Photography can be as simple or as complicated as we like to make it, and often we have a complex routine to get the images we like only to share across social media. I have managed to simplify the process by switching from having to use my laptop, to using Samsung's latest folding smartphone - the Galaxy Z Fold 4. 

As I transitioned from capturing professional sports photography to street photography, I kept my transitional workflow of capturing images, uploading them to a desktop computer or one of the best laptops for photo editing at the time and would edit my images how I liked, and then uploaded them to Dropbox to disperse to relative clients.

Once images were delivered to my clients I would then use my phone to access them via Dropbox and downloaded selected images to my phone to then upload them to social media networks like Instagram.

This process might sound normal for many of us, but for street photography when you are always on the go this process might sound rather 'clunky' I have always been in search of the ideal workflow for me, and this always included a laptop, until now.

Thanks to the advancing technology of mobile phones, and the processing power and memory built inside, I've managed to ditch most of the bulk and take my street photography workflow to minimalistic levels, all thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. As folding phones have begun a new trend, and I see them as being a phone, tablet, and computer all rolled into one, I wanted to see if I could use the Z Fold 4 to be my always-there 'laptop'. 

Now I would love to say this was a hard process, full of hacks and tricks that will get me a million views on YouTube, but I'm delighted to say this process was almost as easy as taking my memory card out of my camera.

Firstly, I will address the elephant in the room, my older Leica camera does not have WiFi or Bluetooth. And as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is USB Type-C, a dongle is required for this process to work - but the need to also carry a USB-C hub is a small sacrifice to have a computer always in my pocket.

The process

The process is rather simple, firstly plug any USB Type-C dongle into the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and insert the best SD card you have in your camera and instantly you will get a notification to open the DCIM folder to access all your images.

Here I can select images I would like to select to edit, my editor of choice for this experiment was Adobe Lightroom due to its lightweight image processing, but still being able to edit full RAW files, which was my goal for a true laptop replacement.

Due to some kind of complication, Adobe Lightroom would only let me select images that I had copied from the plugged-in SD card and saved them to the phone's internal memory after importing to the phone's memory, I was then able to select my RAW files and complete complex edit on the fly thanks to its main 7.6-inch screen I was able to see every edit in real-time with no zooming in on the image at all and was able to achieve the task I could only really do on my laptop or desktop computer within minutes, until now thanks to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the computer in my pocket.

The outcome

Once images were edited to my liking, and as this mobile computing marvel is a phone I was then able to save the images directly to the phone, as you would on any computer, and then I simply load Instagram and upload my images directly from the phone.

Completely cutting out a long and clumsy process of searching around in Dropbox, finding the images I want to download to my phone, or selecting files to upload to the cloud storage app from a computer.

Due to the power and unlimited usability of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, its amazing 7.6-inch main foldable AMOLED screen with it 2176 x s 1812 x pixels made this the change that I needed to make my street photography workflow as minimal as possible, allowing my to take more images, and edit on the fly anytime, all I need is my camera in my hand, a dongle and a Samsung Galaxy Fold 4.

If this has been helpful we recommend taking a look at our best phones for photography guide or take a look at our best cameras for street photography. If those don't get you tempted then you can take a look at the best Android phone for photography or read our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. 

Leading mobile network and technology communications company, Vodafone, has partnered with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the launch of the One million phones for the planet campaign that aims to encourage customers to trade in older devices, enticed by Vodafone's competitively priced trade-in offers, as part of a larger circular economy plan for recycling mobile devices.

One of the largest independent conservation organizations in the world, the WWF fight to ensure a world with thriving habitats and species, and work to tackle the main causes of nature’s decline that involve aspects of climate change and food chain systems. Vodafone say it will donate £1, or the local equivalent, to WWF for every phone traded in, to support conservation projects across the world.

• See our review of the world's most eco-friendly phone!

This new major global partnership between Vodafone and WWF highlights the importance of recycling our smart devices and purchasing second-hand where possible, to not only reduce the amount of E-waste that is produced each year but to support the creation of a circular economy drive for smartphone recycling.

Vodafone states that one of its main goals in this partnership, and as part of the One million phones for the planet campaign, is to reduce carbon emissions to ‘net zero’ by the year 2040, and to refine the company's circular economy strategy by increasing the number of traded-in, refurbished and recycled devices from customers. 

The One million phones for the planet campaign will run alongside Vodafone's other existing device campaigns including Germany’s One For One appeal and Vodafone UK’s Great British Tech Appeal. The company supposedly has what it calls a four-pronged approach for device circularity, having announced it back in February, to help the mobile industry minimize waste and reduce carbon emissions.

