniest days. And with a 10Hz-120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate, scrolling through your socials and swiping through screens feels super-smooth and responsive. The Galaxy S22 runs on a brand-new lightning-fast Exynos 2200 processor with 8GB of RAM. This is the fastest chip in a Galaxy smartphone yet, and performance is amazing no matter what you’re doing. If you’re into mobile gaming, you won’t experience a hint of lag while you’re trying to beat that fastest lap time or high score. The long-lasting 3,700mAh battery has been optimised to last all day, so you don’t have to lug a charger about with you when you’re on the go. And when you do need to power up, 25W Super Fast Charging will get you back up to speed in no time at all. Check out the Samsung Galaxy S22 here Google Pixel 6 Want a phone that delivers the best of the Android experience to your fingertips? You’re looking at it. The Pixel 6 is Google’s first ‘flagship’ smartphone, and combined with 5G and Android 12, it’s a total game-changer. The first things you’ll notice about the Google Pixel 6 are the two-tone design and the all-new bar style rear camera layout. It looks completely different to any other smartphone we’ve seen, and it houses one of the best dual-camera setups yet. A 50MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide lens, teamed with a bigger sensor that lets in 150% more light than the Google Pixel 5. Put simply, Night Sight never looked this good. It’s also the first ever smartphone to feature Google’s own Tensor chip, designed to make the most of everything Android has to offer. If you thought smartphones had already peaked, this one is almost twice as fast as the Pixel 5 and offers the most layers of hardware security. So, your data is fully in your control. At 6.4-inches, the Pixel 6 sits comfortably between bigger-screen smartphones and more compact designs, so you get the perfect balance of comfort and immersive entertainment everywhere you go. And with a 90Hz refresh rate, the touchscreen feels as smooth as the phone looks. Treat yourself to the Google Pixel 6 with iD Mobile Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Here’s a mid-range phone that really punches above its weight, with lots of features that you’d usually only find in much more expensive handsets. With the large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display and fluid 120Hz refresh rate, everything you do is super-smooth - from watching movies to lip-syncing on TikTok. The quad-camera setup is quality, made up of a 64MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP bokeh-effect camera (for those cool blurred background shots), and a 5MP macro camera for incredible close-ups. Shaky hands? No worries. Optical image stabilisation cuts out any blur, so photos are crisp, clear and Instagrammable. Plus, night mode has been upgraded, and now captures 12 shots in one for spectacular low-light results. The 5,000mAh battery is real beast, capable of lasting up to two days. And when you do eventually have to head to a plug, fast charging supported. So you can power it up to 50% in just 30 minutes – great if you’re running late. The Galaxy A53 is powered by Samsung's own Exynos 1280 processor, which gives you impressive performance and power efficiency. This is backed up with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. That’s enough for most users, but if you want to store lots of stuff on your phone, you can slot in a microSD card and get up to 1TB of data. That’s a whopping 1000GB! Find yourself a winning Samsung A53 5G deal with iD Mobile Samsung Galaxy A13 If you want a feature-packed phone without breaking the bank, the Galaxy A13 ticks all the boxes. The large Full HD+ 6.6-inch display is bright and clear, and perfect for all sorts of entertainment. Your favourite movies, Tik Tok videos and games will all look great. You’ve also got a quad-lens camera on board, with a 50MP main lens, 5MP ultra-wide, 2MP depth and 2MP macro camera for extreme close-ups. The main camera is great for zooming in on far-off subject, and you can go all the way up to 10x digital zoom. And if you’re a fan of selfies (who isn’t?) the 8MP front camera captures great portrait photos. Another quality feature on the Galaxy A13 is its large 5,000mAh battery, which will get you through a full day on a single charge. Then if you need to charge your phone quickly, it’s compatible with up to 15W rapid charging. Pick your perfect Samsung Galaxy A13 deal with iD Mobile Do you already have one of these awesome Androids? Looking forward to a release that isn’t out yet? Or are you using a phone you’re more than happy with? Share your thoughts with the rest of the Community below!

Looking to upgrade to a shiny new iPhone? iD Mobile has got you covered. We’ve got the latest and greatest iPhones, with everything that makes the Apple experience so good – all new iOS 15 software, effortless style, and cameras that set the standard. And you’re bound to find a top deal that works for you, right here. Let’s take a closer look at the line-up: iPhone SE (3rd Gen): The SE delivers the best of the iPhone experience to suit any budget. It has the same processor that’s used in the iPhone 13, and a more-than-capable 12MP camera that’ll shoot instantly shareable 4K footage at up to 60 fps. That’s impressive. With a 4.7-inch LCD screen, it’s the smallest iPhone available right now. It’s not full HD, but the iPhone SE still delivers bundles of clarity and colour, and the handset feels super comfy and natural to use single-handed. Elsewhere, the SE can run intensive AR apps and you can get over 9 hours battery on a single charge -and that’s with intensive use. Plus, with up to 256 GB storage, you can download as much as you like. Discover the iPhone SE with iD Mobile iPhone 11: This 2019 flagship is still a seriously good phone. It’s 6.1-inches, so slightly smaller than the iPhone XS Max of the previous year, but still great for big screen action sequences and gaming on the go. You can forget taking your charger everywhere with you, too. The iPhone 11 can continuously play videos for up to 17 hours on a full charge, making it a solid long-haul flight companion. On the back, the cameras double up with a Wide and Ultra-Wide lens. It’s a versatile setup and able to capture frame-worthy images both close up and at a distance, with 2x optical and 5x digital zoom. Combined with Apple’s smart AI, you don’t have to be a professional photographer to get it picture perfect. Check out iD Mobile’s iPhone 11 plans . iPhone 12: There’s loads to love about the iPhone 12, starting with its Super Retina XDR OLED display. Because every pixel is self-lit, the iPhone 12 has plenty of sharpness and colour precision to make your movies and games pop. And at 6.1 it doesn’t trade in-hand comfort for the big screen experience . Backed by the A14 Bionic processor and its 5G compatibility, the iPhone 12 is an epic multitasker. It can download big files while you flick from app to app at the same time, without feeling any slower. Crank up the settings on your games, or move straight onto the next episode of your show without any waiting around. That snappy responsiveness is great news for both the front and rear cameras, too. You can get that perfect action shot the moment it happens with minimal shutter lag, or go Ultra HD at a beautifully smooth 60 fps when you record. Find your perfect iPhone 12 deal with iD Mobile . iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini: With the newest iPhones, Apple have taken everything users love about the iPhone 12 and added more oomph to the hardware. It’s that good, the new A15 Bionic processor is currently the best performing smartphone chip around, a record that its predecessor, the A14 Bionic comfortably held until now. Elsewhere, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini screen sizes are 6.1 and 5.4 inches respectively. That gives you the choice between the 13’s larger screen for immersive gaming and entertainment. Or you could opt for the Mini’s more compact display for ergonomic comfort on the go. Whichever you choose, the Super Retina XDR display makes the content on screen really stand out. Flip the phones over and the dual camera systems on both offer the same qualities. They can shoot in new Cinematic Mode, which shifts the focus between people in the frame, and the cameras can even capture more light – great for those detailed night-time shots. All that photography is going to use battery, but don’t worry. These iPhones have enough power to give you 6 hours of screen time before they’d need a recharge. But battery saving tech can help you take that further. And with a minimum of 128GB storage, you won’t need to delete apps or photos to free up space. Treat yourself to a great iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Mini deal at iD Mobile. iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max: The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are up there with the most powerful flagship smartphones around. That, along with its amazing triple camera system and ground-breaking battery make both phones a real winner. Screen sizes come in at 6.1-inches for the Pro and a generous 6.7-inches for the Pro Max, with maximum refresh rates of 120hz and increased brightness. That means these phones offer the smoothest visual experience on an iPhone yet. Like taking photos up close to your subject? You’re in luck. When you move in with the iPhone 13 Pro’s ultra-side lens, it instantly triggers Macro mode. With this, you can get as close a 2cm away from what you’re photographing, and still get a detail-rich picture. Not only that, but the all-new Cinematic Mode makes an appearance here too, so you can get really creative with your videos. As for the battery, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max set new standards for smartphones. The iPhone 13 Pro can play streamed video for 20 hours, while the iPhone Pro Max clocks in for a huge 25. That’s over two seasons’ worth of TV entertainment on a single charge! Like the battery life, storage capacity takes a massive leap too. With options up to an epic 1TB of onboard space, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max are as roomy as it gets. Power up with the iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max with iD Mobile.

