Phone Week Your weekly fix of mobile, tech & telecom news

Phone Week

Your weekly fix of mobile, tech & telecom news

Latest Articles

Together But Poorer: The Family Mobile Bundle Myth That's Costing UK Households Dear
Networks

Together But Poorer: The Family Mobile Bundle Myth That's Costing UK Households Dear

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.
Four Walls, No Signal: The Indoor Coverage Scandal Costing UK Households Millions
Networks

Four Walls, No Signal: The Indoor Coverage Scandal Costing UK Households Millions

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.
First Phone Frenzy: How Networks Are Cashing In on Worried UK Parents
Reviews

First Phone Frenzy: How Networks Are Cashing In on Worried UK Parents

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.
Green Wash Cycle: What Really Happens to Your Phone After You Hand It Back to Your Network
Networks

Green Wash Cycle: What Really Happens to Your Phone After You Hand It Back to Your Network

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.
Ditch the Dash: How eSIM Travel Plans Are Making the Airport SIM Card a Thing of the Past
Reviews

Ditch the Dash: How eSIM Travel Plans Are Making the Airport SIM Card a Thing of the Past

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.
Home Truths: The Indoor Signal Scandal Leaving Millions of Brits Without the Coverage They're Paying For
Networks

Home Truths: The Indoor Signal Scandal Leaving Millions of Brits Without the Coverage They're Paying For

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.
Warehouse Archaeology: The Dusty Truth About Your 'Brand New' Smartphone
Reviews

Warehouse Archaeology: The Dusty Truth About Your 'Brand New' Smartphone

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.
Speed Demons to Snails: When Your Network's Rush Hour Leaves You in the Digital Slow Lane
Networks

Speed Demons to Snails: When Your Network's Rush Hour Leaves You in the Digital Slow Lane

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.
Holiday Horror Stories: The £3,000 Phone Bills That Ruined British Summer Breaks
Networks

Holiday Horror Stories: The £3,000 Phone Bills That Ruined British Summer Breaks

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.
Rent-a-Phone Britain: The Subscription Trap Replacing Traditional Mobile Ownership
Reviews

Rent-a-Phone Britain: The Subscription Trap Replacing Traditional Mobile Ownership

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.
Britain's Emergency Call Crisis: When Your Network Fails at Life-or-Death Moments
Networks

Britain's Emergency Call Crisis: When Your Network Fails at Life-or-Death Moments

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.
Trapped in the App: How Network Software Keeps You Locked Into Expensive Contracts
Networks

Trapped in the App: How Network Software Keeps You Locked Into Expensive Contracts

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.
MVNO Escape Route: The Brexit Roaming Loophole That's Saving Brits Hundreds
Networks

MVNO Escape Route: The Brexit Roaming Loophole That's Saving Brits Hundreds

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.
The Great Trade-In Swindle: How Britain's Networks Turn £99 Promises Into £9 Payouts
Networks

The Great Trade-In Swindle: How Britain's Networks Turn £99 Promises Into £9 Payouts

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.
Know Your Rights: The Phone Repair Powers UK Networks Don't Want You to Discover
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Know Your Rights: The Phone Repair Powers UK Networks Don't Want You to Discover

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.
5G Lies: The Commuter Nightmare Behind Those Shiny Signal Bars
Networks

5G Lies: The Commuter Nightmare Behind Those Shiny Signal Bars

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.
High Street's Hidden Phone Shop: Why Major Retailers Are Going Second-Hand
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High Street's Hidden Phone Shop: Why Major Retailers Are Going Second-Hand

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?
Switching Made Simple: How Britain Finally Won the Battle Against Network Lock-In
Networks

Switching Made Simple: How Britain Finally Won the Battle Against Network Lock-In

The days of being trapped by your mobile provider are officially over, but some networks are still playing dirty tricks. We tested the new switching rules to see which operators are genuinely making it easy to leave.
Home Sweet Home Base: What Your Wi-Fi Calling Really Tells Your Mobile Network
Networks

Home Sweet Home Base: What Your Wi-Fi Calling Really Tells Your Mobile Network

Wi-Fi calling fixes poor signal, but at what privacy cost? We decode exactly what data EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three collect when your calls route through your home broadband—and whether you should be concerned.
The Tap Tax: When Your Phone Becomes a Surcharge Magnet at UK Tills
Reviews

The Tap Tax: When Your Phone Becomes a Surcharge Magnet at UK Tills

Apple Pay and Google Wallet promised seamless payments, but a growing number of UK retailers are finding creative ways to penalise digital wallet users. We investigate the legal loopholes letting merchants charge extra for phone payments.