Your weekly fix of mobile, tech & telecom news
Your network's coverage map shows a confident splash of colour right over your postcode — so why can't you make a phone call from your own sofa? We dig into the murky world of indoor signal, Ofcom's toothless obligations, and the workarounds your network quietly hopes you'll never find.
Every August, UK retailers and mobile networks roll out a wave of back-to-school smartphone promotions aimed squarely at parents. The deals look compelling on the surface — but run the numbers over 24 months and a very different picture emerges. We crunch the real costs so you can make a genuinely informed choice.
Most of us tick 'I agree' without a second glance, but buried inside your standard UK mobile contract are clauses that can cost you hundreds, trap you in deals you never knowingly agreed to extend, and leave you with surprisingly little legal recourse. We've done the reading so you don't have to.
Getting your child their first smartphone has become a rite of passage in Britain — and the mobile industry knows it. From upselling anxious parents on premium handsets to locking families into two-year contracts for a 10-year-old's first device, the tactics used to squeeze money out of the back-to-school crowd are worth knowing about. Here's what a sensible first phone actually costs, and why you almost certainly don't need what the shop is pushing.
Millions of Britons are paying full whack for mobile contracts that deliver little more than a flickering bar of signal the moment they step through their front door. From Victorian terraces to modern double-glazed new builds, the UK's housing stock is quietly killing your mobile connection — and your network almost certainly won't tell you. We investigate what you're actually entitled to, and how to fight back.
Family phone plans sound like a no-brainer — one account, shared data, and a discount for sticking together. But scratch beneath the surface of what UK networks are actually selling and the promised savings have a habit of evaporating into exit fees, mismatched upgrade dates, and data-sharing rules that benefit the network far more than the family. We run the numbers, expose the traps, and work out whether going it alone might actually be the smarter play in 2025.
Your network's coverage map might show a healthy blob of colour over your postcode, but step inside your own front door and that signal can vanish entirely. We investigate why indoor reception is the dirty secret UK networks and Ofcom would rather not discuss — and what it's actually costing you.
Britain's mobile networks love talking up their green credentials, and phone takeback schemes sit front and centre of those sustainability pledges. But what actually happens to your old handset once it disappears behind the counter? The answer is murkier — and potentially more dangerous — than the recycling brochures suggest.
For years, British travellers faced a grim choice: pay extortionate roaming charges, scramble for a local SIM at the airport, or spend the holiday hunting for free Wi-Fi. Now a new breed of eSIM travel providers is quietly dismantling all three options — and the savings can be extraordinary.
Our exclusive testing reveals how Britain's major mobile networks quietly slash your connection speeds during busy periods, leaving commuters and evening users with fraction of the performance they're paying for. The results might surprise you.
That shiny new phone you just signed a two-year contract for might have been gathering dust in a warehouse since 2023. Our investigation reveals how retailers routinely sell aged stock as current models, leaving buyers shortchanged on security updates and support lifecycles.
British holidaymakers are returning from dream vacations to nightmare phone bills, with some facing charges that exceed their mortgage payments. Our investigation reveals which destinations are the most dangerous for your wallet and how to protect yourself.
UK mobile network apps use sophisticated psychological tricks to prevent customers from downgrading or cancelling services. Our investigation reveals the hidden dark patterns designed to frustrate users into staying on expensive plans.
Millions of UK mobile customers discover their network's emergency coverage promises are worthless when they actually need to call 999. Despite regulatory requirements and roaming agreements, critical calls are failing across Britain's coverage blackspots.
A new generation of UK smartphone rental services promises flexibility and sustainability, but investigation reveals these schemes often cost more than traditional ownership. We examine whether phone subscription models represent genuine innovation or clever marketing for worse value.
Cracked screens and water damage don't automatically void your consumer rights. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 offers protections that manufacturers routinely ignore – here's how to fight back.
While EE, Vodafone, and Three quietly reintroduced European roaming charges, smaller networks are still offering unlimited EU usage as standard. We reveal which MVNOs provide the best post-Brexit travel deals.
UK mobile networks are advertising eye-catching trade-in values to entice upgrades, then slashing offers at the last minute. We expose the tactics being used to devalue your old phone and reveal where you can get genuine returns.
John Lewis, Currys, and Amazon have quietly launched certified refurbished smartphone programmes, marking a seismic shift in how Britain's biggest retailers view the second-hand market. But are their warranties worth the premium prices?
Your phone proudly displays "5G" but that YouTube video still won't load on the 7:42 to London. We investigated why Britain's mobile networks are showing full signal strength while delivering dial-up speeds during rush hour.