Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6S: What’s the rumoured difference?

Apple is expected to hold an event sometime in March for the launch of a new iPad, new Watch and a new 4-inch iPhone, or that’s what the rumours are claiming anyway.

The new 4-inch iPhone is said to be replacing the iPhone 5S and it is going by name of iPhone SE at the moment. Until recently it was called the iPhone 5SE however and before that the iPhone 6C, just to confuse things a little.

We will be calling it the iPhone SE for the sake of this feature, where we are comparing it to the latest iPhone 6S and 2014’s iPhone 6 to see what the differences could be, based on the speculation. If you want to know how the rumoured iPhone SE differs to the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, you can read our separate feature.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 design

The Apple iPhone 6 measures 138.1 x 67 x 6.9mm and weighs 129g. The iPhone 6S measures 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm and hits the scales at 143g. Both offer aluminium bodies, although the iPhone 6S is made from a different metal to the iPhone 6. 

The design is almost identical however with curved edges, slim builds and a fingerprint sensor within the Home button. The iPhone 6S has the second-generation of Touch ID, which is a little faster than the iPhone 6 but both have Touch ID nonetheless.

The iPhone SE is expected to take some of its design cues from the iPhone 5S but with the curves of the iPhone 6 and 6S and Touch ID. An aluminium body is rumoured and it is thought to be slimmer than the iPhone 5S, which measures 7.6mm. This could suggest we can expect a similar slimness to the iPhone 6S along with the same generation of fingerprint sensor as it wouldn’t make sense to put a older version in.

Rumours also suggest the iPhone SE will come in silver, space grey, gold and rose gold like the iPhone 6S. The iPhone 6 is now only available in silver and space grey colour options. 

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 display

The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S both have 4.7-inch Retina HD displays. Both their resolutions sit at 1334 x 750, delivering pixel densities of 326ppi. The only difference between the two devices is the iPhone 6S has 3D Touch, which is Apple’s version of a pressure sensitive display allowing for different actions based on the force with which you press.

The iPhone SE is expected to offer a smaller 4-inch display, appealing to those who don’t want a larger smartphone. Those who have stuck with their iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C. The resolution is rumoured to be the same as the iPhone 5S, which puts it at 1336 x 640. Because of the size difference, it means the iPhone SE will still offer a pixel density of 326ppi if this is the case however.

Other reports have suggested the iPhone SE will come with the 2D curved glass that is present on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S so the display experience should be very similar to the iPhone 6, aside from the size. The SE isn’t expected to come with 3D Touch however, so it will offer a different experience to the iPhone 6S.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 camera

The Apple iPhone 6 offers an 8-megapixel rear camera with 1.5µm pixels and an aperture of f/2.2. It is capable of 1080p video recording and there is a True Tone flash on board. The front camera is 1.2-megapixel, also with an f/2.2 aperture.

The iPhone 6S takes things up a notch in the camera department offering a 12-megapixel rear snapper with 1.22µm pixels and a f/2.2 aperture. Video recording capabilities increase to 4K, but the True Tone flash remains intact. The front camera also sees a bump to 5-megapixels but the aperture remains at f/2.2.

The iPhone SE is rumoured to come with the same camera capabilities as the iPhone 6. If this is the case, we can expect an 8-megapixel rear snapper and 1.2-megapixel front snapper with Apple leaving its best camera to the flagship.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 hardware and specs

The Apple iPhone 6 comes with the A8 chip and M8 motion co-processor, supported by 1GB of RAM. It is thought to have a 1810mAh battery on board and it is available in 16GB and 64GB storage options.

The iPhone 6S has a newer and faster chip on board with the A9 and M9 motion co-processor, supported by double the RAM at 2GB. The battery is said to be 1715mAh, which is a little smaller than the iPhone 6.

Rumours claim the iPhone SE will feature the A9 chip and M9 motion co-processor like the iPhone 6S. It is also expected to come with 2GB of RAM and the battery capacity is speculated at 1642mAh, which would make it just shy of the iPhone 6S.

Apple Pay is supported on both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S but not on the iPhone 5S. Reports claim the iPhone SE will support Apple Pay, which makes complete sense.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 software

The Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S both come with iOS 9 and this will be the case for the iPhone SE too, if it arrives at all. Apple tends not to even preview the new build of its iOS software until WWDC in June, releasing it with the next iPhone flagship in September. 