Purchasing a refurbished and second-hand smartphone could save around 50kg of CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent), reports Vodafone, with an 87% less contribution to climate change than a newly manufactured smartphone by eliminating the need to extract 76.9 kg of new raw materials for a new device.

Strategic initiatives will be launching soon across Vodafone markets in Europe, the UK, and Africa that include apps encouraging Vodafone customers to make more sustainable choices, as well as projects in South Africa, Germany, and the UK that will use mobile technology to help address sustainability challenges.

Vodafone will also be harness WWF’s global network of expertise in this new partnership, raising awareness of environmental issues as well as the international capability for leading the fight against the climate and nature emergency.   

The company expects to increase the overall number of high-quality and competitively priced refurbished secondhand smartphones that it can offer customers in retail stores, and the announcement of partnership from Vodafone states that it will responsibly recycle or repurpose any redundant devices that are traded in for social or charitable causes whenever it's possible to do so.

Vodafone Group Chief Executive, Nick Read, has shared that “WWF and Vodafone strongly believe that we can all make greener choices about how we use technology. Our partnership with WWF will create new initiatives to encourage our customers to take actions that could help reduce their carbon emissions and reduce pressure on the planet’s natural resources.”

Tanya Steele, Chief Executive of WWF-UK, suggested “Every one of us has a role to play in helping to bring our world back to life, and the technology we use every day can play a major role in tackling the climate and nature emergency."

She continues, "Through our partnership with Vodafone, we will be exploring how everyone can reduce their environmental footprint using digital technologies and services, while also using mobile technology to drive forward key WWF conservation projects around the world. We look forward to working together on our shared vision for the planet.”

Vodafone says it believes that business success should not come at a cost to the environment, and it is committed as a company to using natural resources more efficiently, while driving action to reduce device waste and progressing against its target to reuse, resell or recycle 100% of its network waste.

• You may also want to take a look at the best camera phone for photographers, as well as the best burner phones, and see our guides on what to look out for when buying second-hand tablets and iPads, and learn Why I've only ever bought second-hand cameras.

Roberto Valenzuela developed his unique teaching style by following the same rigorous regimen he developed as a professional concert classical guitarist and educator before becoming a photographer. 

Roberto believes that it is not talent but deliberate practice that is at the core of skill and achievement. He has traveled to every area of the world, motivating photographers to practice their craft as musicians practice their instruments before performing on stage. His book trilogy Picture Perfect Practice, Picture Perfect Posing, and Picture Perfect Lighting have become staples in the photography industry and in academic photography departments.

Now, the top-selling author, multi-award-winning wedding and portrait photographer, and Canon Explorer of Light, is going to appear at The Photography Show in the UK, to show you exactly what to do to transform your photography, and photography business, from average to remarkable.

Tickets are still available to see Roberto Valenzuela at The Photography Show in Birmingham, UK on Tuesday, September 20 from 15:00 - 16:15.

You may also like the best professional cameras and the best camera for portraits. Find out more about The Photography Show.

Looking to get yourself a better broadband deal? You have come to the right place, as we can help you find the very best broadband deal for you. And with so many of us forced to spend more time at home – working remotely, or just looking for things to amuse ourselves, it is undoubtedly a good a time to find a better, faster or cheaper broadband provider.

Below you will find a selection of the best broadband deals that we have found in the UK at the moment – choose the package that suits your needs, and budget best! If you need help in choosing the right package, look at our Buying Advice below.

Find the best deal for you

Buying advice

How to choose the best broadband deal

What broadband speed?
Faster is better, but the top broadband speeds will cost you a lot more – and you may simply just not need them...

Broadband speeds are measured in megabits per second, or Mb. The advertised speed is the 'average' isn't necessarily the actual speed you end up with (as that depends on where you live).

Bog-standard "ADSL" connections offer speeds up to 12Mb. This is fine if there is just one or two of you at the address, and that you do not need a reliable streaming service for TV or gaming.

High-speed broadband uses a fibre connection and typically offer speed of 25-50Mb. This is perfect for family uses - and should give you connection speeds that keeps everyone happy. Our checker will tell you if you can get a fibre connection where you live.

Contract length
Most contracts are for 12 months, but as with mobile phones some providers are trying to commit to longer. You can find some deals that offer 30-day rolling contracts – which are great if you hate commitment, or if you may be moving sometime soon.

With 5G cellular phone networks offering supreme mobile speed and reliability rapidly rolling out further coverage, networks are all looking to retire their 3G coverage. Find out why, when, if you’ll be affected an confusingly, why 2G networks are still running…

Why we are waving goodbye to 3G

There are good reasons why networks aren’t just leaving 3G as an outdated option, and they all ultimately boil down to money. 