Android: What’s new? Coming to the end of your phone contract and ready for something new? You’re in the right place. Since the last time you treated yourself to a new device, smartphones have got better… a lot better. These days, you can find a great smartphone to suit any budget. Here are a few of our favourites, and how they shape up against the smartphones of yesteryear. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G One of the biggest developments to reshape the smartphone world recently is the introduction of speedy 5G. While it was an exclusive feature for the most premium phones only two years ago, we’re starting to see it introduced in mid-range handsets like the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G. And it’s a hugely welcome addition. That’s not the only thing that’s new, though. If you’re moving on from the Samsung Galaxy A51, you’ll notice plenty more technological leaps. Like the display, for instance. They both have a 6.5-inch screen, but this time around, Samsung have doubled the refresh rate to a flagship-standard 120 Hz. That means scrolling, gaming, and watching shows feels twice as smooth. Speaking of gaming, the new Galaxy A53 is also armed with a Exynos 1280 chip. This allows the phone to run a lot smoother, and much much faster – perfect for on-the-go gaming. If you’re aiming for Insta-worthy selfies, look no further than the A53’s new 64MP primary camera. Expect higher quality snaps and videos compared to the A51, even in low-light settings – all thanks to the LED front camera flash. Elsewhere, the A53 adds more power in every possible way. It’s got a much longer battery life and faster charging capabilities to keep you going for longer. And while the A51 is limited to the One UI 4.1 operating system, the A53 comes pre-installed with Android 12, and will benefit from four major OS updates all the way up to Android 16! Find your perfect Samsung Galaxy A53 5G plan with iD Mobile Google Pixel 6 While smartphones have really stepped in recent years, it could be said that Google are leading the charge. While every Google Pixel up until now was deemed a solid mid-range phone, the Google Pixel 6 is the brand’s first fully-fledged flagship. With the Google Pixel 6, you’ll find key upgrades wherever possible. It has plenty of extras when compared to the previous Pixel 4a. From a fresh new design and camera setup to more RAM, wireless charging, and a huge battery that’s a whopping 47% bigger than the Pixel 4a. Elsewhere, Google have made the highly anticipated move from Snapdragon processors to their very own Google Tensor chip. This may not sound like a big deal, but the Tensor chip’s boost in power means the Pixel 6 is so much faster than all previous models. Perhaps one of the most exciting features of the new Pixel 6 is the camera setup. It’s fronted by a big 50MP lens that’s versatile enough to capture a range of scenes in style. And don’t forget about photo editing. It’s become much more streamlined thanks to the new Tensor OS. Take advantage of the Magic Eraser to seamlessly remove unwanted objects or people from the background. The best part? The Magic Eraser will work on any photo you have – not just the ones taken on your new Pixel 6. Pick your perfect Google Pixel 6 deal with iD Mobile Samsung Galaxy S22 | S22+ Say hello to something that’s truly cutting-edge. Samsung’s latest flagship Galaxy S22 range is a real head-turner. The S22 and S22+ come packed with enough 5G tech to power through downloads and intensive multitasking. And the S22’s also got some really cool hidden tricks that can transform the way you use it. The S22 isn’t too different from the S21 (apart from some showstopping changes to the display, battery, and camera). But when you compare it to the Galaxy S20, that’s when you really get to see the difference. Without forgetting the upgraded chip, OS and FHD+ display, the S22’s standout feature is undoubtedly the advancement in camera quality. Compared to the S20’s 12MP camera with 1.1x optical zoom, the S22 is miles ahead of the game. It boasts a 50MP primary camera with a 10MP lens and 3x optical zoom. This means better portrait shots and improved low-light snaps. Although the Galaxy S22 and S22+ are similar in the design department, the S22+ supports a bigger screen, slightly better displays and a huge battery compared to the S22. Take a look at iD Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S22 5G deals and Samsung Galaxy S22+ deals now. Ready to upgrade? Ready to upgrade to a brand-new phone? If you’ve been with iD Mobile for a while, you could be eligible for a great value deal on a range of the latest handsets. Find out more about upgrades and find a deal you’ll love with iD Mobile.

Every year brings a new iPhone line-up and with them, new innovations that make the experience that much better. Whether it’s ground-breaking camera tech like Cinematic Mode, ever-smarter AI or an all-new iOS operating system, the latest iPhones can do things that simply weren’t possible even just a few years ago. So, how does Apple’s iPhone line-up compare to previous generations? iPhone SE3 (2022) vs iPhone SE2 (2020) Great iPhone features, with a much smaller price tag – the entry-level iPhone SE is well loved for good reason. But how does the newest 2022 version compare to the 2020 SE2? Both the 2nd and 3rd generation iPhone SEs have the same look and feel – they’re both a bit bigger than the original SE, but still very compact by today’s phone standards. The main difference in the newer 3rd gen is the durable ceramic shield glass and aluminium frame. Spec-wise, you’re going from an A13 chip, to the A15, which means way more power. The SE3 also has up to two hours more battery, and better graphics for your games and videos. And let’s not forget that fast 5G connection either. Take a look at iPhone SE plans with iD Mobile . iPhone 12 vs iPhone XR and XS Even now, the iPhone XR and XS are great phones. We still love their OLED screens, good cameras, and reliable processors. (And Apple are supporting software upgrades for the foreseeable). But if you want 5G – and who doesn’t want lightning-fast internet? – then the iPhone 12 pulls ahead. The iPhone 12 also has a brilliant Super Retina XDR display that makes everything look crisp and bright, as well as the A14 Bionic chip that lets you get more done. When it comes to cameras, the iPhone 12 storms ahead – it has larger sensors to let in more light, which means you’ll get much better low-light shots. Last but not least, the iPhone 12 came out in a load more colour options, so if green, blue or red are a bit of you, the iPhone 12 is your best bet. Find the perfect iPhone 12 plan for you at iD Mobile. iPhone 13 vs iPhone 11 Compared to the iPhone 11 from two years ago, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini offer several big tech leaps. The A15 Bionic chip outperforms every processor that came before on things like general performance, graphics, and battery, making the iPhone 13 even more reliable. The iPhone 13 may have the same screen size as the iPhone 11, but it’s more compact, has narrower borders and a smaller notch. Like the best TVs, it also has an OLED display for those realistic colours. And the cameras? The iPhone 13 has a similar camera setup when you compare the specs (they both have dual 12 MP cameras on the back, and another on the front) but the 13 has way more tech packed in. You get better low-light shots, as well as cool features like HDR video. Need space? We all use more phone storage than we did just two years ago. That’s why Apple have doubled the minimum storage capacity to 128GB – more than enough for movies, apps, music, and photos. Discover your new iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Mini at iD Mobile. Want to find out more about the iPhone 13? Then check out our more in-depth review of the iPhone 13 range here Ready to upgrade to a brand-new iPhone? If you’re coming to the end of your contract, you could be eligible for a great value deal on a range of the latest handsets? Find out more about upgrades and get a great value deal with iD Mobile.

