Wish you could sleep more? You’re not alone. Among the many sleep facts uncovered by the first ever Expert Reviews Sleep Survey, the biggest by far was that most of us want more shut-eye, and many aren’t getting the recommended minimum. Doctors warn that a lack of sleep is affecting our productivity, happiness and health.

Expert Reviews teamed up with YouGov to survey 4,270 adults across the UK and explore the nation’s sleep habits. As well as asking about sleep, we also looked at related factors including age, job seniority, parenthood and even mattresses.

Some results were more unexpected than others. It won’t shock you to learn that new parents get fewer lie-ins than 18-year-olds and you also may not be surprised to hear that your boss is probably getting more sleep than you are.

In this article, we’ll highlight the key facts about sleep as revealed by our survey, and explore the impact our sleep (or lack of it) is having on our lives. We’ll also offer a wealth of fascinating and fun sleep facts to open up the world of slumber.

Facts about sleep: Expert Reviews Sleep Survey

According to our first Expert Reviews Sleep Survey, many of us struggle to get the sleep we need. Here’s a roundup of our key findings.

• 45% of people we surveyed get less than seven hours’ sleep per night, the minimum recommended by the NHS for people aged 18 to 65.
• Nearly half (44%) of the people who sleep for less than seven hours a night only get from three to six hours’ sleep, and 1% don’t even get three hours.
• 77% of our respondents said they would sleep more if they could, and only 40% think they get enough sleep.

• Older people are more likely to feel sleep-deprived. When asked if they’re getting enough sleep, 53% of respondents aged 18-24 said yes, compared with only 38% of over-55s.
• People in London are the happiest with their rate of sleep, and people in Wales the least happy. 47% of Londoners said they get enough sleep, but a whopping 82% of Welsh people said they would sleep more if they could.
• Non-parents sleep better than parents of children of all ages. 60% of parents with children under four, and 54% with children under 18, said they do not sleep enough. The figure for non-parents is 44%.
• People in more senior roles are happier with the amount of sleep they get each night. 100% of chairpersons and 77% of CEOs said they get enough sleep, compared with only 38% of people in non-managerial positions.
• Bosses are better at napping, too – 48% of CEOs said they nap often, compared with 11% of the overall population. By location, the nation’s top nappers live in London, where 16% of people nap often.

Sleep facts: How many hours do we need?

It’s no secret that a good night’s sleep makes you feel and perform better the next day, and doctors even say good sleep can add years to your life.

• A full night’s sleep contains five or six 90-minute sleep cycles, each of which contains four sleep stages, including the REM stage when you dream.
• Many people wake up briefly at the end of each sleep cycle. You might shuffle around in bed or flip the pillow over, but you probably won’t remember it.
• 40% of people say they consistently get enough sleep, according to our survey. But 1% said they sleep less than three hours a night, which is far too little.
• Insomnia regularly affects one in three people in the UK.
• A long-term lack of sleep increases our risk of diabetes and depression, and may affect our immune systems and increase our risk of some cancers.
• Sleep deprivation reduces your tolerance to pain, and will kill you more quickly than food deprivation.
• People in certain professions are more prone to insomnia. A 2020 survey of 600 nurses found that 55% of them regularly have trouble sleeping.

Facts about sleep at different ages

We don’t sleep at the same rate all our lives. This change is partly biological, but other factors impact our lives as we age, with parenthood, illness, menopause and full-time caring all having a dramatic impact on sleep.

• Babies need up to 17 hours, children up to 13 hours. People over 65 can get by on a little less, but should still aim for at least seven hours.
• Obstructive sleep apnoea, where you stop and start breathing while you sleep, affects as many as one in five women during pregnancy. Restless legs syndrome affects up to one-third of women during their third trimester.
• New mums lose an average 62 minutes’ sleep per night, compared with 13 minutes for new dads. These effects last up to six years.
• Our survey found that 43% of single parents sleep less than seven hours per night, compared with 33% of adults in two-parent homes and 31% of adults with no children.
• Sleep disorders increase in women around menopause, affecting up to 47% of perimenopausal women and 60% of postmenopausal women.
• 69% of men and 76% of women aged 40 and older get up for the loo at least once per night.
• 66% of full-time carers experience disturbed sleep. The biggest proportion of carers in the UK are women aged 55-64 years.
• Up to 75% of older adults experience insomnia. Other sleep disorders, such as apnoea, excessive sleep and teeth grinding, also become more common with age but can often be treated successfully, says AgeUK.