Spectrum, which is the invisible radio frequencies that wireless signals travel over, is in limited supply to mobile network providers. The more spectrum made available for a connectivity type, such as 3G, 4G or 5G, the better the service will be across reliability, speed and coverage. Therefore, closing down the 3G network, will free up spectrum that can be used for modern and more lucrative 4G and 5G services.  

Additionally, switching off 3G will allow network providers to get rid of dated equipment and reduce their costs as it’ll be replaced with modern, less power-hungry alternatives for 4G, 5G and 6G for future use. 

Why 2G will be around a little longer 

It’s quite confusing that 3G is being retired, 2G networks are being left running. The reason behind this is the older GSM 2G technology is a lot less power-hungry, making it a good match for some Internet of Things devices, in particular those that require long battery life.

This said, UK networks have committed to retiring out 2G by 2033. The US is a lot less dependent on 2G technology so has already been phased out by all the major carriers. And it's a similar situation in Australia, where the 2G network was switched off in 2017, getting replaced by 3G and 4G.

What this means if you use 3G services 

The biggest problem caused by the 3G shutdown will be for those who live or work in an area that only gets 3G coverage – as they’ll be no coverage after the cut off. This will be more likely an issue for those living in rural locations. Let’s be clear that this will be a rare scenario though as 4G and 5G networks continue to be rolled out and the 3G shutdown will make filling in any coverage holes within those more modern networks much more likely. 

If your phone, or device like an old Kindle, only supports 3G, you’ll have no choice but to upgrade in order to stay connected. Phones are getting cheaper all the time and if you don’t want spend a lot, we’ve got you covered with our burner phones and budget phones guides. 

As well as phones and devices, cars will be affected too – mainly those made between 2010 and 2021, which use 3G for smart services such as navigation systems. However, a lot of this will be solved via software upgrades and some will even update wirelessly. 

The big 3G shutdown date 

Here’s where it gets a bit confusing – there is no one 3G cut-off date. Different mobile networks will end their 3G services at different times – some have confirmed when this will be and some haven’t, yet.  

In the US, the situation is the clearest as AT&T. Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon all switched off their 3G services at different points last year.

All UK networks have agreed to switch off 3G completely by 2033 but in reality they are all doing it much, much sooner - with some starting the process now. Dates from the UK mobile network operators that have been announced so far are:

Vodafone UK will switch off all 3G services by December, starting from February. 3 will start closing of its 3G network this year, aiming to complete the process by the end of 2024. EE will start the 3G switch off in 2024. And finally 02 is yet to announce any shutdown ahead of the 2033 deadline.

It’s a similar story in Australia, with different dates for each operator. Vodafone Australia will switch off its 3G network on December 15, 2023. Telstra has announced its shutdown will be in June 2024. Optus' 900MHz 3G service continues, with no final shutdown date yet announced.

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If you spend all your idle hours on social media, we may well have found you the best-ever mobile phone deal. With a Voxi SIM, you pay just £10 a month - but for that you get unlimited social media access, making it a tempting deal for those who live on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Voxi's Endless Social Media plans start at a tenner a month... and there is no contract to worry about, as you can cancel at any time. But the benefits don't just end there... for your £10 you get unlimited calls and unlimited texts. What about movie downloads and such... you may well ask? Well, this plan now comes with 12GB of of data each and every month too.

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Voxi is owned by Vodafone, so you will be dealing with one of the best known names in the mobile phones business - and with this SIM you can take advantage not only of the company's 3G and 4G networks - you can jump on its growing 5G coverage too. You can also use your plan in the EU too (subject to a fair-use limit).

The unlimited social media includes  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, Weibo, Reddit, Pinterest, Flickr, and more. And the only catch is that to get this unlimited coverage, you need to ensure you don't use up all your data (if you can top it up for a minimal charge, and there are other tariffs with more data to begin with too if you are going to do lots of streaming). 

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Switching on the TV to watch one of the best streaming services is a great way to relax after a long day at work or school. But with so many to choose from, how do you find the best streaming service for you?

It was all so simple a few years ago when Netflix was the one service around – but now the market has exploded with competitor services, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV Plus, Disney Plus, HBO Max and more. With gripping content and some very competitive pricing, it's easy to see why some users are starting to consider services beyond Netflix.

• Read more: Apple TV VPN

With the best streaming services mostly sitting around the $10-15/mo mark, you can sign up to multiple services without breaking the bank. However, with more and more platforms popping up each year, it can still be a confusing experience trying to figure out which ones are best for you.

