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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.

PAC Codes | How to keep and transfer your old number

Find out how to transfer your old mobile number to your new handset and how to use a PAC code. Save yourself the needless hassle by keeping your old phone number.

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SIM only vs pay monthly - what’s the difference?

What’s the difference between SIM only pay monthly plans

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Text-to-switch: Everything you need to know

Soon changing mobile network will be as easy as sending a text message.

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End of contract notifications: everything you need to know

Not sure when your contract ends? No need to worry - your provider will send you a notification before your end date. Learn more about end of contract notifications.

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Samsung’s cash-back offer: everything you need to know

Here’s how to get up to £60 back when you buy a Samsung device.

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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.

Best phones for kids: our top 5 kids phones ranked

Are you ready to buy your child their first mobile phone? Uswitch has ranked the best kid phones in 2022 available to buy on the market right now.

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Best mobile network coverage in the UK

Which network offers the best mobile coverage 2023? We take a look at the major mobile phone networks and the sort of coverage & connection speeds to expect.

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How to get a UK mobile phone and SIM card

If you're moving to the UK or just visiting, getting a UK mobile phone or SIM card will probably be at the top of your to-do list. Stay connected and get online as soon as possible with our how-to guide.

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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 what you need to know.

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Which mobile phone? | A buyers guide to choosing mobiles

Too much mobile choice? Help is at hand from our guide to choosing a mobile phone. Find the phone that suits your needs.

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What is an Android mobile phone? - Uswitch

Everything you need to know about Android. Learn which the best Android phones are, how much they cost and what mobile apps they have.

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Should I buy a refurbished iPhone?

The pros and cons of buying a refurbished iPhone

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Samsung Galaxy S21 buyer's guide

All you need to know about the excellent Samsung Galaxy S21 range - is it the right model for you?

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Refurbished mobile phones - the ultimate buying guide

Should you buy a refurbished phone? This guide will answer the most commonly asked questions about buying refurbished mobile phones.

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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.

iPhone 13 buyer’s guide

Let’s take a look at all the latest preorder deals major networks have put together for iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

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iPhone 12 buyer’s guide

Which iPhone 12 do you need? Find out whether you're best suited for the iPhone 12 Mini, standard, Pro or Pro Max. See our latest iPhone 12 deals.

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Best iPhones 2022: Which iPhone should I buy?

Unsure which iPhone you should buy? Uswitch have ranked the best iPhones in 2022 available to buy on the market right now.

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Transferring your data from Android to iPhone - the complete guide

Making the leap from Android to an iPhone? We have a few easy steps that’ll make the transition painless and stress-free.

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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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Should I buy a refurbished iPhone?

The pros and cons of buying a refurbished iPhone

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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.

Best Samsung Phones in 2022: Which Samsung phone should I buy?

Which mobile networks offer the best extras? And which ones will suit you best? Read on our guide to find out.

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Transferring your data from Android to iPhone - the complete guide

Making the leap from Android to an iPhone? We have a few easy steps that’ll make the transition painless and stress-free.

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Samsung’s cash-back offer: everything you need to know

Here’s how to get up to £60 back when you buy a Samsung device.

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Samsung Galaxy S21 buyer's guide

All you need to know about the excellent Samsung Galaxy S21 range - is it the right model for you?

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Money-saving tips

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

How to find a cheap mobile phone - Uswitch

Looking for a cheap mobile phone handset? Many cheap deals still come with excellent smartphones. Find out what you could get with our guide.

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday Christmas gift Ideas - Uswitch

See our top picks for Christmas gadget gift ideas this Black Friday.

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Overcharged by your mobile phone network? Here's how to get your money back

Overcharged by your mobile network? In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to go about it, what to look out for and what your rights are.

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Black Friday tech deals

Browse our selected Black Friday tech deals for Black Friday 2022.

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How can I get the best price when I sell my phone? - Uswitch

Chances are you have an old phone or two knocking around in a drawer. Here we tell you how you can turn your old phone into cash.

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Amazon Prime Day Deals and Offers 2022

Find out some of the latest Amazon Prime Day offers for 2022.

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A guide to charges for premium rate and customer support numbers

What are premium changes? How will they affect you? Which numbers are classified as ‘premium rate’ or 'non-geographic'? Read on and we’ll explain all.

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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.

Vodafone international roaming FAQ

Vodafone customers will be able to use their monthly allowance of calls, texts and data from 50 European countries at no extra cost.

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Tesco Mobile international roaming FAQ - Uswitch

Learn about Tesco Mobile's prices and monthly allowances of data, calls and texts while abroad in various destinations around the world.