Therefore, if the iPhone SE is released in March, it will more than likely run on iOS 9, offering an identical experience to the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6S has a couple of extra features like Live Photos, as well as the 3D Touch functionality but other than that, the SE will be very familiar to the current iPhone offering.

Apple iPhone SE vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 conclusion

The Apple iPhone SE is rumoured to have some pretty interesting specs, which if they all come true, should make it a powerful little handset. 

This is all speculation for now, but it based on the rumours, it looks like the iPhone SE could offer a similar design to the iPhone 6 and 6S. It also looks like it could come with the iPhone 6’s camera and the iPhone 6S’s hardware but in a smaller form.

We will be updating this feature as more leaks appear and when/if the official specs come in. If you want to read more on the iPhone SE, you can read our rumour round up.

24K gold Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge aren’t as pricey as you’d expect

When a new Samsung Galaxy S7 edge landed it was inevitable someone would be close behind, eager to throw liquid gold all over it. That’s happened and you can now lay your bling-craving hands on 24 carat gold Galaxy S7 and S7 edge handsets.

So far no surprises then. The price, however, may shock you. What do you think a solid 24K gold Galaxy S7 would cost? Thousands and thousands, right? Nope. You can snap one up for £1700 plus VAT. That includes a fancy wooden box, a Samsung Gear VR and a Samsung wireless charging plate.

Considering the normal version is of the S7 is £569, Gear VR is £99 and charging plate is £45, that mark-up isn’t crazy for enough gold to cover the 5.1-inch display size of the handset. The Galaxy S7 edge is normally £639 and the 24K gold version will be £1800 plus VAT.

But the liquid metal covering doesn’t stop there, Truly Exquisite also offers platinum and 8K rose gold versions for, you guessed it, even more money. The S7 in platinum is £1800 plus VAT and in 8K rose gold is £1750 plus VAT, while the S7 edge is £1900 plus VAT in platinum and £1850 plus VAT in 8K rose gold.

Since the site makes a point of saying the VAT is added, if applicable, we imagine this is going to target markets like Dubai where there’s plenty of cash floating about.

The pricey metal versions of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are available for pre-order now, with half of the deposit paid up front. Delivery is expected “very soon after the official release date” from Samsung which is 11 March.

READ: Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge: Release date, specs and everything you need to know

Pull anything into the virtual world for super cheap with this $99 3D laser scanner

Being able to 3D scan objects from the real world into the virtual one has been a relatively expensive process, until now. CowTech Ciclop is a new laser 3D scanner that will cost you only $99.

One of the ways this scanner has been able to remain so affordable is thanks to 3D printing. You’re able to print off parts for the Ciclop using your own 3D printer, making it easy to fix too.

The 3D scanner lets you place any object on the 200mm turntable and it will be moved around as the lasers scan it to create a virtual representation. That makes for a scan volume of 200mm by 200mm. Despite this size the parts can be printed from a 3D printer with a bed size as small as 115mm by 110mm by 65mm.

Despite the price, the scan resolution is still an impressive 0.5mm and minimum scan time is two to eight minutes. That will create a .PLY file, or a point cloud, made up of hundreds of thousands of points that represent the geometry of the object. And it’s all open source Rep Rap friendly so you can tinker with it as much as you want.

The CowTech Ciclop is available to back now on Kickstarter for $99 which is about £70. It ships anywhere in the world and will have an estimated delivery date of April.

READ: Google I/O 2016: Here’s what to expect from the keynote

Everyday carry: What’s in Jerry’s pockets in 2016?

A trip to the grocery store isn’t the same as a jaunt across the country, but you still might wanna carry some stuff.

We’ve talked about gear for the road warrior, and what we carry when we’re away from home for a day or two. As you can imagine, it’s a lot of stuff — all the things we need to do our jobs plus a few things to make it easier. All carefully crammed into something that fits in an overhead compartment. We’re not away from home all of the time. Most days we’re just out doing everyday stuff, like going to the supermarket or getting the oil changed.

So what does a smartphone nerd carry in his pocket? When that nerd is me, all this junk:

The phone: Nexus 6P

Sometimes I switch it up. If I know I’m out for the whole day, I might bring the BlackBerry Priv, because (for me) it’s so much easier to type lots of words about work with that slide out keyboard. But most times I leave the house it’s with a Nexus 6P.