Luckily, we've narrowed down the best streaming services to help you find the right platform(s) for you. If you're a lover of Star Wars and Marvel, then Disney Plus is a must-have, with a fantastic range of original TV shows and movies scheduled over the next few years. Meanwhile, if you're wondering how to watch HBO Max and make the most out of it, this platform has some classic fan-favorites, including Friends, Sex and the City and Game of Thrones.

Alternatively, you might want to bag a few extra incentives with your chosen service – Amazon Prime Video features unlimited One-Day Delivery on Amazon parcels, unlimited cloud photo storage and more.

So, without any further ado, read on below to discover which platforms will be the best streaming services for you…

The best streaming services online 

Netflix has become known for its excellent roster of original material, which kicked off with dramas such as Lilyhammer and House of Cards. Netflix has only grown more prolific with its offering of original content, with big hitters such as The Witcher, Bridgerton, The Queen's Gambit, Tiger King and Stranger Things becoming massive draws for the streaming giant.

However, Netflix also offers an excellent back catalogue of old favorites, such as Community, Avatar: The Last Airbender, RuPaul's Drag Race, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Better Call Saul and more.

The one downside to Netflix revolves around the content that it licenses. Veteran Netflix viewers will remember when beloved shows such as Friends were taken from the platform once the licensing agreement ran out. Another frustrating aspect is that you can only view certain content depending on which region you're streaming from. However, this is a problem for any streaming service that licenses content, so you'll run into it elsewhere as well. Aside from this, Netflix is definitely one of the best streaming services around.

Disney Plus has only been out for just over a year, but it's already become one of the best streaming services around. Featuring content from National Geographic, Marvel, Star Wars, Fox, Pixar and (obviously) Disney, there's plenty of TV shows and movies to sink your teeth into.

At present, there's only a handful of original content on the platform, but that's all due to change over the next few years. Disney Plus has announced a huge roster of upcoming content, including shows revolving around Obi-Wan Kenobi, Boba Fett, Loki, She-Hulk, Hawkeye and much more.

Plus, the original content we've seen from Disney Plus has been excellent so far. Both seasons of The Mandalorian are essential viewing for any Star Wars fan, while WandaVision looks to be a quirky continuation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that could be setting up the next phase.

With the rise of streaming services, you might find yourself lamenting the loss of real-time TV channels. However, there is a happy medium between shelling out a huge chunk of money for your cable subscription and subsisting solely on a patchwork of streaming services.

Sling enables you to pay a monthly subscription of $35 ($30 for existing subscribers until summer 2021) for around 30 real-time TV channels, including NBC, BBC America, CNN, Cartoon Network, the Food Network, TBS and a variety of ESPN channels – making it especially useful for sports fans.

Like Sling TV, FuboTV enables users to have access to cable channels without a forma cable subscription. While it's more expensive than Sling TV (at around twice the price!), FuboTV's standard plan offers over 120 channels, including almost every major broadcast and cable network.

In fact, if you're a sports lover, FuboTV is probably the best option for you on this list. The recent inclusion of ESPN means that FuboTV is now the best streaming service for NFL fans, as it has all of the major broadcast networks and the NFL Network as well. However, FuboTV also has plenty to offer those who aren't quite as into their sports – with networks such as NBC, Fox, AMC, MTV, Syfy and more available as part of its standard package.

If you're already an avid Amazon shopper, then Amazon Prime is essentially a no-brainer. Not only do you get free Prime shipping on your purchases, but you also get a free Kindle book month and unlimited access to Amazon Music and Amazon Prime Video.

Prime Video features a decent selection of original content, including The Man in the High Castle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Grand Tour, The Boys, Good Omens and more. Even more excitingly, the upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel TV show will be housed on Prime Video – although it's uncertain whether it will hit its originally planned 2021 release date. Prime Video also includes content from Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and HBO – including access to The Sopranos and The Wire.

The only frustrating aspect of Prime Video is that some content costs extra to view, meaning that you have to shell out an additional chunk of money on top of your Prime membership.

HBO Max is a relatively new streaming service, but it's brought in the big guns to help it attract users in an increasingly competitive market. Not only do users get access to HBO's classic content, such as Sex and the City, Veep, Game of Thrones and Westworld, but there's also non-HBO content as well, including Wonder Woman 1984, Friends and the Studio Ghibli library.

It also looks as if HBO Max will only become more competitive as time goes on. There will be a Gossip Girl reboot and a Sex and the City reboot coming to the platform – plus, Game of Thrones fans might finally see some redemption with the House of the Dragon prequel slated for release in 2022.

• Read more: How to watch HBO Max

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If you keep running out of data every month, and want an affordable option where you never have to worry  about download sizes or about switching on data-hungry apps... then this amazing SIM only deal could be for you. 