Contactless is the new way to pay – letting you use your phone to get that coffee without needing to grab your wallet or take your debit card out. Google and Apple Pay are essentially wallets in your phone, storing your card info so that you can pay for things with just a tap of your phone. As more and more businesses are becoming card only, and almost everywhere takes card and contactless payments, it’s good to know how to get your phone set up. And what’s the difference between Google Pay and Apple Pay anyway? Well, we’re here to break it down and explain everything you need to know about these payment services. Let’s start with a quick explainer: Google Pay The name is pretty self-explanatory – this is Google’s Pay app. It’s only available from the Google Play Store and is the go-to wallet app for most Android users. You can save loads of cards, including membership (that’s your nectar points sorted) and it’s easy to switch which card you want to use. Key features: - Your information is protected with loads of security- No maximum transaction limit (but you’ll need to unlock your phone to spend over £45)- Can be used anywhere contactless is accepted- No PIN needed- Can be used to check out in apps and websites- If your phone is lost or stolen you can lock your phone or wipe your data completely Download from the Google Play Store How to get set up: - Download Google Pay from the Play Store- Open the app and follow the setup instructions- When you’re asked to, add a card (or as many as you want)- And you’re done! Apple Pay Much like Google Pay, Apple Pay does what it says on the tin. It’s Apple’s Pay app. If you have an iPhone, it will already be ready to go – no download needed. Key features: - Your information is protected with loads of security- Wallet app keeps all your passes, credit and debit cards in one place- Can be used anywhere contactless is accepted- No PIN needed, but you will need to use TouchID or FaceID- Can be used to check out in apps and websites, as well as for Apple services- If your phone is lost or stolen you can block Apple Pay from being used How to get set up: - It’s already on your iPhone, so go to the Wallet app- Press the Add button- Select debit or credit card – then Continue- Follow the steps on the screen- Verify with your bank or card issuer- And you’re good to go Is it safe to use contactless? Yes! Apple Pay requires you use FaceID, TouchID or your passcode to allow a purchase, so if someone picks up your phone, they can’t use your card. And because your card details aren’t stored on your phone or given to any shops or businesses you use, no one can steal your bank or card details. Google Pay’s the same – much safer than using cards or cash. Google holds onto your info so that when you pay for something, the shop doesn’t receive your details. And if your phone is stolen, you can wipe your data completely to stop anyone accessing your information. Google Pay vs Apple Pay Time for the clash of the titans (if the titans were different payment apps and they were almost identical). Apple Pay is only available on iPhones and other Apple devices like Apple Watch, while Google Pay is available on any device, but you’ll need to download it on your iPhone. As a rule of thumb, if you have an Android device, Google Pay’s your best bet, and if you’re an iPhone user, Apple Pay. But let’s compare them anyway. We’d say Apple Pay is easier to use (mainly because you don’t need to download anything), but the key difference is how they handle data. Apple doesn’t store your card details or track your purchases, while Google does keep hold of your details and transaction history – functioning a lot more like a real-world wallet would. Pros and Cons of Apple and Google Pay We love a list, so let’s break it down with some pros and cons of using Google and Apple Pay: Pros: - Easy to set up- High security – way safer than using physical cards and cash- They’re both free- You can add multiple cards- Compatible with any Oyster touchpoint for travelling around London- Fingerprint and face recognition makes payment more secure than a PIN number- Your payment details aren’t given to the seller when you pay for something Cons: - Only compatible with NFC phones (most smartphones nowadays will have NFC built-in)- Not accepted EVERYWHERE. Most places, including markets, will have a contactless payment option, but it’s not a given.- Sometimes card readers can reject contactless, or you have to tap in a few times to get it working.- If your phone dies, and you didn’t bring a wallet, you might be a bit stuck. Worth keeping a card on you just in case and, of course, keep an eye on your battery! Top tip: Find out where your NFC point is in your phone. It’s often in the middle, so make sure to tap the centre of your phone (not the top) against the contactless reader for the best connection. Do you use Google Pay or Apple Pay? Or do you have any more questions about getting started with using contactless? Let us know in the comments!

Do you have any old phones and pre-loved items? Here’s how to cash in on them. Be honest. Do you just stick your old phone in a drawer when you get a new one? Still have outdated tech you haven’t used in yonks? Old clothes in the wardrobe you’ll never wear again? If so, why not try and cash in on some of it? It’s easier than you think… Sell your old stuff online There are loads of great apps to help making selling your old stuff easy. Here are a few of the best. Remember, the more popular the app, the more potential buyers there are: Depop – a fashion marketplace for lots of different styles. Here’s a brilliant place for getting rid of your old clothes and accessories. The best way of describing Depop is like a mash up of eBay and Instagram. You can set up your own profile on Depop, so take your time and give it lots of thought. Make it an attractive store-front to attract customers that share your style, and you could be onto a winner. Free to download on iOS and Android Vinted – sell your clothes, toys and homeware all in one place. Vinted is another great app for selling your unloved clutter. It’s quick and easy to upload your items – just take a pic and add a price and description – and wait for it to sell. If it does, you’ll get the listed price minus a ‘buyer protection fee’ (somewhere between 3-8% of the total price). Free to download on iOS and Android eBay – the world’s biggest online marketplace Yep, you can put almost anything up for auction on eBay, and if you put a reasonable price on your item you almost always get a bid. Just make sure you don’t end up bidding for more stuff than you’re actually selling. You’ll never make any money doing that. Free to download on iOS and Android Facebook Marketplace – the selling and buying part of Facebook One of the best things about selling on Facebook Marketplace is that it’s so quick and easy. Just click on Marketplace, tap ‘What are you listing’ field and choose ‘Items for Sale’. Fill out the details of your product, and it goes up for sale (we’ve got it down to less than a minute, but no pressure). You can then put your listing in any local for-sale groups you’re a member of. Facebook is, of course, free to download on iOs and Android Gumtree – a classified ads platform used by millions You can list almost anything on Gumtree, from toys and trinkets to motorbikes and cars. You’ll even find jobs and houses on there. It’s got a powerful local search function, so your next buyer could be literally around the corner! You can also have conversations with people interested in your stuff, and perhaps offer them a cheeky discount for a quick sale. Free to download on iOS and Android Trade in your old mobile phone and tech If you’ve got any old phones lying around, why not Trade it in with iD Mobile. Send us your old phone, and we’ll send you money! Simply as. Check out our Trade-in page to find out how much you could get for your old phone or for more info. Alternatively , if you’ve got old tech you don’t want, you can recycle it responsibly with Currys . They’re the number one tech recycler in the UK. Take your unwanted tech along to one of their stores, and they’ll dispose of it for you in special recycling bins. If your tech’s too big for you to carry, they’ll collect it from your home for a small fee. Have we missed any of your favourite selling sites and services? Got any tips for getting top cash for old tat? Share your thoughts with the Community in the comments below.