It’s the phone I’m most comfortable using, now that I’ve just accepted the size. Voices in my head still say they wish it were smaller, I just block those out. My 6P is quick, does everything I need a smartphone to do, and I’ve realized that the places I go work really well with Project Fi. Most of the time while I’m away on doing leisurely things, my phone is in my pocket, but for a quick picture or some directions or any other reason to whip it out, the 6P has always done me well.

See at Amazon

Headphones: Samsung Level In earbuds

I don’t much care for earbuds, but they’re handy when I need them. The ones I tolerate best are the Samsung Level In earbuds. They have an inline mic and controls if I need to take a call while I’m wheeling myself around, which is a must-have for me (wheelchairs take both hands) and they sound pretty good for earbuds. If I want to get seriously musical, I just bring my V10 and a big set of headphones.

Also, the little clamshell they come in has a pocket that’s perfect for all my other nerd junk. Right into the cargo pocket on my pants it goes, and I’m golden.

See at Amazon

My gentlemen’s blade: Victorinox Tomo Knife

This has nothing to do with survival or the exotic sport of knife-fighting, and everything to do with needing to cut stuff. We all know some well-mannered and well-groomed gentleman who carries a knife, ready to assist anytime there’s plastic packaging to be cut.

I am that guy. Well met, chap.

Seriously though, having a small knife and a tiny pair of scissors comes in pretty handy.

See at Amazon

Bad memories: A guitar pick and a Quarter

Yes. I used to have a BlackBerry Storm. If you don’t understand, consider yourself lucky.

But I found that carrying these two things was useful for more than “adjusting” the travel on a BB Storm screen. Click. Click. Damn. They are great for prying things, turning big screws, and playing air guitar when an Iron Maiden song comes on. And they are so small I just keep carrying them.

Gigabytes: ADATA DashDrive

And this one needs replaced. I’ve been meaning to find the same product with a USB Type-C connector, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. I know plenty of them are out there, but I need to read a million things before I can make a decision. Eventually, my wife will just reach over my shoulder and buy whatever one I’m looking at on Amazon because she gets tired of me becoming absorbed into stupid things. That’s how I got this one.

This thing is pretty slick. One side has a micro-USB plug and it acts as an OTG flash drive, while the other end pops out and has a standard USB type-A plug to use with a computer. You 32GB of storage if you ever need it in a tiny package.

See at Amazon

A magic button: NFC Tag

Nerd alert. I lock my phones. I used to keep a Moto Skip on my car dash when I was using a Moto X, because if my wife needed to do something — change a song or get directions or search Google for things — it was easier for her to do it with my phone that was paired to the Bluetooth thingy in my car — and she hates my passwords. Now I do the same thing with a trusted NFC tag and my Nexus 6P. And I carry a spare around in my pocket because it’s small and you never know what might happen.

I’ve got a handful of those old Xperia Smart Tags, but any NFC tag will work.

See at Amazon

Power: Limefuel battery pack

And an extra USB Type A to USB Type-C cable.

Never leave home without a way to charge up your phone. Whether it’s a spare battery for phones that still can swap them, or a power pack like this one, carry it because you might need to use your phone and find it dead. That can be an inconvenience, or something more serious. I have a quarter, but pay phones are hard to find nowadays.

I’ve got big honking battery packs for my laptop bag, but this one is fine for my pocket. Even having to carry around a second USB C cable isn’t too bad. While I usually only have one phone in my pocket on a day trip or running errands, I keep both cables together with the charger. That’s how an Eagle Scout rolls.

I got this one from Limefuel at the Big Android BBQ last year, but you can buy one from Amazon minus the BABBQ logo.

See at Amazon

Val.ai watched every movie to figure out which one you want

Alexa is going to the movies. The Finnish folks at Valossa are leveraging the tech behind Amazon’s voice assistant to answer your burning cinematic questions with their Val.ai initiative. As the company tells it, Val.ai can identify over a thousand qualities of a movie from any video stream automatically, including emotions, locations and specific objects. So, for example, asking “what movie has Gwyneth Paltrow head in a box?” will bring back David Fincher’s Se7en. The company says that it was designed for content providers (think Netflix’s upcoming second screen revamp) to “reach down into their video content, identify it and make it searchable in real-time.”

Unlike SceneSkim which analyzes scripts and subtitles for comparatively simple dialogue or scene searches, Val.ai sifts through raw video.