The one that looks the most appealing right now is the £11 a month option that gives you unlimited data usage every month (as well as unlimited texts and calls). It is the perfect deal for those who stream video and download loads of files on their daily commute – or who those that want to ditch their home broadband agreement. And there are options for those who want to pay less, with less data, too.

These amazing SIM Only deals comes courtesy of iD Mobile – a virtual UK 4G network, sold via mobiles.co.uk, that uses the Three network infrastructure.

The £11 a month SIM-only deal includes unlimited 4G and 5G mobile data, unlimited calls and unlimited text messages. It means that you won't have to turn off navigation services when in a strange city, or struggle with those annoying wifi access forms in pubs and restaurants. 

• The best SIM only deals right now

This is a one-year deal, and you do have to do some work to get this discounted price. You pay the standard £18 per month for this unlimited data plan... but you can then claim cashback, in five installments of £16.80, to get the effective price of £11 a month. That's an effective one-year bill of just £132.

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On the lookout for a great broadband deal? Well, Vodafone are delivering in spades. This broadband deal features Vodafone Superfast 2 broadband with speeds averaging 63mb for just £22 per month – oh, and you get a free £75 Amazon voucher thrown in for your troubles! You'll need to complete your purchase by 13 May to grab this deal, so don't delay!

Vodafone broadband deal

Whether you're a photographer looking for super-fast upload speeds so you can quickly send large files to clients, or you're simply a consumer who loves using the best streaming services to watch your latest shows, getting speedy broadband is no longer a luxury – it's an essential. 

Luckily, this Vodafone Superfast 2 broadband deal is perfect for those in need of better internet speeds. The 63mb per second average speed means that users can stream 4K HDR, partake in intensive online gaming and download massive files without your connection missing a beat – or dropping the connection. Essentially, this is the perfect internet speed package for most users – especially if you're in a large household with multiple internet users. 

As an added incentive, this deal even comes complete with a £75 Amazon voucher that you can spend on whatever you want. This broadband deal finishes on 13 May, so if you're interested, then don't delay!

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Update: We have just been informed that this deal from Three is due to finish early on Friday morning - so hurry if you want this low-cost high-data SIM!

The unlimited data SIM only deal from Three has been one of the best deals ever for some time - which for £16 a month gives you limitless downloading and browsing. But what if you want to spend less, and don't spend all day watching videos? Three now has what looks like a super £10 a month option - which gets you a very healthy 30GB of data, PLUS unlimited calls and unlimited texts, on a 12 month contract.

With this option you can use your data and calls in 71 countries around the world without paying a bean - and that includes places like United States, Australia, Cyprus, Ireland, Hong Kong, Spain and France - using Three's Go Roam service. So you can post to Instagram without worrying about the bills as you tease everyone back home when it is safe to travel again.

Three's SIMs are already 5G ready at no extra cost - a useful bonus if you are considering buying upgrading to one of the best 5G phones now that Three is rolling out its superfast 5G network.

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Disney Plus has officially reached 100 million global paid subscribers, according to Bob Chapek, the Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. Chapek announced this impressive milestone during the company's virtual Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Since its launch in November 2019, Disney Plus has been aggressively pushing forward to win over new subscribers. Its initial launch saw one of the best streaming services offering a large catalogue of content from across Disney, National Geographic and more. However, the original shows from Disney Plus have proved even more popular, with both The Mandalorian and Wandavision having fully captured the internet's imagination.

• Read more: Best TV shows about photography online

Bob Chapek says, "The enormous success of Disney Plus – which has now surpassed 100 million subscribers – has inspired us to be even more ambitious, and to significantly increase our investment in the development of high-quality content. In fact, we set a target of 100+ new titles per year, and this includes Disney Animation, Disney Live Action, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic."

With the recent launch of Disney Plus Star (including popular shows such as Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, Scandal and more) and the announcement of a full roster of Marvel and Star Wars original content over the next few years, Disney Plus seems set to continue winning over new potential subscribers.

Whether you're a keen Star Wars fan, you love a good drama or you're simply a wildlife photographer itching to watch some beautifully shot National Geographic documentaries, Disney Plus looks set to continue delivering the goods…

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The unlimited data SIM only deal from Three has been one of the best deals ever for some time. But it has now dropped in price to just £16 per month - repeating the special offer we saw over Black Friday

The Unlimited option  is a great all-inclusive tariff who have found they are using their data more in lockdown - or have found their mobile bills creeping upwards. This tariff keeps you connected for just £16 a month for unlimited calls, unlimited text messages, AND unlimited 4G data, with a 12 month contract. That is great for anyone who likes to share lots of images from their camera phone.  