Whether you’ve just got a shiny new Android phone (congrats!) or have been attached to your trusty old one for years, here are some of our favourite hacks and tips to help you get the most from it… 1. Track your Android phone There’s nothing worse than losing your phone. That’s where Android’s ‘Find My Device’ feature can help! If you added a Google account to your Android device during set up, then ‘Find My Device’ is automatically turned on. So, if the worst ever happens (fingers crossed it doesn’t, obviously) and your phone goes missing, you can track it down. Just type 'android.com/find' into your web browser, and log in with the same Google account that you added to your phone. You’ll then be able to see the location of your device. Hopefully, it will show your own address, or a close friend or family member. Then it shouldn’t be too difficult to track it down, and you can even make it ring out loud to aid your search (providing it can access the internet, and ‘location’ is turned on). If your missing phone is at a location you don’t recognise, then ‘Find My Device’ has a few other features to stop someone you don’t know from using your phone. First of all, you can erase all the data from it remotely. Then you can lock it down to prevent access, and write a message that’ll appear on the lock screen. So if a good Samaritan finds it, they’ll be able to get in touch. 2. Show emergency contact info on your lock screen If you’re using a pattern, fingerprint or pin lock on your Android phone, you’ve got the option of putting contact details (like an email address or other phone number) on the lock screen. Then if you lose your phone, someone can get back to you using that contact info. To do this, go to: System settings > Security > Personal >> Lock screen & Security >> Add your alternate mobile number. 3. Use custom caller ringtones It's always good to know who’s calling you. And a fun way of doing this is by assigning custom ringtones to regular callers like your friends and family. To do this, go to the Contacts app > Choose the person >> menu options >> edit >> assign ringtone. You can choose any default or custom ringtone, or an mp3 song if you want to personalise things even more. 4. Take a cheeky screenshot Quick! If you want to grab a screenshot of what’s on your phone (such as webpages, text messages, or proof of getting an awesome high-score on your favourite game), here’s a speedy way of doing it: Hold down your power and volume buttons at exactly the same time. You’ll know it’s worked because the screen flashes and you hear a shutter sound. Your image will then be saved to your gallery. 5. Take it easy, and disable your lock screen To keep your phone safe, you might have set up a PIN code or fingerprint scanner to unlock it. Wise move - but it does make it more inconvenient to access your apps. Google's Smart Lock feature lets you remove these security obstacles, giving you instant access to your stuff - but only when you're safely at home. To enable Smart Lock, go to Settings > Security > Smart Lock. As well as disabling the lock screen when you're at home (that's the trusted places option), you can also disable the lock screen when your phone's Bluetooth is connected to a trusted device, like your car stereo. Ideal for long car journeys. 6. Download the iD Mobile app from the Google Play Store Of course we had to add this one in… but we think it’s very cool! You can control your iD Mobile account on-the-go (check allowances, view bills, set a cap, change your plan and more) by simply downloading the iD Mobile app from the Google Play Store. We’ll let you into a little secret too - it’s completely free to download, and won’t eat any of your data allowance if you’re not connected to Wi-Fi! 7. Transfer your old apps and data to your new Android phone Getting a new phone can be amazing… but also a little tricky if you want to bring all your apps, music and photos with you. Whether you’re switching from an old Android or iPhone, check out our guide to find out how to seamlessly switch everything over to your new Android phone! Read more about how to switch your data here 8. Install some apps One of the big advantages of a smartphone…all kinds of apps to explore and download from the Google Play store! To find the Google Play Store simply look for the icon in your menu or search ‘Google Play Store’ using your phone’s search bar. Open it up and get discovering! Some apps are free to download and some you may need to purchase. Prices are clearly displayed under the app title and you can also check out reviews from users to help you decide whether to buy. 9. Say hello to Wi-Fi Calling Wi-Fi Calling is available for selected Android phones on iD Mobile, and it’s a really handy feature. It lets you use Wi-Fi to make calls and send texts when coverage isn’t great. If you’re in a remote location or hit an indoor blackspot, it could be just what you need. Read more about Wi-Fi Calling here And there you have it! Our 9 tips to help you get the most from your Android phone. Any questions on what you’ve read? Or would you like to share some tips of your own? Then go ahead and post a reply below.

Getting food and groceries delivered to our homes is at an all-time high. Last year alone, delivery service use grew by 123%. All you need is a phone and a few choice apps, and you can have meals and groceries delivered to your door in minutes. But which delivery services are the best for you? With so much choice out there, we thought we’d highlight some of the best there is and make it simple for you to work out which ones would suit you. Some are UK wide, while others are exclusive to major cities. Some offer delivery in minutes while with others you have to book a slot and wait your turn. Let’s see which services really deliver… 😉 Takeaways: Just Eat Did somebody say Just Eat? You’ve probably seen the ads, but what’s in it for you? Just Eat delivers to lots of cities and regions in the UK and cover big high street names like McDonald’s, Greggs as well as loads of small restaurants. Their app makes finding your perfect takeaway easy, but they currently lack options like seeing how far away your takeaway is. There’s a delivery and service charge with each order, but you might prefer that to walking to the takeaway in the rain! Uber Eats Uber is a global phenomenon for competitively priced taxi rides, but did you know that they’ve got into the takeaway game too? And because it’s Uber, you can always see how far away your food is. While Uber Eats isn’t always the cheapest option, they regularly run promotions and offers – so it’s a great pick if you love a discount code! Deliveroo Deliveroo was one of the earliest app-based takeaway options, and they’re incredibly well established. They not only cover high street favourites like KFC and McDonald’s, but you can also order anything from daily groceries to a bottle of wine. With each order, you’ll be charged a service fee and delivery charge, but you can also go premium to get free delivery on all orders. It’s a great option if you’re using Deliveroo regularly. Groceries and ingredients: Oddbox Getting your food delivered doesn’t just mean takeaway. Aspiring chefs who like to do their bit for the planet should look into services like Oddbox. Founded in London in 2016, Oddbox works with farmers to deliver fruit and veg that is still delicious but may be a bit wonky for supermarkets to stock – and so would be wasted otherwise. They currently deliver to London, Bristol and much of the South of England, but are expanding their delivery service. Watch this space! Ocado If you don’t want to spend Saturdays pushing a trolley around Waitrose or M&S, Ocado is a great alternative. You can get thousands of groceries from big brands. But it’s not for little shops, since the minimum spend is £40. The good news is that you’ll likely get a next-day delivery slot between 7am and 10pm, so it’s great for weekend deliveries. Spend a little extra and you can get a SmartPass, which gives you priority access to the most popular slots. They’re also committed to reducing CO2 emissions and using recycled carrier bags. Getir Fancy a snack or need an essential ingredient? When you need groceries right away, Getir gets them to you. Getir reckons it can get you what you need in as little as 10 minutes, and cover lots of major UK cities. Their app contains 1,500 products which updates in real time, so you won’t have to make do with substitutions. There are always deals and promotions, so you won’t miss out on those supermarket bargains either. The delivery fee will vary depending upon where you live and how much you order, but it’ll save you from making a trip to the shops. DIY meals: Pasta Evangelists Love pasta but can’t wait? Pasta Evangelists let you choose from 10 recipes a week and they offer next-day delivery that fits right through your letter box. The sauces are premade, so you’ll just need 10 minutes to heat up the pasta. Vegans and vegetarians are well catered for, with authentic recipes like orecchiette with pesto and a pistachio crumb. Fancy! HelloFresh If you love restaurant quality cooking, but don’t fancy peeling potatoes, HelloFresh gives you the best of both worlds. Sign up for their service and they’ll send you a pre-prepared meal kit that you can put together at home in as little as 20 minutes. They offer three different plans – family, classic or rapid – plus you can decide how many meals you want a week. And it’s all pretty good value. Sign up for three recipes a week for two people and it comes in at £5 a meal. Not bad for a seafood linguine! Allplants Lots of us are either trying out veganism or at least making an effort to cut down on meat, but thinking up quick vegan options on a weeknight can be a headscratcher. Allplants currently have 50+ different ready meals to choose from, including a jackfruit burrito bowl or mushroom risotto. And since they come in recycling friendly packaging, you can just heat them up straight away or keep them in the freezer for when you need them. Meals come in at about £7-8 per serving, so maybe not the cheapest, but subscribe and buy in bulk and you’ll make savings. Delivery is UK-wide and free on weekdays, but there’s a small charge for the weekend. Competition Time - Closed This month, we want to know which is your favourite delivery service and why? Maybe it's the convenience of Ocado, perhaps you like a cheeky Uber Eats, or you could be a "pasta evangelist". Those who share their thoughts will be in with the chance to win... a £100 Uber Eats voucher! The competition ends at 23:59 on 20th May 2022, and we'll announce the lucky iD community winner shortly after. T&C's apply.

