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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Reasons why your mobile bill might be higher than expected

On: Friday, 21 May, 2021

In an age of direct debits and paperless billing, it can be hard to keep track of mobile phone bills. And in the age of lockdown, it can be hard to keep track of how much we’re using our handsets. The internet has been an umbilical cord o...

Alternatives to WhatsApp

By: Neil Cumins

On: Saturday, 15 May, 2021

Despite record numbers of active accounts, there has been a pronounced downward trend in the usage of Facebook in recent years across developed nations. This may be due to a range of factors including a stale interface, over-familiarity, or...

The ten greatest breakthroughs in smartphone design

By: Neil Cumins

On: Sunday, 9 May, 2021

Technology evolves at such a rapid pace that it’s often difficult to keep track of where we’ve come from. Twenty years ago, Nokia amazed the world by releasing the world’s first monochrome display screen, replacing the formerly ubiqui...

How low-band 5G will underpin always-on connections

By: Neil Cumins

On: Thursday, 22 April, 2021

When the fifth generation of mobile cellular connectivity was unveiled, there was breathless talk of its transformative effects. The reality has been rather less impressive. There are 4G networks capable of distributing data faster than 5G,...

Why are so many people fearful of 5G?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Saturday, 10 April, 2021

One of this decade’s less savoury phenomena has been the rise of the viral conspiracy theory, where theories are disseminated as facts. Admittedly, the COVID pandemic has made us all more paranoid and insecure than we were before, but som...

How to set up a new Apple iPad

By: Neil Cumins

On: Sunday, 4 April, 2021

It’s been over a decade since Apple revolutionised the world of computing by releasing the first mainstream tablet device. The first-generation iPad has spawned a legion of successors, including battalions of Pros, Minis and Airs. Many pe...

How to pare back the number of apps on your smartphone

By: Neil Cumins

On: Wednesday, 31 March, 2021

Unboxing a brand new smartphone is a deeply satisfying occasion, yet it’s often a surprise to discover how many apps are pre-installed onto it. Some are dictated by the Android or iOS operating systems. Others are manufacturer-specific bl...

How did we end up with eleven-digit phone numbers in the UK?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Saturday, 20 March, 2021

It’s often said that travel broadens the mind, and when it’s allowed, it certainly gives you an insight into cultural variances. For instance, the unseasoned traveller might assume eleven-digit phone numbers are standard throughout the ...

Why Huawei’s HarmonyOS could revolutionise the smartphone sector

By: Neil Cumins

On: Wednesday, 10 March, 2021

Twenty years ago, every mobile phone manufacturer had its own proprietary operating system. Then in 2007, Apple introduced the iPhone, and the world changed overnight. Suddenly, it wasn’t cost-effective to develop an operating system whic...

The best smartphones for professional photographers to use

By: Neil Cumins

On: Tuesday, 2 March, 2021

Considering mobile phones didn’t routinely have cameras fitted until the mid-Noughties, the rise in smartphone picture quality has been quite remarkable. An arms race between manufacturers has seen ever-more advanced lenses being installe...