Author: Holly Brockwell
Editor Holly worked on some of the tech industry's most high-profile smartphone launches before coming to us, and is a self-confessed Android fangirl. She's currently lusting after the Galaxy S6 Edge, and is never seen without her Misfit Shine.
Pebble and PayPal team up for watch-powered payments
It's pretty clear that the physical wallet's days are numbered, and Pebble and PayPal have just teamed up to put another nail in its coffin with the launch of PayPal for Pebble. Pebble owners can now get the PayPal app on their smartwatch, which allows them to search for businesses nearby that accept PayPal as a payment…
Sony Xperia Z3 Compact review – a mini flagship without the compromise
If you’ve had your eye on the newest generation of Sony Xperia phones, you might be wondering whether you’re better off going for the £549 full-sized Z3 or its ‘mini’ version, the Z3 Compact, at £429. But smaller versions of flagships are often compromised, weakened versions of their namesakes – how much will you be…
Stocking-filler smartphones: 10 phones for under £150 this Christmas
[nextpage title="Next"] Moto G 4G, £149.99 Widely hailed as one of the greatest budget smartphones of recent years, the Moto G's upgrade to 4G LTE only reinforced its credentials. This basic but slick KitKat handset comes in black or white, has a 4.5-inch HD screen, a 1.3MP front-facing camera and 5MP main, and 8GB of internal…
Win a free download of Surgeon Simulator for iPhone or iPad
Last week, we attended the slightly gory launch of Surgeon Simulator for iPhone. Bossa Studios have kindly given us 10 codes for a free iPhone or iPad download to give away, and we're giving them to you over on Twitter. To enter, all you have to do is follow @ShinyShiny and retweet the competition tweet.…
20 things that happen when you start reviewing phones for a living
For the last few months, I've been writing ShinyShiny's phone reviews. It's a dream job, but changes your life in some weird and unpredictable ways. You get a Facebook message and a polyphonic orchestra of notification noises from multiple phones scares the living daylights out of you It was just my mum…
Operating table for two? Inside Surgeon Simulator’s edible operation event in London
Last night, games manufacturer Bossa Studios hosted a gruesome dinner in a mock operating theatre in London to promote the iPhone release of their popular game, Surgeon Simulator. With a menu featuring offal and bone marrow, it wasn't for everyone, but we donned our scrubs and bravely went along. Even more…
ASUS ZenFone 5 A500KL review – a 5-star smartphone at a 3-star price
We go hands-on with the upgraded ASUS ZenFone 5, the middle sibling in the ZenFone family. At just £199.99 SIM-free, this 5-inch marvel doesn't just threaten the Moto G's 'best value' title – it full-on steals it. With thanks to ASUS for the handset. The handset 8/10 The red, gold and purple versions of this handset…
ASUS ZenFone 4 review – the littlest ZenFone has plenty to shout about
With thanks to ASUS for the handset. After reviewing the monolithic ZenFone 6 last week, its 4-inch little brother feels a lot like ‘honey, I shrunk the phone.’ It includes many of the same features as its stablemates, but at a miniature size and price. So what can ASUS offer for your £99? The handset 6/10…
Huawei Ascend P7 review: a great selfie phone – if you can keep hold of it
With thanks to Carphone Warehouse for the handset. One of the higher-end offerings from the unpronounceable Huawei, the Ascend P7, is priced for the mid-range but taking aim at the flagships. With good looks, an unusually strong selfie camera and an excellent screen, it makes a good start. But as we soon found out, it's a slippery customer...…
ASUS ZenFone 6 review – bigger than the iPhone 6 Plus, and less than half the price
With thanks to ASUS for the handset 2014 is all about the giant phones, and the ASUS ZenFone 6 is certainly one of those. With a mammoth 6-inch screen, this mid-ranger is half an inch bigger than the iPhone 6 Plus, so firmly in phablet territory. But unlike its competitors, at £250 it won’t cost…