There’s a web-based version to try if you want to put Val.ai through the ringer. It isn’t perfect though. “Ewan McGregor naked” doesn’t return with a listing for Trainspotting and “John Candy with a beard” brings back Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bad Santa and the Robert Downey, Jr. vehicle Sherlock Holmes — all which released well after the Canadian comedian’s untimely death. Wagons East, one of Candy’s final roles and a movie where he rocked a beard, isn’t listed whatsoever.

“Ben Affleck broken glass” correctly lists Gone Girl as its first search result, showing off how powerful the AI’s scene-analysis can be, though. But on the other hand, it isn’t the only result: the laughable Devil written by M. Night Shyamalan is listed too — a movie Affleck wasn’t even in.

It’s still early days for the tech, however, and Valossa is quick to point out that the Alexa integration is still in beta.

Source: Valossa, What Is My Movie?

The BlitzWolf VR headset is everything Google Cardboard should have been (Review)

  Virtual reality was definitely a huge hit this year at Mobile World Conference 2016. Facebook, Oculus, Google, Apple and HTC are looking to pioneer the next wave of media

Google I/O 2016: Here’s what to expect from the keynote

It’s that time of year again.

Google’s I/O 2016 annual developer conference is scheduled to kick off in San Francisco on 18 May, with a main keynote that begins at 9:30 AM PST. It should last about 2.5 hours. You can tune into the live-stream from here. Until then, Pocket-lint has browsed through all the speculation and rumours to round up everything Google might discuss during its lengthy presentation.

Google typically uses I/O to unveil the next major update to Android or showcase upcoming products (both hardware and software). We plan to continually update this article with leaks and more, so bookmark this page for all the latest. If you’d like to know more about how to get tickets to Google I/O, so you can watch things go down in person, check out this round-up.

Google I/O 2016: What events are scheduled?

Google’s I/O website doesn’t yet reveal which events are scheduled between 18 May and 20 May (the dates of the actual conference), but the company has announced that its main keynote – now called the “developer festival” – will be held at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View.

Google I/O 2016: When can you expect from the keynote?

Google

Android N

Keep in mind there is typically a two-year gap between major updates to Android. This year’s update goes by the codename Android N, though it’ll eventually get a dessert-inspired name. (Android Lollipop was once Android L.)

Google might preview Android 7.0 Nougat or Nutella or some other sweet that begins with N. New features are thought to include improved battery management options, a Dark Theme, and a Force Touch-like pressure technology.

• Read more: Want to name Android N?
• Pocket-lint hub: Android N

Pocket-lint

Chrome OS

The Wall Street Journal claimed Chrome OS will be unified with Android, this merging Google’s laptop and mobile experiences. Google later said it’s been working on ways to bring “together the best of both operating systems.”

• Read more: Google on Chrome OS Android
• Pocket-lint hub: Chrome OS

Pocket-lint

Android Wear

Google has updated Android Wear over the last year, adding better gesture support and Wi-Fi capabilities, but it might announce more improvements, such as improved voice control and more gesture controls.

It could even showcase new devices. Also, Android Wear became iOS compatible in 2015, so Windows Phone could be up next.

• Read more: What’s Android Wear really like on iPhone?
• Pocket-lint hub: Android Wear

Google

Android Auto

It’s likely that Google will announce new car models compatible with Android Auto as well as more third-party apps compatible with company’s infotainment system. Waze, which Google acquired, could even be integrated.

• Read more: Android Auto: How does it work and when will it be out?
• Pocket-lint hub: Android Wear

Pocket-lint

Virtual reality

Google is going to go all out with virtual reality in 2016.

Google is reportedly developing a VR headset that is more legit than Cardboard but requires a smartphone. The Wall Street Journal claimed Google is also developing a device described as an “all-in-one virtual-reality headset”, and it doesn’t require a phone, PC, or a game console.

We’re in early-days territory still however, so who knows if Google will elaborate on its VR plans during Google I/O in May.

• Read more: Google’s virtual reality headset: What’s the story so far?
• Pocket-lint hub: Virtual Reality

Google

Self-driving cars

Google could give an update on its driverless vehicle program, including what’s next for the prototype. Keep in mind Google said in September that it doesn’t actually intend to manufacture physical cars to sell to customers.