If you’re in a ‘tricking’ mood for Halloween, we’ve unearthed some of the spookiest and scariest apps to get one over on your unsuspecting friends, family and work colleagues. But be warned – some of these are not for the squeamish or those of a nervous disposition. Scare Prank Get it FREE on Android Here’s the deal with Scare Prank. It’s cunningly disguised as a reaction game, where you – or your unsuspecting friend – are asked to perform simple tasks such as tapping the screen when two boats meet each other. But just as they become fully engrossed and are staring intently at the display, guess what? A horrific ghost-child type thing then flashes up on the screen, accompanied by a blood-curdling scream. The fake game is very well done, so we reckon it’ll easily fool most people. And if you turn the volume on your phone right up, it’s even more effective! Scary Prank: Scare Your Friends With Prank Ghosts Get it FREE on iOS If you’ve got an iPhone, Scary Prank is the app to go for. It’s the same kind of thing as Scare Prank above – it looks like a game (a fun multiple choice quiz, to be exact), but a screaming ghost jumps out half way through, to turn your unsuspecting victim into a gibbering nervous wreck. Scare Your Friend Get it FREE on Android Scare Your Friend lets you choose a horrifying image and a frightening sound. You then simply hand your phone to an unsuspecting victim, and after the amount of time you specified, all hell breaks loose. There’s a nice range of set-up choices at the beginning, and the images are great – scary clowns are always a good choice. There’s no actual game or anything to trick your mate with, so you’ll need to do a bit of careful planning to make sure they’re looking at the phone when the fright comes. Creepy Video Calls Get it FREE on iOS If you’ve got a friend with coulrophobia (that’s a fear of clowns), then download this app, tell them someone wants to speak to them, and hand them the phone. They’ll be ‘treated’ to a special video call from a creepy killer clown – voiced by a professional voice actor, no less. Best of all, their reaction will be recorded with your front-facing video camera, so they won’t be able to deny how terrified they were. Ghost Lens Get it FREE on iOS and Android No list of scary apps would be complete without one that lets you add spine-chilling images to your actual real-life photographs. Ghost Lens is one of the best around, because it also lets you create spook-tacular videos. If you’ve ever wanted to see what it looks like when your spirit leaves your body, now’s your chance. If you prefer, you can float in the air, swap body parts or create a ghost twin… the choice of vile video is all yours. And when you’re happy with your macabre masterpiece, you can share it with friends - or indeed, anyone you think might actually believe you’ve captured footage of your very own ghost twin… If you try out any of these apps over Halloween, let us know how you get on with them. And if you’ve come across any other devilishly good apps to trick your mates, feel free to share. Just reply below.

The iPhone 13 Range: Since iPhone first launched back in 2007, few events in the tech calendar consistently drum up as much excitement as a new Apple release. Fans expect something big when September rolls around, and this year was no exception. A new iPad, iPad Mini and Apple Watch Series 7 all made a feature at the California-based launch. But of course, we can’t forget the main attraction: meet iPhone 13! Like last year’s line-up, four models were announced: iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. With plenty of new features to dive into, including the jaw-dropping Cinematic Mode and the most powerful smartphone chip yet, let’s take a closer look… The Des ign: When it comes to design, why change a good thing? Each iPhone 13 model has the same size screen as its iPhone 12 predecessor, starting from the pocket-sized iPhone 13 Mini up to the 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 range was praised for its stunning look and feel, so it’s great to see Apple double-down on what iPhone users like. There are a few changes we shouldn’t overlook though: the dual camera system on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini switches to a diagonal layout, and the phones themselves are made much more sustainably. Those smooth plastic antenna lines are made from recycled bottles, so the phone has some cool eco credentials. The iPhone 13 has a host of colour options: Product Red, Starlight, Midnight, Blue and Pink. For those wanting the iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max, there’s Graphite, Silver and Gold options, plus Sierra Blue, a new lighter, brighter, more metallic shade than the iPhone 12 Pro’s Pacific Blue. Colour Scheme: As for colours, the iPhone 13 has a host of options. It’s available in Product Red, Starlight, Midnight, Blue and Pink. Pick your favourite and showcase your style! The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max retain the Graphite, Silver and Gold options, while introducing all new Sierra Blue. It’s a lighter, brighter, more metallic shade than the iPhone 12 Pro’s Pacific Blue finish, and we think it’s a real winner. Incredible OLED: Like the iPhone 12 range, every iPhone 13 screen’s a Super Retina XDR OLED – but this time they’re even better. These screens can go up to 25% brighter, meaning you can easily carry on watching or scrolling when you step outside. And the iPhone 13 Pro and Max both now have a 120Hz ProMotion display like the iPad Pro, which adjusts to whatever you’re doing. We’ve spoken about refresh rates before, and it’s great to see Apple upgrade to 120Hz. It means smoother scrolling, smoother gaming and smoother viewing. Lights, Camera, Action! Camera quality is a key smartphone feature, and few do it as well as Apple. Both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini have a new wide-angle lens which lets in 47% more light, meaning less image noise (blur) and more detail. Put simply: it shoots better, brighter and clearer photos. It’s not just the wide lens though - the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro have larger apertures, while the Pro has the skills to capture 2.2x as much light as the iPhone 12 Pro, making it the best iPhone for night-time photography. Elsewhere on the Pro, autofocus has been added to the ultra-wide lens, so you can get even more creative. Now that macro photography is an option, the iPhone 13 Pro is powerful enough to shoot close-up shots, like rain droplets on leaves. Videos Get Cinematic: The unveiling of Cinematic Mode was something truly different from previous iPhones. Essentially, shooting in this mode allows the focus to automatically shift with the action on screen. Combined with AI, it can even anticipate when a new object is about to move into shot, shifting the focus automatically. This filming technique usually means manually refocusing mid shot - so it’s amazing that Apple has managed to replicate it with a killer combo of hardware and software. It even works with the selfie camera, too. And for even more creative control, you can manually change the focus by tapping your screen or locking onto another object in the shot. Power up With every iPhone comes a new standard-setting chip. The iPhone 13 is no different – its chip is powered by a A15 bionic processor, which Apple claims to be the “fastest chip in a smartphone”, running up to 50% faster than competitors. Though the iPhone 13 and Pro models have the same chip, the regular iPhone will have 4 graphics cores while the Pro has 5, meaning the Pro is better for gaming and editing videos. But make no mistake, with A15 and 5G together, each iPhone 13 from the Mini to the Pro Max is a multitasker’s dream. Better Battery As well as being faster, the new chip is also more efficient. So expect the battery to get you further. In fact, iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 13 Pro will give you 1.5 hours more power in a day compared to their iPhone 12 counterparts, while iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max offer 2.5 hours on last year’s models. More storage... We can’t talk iPhone without mentioning storage. These days we rely on our phones more than ever, and that requires more storage. That’s why this year, Apple has effectively doubled storage capacity compared to iPhone 12. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini have 128GB, 256GB and 512GB options to choose from – so whichever you go for, you’ve got plenty of room for all your apps, games and files. As for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, these smartphones get a gargantuan storage upgrade. As well as 128GB, 256GB and 512GB options, there’s now a fourth 1TB option. That’s roughly enough space for 250 movies and is likely to be even more storage than your laptop. When and where is the iPhone 13 range available? Want to get your hands on the latest iPhone? Pre-order the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro now - and all iPhone 13 handsets will be available on Friday September 24th. iD is offering great deals on the latest iPhone line-up, combined with all the flexibility and control you need. Enjoy ultra-fast 5G coverage, roll over your unused data, cap your out-of-plan charges and stay fully on top of your expenses from the iD app, right there on a gorgeous new iPhone.