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Three international roaming FAQs

Three’s Go Roam service allows you to unlock your UK allowance in 71 destinations, with new charges in place for Europe and Around the World.

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O2 international roaming FAQ

From 15th June, all existing O2 pay monthly, pay as you go and business customers will get inclusive roaming in 47 European destinations.

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International SIM card guide: how to make cheap overseas calls on your mobile phone

Learn how to make cheap overseas calls on your mobile phone and discover which networks specialises in cheap international calls.

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iD Mobile international roaming FAQ

From 15 June, iD Mobile customers will be able to roam like at home from anywhere in the EU.

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SMARTY international roaming FAQ

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

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BT Mobile international roaming charges FAQ

BT's Roam Like Home scheme allows customers to use their UK allowances of calls, texts and data in 47 locations for no extra charge.

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giffgaff international roaming FAQ

If you're with giffgaff and you're travelling abroad, find out about any roaming charges or packages you could select with the network.

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Plusnet Mobile international roaming FAQ

Plusnet's Roam Like at Home customers can use their monthly plan allowance for no extra charge in 52 European locations.

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Sky Mobile international roaming FAQ

From 1st June 2017, Sky Mobile customers can use their UK data, calls and texts allowances in 36 overseas destinations for no extra charge.

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Virgin Media international roaming FAQ

We take a close look at Virgin Media's roaming policy.

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What are mobile roaming and data roaming charges?

What are data roaming charges? And how do you avoid them? Look no further - here's everything you need to know about overseas charges

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Best UK network for international roaming

All networks have their own packages for those going away either on holiday or business. Here's we break them down & find the best.

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Roaming outside the EU: A network–by–network guide

Which network is the best for data roaming outside the EU? Here’s our network–by–network guide on using your phone while travelling outside of the EU.

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EE international roaming FAQ

If you're with EE and you're travelling abroad, find out what your options are and what charges you might be faced with.

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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.

How to keep your child safe on their smartphone

Keeping kids safe from the harmful side of the internet is a big task. Doubly so in a world where smartphones offer unmonitored access to everything from graphic adult content to gambling sites.

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Best mobile networks for kids and teens - Uswitch

Buying a mobile phone for your child can be a thorny issue. In this guide, we take a good look at the best networks for kids and families.

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Smartphones and your health: the definitive guide for 2022

Smartphones and your health: the definitive guide

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Smartphone accessibility

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

Smartphone accessibility: a comprehensive guide

Advice on how to use accessibility features on your smartphone to make life a little easier.

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Screen reader accessibility - everything you need to know

Smartphone accessibility continues to improve, and a core component is screen readers. Here's what you need to know.

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Smartphone assistants guide - everything you need to know

How to use your phone without the need for physical buttons or complicated hand gestures.

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Hearing accessibility guide - everything you need to know

If you have hearing loss, there are a number of smartphone features you can use to make your experience better.

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Perks and benefits

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.

Sky Mobile Swap contracts: everything you need to know

Here we’ll outline the benefits of Sky Mobile Swap and how it compares to similar offers from rival networks too.

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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 our guide to find out.

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Vodafone VeryMe Rewards: everything you need to know

Vodafone mobile customers now get cheap cinema tickets, free data and gifts.

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How to guides

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

Live Caption accessibility - everything you need to know

Whether you’re watching your favourite TV drama or catching up on the news, it’s not always easy keeping up with what’s being said on screen- especially if you have a disability.

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mobile phone contracts, how to choose a mobile phone contract, smartphone contracts

With so many great value deals on phone contracts, it can be tough choosing the right one. Our guide will help you find the best mobile phone contract for you.

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Keeping safe while using your smartphone

From changing your settings to downloading some important apps, there are lots of simple things you can do with your smartphone to help improve your safety.

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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. We take a network-by-network look at what's on offer.

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Mobile phone recycling explained

Recycling an old mobile phone could earn you up to £200. Turn your old mobile phones into cash with the help of our guide.

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How to use Dark Mode

Nowadays, we’re all more reliant on our smartphones than ever. But what is this doing to our health? With screens getting bigger and brighter in recent years, there’s concern among experts that this will have a knock-on effect on our eyesight and sleep patterns.

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What to do if your iPhone is overheating

What should you do if your phone gets too hot? This guide explains how to cool it down and how to prevent overheating from happening again.

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How to switch mobile phone providers

Switching Phone provider. You don't have to compare every deal yourself. We do the work for you and make it easy. Just follow the simple steps in this guide.

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How to transfer contacts from Android to Android or Android to iPhone

Want to move your phone contacts on to a new handset? Learn how to swap over details from any phone, whether it's an Android or iOS device.

