Taking the plunge and giving your child a handset? Here’s all you need to know –
from the best models to the tariffs and networks (and how to use parental
controls)
As the schools go back, pressure mounts on parents to give their children their
first phone. If you’ve decided the time has come, there are many options to
choose from, whether it’s a smartphone, a basic handset, or an upgrade to
something newer.
From the handset to the mobile service that goes with it, and from key parental
controls to how well the phone fits with the devices you already use, here are
some of the things you should know before taking the plunge – including which
models are the best.
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Tag - iPhone
Apple is about to launch a ChatGPT-powered version of Siri as part of a suite of
AI features in iOS 18. Will this change the way you use your phone – and how
does it affect your privacy?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to your iPhone soon and, according to
Apple, it’s going to transform the way you use your device. Launching under the
brand name “Apple Intelligence” the iPhone maker’s AI tools include a
turbocharged version of its voice assistant, Siri, backed by a partnership with
ChatGPT owner OpenAI.
Apple isn’t the first smartphone maker to launch AI. The technology is already
available on smartphones including Google’s latest Pixel and Samsung’s Galaxy
range.
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Development of ChatGPT and its ilk will plateau, just like it did for
smartphones, and then what are we left with? More ho-hum consumer tech
I bought an iPhone 15 the other day to replace my five-year-old iPhone 11. The
phone is powered by the new A17 Pro chip and has a terabyte of data storage and
accordingly was eye-wateringly expensive. I had, of course, finely honed
rationales for splashing out on such a scale. I’ve always had a policy of
writing only about kit that I buy with my own money (no freebies from tech
companies), for example. The fancy A17 processor is needed to run the new “AI”
stuff that Apple is promising to launch soon; the phone has a significantly
better camera than my old handset had – which matters (to me) because my
Substack blog goes out three times a week and I provide a new photograph for
each edition; and, finally, a friend whose ancient iPhone is on its last legs
might appreciate an iPhone 11 in good nick.
But these are rationalisations rather than solid justifications. The truth is
that my old iPhone was fine for the job. Sure, it would need a new battery in
time, but apart from that it had years more life in it. And if you take a cold,
detached look at the evolution of the iPhone product line, what you see from the
2010 iPhone 4 onwards is really just a sequence of steady incremental
improvements. What was so special about that model? Mostly this: it had a
front-facing camera, which opened up the world of selfies, video chat, social
media and all the other accoutrements of our networked world. But from then on,
it was just incremental changes and price rises all the way.
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Looking for a new iPhone, or a good deal on a refurbished handset? Our expert
has assessed and rated the current crop of Apple smartphones
The best iPhone may be the one you already own. There is generally no need to
buy a fresh phone just because new models have been released, as hardware
updates have broadly become iterative, adding small bits to an already
accomplished package rather than reinventing the wheel.
But if you do want to replace it, either buying new or refurbished, here are the
best of the current crop of Apple smartphones. Note: Apple is expected to
release new models in September, which means it might be worth waiting to buy a
new iPhone if you can.
Full review: iPhone 15 Pro review: the best smaller phone gets better
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The US government filed a sprawling antitrust case against Apple, alleging that
the tech giant has illegally prevented competition by restricting access to its
software and hardware. 'Apple has maintained its power not because of its
superiority, but because of its unlawful exclusionary behavior,' said US
attorney general Merrick Garland
* US accuses Apple of ‘broad, sustained, and illegal’ smartphone monopoly
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USB-C, a faster chip, improved 48MP camera and dynamic island reach Apple’s
regular smartphone line
The iPhone 15 continues Apple’s slow trickling down of features previously
reserved for its top Pro-line phones to other models. But even with the new
dynamic island, improved camera, a faster chip and USB-C, the standard iPhone
can’t escape seeming just a little bit boring.
The regular iPhone for 2023 gets a £50 price cut in the UK costing £799
(€949/$799/A$1,499), although other regions aren’t so lucky. That makes it about
£200 cheaper than the similarly sized iPhone 15 Pro, with a plus-sized version
also available for about £100 more.
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