• Read more: Google is testing wireless charging for self-driving cars
• Pocket-lint hub: Driverless Cars

Google Images

Project Ara

Google’s modular smartphone project debuted in 2013 but still hasn’t released. The official Project Ara Twitter page claimed the device would go on sale in 2016 in the US but not much else is known. Google could therefore provide us with more details about the project at Google I/O.

• Read more: Google’s Project Ara: Everything you need to know
• Pocket-lint hub: Project Ara

Lenovo

Project Tango

At CES in January, Lenovo announced it plans to launch a Project Tango smartphone this summer. We can expect to hear more on this at I/O. This phone would use motion-tracking and depth-sensing to overlay a 3D world onto physical surroundings (aka augmented reality).

• Read more: Project Tango hits smartphones
• Pocket-lint hub: Project Tango

Google

Project Fi

Google’s Project Fi is a cross-carrier network that automatically switches carriers and finds open Wi-Fi to provide you with a solid connection at all times. It is only available for Nexus devices, but Google could announce an expansion to non-Nexus devices during Google I/O.

• Read more: Project Fi: 9 things to know
• Pocket-lint hub: Project Fi

Google

Smarthome

Google offers the OnHub wireless smart router. Plus, it acquired Nest in 2014, a maker of smart thermostats and more. And during its last I/O event, Google announced Google Brillo, an operating system designed specifically for the Internet of Things sector. 

We are therefore certain Google will make IoT a focus at I/O 2016.

• Read more: What is Google Brillo and when will it arrive?
• Pocket-lint hub: Google Brillo

Yahoo welcomes the rise of eSports with its own hub

Yahoo clearly wants a piece of the growing eSports pie. Despite having to shutter almost all its verticals recently, the company has launched a new hub for competitive video gaming under the Yahoo Sports banner. In its announcement post, Yahoo Sports Media Vice President Bob Condor said that “with a global audience reach of more than 226 million,” the company has “identified an incredible opportunity” in competitive gaming. Yahoo Esports is meant to be a comprehensive guide that regularly publishes match scores, stats and schedules. The team behind it will concentrate on producing video content, though, including live tournament coverage hosted by various gaming personalities like Andrea Rene.

A quick peek at the portal shows you the titles Yahoo intends to focus on at the moment. The categories right under the banner are named CS:GO, Dota 2, Heroes of the Storm, Street Fighter V and, of course, League of Legends. You can also find a spoiler toggle you can switch on/off and a built-in chat feature where visitors can mingle.

The hub already has videos and posts you can watch and read if you want to sample what Yahoo can offer. In case you find it lacking, you can always check out one of its competitors — Yahoo isn’t the only company trying to cash in on competitive gaming’s booming popularity. ESPN, for one, launched an eSports section back in January despite its president going on record that he doesn’t consider competitive gaming a sport.

Source: Yahoo, Tumblr

Make a pit stop, take a detour with Google Maps for iOS – CNET

Getting there is half the fun, they say. The “they” in question probably aren’t traveling with kids, but no matter your reason for stopping along the way, Google Maps now makes it easier to add a pit stop or detour to your trip. Google Maps for Android added this ability last fall, and now the feature has arrived for iOS.

While in navigation mode on your iPhone, you can now search for gas stations, restaurants and other points of interest along your route. Prior to this update, you would need to leave your turn-by-turn directions to search the map for a gas station, for example, and then jump back into navigation mode. Not only can you add a stop to your directions, but Google Maps also shows an estimate for how long a stop will add to your trip while keeping you on your route. And when you search for a gas station, Google Maps shows you the price at each station, although in my experience it skewed heavily toward Mobile stations.

To search for a stop while in navigation mode, tap the magnifying glass in the upper-right corner and select Gas stations, Restaurants, Grocery stores, Coffee shops or Search for more places. The last option lets you search by keyword.

Enlarge Image

Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET

If you don’t find, say, a gas station in your current location on the map, you can pan and zoom in and out to search the map. You can also keep a search open as you travel and tap the blue Refresh button in the lower-right corner to see new results.

Tap a search result on your map and the Add Stop button to add it to your route. If you decide later that you want to drive a bit longer before pulling off the road, you can remove a stop by tapping the search button again and then tapping Remove stop. You will then return to your original route.

The other part of the update adds support for 3D Touch. If you have added home or work addresses in Google Maps, then you can 3D Touch on the Google Maps app icon to get shortcuts for directions to home or work.

(Via Google Maps Lat Long blog)

How to help your phone survive a long-haul flight

Travel can be tough on your phone.

