Five things I would never do as a smartphone expert

We subject 65 smartphones to over 40 tests each year as part of Which? testing laboratory to provide you with our recommendations. After years of comparing hundreds of mobile phone and SIM card deals, we know what makes a good phone.

There will be plenty of phone deals on Black Friday, so follow our tips to get the best deal on your next phone, no matter your budget. There are also simple steps you can take to take care of your phone so it stays in better condition longer and prevents your data from falling into the wrong hands.

Read on to learn five things I, as a phone expert, would avoid.

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1. Buy a phone on a contract without finding out the total cost

Phone contracts can be a tempting way to spread out the cost of your phone instead of purchasing the phone outright (also known as buying Sim-free). However, what may seem like a reasonable monthly cost may mask the amount of insurance premium you pay overall. Long-term contracts may also be subject to price increases mid-contract, so your monthly costs will rise over time.

In almost all cases, I would buy the phone outright with a separate SIM-only deal to save money. But before I do that, I’ll tally up the amounts for all the deals I find to make sure this is the best way. To make things easier, you can use our contract calculator below.

2. Buy a phone that’s too old

Buying a phone that’s about a year old or buying a refurbished phone can save you a lot of money, especially when it comes to premium phones from manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Google. Overall, the updates we’ve seen on phones over the past few years haven’t been anything special, so you won’t be missing out on much by going back a generation or two. However, make sure that the phone you are looking at is still supported by updates. I would recommend choosing one that has at least two years of updates remaining.

Software updates add the latest features to your phone’s operating system. More importantly, security updates help prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in your phone.

Manufacturers typically support premium phones longer than cheaper ones. I wouldn’t buy a phone that was released more than three years ago if it’s a premium model, or two years ago if it’s a mid-range or cheaper phone. We’ve found phones still on sale that have less than a year of support remaining, or that have already been discontinued.

Use our Phone support calculator to see when we estimate each phone will lose security support.

3. Buy the first deal I see

If you’re buying a phone outright (rather than on contract), it can be tempting to grab the first discount you see from your favorite store. But I always shop around first – even if it’s just a quick Google search for the phone.

Many phone offers include free gifts sold as “bundles” instead of large blanket discounts. Examples we’ve seen include a free pair of Samsung headphones with purchase, or access to a free Apple TV subscription for a few months. It’s worth checking the offers from the phone manufacturer, as well as retailers and mobile operators – Google And Samsung in particular, discounts and freebies are regularly included with your new purchase, so check what’s on offer before purchasing.

Contracts usually include add-ons such as free streaming services or even free gifts, but these are usually built into the contract repayment in some way, so use our calculator above to check before purchasing.

Looking for a new phone? We have collected the latest news Offers for Android phones and SIM cards And iPhone deals.

4. Buy an ultra-premium phone.

Most major phone makers reserve the best newest features and updates for the ultra-premium devices at the top of their flagship lineup. This could be a sharper display, a faster processor, or better cameras.

However, most people may not even notice these updates, especially compared to cheaper phones in the flagship line. For example, one of the biggest upgrades is often an additional telephoto lens, allowing you to get the sharpest images possible at extreme magnifications. But how often you plan to take zoomed photos probably doesn’t guarantee the extra money you’ll pay for a top-of-the-line phone. So consider a cheaper option.

We’ve also noticed that mid-range and even entry-level phones are performing better and better in our tests. They may not have built-in AI capabilities, but the basic features (like screen quality, battery life, and speed for everyday use) are good for some of them. If I wanted to balance the value and performance of a phone, I would buy one outside of the highly touted flagship models.

Brands are actively using AI in new smartphones – find out what happened when we test Samsung artificial intelligence in our laboratories.

5. Can’t keep track of my phone

If you don’t take care of your phone, its performance may degrade faster than it should. Here are our top tips on how to keep your phone in the best possible condition, and how to keep your data safe if the worst happens.

Protect your phone as soon as you receive it

If you lose your phone or it gets stolen, your best chance of finding it again and protecting your data will depend on the steps you took before it went missing.

Once you have your phone, set it up. Find my device on an Android phone or Find my iPhone on Apple iPhone so you can monitor and control it remotely. Manufacturers are also improving these features: On some Android phones, Google’s artificial intelligence can automatically lock the screen if it senses it’s been stolen, and Apple won’t let you make major changes to your iPhone when it’s away from your usual places without additional authentication. .

• Read our tips at what to do if your phone is stolen for more important tips.

Clean it often

We carry our phones everywhere, and they can pick up a lot of nasty bacteria along the way. I use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe to disinfect my phone, but you can also use mild soap and water and a damp microfiber cloth (we recommend a lint-free cloth).

• This must be done carefully – our guide to how to clean your phone without damaging it explains why.

Keep things in order

A common complaint from Which? Members are running out of storage space or battery life isn’t as good as it used to be. Offloading unused apps on iPhone—deleting an app without deleting its data—can help solve these problems. It’s also a good idea to simply delete apps you never use. Closing apps to prevent them from running in the background can help, but in general a good measure is to reboot your phone every now and then – once a week is enough to clear things up.

Keep him posted

You may be annoyed by software update reminders popping up on your phone screen, but it’s important to take the time to update to ensure security patches are installed. Without them, your phone’s software may develop vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

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