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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Why we’re still using 2G mobile networks

On: Friday, 6 December, 2019

When the first cellular communications protocol was launched in the UK, mobile phones evolved from science fiction theory into an attainable reality. In the early 1990s, the Global System for Mobile protocol was developed to underpin the se...

Is the future foldable?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Friday, 6 December, 2019

As smartphones enter the ‘maturity’ stage of their product life cycle, sales are in steady decline. Gartner recently estimated that global mobile phone shipments will fall from 1.81 billion units in 2018 to 1.75 billion units this year...

Why are there only four big mobile networks in the UK?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Thursday, 5 December, 2019

It’s estimated that over 50 million adults in the UK own at least one smartphone, making this the country’s most-owned possession, and one which easily outnumbers people. Yet despite this market saturation, there are only four mobile ph...

Do smartphones need a new operating system?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Tuesday, 3 December, 2019

A recent (and fairly unexpected) casualty of the escalating trade war between America and China has been Chinese smartphones. Due to restrictions imposed by President Trump, these currently can’t be sold in Western countries with Google a...

Could your next phone come from Microsoft?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Monday, 2 December, 2019

The progress of the traditional slate-form smartphone has slowed recently, with global sales falling and genuine innovation seemingly in short supply. Fed up with paying premium prices for marginal gains, smartphone owners are hanging onto ...

How to take the perfect night photograph

By: Neil Cumins

On: Sunday, 1 December, 2019

The advent of smartphone cameras has turned most of us into amateur photographers. From grabbing impromptu family snaps and holiday photos through to taking pictures for work-related purposes, our phone cameras are constantly being called u...

Do you need mobile antivirus software on your phone?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Saturday, 30 November, 2019

When did you last use a desktop computer that didn’t have protection from malware? Hopefully, the answer is never. Because everybody knows antivirus and malware protection software is vitally important on desktops. Yet when was the last ...

What is RCS messaging?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Friday, 29 November, 2019

We live in an age of encrypted communications, from the ubiquitous WhatsApp messaging platform to social media sites like Snapchat. Yet at the same time, more than 95 per cent of us still send text messages. Most of these are dispatched th...

Where can I get 5G?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Friday, 29 November, 2019

The 5G revolution may have arrived, but it’s safe to say consumers have been fairly underwhelmed so far. The launch of 4G in 2012 garnered press coverage which hasn’t been matched this time around, while handset sales don’t appear to ...

Are the notspot’s days numbered?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Thursday, 28 November, 2019

If you live in a large town or a city, you probably aren’t familiar with the concept of notspots. Ubiquitous urban mobile phone masts mean areas of weak or non-existent phone coverage simply don’t exist outside solid structures like pub...