For many of us, smartphones are a hugely important part of traveling by air — whether it’s through airline apps and mobile boarding passes, using indoor maps to find your way around the terminal, or just distracting yourself from the stress and boredom of the whole experience.

But flying can be tough on your phone. Browsing or using apps for hours while waiting for a flight can eat a significant chunk of your batter, as can listening to music or watching movies while airborne. And that’s to say nothing of the risk of physical damage as you’re taking devices through security and onto the plane.

So we’ve compiled a few tips to help you and your device make it safely to your destination. Head past the break to get started.

Keeping things charged

This is a no-brainer — many flights now provide seat-back USB charging ports, but these are by no means guaranteed. Same deal with charging spots at airport terminals. And with many destinations now requiring phones power on as part of enhanced security measures, it’s never been more important to keep your phone juiced up as you travel. (Especially if that’s where your boarding pass lives.)

It’s more important than ever to keep your phone juiced up.

So it’s worth making absolutely sure you have your own way of keeping your device charged. The easiest way to do this is with an external battery — or if your phone supports it, an additional removable battery.

Devices like the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4 let you swap out a dead battery for a fresh one, which is a really convenient way to go from zero to 100 percent instantly.

See Android batteries on ShopAndroid

Otherwise, a portable USB battery can help your phone survive a long stretch without access to a wall outlet. If you’ve got a modern Android phone that supports Qualcomm QuickCharge, two of the best options come from Samsung and Aukey.

Samsung’s 5,200mAh Fast Charge battery works with any USB-powered phone, but can rapidly charge devices supporting the Quick Charge 2.0 standard. It’s also small enough to fit in a jeans pocket, and comes with a small microUSB cable. It’ll provide enough power to get most phones from dead to fully charged, and then some.

If you’re after even more juice for multiple recharges (or charging multiple devices at once), Aukey’s 10,000mAh Quick Charge battery is a good option. It’s got one port that supports QuickCharge 2.0, and another for regular (slower) 5V/1A charging.

• See Samsung Fast Charge battery on ShopAndroid
• See Aukey 10,000mAh Quick Charge battery on Amazon

If all else fails, you can save battery power by turning down your backlight, using Wi-Fi instead of mobile data where possible, and using your phone’s built-in power-saving modes.

Loading up on storage

If you’re planning on spending your flight listening to music or watching movies on your phone, you’ll want to pre-load this content in advance. (Even if you’ve got in-flight Wi-Fi, there’s often not enough bandwidth for streaming, and services may be blocked anyway.)

Even if you’ve got in-flight Wi-Fi, don’t count on being able to stream reliably.

Apps like Google Play Music and Spotify let you offload your music cache to a microSD card, if your phone has that slot. That’s a good place to start if you’re using good old-fashioned MP3s, too.

Alternatively, you may want to give your phone’s internal storage a little spring-cleaning, removing unused apps and offloading stuff like photos and videos to the cloud. Remember that things like web browsers and social apps can cache a lot of data on your phone, so clearing out these can free up a lot of space.

See microSD cards on ShopAndroid

Keeping things protected

I’ve lost track of how many times my phones have acquired mystery scratches after going through an airport or a long flight. As you’re moving devices in and out of security bins, and juggling stuff between pockets and tray tables, it’s easy for accidents to happen.

As you’re juggling phones between security bins, pockets, bags and tray tables, it’s easy for accidents to happen.

For that reason, even if you normally use your phone without a case, you might want to think about investing in one while you’re on the road. There are a bunch of cases available for popular Android phones, but if you’re not planning on using one every day then a pocket pouch is a useful way to keep phones protected in bags or security bins.

• See smartphone pocket pouches on ShopAndroid
• See all Android cases

Always pack spares

Cables have a nasty habit of going walkabout when you travel.

Your phone will have come with at least one charging cable. And if you’re a longtime Android user then chances are you’ll have some spares from older phones knocking about. Do yourself a favor and pack more than one charging cable — or if you only have one, pick up a spare before you leave.

This applies doubly if you’re using a phone with the newer USB-C standard, like the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X or OnePlus 2. These cables are much harder to come by in the wild, so you’re going to want to pack at least one spare.

• See microUSB cables for Android phones
• See USB-C cables for Nexus 6P, 5X and other Type-C devices

How do you use your phone when you travel? Any tips to share? Shout out in the comments!