Data is your hero when you’re out and about and unable to connect to a Wi-Fi network. Whether you need to WhatsApp someone, post something on social media, find your way using maps, or stream your favourite show, we’re more reliant on mobile data than ever before. Yet we all know it can be pricey if you go over your monthly limit – and a huge mobile bill is the last thing you need. Luckily, we’ve put together tips and tricks for tracking and curbing your data usage, so you can still enjoy using your data and avoid any potential charges. Tracking Your Data Usage Tracking your data usage Okay, so we may be biased here; if you’re an iD Mobile customer, the best way to track your data usage is to use the iD Mobile app. The app is free to use (it doesn’t use up any of your data), and best of all, it’s real-time, so you’ll see exactly how much you’ve got left at the point you’re checking it. How to check your data usage using the iD Mobile App: Open iD Mobile app > Log in > Your remaining allowances for that month will appear on the Dashboard tab (It’s that simple). You can also track your data usage on your device; however, this can be misleading as it’s not based on your exact billing month. If you’re using an Apple phone, you’ll need to manually reset your counter when your allowances refresh. And on an Android phone, it’ll be based on the calendar month and not your billing month. So, we’d always recommend the iD Mobile app as your first port of call. Nonetheless, here’s how you check your data usage on your phone: Apple (iOS) Open Settings > Select Mobile Data > Scroll Down to the apps List - your data usage is shown under ‘Current Period’. Please note that your ‘Current Period’ is not your billing month but a calculation since you last manually reset your counter. Android Open Settings > Select Network & internet settings > Select data usage – your data usage for that calendar month will be shown on the screen. Top tips to reduce your data usage Use Wi-Fi whenever you can This one’s simple. Wi-Fi is free and it’s pretty much everywhere. Whether you’re in a café, park or shop, chances are there will be Wi-Fi near you. Sometimes you might have to sign up with an email address, but increasingly Wi-Fi is free to use and anybody can access it. If you do have to get a password, the good news is that your phone will remember it for next time, and you’ll be able to connect automatically. Restrict background data There’s no point allowing apps to sap data when you’re not using them. Restrict your background data to stop this happening. It’s not a magical solution – you’ll still to make sure you have enough data in your plan to cover your usage – but it will help save mobile data for apps you are using. On Android: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi & Internet > Data usage > Cellular data usage. Click on an individual app, then untick Background data – this means you’ll only use data when you’re using the app. On iOS: Restrict all background data – go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and set the slider to off. Restrict individual apps – go to Settings > General > Restrictions and Enable Restrictions. Once you’ve set a PIN number, you can go through each app individually. Using maps? Go offline We all depend on maps and GPS to get us around, but they can be a massive drain on data. The good news is that you can now download maps and use them offline. How? Just open Google Maps and find the area you want to map. On Android: Once you’ve found the place you want to download, tap the bottom and a larger menu will pop up. Tap Download. You’ll find your downloads under Offline maps under the Google Maps menu. On iOS: Open the menu in Google Maps, then tap Offline areas and then the plus icon on the lower right. Select the area you want to download, press Download, name it and tap Save. Use streaming services with offline options Loads of us are YouTube bingers and are subscribed to all kinds of channels. The problem is that it’s easy to burn through all your data in just one kitten video marathon. Fortunately, Youtube Red is a subscription service where you can download videos and watch them offline any time. If music is what your data gets used on, try Apple Music, Google Play Music or Spotify. Most will offer a feature where you can download your favourite songs and albums. If podcasts are more your thing, apps like Castbox will automatically download episodes of your fave podcasts when WiFi is present, so there’s no need to waste data. Change your browsing habits Most sites will automatically have mobile versions, but always choose the mobile version if given the option. Try not to delete your browser cache either. Yes, it does take up a little space on your phone, but it will save your phone from downloading everything from websites you frequently visit. You can also compress pages before downloading – which saves you even more data. But how? On Chrome: Tap the three dots at the top right, choose Settings > Lite mode. This is a little different to page compression, as Google rewrites the page to only give you the essentials – while saving you up to 60% of data. Other browsers like Opera Mini will do this automatically. Turn off automatic downloading in messaging apps like Whatsapp Your mates may be keen to share some embarrassing pics from your night out, but some things are bad enough without throwing away mobile data too. Fortunately, you can turn off automatic downloading and just download things when you want to. Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots at the top-right corner. Go to Settings > Data and Storage Usage. Under Media auto-download there are three options: When using mobile data, When connected on Wi-Fi, and when roaming. Tap on each of these options, deselect all options, then tap OK. Look further down the page and you can also reduce the data used in a call by toggling Low data usage. Be careful watching/uploading on Social Media Uploading and watching auto-play videos is one of the easiest ways to use a ton of data. Plus, images and videos are increasingly high quality, which can mean a ton of data. Instagram: You can use less data on Insta by slowing down the amount of time that videos taken to load. From the main menu, select Settings > Account > Cellular Data Use. You’ll then have the options to Use less data (iPhone) or Data saver (Android). If you’re on Android, you’ll see an extra setting allowing you to control when Instagram shows you High Resolution Media. Make sure it’s on WiFi only. Facebook: When scrolling through your feed, auto-playing videos are everywhere. Fortunately, you can turn these off. In the Facebook app, tap on the menu on the right-hand side. Scroll down to Settings & Privacy. Now tun on Data Saver. This will reduce image sizes and stop videos from playing automatically.

Calling all dog and cat owners! Here are some great apps to help you care for your furry friends. Being a pet parent is hugely rewarding. We’re a nation of animal lovers, with more than half of UK households owning at least one furry friend. Looking after a cat or dog can be challenging though, so we’re here to help. If your dog’s behaviour is a little ruff (sorry), or your puss is far from purr-fect (sorry, won’t happen again) we’ve rounded up some handy apps for you below. Apps for dog lovers: Puppr - for training Download on iOS and Android . Basic version is free, with the option to pay for a premium subscription (after a 7-day free trial). If you think your dog could do with a spot of training, give Puppr a go. It’s a really fun and easy-to-use app, packed with step-by-step video instructions to help you train your dog at home. You’ll find everything from sitting and waiting to house-training (surely a must!) on there. Plus, a ‘circus’ section has more advanced tricks like jumping ropes. Oh, and there’s even a built-in clicker tool that lets your know dog when they’re getting things right – who’s a clever dog? Rover - for dog boarding & walking Download on iOS and Android . It’s free to browse, but you need to pay if you use someone’s services. Need someone to look after your dog for a little while? It can be tough knowing who to trust, but the Rover app is well established and has a great reputation. You can choose walkers, boarders who take in pets, or sitters who come to your home. They’ve all been verified, and you can check out their star ratings and reviews from fellow customers – just like you would on the likes of Airbnb. It’s easy for you to browse for suitable services in your area, and after you hand over your pet, you can get updates and photos sent through the app. So you can keep in touch with your pet, even when you’re apart. Cat alert! This app also caters for cat boarding and house sitting. BringFido – for dog-friendly travel Download on iOS and Android . Completely free to use. If you’ve ever tried travelling with a dog, you’ll know how difficult it is finding suitable places that are happy to accommodate four-legged friends. With the BringFido app, you can easily find dog-friendly places all over the UK, taking a lot of the stress out of planning your journey. We’re not just talking about hotels here. BringFido will also help you find suitable restaurants, pubs, parks, beaches and more. It also has filters to help you search for places that take large dogs, or more than one! For cat lovers Moggie – for monitoring feline fitness Download on iOS . Free to use. Moggie is a free app that does a great job of keeping you updated on your cat’s fitness. You can record all sorts of stats, for your own information or to share with the vet. You can also set reminders of important dates like appointments and medication, and get regular tips on all sorts of kitty care including nutrition, weight control and brushing their fur. Plus, you can connect with other cat owners and share advice. Mumsnet, but for cats – why didn’t anyone think of that before? Joii – for cat health issues Download on iOS and Android . Free symptom checker and nurse consultations. Advanced services have a cost attached. Joii is full of essential medical advice for cats. There’s a free symptom checker, and a ‘health clinic’ that gives you info on things like diet, fleas and worming. Plus, you can even get free expert advice from a qualified nurse via a video call – day or night. Dog alert! This app is great for dogs too. Sponsoring a furry friend: RSPCA sponsorship A monthly cost is involved. Be sure to check before you commit. If you love cats and dogs but can’t actually own one, here’s an alternative. With an RSPCA sponsorship , you can sponsor either cat pods or dog kennels, and get regular updates and photos of the animals you’re helping. You don’t sponsor a single animal. Instead, your cash helps lots of different cats and dogs in centres across the country. You’ll still get a chance to know some of them though, as you’ll regularly be sent photos and stories of the animals you’re helping to recover. Have we missed any of your favourite dog or cat apps? Or would you like to share any pet stories, training tips or health advice? Share your thoughts with the Community in the comments below!

