Mobiles Guides

If you're looking for some help with your mobile phone, switching networks or getting the best from your next mobile deal, we're here to help.

Switching mobiles

Unsure of the best way to switch mobiles and networks? Here's what you need to know.

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Text-to-switch: Everything you need to knowSoon changing mobile network will be as easy as sending a text message.

End of contract notifications - woman looking at her laptop

What to do when your mobile contract endsNot sure when your contract ends? No need to worry - your provider will send you a notific ..

Sim only vs pay monthly - sim card and handset icons

What is a SIM only deal compared to a pay monthly?What’s the difference between SIM only and pay monthly plans? Should you go for a new hand ..

Transferring your number guide young man on his mobile phone

PAC Codes | How to keep and transfer your old numberFind out how to transfer your old mobile number to your new handset. Save yourself the nee ..

Text to switch with Sky MobileWith its excellent perks, budget–friendly contracts and options to get a new phone mid–con ..

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Choosing a mobile phone

With so many handsets on the market, it can be difficult to know which smartphone is the right one for you. Our guides can help you decide.

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Hero image of phone with Apple Intelligence on

Best AI smartphones 2024: smartphones with the latest AI featuresYou might not have realised, but most of the latest phones feature AI in some form. Here a ..

Refurbished mobile phones - buying the right one for youShould you buy a refurbished phone? This guide will answer the most commonly asked questio ..

Mobile network coverage guide - woman on mobile phone

Best mobile network coverage in the UKWhich network offers the best mobile coverage 2024? We take a look at the major mobile pho ..

Best battery life phones 2024: the top 10 phones for battery life rankedLooking for phones with the best battery life? Uswitch ranks the best battery life phones ..

Woman sitting in park happily looking at her phone

Best Android phones 2024: top 15 Androids rankedChoosing the best Android smartphone in 2024 is a difficult task. Uswitch have ranked the ..

Mobiles - Guides - Best phones for kids: top 5 kid phones ranked | Uswitch

Best phones for kids: Our top 5 kids phones rankedAre you ready to buy your child their first mobile phone? Uswitch has ranked the best kid ..

How to get a UK mobile phone and SIM cardIf you're moving to the UK, or even just visiting, getting a UK mobile phone or SIM card w ..

Which mobile phone? | A buyers guide to choosing mobilesToo much mobile choice? Help is at hand from our guide to choosing a mobile phone. Find th ..

Android phones make up over 70% of all phones bought across the world

What is an Android mobile phone?Everything you need to know about Android. Learn which the best Android phones are, how mu ..

“4G networks have speeds around 20-42Mbps.”

4G mobile phones | 3G vs 4G speed, what's the difference?Does your phone still use 3G signal? What's the difference between 3G vs 4G speeds? Here's ..

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iPhones

iPhones are some of the most popular smartphones available. Here's what you need to know about Apple's range of handsets.

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Best iPhones 2024: Which iPhone should I buy?Unsure which iPhone you should buy? Uswitch has ranked the best iPhones available, includi ..

Should I update my iPhone to the latest version of iOS?What are the pros and cons of updating your iPhone to the latest iOS software?

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Samsung handsets

Samsung has produced incredible smartphones for years, alongside its range of TVs and other top-end technology. Here's what you need to know about these fantastic smartphones.

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“Samsung’s premium line of handsets offers superb specs and features.”

Best Samsung Phones in 2024: Which Samsung phone should I buy?Are you a Samsung fan? The Android smartphone has a wide range of truly amazing smartphone ..

Samsung Galaxy S10 vs S9: what’s the difference?How does the Samsung Galaxy S10 compare with the S9? Here are all of the main differences ..

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Money-saving tips

Keep an eye on your pennies with these money-saving tips and tricks.

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Surprised man checking mobile phone news standing in a park

What to do when your mobile contract’s price risesNetwork raised the price of your phone or SIM only contract? Here's a guide to your consum ..

Overcharged by your mobile phone network? Here's how to get your money backOvercharged by your mobile network? In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to go a ..

woman smiling using her smartphone on her sofa

How to find a cheap mobile phoneLooking for a cheap mobile phone handset? Many cheap deals still come with excellent smart ..

How can I get the best price when I sell my phone?Chances are you have an old phone or two knocking around in a drawer. Here we tell you how ..