Facts about sleep and productivity

Sleep is one of the most productive things you can do. It allows your body to recharge and your brain to function properly. Forget those myths about CEOs getting by on four hours’ shut-eye: lots of sleep is what makes them CEOs.

• Insomnia is calculated to cost the UK economy £34 billion per year due to productivity loss in the workplace.
• Sleep allows your brain’s neurons to recuperate. Limiting this process limits your ability to think quickly and clearly.
• Humans have between four to six dreams a night, during REM sleep. Dreams are vital for healthy cognitive functions, especially memory, and no-one is exactly sure why.
• A psychological study found that sleep-deprived business leaders were rated as less charismatic, and sleep-deprived employees were harder to inspire.
• Our survey found that 82% of company chairpersons and 73% of CEOs are satisfied with their sleep quality, compared with 59% of directors and 34% of non-managers.
• One in eight UK drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel. Men (17%) are three times as likely as women (5%) to say they have fallen asleep at the wheel.
• The AA says the risk of driver fatigue is highest from 2am to 6am and 2pm to 4pm, because your internal body clock promotes sleepiness at these times.
• Napping is recognised as a productivity benefit in Spain, China and Japan, where it’s called inemuri (“sleeping while present”).
• In our survey, CEOs were 36% more likely than non-managerial employees to say they nap.
• The Romans used to nap in the sixth hour of the waking day, around noon. This was known as sexta hora, which evolved into the word “siesta”.
• Salvador Dali, Aristotle, Winston Churchill and Eleanor Roosevelt all loved a nap. Dali also claimed that dreaming boosted his creativity.

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Is your lifestyle keeping you awake?

The way you spend your day can dramatically affect the way you sleep at night. Food, drink, exercise and your bed are key ingredients of what doctors call “sleep hygiene”.

• Caffeine makes you feel more awake by blocking the body’s adenosine receptors. Consuming caffeine six hours before bedtime has been found to reduce total sleep by one hour.
• Adults who snack on seeds and nuts before bed may sleep about half an hour longer than people who snack on crisps and biscuits.
• Magnesium helps you sleep by boosting levels of the hormone melatonin. Magnesium-rich foods include almonds, dark chocolate and avocado.
• Alcohol slows down brain activity, so you feel sleepy. But it can limit your REM sleep, and make you snore by relaxing your throat muscles.
• Doctors say sleep and exercise have a “bidirectional relationship”, which means they improve each other. Exercise is now promoted as a non-drug therapy for insomnia.
• Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time every day regulates your body clock and trains your body to sleep at night and be alert by day.
• Your bed can make or break your sleep. Mattresses that lack comfort, space and support will leave you tired and achy. To avoid this, the National Bed Federation recommends replacing your mattress every seven to eight years.
• In our survey, 71% of women and 68% of all respondents said the quality of their mattress impacts on the quality of their sleep. Only 17% disagreed.
• Light and dark are strong signals to sleep or wake up. This is why blackout curtains and blinds are essential for good sleep, especially in the summer when the nights are short.
• Noise is extremely disruptive. The best sleeping earplugs don’t block sound completely, but effectively cut the sound level of a snorer in half.

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Surprising facts about sleep and technology

Bedtime scrolling is a feature of our age. Maybe it’s part of your wind-down routine, but using digital media before bed can interfere with your sleep in all sorts of ways, from emitting “blue light” to triggering emotional reactions that keep you awake.

