Mobile phone reviews: FAQs
What is a smartphone?
Smartphones are mobile phones that can perform a number of different functions, such as playing music, taking pictures, surfing the internet and downloading and running applications.
Smartphones are sometimes confused with 'feature phones', which are lower-priced handsets that can also access the internet and perform similar multimedia tasks. However these are becoming rarer as smartphone prices have fallen dramatically. The choice is now pretty much between very basic, pay as you go phones or smartphones.
Smartphones have powerful computer processors and run a complete 'operating system', in the same way your home PC runs an operating system like Windows. So, in many ways, smartphones are more like pocket PCs than mobile phones.
Like with PCs, different smartphones can often run the same operating system, even if they're made by different manufacturers. For instance, HTC's Desire S and Samsung's Galaxy S 2 both run Android, an operating system that was developed by Google.
However, some operating systems, such as the iOS, can only be found on a single brand of smartphone (in this case the iPhone).
For more information read our Essential guide to smartphones.
What should I do if my phone is stolen?
Inform your network (or service provider) as soon as possible so it can bar your account. This will limit your liability for any further fraudulent calls made, but you'll still have to pay for any made before you notified them.
If you had previously noted down the handset's 15-digit IMEI number (accessed by typing *#06# into the phone, but sometimes found on the original packaging too), the network should be able to block that handset from working on any other UK network, rendering it worthless.
If you have mobile phone insurance, or the phone is covered under your house contents policy, check the terms and see if you're able to claim.
If you're worried about getting your phone stolen check out our mobile phone security advice guide.
How reliable are manufacturers' claims regarding battery life?
Claims on battery life should be taken with a pinch of salt
The manufacturers' figures you see advertised in most mobile phone shops assume the phone will be used under ideal conditions, so should be taken with a pinch of salt.
In reality, signal strength will play a large role in dictating the battery life – the weaker the signal, the harder the phone has to work to maintain a connection. That’s why we test battery life in real world conditions – with medium reception levels – rather than just taking the manufacturers word for it.
To see how mobile batteries perform in our lab tests read our mobile phone reviews.
Is it illegal to unlock my phone?
No. Unlocking your phone is legal. However doing so may invalidate any handset warranty, so you may want to think twice if your handset is valuable.
It is illegal to attempt to make a stolen phone work by changing its IMEI code. If you suspect your handset is stolen then you need to report it to your service provider.
Can I keep my phone number if I switch provider?
Yes. Contact your old mobile phone provider and ask for your porting authorisation code (PAC). Many providers will supply this immediately over the phone, though some may ask you to request it in writing then send it to you by post.
Providers must send your PAC to you within two days of receiving your request (by phone or by post, depending on which method they use).
Give your PAC to your new provider, who will transfer your number over to your new service.
To see which networks came out on top in our customer satisfaction survey, read our best mobile networks advice guide.
I've been sent a huge bill after using my mobile phone abroad - do I have to pay?
Unfortunately, the answer is probably yes. Calls you make when abroad are never included in your free minutes, and when you're abroad you'll have to pay to receive calls as well as make them.
There are rules in place about the cost of calls in EU countries and mobile providers are obliged to put a price cap on your usage to prevent you running up huge bills.
However, in countries outside the EU there's no protection, so providers can charge what they like. Legally they're not obliged to warn you if you're running up a big phone bill or to waive the charges if the bill is much higher than normal. However, it's worth asking your mobile provider to make an exception if you ran up a big bill because you were unaware of the costs.
The Which? guide to using your mobile abroad outlines typical charges and tips on how to keep costs down.
Do mobile phones cause cancer?
Mobile phones, like all wireless devices that send and receive information, emit electromagnetic radiation which is not typically considered to be dangerous. All mobile phones sold in the UK must meet the requirements set by the government to limit the radiation that is absorbed by the body to 2W/kg. This is the device’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) which can be found on manufacturers’ websites.
Investigations have shown no evidence that radiation at these levels poses any short term health risks. The long-term effects are less well known as mobile phones have only been used for the last 15 years or so. Some studies have found slight indications of increased risks of some cancers, but these studies are far from conclusive. Organisations who are still wary of the risks have released precautionary advice which includes using hands-free kits to place the phone further from the body, using phones with a low SAR, making shorter phone calls and discouraging children from using phones.
Which? believes that mobile phones do not pose any short term health risks due to the radiation that they emit. Although there is no strong evidence to suggest any long-term effects, these risks are more uncertain, and we agree that further investigations may help to clarify this.
I've upgraded to a new handset. What can I do with my old one?
To recycle your phone you can simply return your unwanted handset (minus the Sim card and any security or pin codes) to your network operator or phone retailer. The network will then usually make a donation to charity. Alternatively many charities run their own recycling schemes.
Another option is to sell your phone. Companies such as Mazuma Mobile and Envirofone will buy your old phone - all you do is enter your mobile phone's make and model on their website and they'll make you an offer for it. If you're happy with the price then the company will usually send you a pre-paid addressed envelope so that you can post the phone back to them.
Phone-buyers aren't the only solution if you want to sell your phone, although they're probably the easiest. Instead you can sell your handset privately, using online sites such as eBay or Gumtree. And some high street retailers, such as CEX, will allow you to trade in your old handset when you buy a new one while another option is to simply re-use the phone yourself.
If your contract has ended but the phone is in good condition then you can legally, and often freely, unlock it. This will let you use it on any network, allowing you to add a good value Sim card of your choice. These often offer great value for money.
For more information head over to our recycling your old mobile phone advice guide.