A guide to charges for premium rate and customer support numbersWhat are premium changes? How will they affect you? Which numbers are classified as ‘premi ..

How to avoid being overcharged for your mobile phone contractMake sure you don’t get charged for your phone after you’ve paid it off.

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Roaming and international SIMs

How much does it cost to use your mobile overseas? And are there things you can do to get better coverage while travelling without paying too much? We've got all the information you need before you jet off.

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SMARTY international roaming FAQHere's what SMARTY offers when travelling overseas in terms of international roaming.

EU roaming guide - Young woman travelling by car in the mountains using smartphone

EU roaming charges explainedSince Brexit, UK networks have slowly begun reintroducing EU roaming charges. If you want ..

id mobile roaming guide - woman on the phone at airport

iD Mobile international roaming FAQIf you’re travelling to countries within the EU, roaming charges won't be a problem if you ..

EE international roaming FAQIf you're with EE and you're travelling abroad, find out what your options are and what ch ..

What are mobile roaming and data roaming charges?Using your phone while travelling overseas can result in some pretty serious charges if yo ..

Sky Mobile international roaming FAQSky Mobile customers can use their UK data, calls and text allowances in 55 overseas desti ..

person using their mobile phone in the evening outside

Best network for roaming 2024All networks have their own packages for those going away either on holiday or business. H ..

women sat in a park using her mobile phone

What is an eSIM and how does it work?Here's everything you need to know about eSIMs - how they differ to SIM cards, why you sho ..

International SIM card guideLearn how to make cheap overseas calls on your mobile phone and discover which networks sp ..

Tesco Mobile international roaming FAQLearn about Tesco Mobile's prices and monthly allowances of data, calls and texts while ab ..

giffgaff international roaming FAQIf you're with giffgaff and you're travelling abroad, find out about any roaming charges o ..

O2 roaming charges guide - young people waiting for a train

O2 international roaming FAQFrom 15th June 2024, all existing O2 pay monthly, pay as you go and business customers wil ..

Three international roaming FAQsThree’s Go Roam service allows you to unlock your UK allowance in 71 destinations, with ne ..

BT roaming charges guide - backpacking woman looking at her phone

BT Mobile international roaming charges FAQBT's Roam Like Home scheme allows customers to use their UK allowances of calls, texts and ..

Vodafone roaming charges guide - woman traveller with mobile phone

Vodafone international roaming FAQHow much will you be charged when travelling overseas? We break down how Vodafone charges ..

Virgin Media international roaming charges explained

Virgin Media international roaming FAQSince Virgin Media merged with O2 it now offers inclusive EU roaming, as well as additiona ..

Plusnet Mobile international roaming FAQPlusnet's Roam Like at Home customers can use their monthly plan allowance for no extra ch ..

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Staying safe online

The more time we spend online, the more we need to safeguard ourselves and our personal information. Here are a few guides on how to stay safe online.

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best network for teens and kids guide - young boy using a smartphone on the train

Best mobile networks for kids and teensBuying a mobile phone for your child can be a tough decision. In this guide, we take a goo ..

How smartphones affect your healthHow smartphones affect your health

How to keep your mobile phone secureTips and tricks to keep your smartphone secure.

Mobiles - Guides - How to keep your child safe on their smartphone – the definitive guide

How to keep your child safe on their smartphoneKeeping kids safe from the harmful side of the internet is a big task. Doubly so in a worl ..

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Smartphone accessibility

Smartphone technology is constantly improving, with more and more features being added to help those with accessibility needs.

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Smartphone accessibility: a comprehensive guideAdvice on how to use accessibility features on your smartphone to make life a little easier.

Title: A guide to screen readers. With an image of a young blind person woman using smart phone with voice accessibility for persons with disabilities in creative workplace

Screen reader accessibility - everything you need to knowSmartphone accessibility continues to improve, and a core component is screen readers. Her ..

woman wearing a hearing aid using her smartphone

Hearing accessibility guide - everything you need to knowIf you have hearing loss, there are a number of smartphone features you can use to make yo ..

Smartphone assistants guide - everything you need to knowHow to use your phone without the need for physical buttons or complicated hand gestures.

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Smartphone accessibility

From free subscriptions for streaming services to early access to ticket sales, you can get all sorts of valuable perks and benefits from your mobile network.