Samsung has launched its new S22 series of flagship phones, and they’re absolute stunners. Three models are available: the Galaxy S22 , Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22 Ultra , all packed with incredible tech that Samsung says will make your ‘everyday epic’. Let’s take a closer look… Pro-quality cameras The Samsung S-series is famous for including the best camera tech around, and this is exactly what the S22 is offering. Both the S22 and S22+ have the same triple rear camera setup. There’s a 12MP Ultra Wide Camera that really expands your POV, a 50MP Wide-angle Camera with a truly massive sensor capable of lighting up the night, and a 10MP Telephoto Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (plus 30x digital zoom) that means nothing's too far to shoot. And if you go for the S22 Ultra, you get an even better 108MP Wide-angle Camera, and an extra telephoto lens that ups the digital zoom to a whopping 100x. Samsung is so proud of the camera’s capabilities in the dark, they’re calling it Nightography (nifty name). The super-sized pixel sensor enlarges pixels to pull in more light, and the Super Clear Glass dials down lens flare – this’ll make your night-time photos (and videos) as clear as day. Dazzling displays Here’s another area where Samsung excels – display quality. Colours look vivid, blacks are amazingly deep, and brightness levels can be dialled right up - so you can see clearly even in bright sunlight. The Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch AMOLED FHD+ display, while the S22+ rocks a larger 6.6-inch AMOLED FHD+ display. The biggest and sharpest display is – surprise, surprise - on the S22 Ultra. It boasts a 6.8-inch with Quad HD+ resolution, and it’s also slightly curved at the edges – so it looks a little classier too. All-day battery life Each S22 comes with a different sized battery. The S22 has a 3700mAh battery with support for 25W super-fast charging, the S22+ has a 4500mAh battery with support for 45W super-fast charging, and the S22 Ultra has a 5000mAh battery with support for 45W super-fast charging. No matter which phone you go for, the battery intelligently adapts to how you use your phone – so you’ll last all day (24 hours+) before you need to head to the charger. Fastest. Processor. Ever. The Exynos 2200 chipset is under the hood in all three models, and it’s the fastest chip that’s ever been on a Galaxy. It makes everything you do incredibly smooth, from vlogging to marathon gaming sessions. Basically, it’s got the power to keep up with whatever you’re doing. An Ultra S-Pen Still not sure which one to go for? This final fact might sway you. The S22 Ultra comes with a built-in S-Pen (just like the Galaxy Note series), giving you the power to work, create and multi-task more effectively. It’s Samsung’s most advanced and fastest S Pen yet - ultra-responsive, realistic and precise. Water-resistant Don’t worry too much if you’re using your S22 outdoors and the heavens open. All three models have an IP68 dust/water resistance rating, so they can handle a bit of rain. When and where is the Galaxy S22 range available? Want to get your hands on a new S22? You can order the Galaxy S22 , S22+ or S22 Ultra from iD Mobile right now! iD is offering great deals on the latest Samsung line-up, combined with all the flexibility and control you need. Enjoy ultra-fast 5G coverage, roll over your unused data, cap your out-of-plan charges and stay fully on top of your expenses from the iD app, right there on a gorgeous new S22. Competition time… Fancy being one of the first in the UK to get your hands on a Samsung Galaxy S22? Then stick around. Because we’re giving one away in this fab new competition! Simply tell us in the comments below what the greatest Samsung product you ever owned was. In your opinion, of course. We’re talking your all-time favourite. You’ll need to enter before midnight on Wednesday 23rd March, and we’ll announce the lucky winner the following day. T&Cs apply. They always do. Good luck!

Now that we’re getting a tiny hint of sun, it’s time for a good spring clean – and that includes your phone. It’s all well and good to give your screen a wipe with some anti-bac (it lives with you after all) but have you thought about decluttering all your stuff that’s on it too? A good clear out can also help the performance of your phone – giving you more battery and improving the loading times of your apps. Not to mention, when you want to find a photo you won’t have to dig though years of screenshots (or memes as the case may be). 1. Delete photos and videos It’s an obvious (if annoying) one. Photos and videos take up a lot of storage space, so the best place to start is a good tidy, and a liberal delete. Sort through what’s not worth keeping (45 selfies to get good light anyone?) and then move everything else to external or cloud storage. This is really worth setting aside time to do even if storage isn’t an issue – if you ever lose your phone you’ll be relieved to have everything backed up. 2. Remove some apps Do you really need that folder of just-in-case apps? Or the ones that you had to download to order table service that one time? We don’t think so. A lot of apps work in the background even if you’re not using them, so having a dig through and getting rid is an easy way to free up space and save your phone from working harder than it needs to. Tip: Once you’ve decluttered your apps, check that they’re all up to date. You don’t want to miss out on up-to-date security or handy features that improve functionality. 3. Clear out contacts If you have one too many unfamiliar names in your contact list – it’s definitely time to delete some numbers. Not sure which Mark is which? Have a look on WhatsApp – their profile picture should help. And while you’re on WhatsApp, why not clear out old chats? That group organising your friend’s hen do two years ago that hasn’t been touched since. It’s time for it to go. 4. Turn off location tracking There’s no need for Twitter to know where you are every second of the day. And when it comes to improving battery life, turning off location tracking can make a considerable difference. Especially if your phone is just sitting in your bag – apps constantly checking in to see where you are drains your battery (and is a bit creepy). Turning location tracking off, or selectively controlling which apps can see where you are is simple. Just search for ‘location tracking’ in Settings and your phone will show you where to go. 4. Clear your cache Websites and apps store information on you to help you fill out forms, log in, or remember what’s in your basket. But over time this saved information can slow things down. Clearing your cache is done through the internet browser you use (Firefox / Chrome / Safari etc.) and only takes a few minutes. 5. Reset If all else fails and your phone is still painfully slow, it might be time for a good old factory reset. It will wipe everything from your phone as if it was new for a complete fresh start. Before you jump to this, remember to back everything up – on iCloud for iPhones and Google Drive or OneDrive for Android. Competition Time: To be in with a chance of winning the vacuum cleaner we want you to talk it out with your fellow Community members by letting us know which vaccum brand is your favourite. Maybe it's the mighty Henry, perhaps it's the modern Dyson, or just maybe a Shark is the hoover for you. Whichever it is, we want to know! The competition ends at 23:59 on 8th April 2022, and we'll announce the lucky iD community winner shortly after. T&Cs apply. Good luck!

