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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How do smartphone news services work?

On: Sunday, 13 September, 2020

The evolution of smartphone news services is one of the more debatable advances in mobile technology. Historically, if you wanted to know what was happening in the world, you loaded a news website or installed an app like BBC News. In the e...

How to spot fraudulent text messages

By: Neil Cumins

On: Friday, 11 September, 2020

With every passing week, there is growing awareness of the things being sacrificed to maintain lockdown, and the price being paid to keep infection rates low. These repercussions will last for many years, ranging from individual mental heal...

Six reasons why SMS messages are still important

By: Neil Cumins

On: Thursday, 10 September, 2020

Ask someone born this century about the importance of SMS messages, and you can expect to receive a glassy stare. Yet to most Millennials, the humble text message will have been a formative part of their childhood and youth. It’s often di...

The best smartphone productivity apps

By: Neil Cumins

On: Wednesday, 9 September, 2020

When the history books are written, they will divide the early 21st century into two distinct parts – pre- and post-coronavirus. We’re only just beginning to identify the profound changes this virus could wreak on our lives, from the ab...

How fast could 5G become?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Wednesday, 9 September, 2020

Each new generation of smartphone communication represents a huge improvement over its predecessor. Despite the best efforts of EDGE in the late 1990s, the 2G network was never really suitable for internet access, with EDGE offering maximum...

Six tips for taking great outdoor photos

By: Neil Cumins

On: Monday, 7 September, 2020

Occasionally, a scene will present itself which makes for a perfect impromptu photo opportunity. The image accompanying this article was a perfect example – an unlit indoor water feature facing onto a Central American beach resort. Howeve...

My phone’s got wet – what should I do?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Monday, 7 September, 2020

Water can appear from the most unexpected places. From water-and-light shows through to plumbing emergencies, it’s easy to find yourself caught in a shower which didn’t originate in the clouds. This is bad news for many smartphones, whi...

Has Android brought in more innovations than iOS?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Sunday, 6 September, 2020

There’s a popular misconception that Apple is largely responsible for the creation and ongoing evolution of the smartphone. In reality, that’s not really the case. BlackBerry devices supported email as far back as 1999, while early Mill...

Why are there so many different chargers for mobile phones?

By: Neil Cumins

On: Friday, 4 September, 2020

The process of recharging portable devices has never been straightforward. As technology has evolved, manufacturers have adopted a bewildering variety of power sockets and charging cables. This was particularly true for smartphones, where m...

How to root your handset

By: Neil Cumins

On: Thursday, 3 September, 2020

It’s a little-known fact that modern smartphones are capable of far more than they’re permitted to do. Manufacturers strike a balance between performance and battery life, but being able to adjust this balance might benefit people who n...