With this option you can use your data and calls in 71 countries around the world without paying a bean - and that includes places like United States, Australia, Cyprus, Ireland, Hong Kong, Spain and France - using Three's Go Roam service. So you can post to Instagram without worrying about the bills as you tease everyone back home when it is safe to travel again.

Three's SIMs are already 5G ready at no extra cost - a useful bonus if you are considering buying upgrading to one of the best 5G phones now that Three is rolling out its superfast 5G network.

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The unlimited data SIM only deal from Three has been one of the best deals ever for some time. At £18 a month it is still a great plan for those that want to binge on downloads. But Three has just introduced an alternative £6/m plan which may be more tempting for those looking for a budget-priced tariff to keep their finances in control... and could be a perfect for those planning to head back to college this September

The £6 per month option only keeps you tied into the network for 12 months (making your total commitment for the year just £72). But with this you get unlimited calls, unlimited texts, and a very reasonable 4 gigabyte helping of data.

With both options you can use your data and calls in 71 countries around the world without paying a bean - and that includes places like United States, Australia, Cyprus, Ireland, Hong Kong, Spain and France - using Three's Go Roam service.. So you can post to Instagram without worrying about the bills as you tease everyone back home about your latest trip.

Three also say that there SIMs are already 5G ready at no extra cost - a useful bonus if you are considering buying upgrading to one of the best 5G phones now that Three is rolling out its superfast 5G network.

Big data alternatives

Of course, some people will want more data - and if you fall into that category, then Three has amazingly priced unlimited and 30GB for you to consider

The Unlimited option is a great all-inclusive tariff who have found they are using their data more in lockdown - or have found their mobile bills creeping upwards. This tariff keeps you connected for just £18 a month for unlimited calls, unlimited text messages, AND unlimited 4G data, with a 12 month contract. That is great for anyone who likes to share lots of images from their camera phone.  

But if you are not intending on going quite so wild with the downloads, then the new £15 option could be for you. This gives you a generous 30GB of data each month - and you still just commit to 12 months.

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The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, and its siblings, are some of the best camera phones you can buy right now. If you have had your eye on one of these 5G handsets, then we have just spotted some spectacular deals on them from Three, that could well take your fancy - and particularly if you like lots of data allowance every month.

The most appetizing deal, in our eyes, is the one on the quad-camera Samsung S20 Plus. For just £47 a month, you get unlimited calls and texts, and generous 100GB of data. It is a pretty-standard 24-month contract, and you just pay £29 up front for the handset. 

You get the usual Three benefits too, of course, including the ability to roam for free in over 70 countries around the world (as and when that is possible!). There is access to the Go Binge service - which essentially means that certain services such as Netflix don't can't towards that 100GB of data a month. And, importantly for home working, you can use your data allowance for a personal hotspot, allowing you to wirelessly tether your phone to your laptop.

You can also get a very similar 24-month contract deal on the other two flagship models in the S20 family with this set of allowances. The Galaxy S20 you pay a reduced £45 per month, and for the larger and most photographically-gifted Galaxy S20 Ultra you will be charged £65/m. The upfront handset cost for both remains £29. 

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Photography is increasingly about sharing. Many of us are desperate to get something – anything – on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as fast as we can, even when we’re out in the field. So what do you do when you’re off-grid? Whether you’re posting photos via a smartphone or you prefer to process and upload photos in-situ using a laptop, the Skyroam Solis X is out to tempt you with nothing less than global 4G WiFi in a whopping 130+ countries.

However, this garish ‘smart spot’ (new-speak for hotspot) goes some extra miles by including extra features that you won’t expect on a device that’s ostensibly all about global connectivity. For instance, how about an 8MP camera?

That does seem a little crazy. Skyroam insists that the camera is ideal for families wanting to capture ‘candid moments’ (really?) or ‘FaceTime’ home. 

That camera may not be a deal-maker, but it’s not worth getting upset about because the Solis X (an upgrade on the original Solis) is a hugely impressive device.

 Firstly, we love its small size. Weighing 313g/11 oz. and measuring 23x88 mm/3.5x0.9 inches, it’s much teenier that the previous incarnation, so much so that it’s now pocket-sized. Yes, it is bright orange, for reasons that we don’t fully understand, but in terms of design, it’s simple and efficient. 

On the outside is a USB-C slot for recharging it, but there’s a lot more to its built-in battery than that. As well as providing enough power for the Solis X to attach to 4G and spit-out a WiFi network for up to 10 devices for around 16 hours, its internal 4,700mAh battery can be shared via USB-C (though only at slow 1-amp speeds). A USB-C to USB-A adaptor is supplied in the box, which is a nice touch.

