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Be honest – how many old phones are sitting in your house right now? One in a kitchen drawer. One in a bedside table. Maybe one still charging just in case. You’re not alone. According to the 4gadgets UK Smartphone Habits Survey, 39% of Brits keep old smartphones unused at home. That’s millions of devices losing value across the UK. It’...

For something we use every day, smartphones attract an astonishing amount of outdated advice: “Drain it to 0% before charging.” “Don’t leave it plugged in overnight.” “It’s definitely listening to you.” The problem? Tech has evolved. The advice often hasn’t. In this guide, we’re ...

In 2022 alone, the world generated 62 million tonnes of e-waste. By 2030, this figure is expected to climb to 82 million tonnes. That’s an avalanche of discarded smartphones, tablets, consoles and gadgets piling up at record speed. In Britain, our love affair with upgrades isn’t helping. We queue for launches, we obsess over marginal ...

We’ve all been there. You’re slumped on the sofa, half-watching telly, half-scrolling on your phone, when bam – a shiny new handset slides onto your screen. Titanium frame. AI that changes everything. A camera so powerful it could probably spot a freckle on the moon. Suddenly, the phone in your hand, which was working perfectly fine five ...

There’s nothing quite like unboxing a brand-new phone. The crisp screen. The untouched edges. That fleeting ‘new phone smell’ that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together. Then your bank app refreshes and suddenly the tears arrive. Because while that smell disappears in about five minutes, the credit card bill hangs around much ...

There’s no getting around it: buying a brand-new flagship phone is a serious purchase. With prices regularly nudging £1,000 and beyond, a new mobile can now rival a month’s rent, a family holiday or a sizeable chunk of your annual energy bill. To be clear, new phones aren’t bad. They’re impressive bits of kit, packed ...

Key Findings at a Glance Price now outweighs brand loyalty in UK smartphone purchases, with consumers prioritising value and practical features over prestige. More than a third of Brits (38.5%) keep old smartphones unused at home, rather than selling, trading in or recycling them. Young adults are the biggest tech hoarders, with 60.8% of 18-24...

When people think about a gadget’s carbon footprint, they often picture years of charging, streaming and scrolling. In reality, the largest share of emissions happens before the device is ever switched on. For most smartphones, tablets and smartwatches, the majority of their lifetime carbon emissions are created during manufacturing – ...

If you’re a parent in the UK right now, chances are you’re caught in the middle of a familiar tug-of-war. On one hand, screens are everywhere and for good reason. Smartphones and tablets help children learn, stay connected with friends and unwind. On the other hand, it’s hard to ignore the worries that creep in when screen time ...