SIM Only Guides & Advice

In-depth information to make you a smarter shopper.

We spend hours searching, trialling and testing – then make these guides so that you don’t have to.

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Do budget smartphones involve many compromises?

On: Thursday, 20 February, 2020

Back in the dial-up days of the new millennium, a mobile phone was something you phoned and texted people from. If you owned a Nokia, you also got to play Snake. That was about as far as it went, and most consumers accepted the limitations ...

How to use your phone on a GPRS/EDGE 2G connection

By: Neil Cumins

On: Sunday, 16 February, 2020

There’s a common misapprehension that mobile phones were only able to access the internet following the launch of 3G, back in 2001. In fact, the technology for sending and receiving data wirelessly had existed since 1991 – the same year...

What happened to the headphone jack?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Tuesday, 11 February, 2020

There aren’t many modern technologies which trace their origins directly back to the Victorian age, but the 3.5mm headphone jack certainly can. The quarter-inch jack plug familiar to switchboard operators (and latterly musicians) around t...

What do system updates accomplish?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Friday, 7 February, 2020

Every now and again, mobile devices will announce they need to perform an update. Sometimes this is announced in advance, giving device owners the chance to schedule these updates for a convenient time like 3am. Other occasions involve an e...

Should I wait to buy a 5G handset?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Tuesday, 4 February, 2020

It’s an unfortunate fact that early adopters always have to pay a high price for being among the first to benefit from new technologies. In many cases, that price is a literal one. Cutting-edge tech generally gains economies-of-scale affo...

Which mobile network offers the best 4G services?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Saturday, 1 February, 2020

Last November, an intriguing experiment took place across the UK. Four cars travelled over 6,500 miles along A-roads, B-roads and motorways, visiting a total of 50 towns and cities from Belfast to Bristol. Each car contained four Samsung Ga...

How many versions of Android are there?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Thursday, 30 January, 2020

One of the criticisms often levelled against the Android smartphone operating system is that it’s merely a copy of Apple’s iOS. And to an extent, that’s true. The iPhone and its accompanying App Store were launched in 2007, but Androi...

What are Less Secure Apps?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Sunday, 26 January, 2020

We rarely stop to think about the functionality underpinning the apps we use on a daily basis. Whether you’re addicted to Rightmove, constantly checking BBC Sport or a religious user of Spotify, your smartphone is probably home to dozens ...

What’s the difference between 5G and full 5G?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Friday, 24 January, 2020

Last May, the fifth generation of cellular connectivity made its high-profile debut in the UK. The advent of 5G has been hailed as a game-changer, with more excitable commentators suggesting it could ultimately become as significant as the ...

How do Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Friday, 17 January, 2020

In-car entertainment has evolved immeasurably over the decades. In the 1980s, buyers of a new car were lucky to get a radio – and only high-end models got stereo sound. Similarly, in the 1990s, a CD player represented the height of sophis...