The decision to use it to refuel a smartphone is a big one since it renders the Solis X unusable – or, at least, less usable – if you do later decide to go online. It’s also worth noting that the original Solis has a significantly larger 6,200 mAh battery. Perhaps this new version is best used as a portable battery pack only in emergencies, or only on days when it’s not going to be used as a hotspot.

Skyroam Solis X: running costs

It’s time we looked at the WiFi data plans, which make or break any hotspot (sorry, ‘smartspot’). It’s actually pretty reasonable and devilishly easy to use. You buy a Solis X. Then you download the Skyroam app and choose your plan. The choice is between a day-pass ($9 for 24 hours of unlimited WiFi), a monthly GoData plan ($9/mo for 1GB then $9 per additional GB), or an unlimited monthly plan ($99 for 30 days). 

You just set-up an account and pay via PayPal or a credit/debit card. However, if your ‘right to roam’ already includes most of Europe, and perhaps even a wide selection of countries around the world, the usefulness of the Solix X will massively decrease. That said, smartphone SIM cards that do allow roaming abroad don’t always allow laptops to tether.

Performance

The idea of an unlimited 24 hours pass is one that we like. During our test, the Solis X attached to a local 4G network in Berlin, Germany, whilst at IFA 2019 (by pure coincidence Berlin is where the Solis X was designed) and after a five-minute boot-up and search (as well as a short issue with a local network failure and a re-boot) we could get online using a smartphone and a laptop. 

The 4G speeds were faster than the hotel WiFi where we were. What’s more, the Solis app used to control the Solis X and buy data is clear and keeps things simple; you activate a deal and it begins counting down the 24 hours or the data. Skyroam has 300 carrier partners around the world, and promises to use the network offering the fastest connection wherever you are. 

The app also controls that odd camera, though note that it doesn’t work at all when the Solis X is recharging. Boasting 720p HD resolution, auto-focus, flash, two microphones, and a tiny speaker, the camera is easy to activate and provides a good, clear picture even in relatively low light. It’s a wide-angle lens so good for capturing scenery, but also easy to get groups of people into the frame. It’s a shame that it’s not got its own 1/4-inch tripod thread on the bottom for easier placement. However, it does have a Dropbox link in case you want to upload videos and photos to the cloud straight from the Solis X.

The Solis X also comes with a built-in GPS-powered smart assistant that wants to tie-up a smart home using IFTT and offers to control or automate thousands of apps and services from the Solis WiFi App. It’s the fourth pillar in its ‘connect, charge, capture and control’ mantra, but arguably it's over-reaching what a ‘smart spot’ needs to do. However, by this time we’re long sold on the Solis X.

Verdict

Impeccably travel-friendly, and loaded with some useful – and some slightly odd – features, at its core the Skyroam Solis X is all about one thing; getting onto Instagram from almost anywhere at any time in an easy-to-understand way. For some photographers, that’s going to be irresistible.

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Who cares about 5G? You’re forgiven for wondering if 5G is at all relevant for photographers and videographers since all the talk so far has been about the first fifth-generation phones. However, all that talk is misguided. 

• See the Digital Camera World A-Z Dictionary of photography jargon

Yes, 5G will make it super-quick to upload a video to Instagram, and it will also make streaming 4K and videos easier on phones, but that's not why you should be excited about it. 5G is not about phones, it’s about super-fast broadband for everyone, everywhere – and that includes on your laptop and on your home computer, as well as your phone. 

What is 5G?

5G simply means the fifth generation of standards for mobile networks. Using higher frequencies with much shorter wavelengths than 4G, 5G networks will far exceed fibre-optic networks, but wirelessly. It means a new generation of new base stations, of course, and the first (and fastest) 5G connection will be line-of-sight only. That’s called millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G, which will work only over very short distances. However, 5G will go on to use something called ‘massive MIMO’ and so lose that line-of-sight problem, and become as user-friendly as 4G and 5G. 

What speeds will you get with 5G? 

We're talking gigabits per second, which isn't something that’s yet been possible on 4G networks; average real-world download speeds are around 22.5Mbps in the UK. Exactly what speed 5G networks will be will depend on each operator; the implementation of 5G is going to see a gradual upping of speeds from between 1Gbps and 10Gbps at the outset to as much as 20Gbps and even 50Gbps in the long term. However, since 1Gbps is going to impress most people, that's where we're likely to start.

Is 5G just for phones?

No. It's actually not even mostly about phones. 5G is about home broadband. The average home broadband connection now? In the UK it’s around 34Mbps, and in the US it's around 64Mbps. Sure, some UK homes can access Virgin Media’s much faster fibre-optic services, but real-world speeds are very often lower than advertised. 