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Which mobile network offers the best perks?Which mobile networks offer the best extras? And which ones will suit you best? Read on ou ..

Hero image template of person holding phone next to emoji of hand holding phone

UK MVNOs: a guide to virtual networksWant to know what an MVNO, also known as a virtual network is? We explain what an MVNO is ..

“Cheap cinema tickets, days out and discounts at cafes & restaurants.”

Vodafone VeryMe Rewards: everything you need to knowVodafone mobile customers can get cheap cinema tickets, days out and discounts at cafes & ..

Sky Mobile Swap contracts: everything you need to knowDiscover the benefits of Sky Mobile Swap and how it compares to similar offers from rival ..

Why you should choose Lebara as your new mobile networkLooking for a SIM-only plan on a budget? Look no further than Lebara.

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How to guides

Advice and tips on how to make the most of your smartphone.

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How to spot a mobile phone scamDon't get caught out by mobile scams, read this guide to learn more about the things you n ..

How to transfer contacts from Android to Android or Android to iPhoneWant to move your phone contacts on to a new handset? Learn how to swap over details from ..

mobiles - guides - Mobile phone radiation

How to save money on your mobile phoneTips and tricks to help you cut your mobile phone costs

comparing smartphones choosing a smartphone

How to choose a mobile phone contractWith so many great value deals on phone contracts, it can be tough choosing the right one. ..

Switching from Android to iPhone - the complete guideMaking the leap from Android to an iPhone? We have a few easy steps that’ll make the trans ..

Woman comparing mobiles - How to switch phone providers

How to switch mobile phone providersSwitching phone providers? You don't have to compare every deal yourself. We do the work f ..

How to cancel your mobile contract earlyIf you cancel your mobile phone contract early, you'll likely have to pay an early exit fe ..

How to avoid nuisance phone calls - woman on phone

How to stop nuisance calls and block unwanted numbersRead on and discover the number of things you can do to block nuisance calls and texts on ..

How to unlock my phone | A guide to unlocking any phoneWant to unlock your mobile phone? We take you through the benefits, the risks and most imp ..

How to fix a water damaged phone guide - wet smartphone

How to fix a water damaged phoneDropped your phone in water? We show you how to fix a water damaged smartphone.

Mobiles - guides - What is data rollover and which networks offer it?

What is data rollover and which networks offer it?If you pay for more than you use but you’re wary of opting for less data in case you go ov ..

“Live Caption provides subtitles for media as it's happening.”

Live Caption accessibility - everything you need to knowHere's how to enable live caption for videos you watch on your smartphone.

dark mode settings guide - woman's hand using dark mode on her iphone

How to use Dark ModeBringing Dark Mode into the light, how to turn on your phone's dark mode settings and redu ..

Keeping safe while using your smartphoneFrom changing your settings to downloading some important apps, there are lots of simple t ..

smiling man with mobile phone - compare mobile phone tariffs guide

How to compare mobile phone tariffsWorking out which mobile phone tariff is right for you can be tough. Our handy guide to ta ..

How to back-up your data and restore your Android smartphone to factory settingsLearn how how to save your data on your Android smartphone.

mobiles - guides - What is 5G? Everything you need to know about 5G | Uswitch

What is 5G? Everything you need to know about 5GWhat’s so special about 5G? How much does it cost? Is it available in your area? What are ..

How to stop your gadgets overheating guide

How to stop your gadgets from overheatingDiscover key tips and tricks that could stop your favourite tech products from over heatin ..

top right corner of an iPhone with the battery and Wi-fi symbols

How to make your phone battery last longerOut for the whole day and worried your battery will run out? Here's how to improve your ph ..

What to do if your iPhone is overheatingWhat should you do if your phone gets too hot? This guide explains how to cool it down and ..

Back up your iPhone in a few simple stepsLearn how to back and restore your iPhone

Mobile phone recycling explainedRecycling an old mobile phone could earn you up to £200. Turn your old mobile phones into ..

How to pay your friends using your mobile guide

How to pay your friends using your mobileHow to make quick payments between friends on your mobile phone.

How to help someone set up a phone remotely guide - grandpa looking at his phone confused

How to help someone set up a phone remotelyYour essential guide to getting someone started with a mobile phone.

Third party smartphone repairsDiscover everything you need to know about third-party repairs and whether you should take the risk.

