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Let's celebrate! 🎉 Wow. We’ve reached the 10,000 mark. 🙌 We are giving away an Oppo RX17 PRO 📱 Yes, you read that number correctly. The iD Community now has a massive 10,000 members. So thanks for all your hard work, gang. We couldn’t have done it without you. It's kind of a big deal, but don’t just take our word for it. Here are a couple of our favourite quotes from Community members just like you… “I'm old(er). There, it's said. BUT... the price is right and ID customer service is so good that I actually understand my phone now. And the service gets right through sandstone walls that my previous provider's service sometimes stopped outside! Great for roaming in Europe and the blogs mean I can secretly read up and appear very knowledgeable in front of my young friends and relatives.” Snoopy49 “I will say why I am happy with iD Mobile and I am pretty sure that everyone here would agree with me as well as the million customers. I love iD for amazing value for money, Sim Only plans are the contract killers on the market. For such a low price they are still able to offer plenty of data, Wi-Fi calling and Volte. Also process to upgrade or change plans is so simple and stressless that I cannot wait for my next upgrade :-) I cannot skip a shoutout to the Community as well, I like to hangout here and help others when I can. Community is one of the aspects to me that makes me wanna stay and even help them to grow further.” Hikari Sounds like @Snoopy49 and @Hikari have been suitably wowed by the iD Community. But what about you? Have you been wowed by us? How can we wow you? Did someone say ‘competition time’? To celebrate reaching 10,000 customers, we’re giving away an Oppo RX17 PRO to one lucky winner. To enter, simply post a comment below telling us how you’d like to be wowed as an iD Mobile customer. In other words, what could we do to really impress you on the Community? You’ve got until 6th September to enter, and we’ll then pick a lucky winner at random. T&Cs apply.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new phone, you’re in the right place. Amazing new handsets are being launched all the time - so to help you choose the right one, here’s our roundup of the very best. Samsung Galaxy S10 Who’s it for? Fancy a flagship phone with an outstanding camera and amazing edge-to-edge display? Then go for a Galaxy S10. Quite simply, the S10 is everything a phone should be. The profile is super-slim, and the front is pretty much all-screen, with its edge-to-edge 6.1-inch Infinity-O display spilling over the curved sides. The on-screen detail is incredible, with rich colours and fantastically deep blacks. The S10’s True Vision triple camera captures every moment just as your eyes see it, even in low light. And in the daytime, shots are sharp and clear, even when you zoom in to the max. Hidden under the display there's a neat piece of tech - an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. So no more smudging your rear camera as you search for a rear fingerprint scanner. Then there’s Powershare - a new feature that can bring a friend’s phone back to life, or give power to your own accessories like Galaxy Buds. All you need to do is place the two devices back to back. As for storage, you’ve got the option of going for 128GB or 512GB. If you want more, you can add up to 1TB with a microSD card. That’s enough to store a sizeable movie library on your phone. Or pretty much every app you can think of. There are three phones in the S10 family, with options for everyone. If you decide to go large with the super-sized Galaxy S10+, you get a bigger 6.4-inch display. Or if you go for the entry level S10e, you get a 5.8-inch display and dual (rather than triple) rear camera. You can order the Galaxy S10 here You can go large and order the Galaxy S10+ here Or you can get the smaller Galaxy S10e here iPhone Xs Who’s it for? If you want to enjoy the best possible smartphone experience with the very latest tech from Apple, iPhone Xs is for you. This iPhone is truly awe-inspiring. The Super Retina HD display measures 5.8-inches, and looks incredible with high contrast and brightness levels, and unbeatably accurate colours. The 12MP dual lens camera is packed with features to give you great-quality photos. There’s a depth control slider, which lets you adjust the background focus behind a picture. It’s great for giving your photos that creative bokeh effect. And your selfies will be better than ever thanks to the 7MP front-facing TrueDepth camera. TrueDepth helps the camera set exactly the right lighting levels, so your selfies will always be perfectly lit and fantastic looking. Advanced Face ID is also on board, and it recognises your face and unlocks the phone faster than ever. It’s also the most secure facial authentication in any smartphone ever – so you can go ahead and make purchase on Apple Pay without any worries. Keeping the phone powered up is an A12 Bionic chip, which is 50% faster than previous iPhones. Quite simply, it’s the smartest and most powerful chip ever in a smartphone. You can order iPhone Xs here Oppo Find X Who’s it for? If you want a phone with a unique one-off design and an innovative camera brimming with features, you’ve just met your match. The Find X is OPPO’s all new flagship, and it’s a real thing of beauty. It’s curved and thin, with a shimmery two-tone blue and black gradient design on the back. The device shines differently, depending on the angle that light catches it. This is an eye-catching phone, to say the least. The Find X’s screen is the closest any manufacturer has ever come to designing an all-screen smartphone. There’s no notch on the phone’s high-quality metal and glass body, allowing more room for a gorgeous 6.4-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display. The Find X has a fantastic sliding ‘3D Stealth Camera’ that extends and retracts at the click of a button to reveal the front and back camera. Both the 16MP + 20MP dual lens rear camera and 25MP front-facing