So with its minimum 1Gbps speeds, 5G is expected to revolutionize how home get online. With 5G masts in place, a new generation of 5G routers will likely adorn homes' windows to tap into a line-of-sight 1Gbps bandwidth, and then make it available as WiFi to an entire house.

Ditto for 5G mobile routers, which will do exactly the same thing to bring your laptop blazing-fast download and upload speeds while on the go. For photographers, 5G will be a step-change. 

What difference will 5G make to photography?

5G will make it much faster to share and backup photographs, of course. Crucially for photographers – though very rarely mentioned in the 5G debate – is that 5G will see drastically better upload speeds. Expect 5G to be about half as fast when uploading compared to downloading, which is going to make it much easier to share and backup files.

There are many other benefits. As well as increasing the total bandwidth, 5G supports vastly many more connections per base station, so you’ll much more easily be able to upload a photo or video while in a sports stadium or at a concert, for example.

What difference will 5G make to vloggers and videomakers?

In the short-term, 5G is going to be of most benefit to videographers working in 4K. Online video sites like YouTube are already 4K-ready, and 5G is going to make it possible to upload and download 4K video on the go.

In the long-term, it’s anyone’s guess how 5G will evolve. When mobile networks increase in bandwidth, they usually get filled with video. That’s what happened with 4G, which made video streaming on smartphones possible for the first time. It also made near-real-time apps like Uber possible.

5G will therefore likely herald a new era of 4K (or, at least, less compressed) video streaming and downloads, and eventually, even 8K videos. It will also make it easier to broadcast 360 videos across social media and the web in ever-higher resolutions. The real-time revolution will also commence, with instant augmented reality data overlays and virtual reality video services likely. Either way, it may be time to make room for a 4K 360 camera in your kit-bag.

Will 5G be more expensive?

There's going to be a big issue about data allowance. If we all download the same things we do now, then 5G will merely make things quicker. However, much more likely is that we will all start downloading and streaming more video in better resolutions, which is going to mean an insane leap in how much data we consume.

However, what’s the point of being able to download a 4K movie in a single second if doing so maxes-out your monthly data allowance? Telecoms providers are hoping 5G is something of a financial windfall, but for 5G to be realistically affordable, mobile data contracts are going to have to get drastically cheaper. 

When will 5G happen?  

No country will get widespread 5G networks for many years, but the first urban networks are beginning to be being rolled-out. Qatar's Ooredoo was the first in the world to launch a 5G network in May 2018, followed in December by AT&T in the US. 

AT&T's 5G networks are live in 12 cities (Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis,  Jacksonville, Louisville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Raleigh, San Antonio and Waco), with seven more to follow in 2019 (Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose. Verizon's mobile 5G network begins to go live in April 2019, starting with Chicago and Minneapolis.V Verizon is also trialing 5G wireless internet for homes in Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento. 

In the UK, EE was the first with a 5G service went it switched it on at the end of May - in five cities, and expected to expand that to 16 by the end of the year. Vodafone 5G went live seven cities including London, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow and Liverpool, and committed to launching 5G in 19 towns and cities across the UK by Christmas. Three is set to launch its 5G network in August, with O2 promising to join the party later in the year.

Australia, Germany, Switzerland, South Korea and China are among the other countries expected to get live 5G networks during 2019.

What else does 5G do?

5G’s will also allow a near-instant one-millisecond latency to the cloud. That’s a key enabling technology for a lot of future-gazing technologies. Driverless cars will need to use it to collate data from sensors, communicate with the cloud, and talk to other vehicles to avoid collisions. As well as allowing a much more dense concentration of gadgets, 5G will mean a lot of compute power will remain on the cloud rather than in gadgets themselves, So expect a new generation of smaller, more power-efficient wearable devices, sensors in everything, and a much, much bigger cloud where data and processing power reside. That’s the so-called ‘Internet of Things’ in a nutshell – and it needs 5G to flourish. 

Will I need a new 5G phone?

Yes, and also a new mobile hotspot, but this is the easy part. Apple is the only brand left that hasn't unveiled plans for a 5G phone so far.

Current 5G phones that have been launched or announced are:

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 5G
OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
Moto Z3
Moto Z4
Huawei Mate X
Huawei Mate 20 X
Oppo Reno 5G
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G

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What's the future for 5G?

But don’t be fooled; 5G isn’t about phones, but rather about building a new era of super-fast broadband for everyone, everywhere. For photographers and videographers sending, sharing and backing up their work, 5G is going to make life so much easier. However, with a real-time data network and instant connection to the cloud will come new creative freedoms and possibilities. Perhaps the biggest change will be augmented reality data overlays. 

Impressive in its speeds yet unpredictable in its consequences, 5G will change the way we consume media – and that certainly includes photos and videos. 

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