How to connect to the internet on a mobileFind out how to get connected to the internet on your mobile phone.

Using your phone in hospitalHere's how you can keep in touch and entertained on your mobile if you're in hospital.

man using cell phone hand holding mobile texting

What is a mobile network? And which network's best?Find out everything you need to know about UK mobile phone networks in our networks guide. ..

Mobiles - Guides - What is a smartphone?

What are smartphones?Our guide delves into the the features of a smartphone and explains how to use them. Learn ..

Mobiles - Guides - The complete guide to buying your first smartphone Untitled

The complete guide to buying your first smartphoneIf you're looking into buying a smartphone for the first time, or want to buy your kids' f ..

How to keep your Android safe from virusesProtect your device from malware.

How to limit your data usage, stop overspending and never run out of mobile data againImprove your data habits with this quick guide.

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Tech explained

Learn more about the latest tech, gadgets and smart devices with our tech-explained guides.

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Magnification and Zoom accessibility guide - older woman using an ipad

Magnification and Zoom accessibility guide - everything you need to knowRead on to find out what Magnification and Zoom are, who they can help, and how you can ge ..

Angry nervous confused middle-aged woman looking at mobile phone screen

Understanding mobile phone jargonIf you're muddled about megapixels or baffled by Bluetooth, we'll get you up to speed with ..

What is a VPN and why do I need it?What is a VPN? How do they work? Why use one? We cover all the basics and how to set up a ..

What is mobile tethering? Which networks let you tether?How does tethering work? Compare the major networks' policy and pricing structure for mobi ..

Make calls on your home Wi–Fi or ones in coffee shops, airports and train stations

What is Wi–Fi calling?Here's everything you need to know about Wi-Fi calling, including how it works, whether it ..

Guide to mobile phone radiationWant to know why mobile phones emit radiation and whether you need to worry? Our guide wil ..

The future of mobile phones - what will the smartphone look like?Technology in mobile phones has changed extremely rapidly in the last decade. So what's in ..

lots of old mobile phones lying on a yellow background

History of mobile phones | What was the first mobile phone?Mobile phones have only been around in the last 25 years but a lot has changed.

mobiles - guides - What is O2 Refresh? 5 key facts you need to know

What is O2 Refresh? 5 key facts you need to knowFreedom always comes at a price. But is this one worth paying?

What is Virtual Reality? VR headsets explainedWhat is VR? How does it work? And what options are available to you? Strap on your VR head ..

Christmas gadget gift guideChristmas gadget gift guide

man running fitness tracker and headphones

New year, new you, new tech

Smartwatches and fitness trackers guide

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Mobiles studies

Read our latest mobiles studies. From screen time reports and coverage data to the cost of making TikTok’s most loved Starbucks iced coffees at home.

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Feature image with the title 'UK mobile phone statistics, 2023' and a man sitting in a beanbag whilst using his phone.

UK Mobile Phone Statistics 2024 - Stats ReportWe’ve collated the latest UK mobile phone statistics and trends for 2023, covering mobile ..

Where to go to go completely off gridWe’ve rounded up the best places to go completely off grid, looking at areas with poor int ..

Children's social media & mobile safety report banner image.

Children's social media and mobile safety reportFor this report, Uswitch looked at the safety issues parents face when their children gain ..

Travel SIMsWe’ve analysed eSIM savings for top travel destinations, revealing how to slice data roami ..

Mobile FraudWe’ve analysed Action Fraud and ONS data to discover the prominence of mobile fraud in Eng ..

How does mobile phone use impact our health?We've surveyed mobile phone users across the UK to highlight the most common usage injurie ..

Most Reliable MobilesWe’ve analysed the most popular mobile phones, across Apple, Samsung and Google to reveal ..

Mobile EmissionsWe’ve analysed e-waste quantities in the UK and around the world, to reveal how e-waste ha ..

Group of people sitting on their phones. Title: How much time do you spend on your screen?

How much of your time is Screen Time?Uswitch reveals what percentage of our lives we spend looking at screens and the effects i ..

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Mobiles Guides

Switching mobiles

Choosing a mobile phone

iPhones

Samsung handsets

Money-saving tips

Roaming and international SIMs

Staying safe online

Smartphone accessibility

Smartphone accessibility

How to guides

Tech explained

Mobiles studies