camera come with AI-enhanced shooting options that do all of the hard work for you. So, whether you’re taking pictures in a low-light setting or of an action-packed scenario, the Find X’s AI Scene Recognition technology will figure out the best way to capture the perfect shot. And finally, if you like your phones powerful with an ultra-fast response rate, the Find X’s Snapdragon 845 processor is sure to meet your expectations. Gaming is speedy and smooth, and switching between applications is an absolute breeze. There’s also a huge amount of storage space, up to 256GB. You can order the OPPO Find X here Huawei P30 Pro Who’s it for? With its quad camera and reverse wireless charging, the P30 Pro is a phone for those that want to enjoy the world’s newest phone tech. The P30 Pro is a stunning flagship phone packed with ground-breaking tech, including a quad camera and reverse wireless charging. The quad camera really is something special, with four lenses all working together to help you take amazing photographs. The 40MP lens is what’s known as ‘ultra-resolute’, meaning you can capture shots that are of huge scale – it’s great for photos that have lots going on in them, like busy street life. Meanwhile, the 8MP telephoto lens lets you zoom right in to far-off objects, and the 20MP ultra wide-angle lens makes landscape shots look absolutely spectacular. Finally, the ToF (time-of-flight) lens measures depth and can give you professional-looking blurred backgrounds. With the computing power of AI, the camera recognises exactly what you’re taking a picture of, and then adjusts its setting to give you the best possible shot. And if you go right close up to something, the triple lenses work together to capture detailed extreme close-ups from as little as 2.5cm away. Another great feature on the P30 Pro is its reverse wireless charging. It works on any wireless charging enabled device (even iPhones), and you simply put the two phones back to back to start the charging process. And let’s not forget the huge 6.4-inch Full HD+ OLED display. Full HD+ makes everything you see as detailed as can be, and OLED is the screen tech that gives you those deep blacks, rich contrasts and vivid colours. The phone also has heaps of power behind it, and a huge battery that’ll keep you going for two days before it needs to be recharged. You can order the P30 Pro here Google Pixel 3/3 XL Who’s it for? If you’re looking for a luxury phone that’s one of the smartest and most useful devices around, go for the Pixel 3 or 3 XL. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL share the same design, with a glass front and back that looks and feels luxurious. The bottom half of the all-glass back has a matte finish, which gives it a nice grip. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have amazing screens. Both are QUAD HD+ OLED displays, full of super-sharp detail, rich colours and gloriously deep blacks. The big difference between the two models is the size. You can take your pick from the Pixel 3’s 5.5-inch display or the jaw-dropping 6.3-inch Pixel XL. Sound is fantastic too, with the Pixel 3’s dual front-firing speakers blasting sound outwards and upwards. They’re much louder than on previous Pixel phones, so if you’re upgrading from a Pixel or Pixel 2, you'll really hear the difference. On the back of both phones you’ll find a single lens 12MP main camera. On the front there are two cameras (both 8MP) with one acting as a wide-angle camera. These cameras are absolutely jam-packed with AI features to help you get that perfect shot. One of the best is Top Shot, which uses Google AI to give you the best possible picture. When you press the camera shutter, Top Shot actually takes a whole series of photos, and then recommends the best one. The front cameras come with a Group Selfie Cam feature, which uses the dual lenses to help you take wonderfully wide-angled selfies. You’ll get more background and more of the gang into every shot. The phones are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, paired with 4GB RAM. All this power means that apps launch quickly and everything you do is smooth, responsive and speedy. There’s also a Titan security chip under the hood, which Google says will protect any sensitive data and make the Pixel 3 more secure. You can order the Pixel 3 here You can order the Pixel 3 XL here Samsung Galaxy Note9 Who’s it for? The Note9 is perfect if you need a powerful phone that helps you get more done. The Note9 is crammed with amazing features, and there’s really only one place to start – that iconic S Pen. It’s been redesigned to make writing and drawing more accurate, and is now equipped with Bluetooth technology, which brings loads of new possibilities. For example, you can use it as a remote clicker to give your presentations a professional touch, and it also works as a camera shutter button up to 10 metres away. Then there’s all the usual cool S Pen stuff like jotting down notes without needing to unlock your phone, getting creative with doodles and drawings, and easily highlighting text to cut and paste. The Note9 also has an incredible Quad HD+ 6.4-inch Infinity Display. It stretches from edge-to-edge so you can really immerse yourself in what you’re doing. It sounds fantastic too, with stereo speakers tuned by AKG, a brand with over 70 years’ worth of audio experience. The speakers also use Dolby Atmos immersive audio – technology that gives you a high quality surround sound experience even without headphones. The dual lens 12MP+12MP camera is one of the very best around, and is capable of adjusting to light like a human eye. This gives you crystal clear shots even in dark conditions. And you won’t find many smartphone batteries bigger than the Note9’s 4,000mAh cell. It’ll get you through a full day with power to spare, and supports fast charging. You can order the Note 9 here Will you be upgrading to one of these stunning smartphones? Or have you got your eye on another? Post a reply below and share your thoughts with the Community!