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How to stop your gadgets from overheating

Discover key tips and tricks that could stop your favourite tech products from over heating, and ultimately keep them in better health for longer.

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

What’s so special about 5G? How much does it cost? Is it available in your area? What are the best 5G phones? We explain everything you need to know about 5G.

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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 over your limit, a data rollover plan might be a good solution for you.

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UK MVNOs: a guide to virtual networks

Want to know what an MVNO, also known as a virtual network is? We explain what an MVNO is and talk you through their pros and cons.

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How to stop nuisance calls

Read on and discover the number of things you can do to block nuisance calls and texts.

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How to cancel your mobile contract early

If you cancel your mobile phone contract early, you'll end up having to pay an early termination fee. Here are the alternatives to cancelling your contract

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Using your phone in hospital

Here's how you can keep in touch and entertained while in hospital.

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Transferring your data from Android to iPhone - the complete guide

Making the leap from Android to an iPhone? We have a few easy steps that’ll make the transition painless and stress-free.

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How to fix a water damaged phone

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

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How to help someone set up a phone remotely

Your essential guide to getting someone started with a mobile phone.

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How to compare mobile phone tariffs - Uswitch

Working out which mobile phone tariff is right for you can be tough. Our handy guide to tariffs is all the help you need.

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How to spot a mobile phone scam

Don't get caught out by mobile scams, read this guide to learn more about the things you need to look out for to protect yourself

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How to unlock my phone | A guide to unlocking any phone

Want to unlock your mobile phone? We take you through the benefits, the risks and most importantly - how to do it with minimal hassle.

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How to save money on your mobile phone

Tips and tricks to help you cut your mobile phone costs

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How to back-up your data and restore your Android smartphone to factory settings

Learn how how to save your data on your Android smartphone.

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How to pay your friends using your mobile

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

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Back up your iPhone in a few simple steps

Learn how to back and restore your iPhone

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The complete guide to buying your first smartphone - Uswitch

If you're looking into buying a smartphone for the first time, or want to buy your kids' first phone, here's what you need to know.

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hird party smartphone repairs

We’ll tell you everything you need to know about third-party repairs and whether you should take the risk.

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How to connect to the internet on a mobile

Find out how to get connected to the internet on your mobile phone.

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Tech explained

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

Magnification and Zoom accessibility guide - everything you need to know

Read on to find out what Magnification and Zoom are, who they can help, and how you can get the best use out of these features.

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radiation, mobile phone radiation, handset radiation

Want to know why mobile phones emit radiation and whether you need to worry? Our guide will tell you all you need to know and how to reduce any risk.

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How much data do you need? Data allowance explained

All you need to know about data allowances on your phone. We help you work out how much data you'll need and how to get the most out of your monthly allowance.

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What is mobile tethering? Which networks allow you to tether?

How does it work? Compare the major networks' policy and pricing structure for mobile phone tethering on iPhone and Android

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What is a VPN and why do I need it?

What is a VPN? How does a VPN work? And why use a VPN? We cover all the basics as well as how to set up a VPN so that you can keep your data safe and secure.

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What is Wi–Fi calling?

Everything you need to know about Wi-Fi calling. How it works and how you can get started.

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

Freedom always comes at a price. But is this one worth paying?

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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 store for us in the future?

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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!

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What is Virtual Reality? VR headsets explained

What is VR? How does it work? And what options are available to you? Strap on your VR headset, all will be explained.

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Understanding mobile phone jargon

If you're muddled about megapixels or baffled by Bluetooth, we'll get you up to speed with our layman's guide to smartphone terminology.

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Christmas gadget gift guide

Christmas gadget gift 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.

How does mobile phone use impact our health?

We've surveyed mobile phone users across the UK to highlight the most common usage injuries and their impacts on our health.

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Most Reliable Mobiles

We’ve analysed the most popular mobile phones, across Apple, Samsung and Google to reveal the most reliable overall.

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UK Mobile Phone Statistics 2023 - Mobiles Facts and Stats Report

We’ve collated the latest UK mobile phone statistics and trends for 2023, covering mobile phone ownership statistics, sales, usage, connectivity, and more.

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Mobile Emissions

We’ve analysed e-waste quantities in the UK and around the world, to reveal how e-waste has changed over time and how it is expected to increase in the future.

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How much of your time is Screen Time?

Uswitch reveals what percentage of our lives we spend looking at screens and the effects it has on our wellbeing.

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Dropping off the grid

We’ve rounded up the best places to go completely off grid, looking at areas with poor internet connectivity, limited phone signal and bad transport to major cities

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