How to make hybrid working work for you Even until a couple of years ago, working from home was something that we did very occasionally or not at all. But lockdown changed all that. Since WFH was the only option, loads of us have got used to it – and it looks like it’s here to stay. Although lots of people are now retuning to their offices, the new normal isn’t about a 9-5, desk job anymore. Say bye to the daily commute and hi to hybrid working! Making hybrid working work is all about setting up your home office so you can be as productive at home as you would be when at work. Here’s our guide to help you get a WFH win! Sort out your workspace Whether you’ve managed to convert a spare room into a home office, or if you’ve just cleared off a bit of the kitchen table, mark yourself out a spot which is just for working. The last thing you want to do is to flop down on a sofa with your laptop. You just won’t be productive that way. If possible, pick a spot with natural sunlight to help you stay motivated and wide awake. But if your workspace isn’t near a window, get yourself a smart lamp that adapts to the time of day – giving you a consistent light level to keep you focused. Philips Hue white & colour smart table lamp is a good bet. Get a second screen Let’s face it. The single screen of a laptop just isn’t going to cut it – especially when you’re multitasking between emails, spreadsheets, and the dozens of other plates we all keep spinning. And it’s not just us saying it. A study by Jon Peddie Research found that home workers who used multiple screens had a 42% boost in productivity. Having a second screen will also help your posture, since you won’t be tempted to hunch over your screen like you might with a laptop. And speaking of which… Upgrade your office chair You need to treat your WFH space as a real office. And that means having a real office chair. Get yourself a seat that can be adjusted to the right height and supports your back and arms. You can add to this with a footrest, laptop riser, document reader, wrist support and whatever else you need to be comfortable. Your employer should be able to help you get some of this equipment or at least give you a workstation assessment. And an office chair isn’t just about healthy sitting. When you’re working from home (especially when you live with other people) it can be hard to separate work life and home life. A chair you use just for working will help you get into the work mindset. Get quality of life tech If you’ve got a laptop and a second screen, that can be enough to get the job done. But hybrid working is all about making remote working as comfortable and easy as possible. Getting a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard means that you’re not limited to your laptop’s keyboard and tracking pad. It also means you can move them around until you’re comfortable, plus you can even customise your keyboard or get an ergonomic mouse – which can be a real gamechanger. Better audio Nothing beats a meeting face to face. But hybrid working still means lots of video calls. And whether that’s Microsoft Teams, Skype or Zoom, a decent wireless headset can make all the difference. Wireless tech offers you clear communication with a tangle-free experience, so you can move around when you’re on a call. As well as great sound quality, many headsets also offer noise-cancelling tech. Getting distracted while working from home? Block out the background noise and get down to work with noise-cancelling headphones. And if you need some recommendations, we’ve got a great rundown of top earphones and headphones. Keep the commute When you’re working from home, the temptation is just to roll out of bed 5 minutes before work begins. Ok, we don’t mean jump on a train and travel to the office when you don’t need to. But having that routine of getting up and getting active before work can be beneficial. So, whether you go for a run, or just take a walk to the shop, start your day with a bit of activity (and hopefully a bit of fresh air) before you get down to business. End your day Working from home should help you achieve a better work-life balance. But without workmates packing away their things and heading off home, it can be easy to lose yourself in work and let it drag on into the evening. Whether you ask Google or Alexa to remind you when it’s home time or program that smart light to dim down to evening vibes, it’s important to set a time to end your day. One way to do this is to write a to do list for the next day. That way you can commit everything to paper that you need to tackle tomorrow – and forget about work for the evening! Got any hybrid working tips? Keep the conversation going and let us know below…

We’ve got some great suggestions for upgrading your security: If you want to upgrade your home security, think about investing in smart tech. There are some really clever products that do an amazing job of keeping everything safe and secure - when you’re fast asleep, at work, or even on holiday. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up some of the best smart security systems we’ve seen lately. See who’s outside with CCTV First of all, let’s talk about CCTV. Those big and bulky beasts of the past are long gone. Now, you can get small and discreet outdoor security cameras that don’t cost the earth. Arlo Essential Spotlight cameras can be placed wherever you need them. You can cover a particular area like a garden fence or rear window, or you can invest in a few cameras and cover every inch of your surroundings. You get super-sharp Full HD quality video and a wide field of view, along with features like motion detection, night vision, and a loud siren. Basically, all you need to make sure you’re protected night and day. Taking control of the camera is easy. It links to an app you can download onto your smartphone or laptop, so you can view what’s going on from anywhere – even if you’re not at home yourself. See who’s on your doorstep Ringing doorbells to find an empty house is a well-known trick used by burglars. The Ring Video Doorbell 4 solves that problem, by giving you the power to answer the front door using your smartphone – wherever you are. You get a smartphone alert when someone rings the doorbell or triggers the motion sensor. You’ll be able to see a wide-angle Full HD view of who’s at the door, and speak to them directly. So you can warn off unwanted visitors, or tell that innocent delivery person where to put your package. Check indoors when you’re out Okay, we’ve covered outdoors. So let’s think about protecting inside of your home. Get an indoor security system like the Hive View Camera , and you can view what’s going on using your smartphone. If you have an unexpected visitor you’ll get a notification, and the camera will automatically start recording. And if you have pets, you can adjust the sensitivity so that the camera doesn’t get triggered whenever your cat stretches. Lights on, nobody home When you go out at night, you’ll leave a light or two on in the house to deter burglars – right? Sorry, but – wrong. Budding burglars have been wise to that trick for years. That’s why the Philips Hue Smart Lighting Starter Kit is great for home security. The Hue smartphone app lets you control your lighting from anywhere, and convince anyone walking past that someone’s home. You can turn lights on and off, schedule them to come on at certain times, or (this one’s our favourite) make them turn on if someone rings your smart doorbell. Plug in for more smart security Want to make your house look like it’s full of busy activity when nobody’s there? Then go for a smart plug (the Hive Active Plug a good one), and you can turn any plug socket into a smart power outlet. You can then use the app on your smartphone to turn appliances like speakers, TVs and lamps off and on. Or simply schedule it all to happen automatically. Take control when you’re home We’ve talked a lot about using apps to control your smart security when you’re far from your house. But of course, you’ll want to keep on top of security when you’re at home too. The Google Nest Hub lets you do exactly that. You can connect all your other smart home security systems to it as long as they’re compatible (most are), and control everything hands-free or with the large touchscreen. Are you happy with your home security setup? Do you have any smart tech you’d like to recommend? Let us know below.

The average British person creates about 12-14 tonnes (yes, tonnes) of CO2 emissions per year. That might sound a bit scary, but there’s a lot we can do to tackle that and make sure our impact on the planet is as small as possible (without having to live in an off-grid yurt). So, this Earth Day, let’s have a look at some easy ways to make our tech footprint that little bit smaller. Let’s start with something we know a lot about - phones Did you know that on average a mobile phone produces 70 kg of CO2 per year when used for 3.5 hours a day? (We don’t know about you, but we use ours a LOT). That’s 1% of the average carbon footprint in just calls, texts and data. Tips to reduce your device’s carbon footprint: 1. Switch your video settings to a lower resolution when you’re streaming and downloading. Sometimes that YouTube video doesn’t need to be in 4K.2. Stream over Wi-Fi rather than 4G or 5G wherever possible.3. Turn off automatic downloads for your apps. (This will save you data and battery too!)4. Turn off background data and close your apps when you’re not using them And when you’re done with your phone and looking for a new one, why not trade-in ! Trade-in your old device We all know that getting a new phone is exciting, but it’s also the perfect time to make sure that your old stuff doesn’t end up in the bin. By trading in your old phone with iD Mobile, your phone will live on as a refurbished device. If it’s in good nick, it could go on to be someone else’s phone. But if not, the parts can be recycled to create new phones. In 2021, we traded in almost 3,000 phones (2,876 to be exact) – that’s a load of waste saved. And on average, those customers got back £150! Definition of a win-win if you ask us. Or… if your phone is still in great shape – keep it a bit longer! If your phone is still in great shape and you still love it (or maybe you’re waiting for the perfect new handset to come out) – keeping hold of it is a great option too. Extending the life of electronics like smartphones can reduce loads of carbon dioxide pollution. If everyone did it for just an extra year, we’d all reduce FOUR MILLION tonnes of pollution by 2030. That’s the same as planting 200,000 trees, taking over 2 million cars off the road, or creating 5 Hyde Parks, if you measure your trees in London parks like we do. Recycle old appliances So that’s phones sorted. But what about ALL the rest of the tech we all have at home? Well, we have you sorted there too. If you didn’t know already, we’re part of the Currys group. At Currys, we collect, re-use and recycle a massive 65,000 tonnes of old tech every year (even if you didn’t buy it from us). And on top of that, we only sell electricals and electronics that can be recycled, as indicated by the symbol of a crossed-out wheelie bin which appears on them. Even if your old electrical appliances or technologies don’t bear this symbol, the good news is we’ll accept them for recycling. Plant trees! (No, really) Did you know that an average mature tree can absorb 20 kg of CO2 a year? That means that planting just 4 trees a year would offset the CO2 produced from your mobile phone usage annually. So, if you want the peace of mind of knowing that your carbon is being offset by trees – you can! Companies like Carbon Neutral Britain have programs where you can pay to offset your carbon emissions. For £6.99 they’ll plant 20 trees around the world – creating new British woodland but also preventing deforestation in Amazon, helping coastal forests in Kenya and loads more. There you have it! That’s just a few ways you can help the planet by reducing your environmental impact. Share with us below what other tips you have on how we can all reduce our own environmental impact.