With our lives becoming increasingly hectic, finding the time to make that call isn’t always easy. As always, technology is here to help, and with the 30th of July being International Friendship Day, what better time to take a look at all the great ways you can stay in touch with your pals? Competition time! CLOSED Don’t forget to enter our competition, you could win a Nokia 2.2 smartphone. All you have to do is comment below this article and answer the question: Which app do you use the most to stay in touch with your friends? We’ll pick 3 answers at random and a brand spanking new Nokia 2.2 will be winging its way to the winners. Good luck! T&C’s Apply Staying in touch with friends and family is easier, cheaper and more fun than ever. Whether you’re a tech newbie or a master of social media, here’s a handful of tips to help you stay connected. Try out some new messaging apps First off, let’s check out a few different ways you can send text, picture and video messages. WhatsApp Owned by Facebook, WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging services in the world - probably because it’s totally free and doesn’t include any ads. You can send texts, video and picture messages and even quick voice messages using the microphone button. You can also share your current location via Google Maps – ideal for meeting up with mates. Get WhatsApp for iOS or Android Viber Available on Android and iOS, Viber adds a real fun element to messaging, with built-in stickers and GIFs to add a bit more colour to your messages. You can also send short audio and video clips – perfect for when you just have to share something with your mates. And with complete end-to-end encryption on all your messages, you don’t have to worry about privacy. Get Viber for iOS or Android. iMessage If you’ve got an iPhone, chances are, you’re probably using it already because Apple pre-installs it on all new phones. But for those of you who tend to stick to regular text messaging, iMessages don’t come out of your text allowance. Instead, they use your data connection a lot like WhatsApp. iMessage also has a few fun elements, like camera effects, animations and Animojis to add extra personality to your messages. Get to grips with video calling We’ve been able to video call friends on our mobile phones for over a decade now, but until fairly recently, we’ve had to cope with poor quality video and unreliability. Now, video calling is loads better, you can get crystal clear HD quality with much better reliability. And plenty of options when it comes to apps. It’s worth noting though, that all of these options need a data connection to work, whether it’s Wi-Fi or mobile data. So if you’re planning on video calling while you’re out and about, it’s a good idea to check your coverage. So, let’s take a look at three of our favourite video calling apps… Google Duo It’s got one job and it does it brilliantly. Google Duo claims to offer the best quality video calling out there, and you know what, they might not be exaggerating – the video quality is excellent. Duo has to be one of the easiest video calling apps to use. It automatically syncs with your contacts and when you want to call someone, you just tap ‘Search Contacts’ and pick the person you want to call. Google Duo works across different devices too whether it’s Android or iOS – use your phone, tablet or computer and chat with anyone, anywhere. Download Google Duo for iOS or Android FaceTime FaceTime is video calling for everything Apple. If you’ve got an iPhone, Mac or iPad, you’ll be able to Facetime other Apple users. To use FaceTime, all you need to do is open the app and log in with your Apple ID (you’ll only need to log in the first time you use it). Then choose a contact to call and off you go. Remember, you can only FaceTime other Apple users. Skype Skype is a one-stop-shop when it comes to keeping in touch with friends. It’s probably known mostly for being a video calling service, but it also features text chat, voice calls, and it even syncs with your phone’s regular texts so you can see everything in one place. Video chats let you add up to 24 of your friends to the same conversation – great for keeping everyone in the loop. It works on phones, tablets, PCs and Macs, so whatever you use, you’ll be able to get involved. Get Skype for iOS or Android Get collaborative with your music Music streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer all let you share your playlists with friends, and it’s a great way to stay connected with people. Creating a collaborative playlist lets everyone in the group add their own songs. Which is ideal if you’re planning a party, wedding, or just want to know what your friends are listening to. And remember, if you’re the playlist owner, you can always stop people from being able to add to it if someone starts throwing in James Blunt songs. Try new things on Social Media Ok, this is an obvious one these days because it’s absolutely everywhere. Even if we don’t realise it, social media is ingrained in practically every aspect of our lives; entertainment, politics, work, leisure, sport. And it’s also one of the most effective ways of staying in touch with friends. Share your timeline on Facebook Facebook timelines let you share all the things you’ve been up to with your friends. It also comes with Facebook Messenger, which works as a messaging service with all