Mobile

Make better decisions about phones, upgrades and connectivity.

Illustration of RCS messaging: a phone chat with a photo, read receipt and typing indicator, beside a table comparing SMS and RCS features, with a note that Telstra starts from 16 November.

Mobile · Nov 10

RCS messaging in Australia: what changes from 16 November

Telstra switches on RCS from 16 November. What changes over SMS and how to check your phone.

An iPhone showing a padlock and a Lockdown Mode switch turned on, beside a list of what it limits: most message attachments, link previews, FaceTime from new callers and 2G and 3G, while calls, texts and SOS still work.

iPhone · Nov 5

iPhone Lockdown Mode: who needs it and what it limits

Apple's strictest security setting blocks most attachments and some web features. Who needs it and how to set it up.

Illustration of an Android phone with a locked Private Space and its key limits: apps stop and send no alerts when locked, are hidden from search and recent apps, and their data is not in device backup

Android · Oct 31

Android Private Space: hide apps and understand the limits

Set up Android Private Space, understand locked-app notifications and check backup and privacy limits.

Android's Private DNS settings with Off, Automatic and Provider hostname options, Automatic selected; DNS lookups are protected while other traffic is not covered.

Android · Oct 30

Android Private DNS: what it does and how to change it

Find Android Private DNS, choose a setting and understand what it protects.

Illustration of a phone with a shield, next to three steps: back up first, keep your PIN private, use a separate repair session. Repair mode does not guarantee a reset can be avoided.

Pixel · Oct 27

Pixel repair mode: protect privacy before a repair

How to enable Pixel repair mode, keep your PIN private and prepare for a repair that may still need a reset.

Three phones labelled iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy, each with a battery gauge and a status (92%, Reduced, Normal), with a dashed line marking 80 per cent capacity.

Phones · Oct 23

How to check phone battery health on iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy

Where to check phone battery health on iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy, and what 80 per cent capacity means.

Three cards show the order for a lost phone: find it on a map, lock it with your passcode, then block its IMEI through your mobile provider.

Mobile · Oct 17

Lost or stolen phone in Australia: find it, lock it, block it

Find it, lock it, then block its IMEI: the order that protects your phone, your accounts and your bill.

Two phones with photos and message lines, connected by transfer arrows.

Mobile · Oct 8

Moving Android to iPhone: What Transfers

Check copied data, messages and account access before erasing the old phone.

Four steps for preparing a phone for sale, beside a handset showing its welcome screen

Mobile phones · Oct 7

How to wipe a phone before selling or trading it in

Back up your files, move your number and release account locks before erasing an iPhone or Android for sale.

Smartphones · Oct 6

eSIM transfer to a new phone in Australia: moving your number

Move your number to a new phone by eSIM: Quick Transfer, Android transfer and the Telstra, Optus and Vodafone apps.

Smartphones · Oct 5

How long will your phone get security updates? Check before you buy

Pixel, Galaxy and iPhone update policies compared, and how to work out the support a phone has left.

A phone battery sits at the centre of checks for updates, storage, repair cost and replacement cost.

Smartphones · Sep 26

Phone upgrade checklist: repair or replace?

Check battery health, support, storage and everyday frustrations before buying your next phone.

Samsung My FanCam interface tracking a person in recorded video.

One UI 9 · Sep 16

One UI 9 begins its rollout to the Galaxy S26 family

Video reframing, device care and privacy alerts expand, with feature and market conditions attached.

An unfolded iPhone Duo held in two hands

Mobile · Sep 10

Apple introduces its first foldable iPhone, iPhone Duo

Apple's first foldable iPhone pairs a 7.6-inch inner display with a 5.4-inch outer screen.

Google Pixel 11 phones in four colours viewed from the back

Mobile · Aug 13

Pixel 11 brings Tensor G6, new cameras and more storage

Pixel 11 adds Tensor G6, new camera features and a 256GB starting capacity.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8 and Flip8 launch image.

Samsung Galaxy · Jul 22

Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra take different shapes

Samsung’s two book-style foldables differ in screen proportions, weight, cameras and battery capacity.

Galaxy Buds4 earbuds and charging cases on a wooden bench.

Galaxy Buds4 · Mar 27

Galaxy Buds4 HD Voice needs the right phone pairing

Check the Galaxy phone and setting required for Samsung’s wider-bandwidth calling feature.

Mobile covers the choices that follow you throughout the day: phones, software updates, connectivity and the information stored on a device. ULKA explains compatibility and support so you can judge whether an upgrade will solve a real problem. We pay attention to Australian availability where it changes the decision. Start by checking the condition and support of your current phone before comparing a replacement’s cameras, storage and subscription costs.

A repair quote and a confirmed support end date can change the decision more than a newer model’s headline feature.

Read about ULKA’s editorial approach or contact the editors.