of your Facebook contacts, you can create group chats or send private messages. Stay up to date with what’s trending on Twitter Twitter is great for staying up to date with what’s going on in the world by checking out what topics are trending. Celeb feeds can get you closer to your favourite stars, and Twitter is a great way of contacting companies without having to wait on the phone for hours. Share photos and video clips with Instagram Instagram is a great way to share what you’re up to with photos and movie clips – like a simplified version of Facebook. It also has a feature called Instagram Stories, which lets you share what you’ve been up to over 24 hours. Pictures and videos you post to your Story will disappear after 24 hours – it’s a great way to give your followers a quick peek into your day. Use smart devices to connect with friends and family Smart assistants can be a great way to help you stay in touch with friends and family. Google’s Home Hub and Amazon’s Echo Show both come with a 7-inch screen, perfect for chatting while you’re relaxing at home. Even Facebook is getting in on the action with its new Portal device, which as a camera that follows you around the room - so no need to worry about whether you’re in the shot. Smart assistants are great for adding extra security to your home. Pair them with smart security cameras to see who’s at the door and even control your locks through your smart assistant. Check out some smart ways to secure your home. Use reminders so you never forget important days These days, with our hectic lives, it’s easy for things like birthdays and anniversaries to slip your mind. Well, there’s one sure-fire way to make sure you don’t forget those important dates – get organised with your reminders. Google Calendar is a great tool to use because you can sync it with all your other devices. You can even share your calendar with others, so if there’s a special date that you want to make sure your partner remembers, just share your calendar and they’ve got no excuses. Schedule a ‘meet in the middle’ day If you’ve got friends who live abroad, or maybe you’re the one who lives overseas, a ‘meet in the middle’ day can really give you something to look forward to and help you stay connected. The idea is simple, just pick a location somewhere in the middle and plan to meet up. Whether it’s just for the day, a weekend break, or even a holiday. It’s a great way for you to see new places and it’s always fun to plan a getaway.

Celebrate World Photography Day with iD Mobile Today is World Photography Day – that’s why social media is full of incredible images. Check out #worldphotographyday and see for yourself. To celebrate, we want you to share your favourite photo that you’ve taken on your phone. Show off your skills! Simply upload the photo in the comments below and tell us what phone you used to take it. If you want, tell us a bit about what’s going on in the photo and why you took it. And feel free to share your tips on how to take a really striking shot. Photos are a great way to express yourself and the perfect way to capture all your amazing experiences. That’s why Instagram is so popular. We all love to take photos. What else are phones for? If you love taking photos and are thinking about getting a new mobile, these are the five best camera phones available at the moment: Huawei P30 Pro Google Pixel 3 Honor 20 Pro Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus iPhone XS

Calling all Civilian, Rookies and Sidekicks. The time has come for you to rise up the iD Community rankings. Become a Hero … then reach for the sky and become a Superhero. Want to win yourself a £50 Curry's voucher? Then you better get more active on the iD Community. Replying to posts, liking posts, answering questions, being voted best answer, all this and more can see you rise steadily through the rankings. Rise up 5 levels and you could win a £50 Currys voucher, comment 'Superhero' below to enter. To go up in ranking, we recommend you post at least 50 replies and 20 answers to rise through the levels. So, what are you waiting for? We’re on the hunt for Superheroes and we know you’ve got what it takes. Log in now and show us what you’re made of. You have until 26th August 📅

Keeping in touch with friends on the other side of the world can be tricky. But social media and other online tech make it so much easier. To celebrate National Friendship Day today, we’re sharing our top tips for staying connected with long distance pals: · Use SameSurf and browse the web together with your friends in real-time, wherever they are. · Create collaborative playlists on Spotify that you can both enjoy together. · Set the time on your phone to your friend’s time zone, so you always know when to get in touch. · Make video calls so you can see each other when you speak. · When the time comes to get together, choose a location in the middle and meet up there. · Use social media to keep in touch and share stuff as often as you like. · Play online games and share them with your mates. In celebration of National Friendship Day, we’re running a best mates competition. Share a story of how you both met, to be in with the chance of winning £100 Red Letter Vouchers for your friend. Now, that’s what you call friendship! T&C’s Apply

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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