• On average, there are nine connected devices in every UK household. Studies show that 75% of children and 70% of adults use devices in their bedroom.
• 50% of people who watch TV before bed say they get less than seven hours of sleep.
• TVs, phones and other devices emit blue light, which has been linked to weight gain, insulin resistance, obesity and metabolic disorders.
• Social media scrolling causes cognitive arousal and inhibits the sleep hormone melatonin. Doctors warn that this chemical reaction is addictive.
• Ironically, 41% of UK adults have turned to online videos to help them sleep better, according to the latest Ofcom Online Nation report.
• Technology is not all bad for sleep. White noise from a TV or phone is a proven sleep aid. Music has also been shown to help some people sleep.
• Engaging in familiar fictional worlds can help you sleep. Familiar TV shows and films can work just as well as books.
• New technologies such as sleep trackers are welcomed by doctors looking for ways to treat insomnia without drugs.
• Sleep trackers and sensors are now being integrated into pyjamas and pillows that track your sleep posture, respiration and heart rate.
• In Japan, scientists are trialling care robots that watch over care home residents at night, record sleep data and detect sleep walking.
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Sleeping habits and mental health

When you’re sleeping well, your mental health tends to improve – but when you’re sleeping badly, your mental health suffers and you sleep even worse. It’s not easy to break this vicious circle, but it can be done by improving your sleep habits and environment.

• Around 75% of depression sufferers also show symptoms of insomnia.
• Long working hours are linked to worse sleep and higher instances of depression and anxiety.
• Our sleep survey found that job worries have a bigger sleep impact for young workers. 70% of 18-24 year olds said their job impacts their sleep quality, compared with 54% of 35-44s and 42% of over-55s.
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) peaks in the dark days of winter. SAD disrupts your internal biological clock and causes a hormonal imbalance that can trigger depression.
• 16% of SAD sufferers have frequent nightmares, found one study, compared with only 2.4% of people without SAD.
• SAD lamps boost the production of melatonin, which improves sleep, and serotonin, which improves mood. Light therapy for a month has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms by as much as 83%.

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How sleep and chronic conditions are linked

Lack of sleep affects your physical health as well as your mental health. Conditions including pain, breathing difficulties and diabetes often coincide with insomnia – and doctors say the power of sleep to heal and soothe is greater than previously thought.

• Half of people aged 55 and over told our survey they don’t get enough sleep.
• Regularly getting less than five hours of sleep in mid-to-late life is linked to a 40% higher risk of developing two or more chronic diseases including diabetes and cancer.
• Sleep apnoea may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• Short sleep durations are associated with obesity, especially in childhood. Lack of sleep in youngsters can affect the development of the hypothalamus, which regulates appetite and energy.
• Getting enough good quality sleep can help type 2 diabetes sufferers control their blood sugar levels.
• Sleep apnoea can be treated in many ways, from wearing gum shields to sleeping with a CPAP machine and a special anti-snoring pillow. The NHS says it’s vitally important to get sleep apnoea treated.
• New findings suggest that the power of sleep to soothe chronic pain is far greater than the power of pain to disrupt sleep.

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Facts about sleep: Summary

Sleep is a thing of magic that we perform every single night. You already knew a lack of it makes you feel groggy, but you may not have realised quite how vital those Zzzs are for your mental wellbeing, your productivity at work and your physical health. As we’ve seen, even doctors continue to be surprised by how powerful sleep is.

None of this will come as much comfort if you struggle to drop off every night. Lying awake thinking “I must sleep!” is one of the best ways to wind yourself up into a state of insomnia-fuelled anxiety.

This is why experts say that if you’re struggling to get to sleep, get up. Go and read a few book pages, or have a hot bath, or do some “low impact chores” such as washing up or do anything which doesn’t violate the basic rules of sleep hygiene by stimulating you too much. Doing these things reminds your brain and body that you’re actually really tired, and can work wonders when you go back to bed.

The Unistellar eVscope 2 provides an answer to some of the biggest issues faced by back-garden astronomers. Stargazing can be hard work – especially for if you’re not au-fait with the mechanics of managing a mount and telescope.

First, there’s all the hassle of setting up the tube assembly and the tripod, then you need to track down your target, fiddle with the focus and try to keep your chosen object in the eyepiece while you view. When you’re still trying to find your way around the night sky, that can be a challenge. And, much as I hate to say it, the views can sometimes be underwhelming, especially if you don’t have the time or means to make it out of town and enjoy skies fairly free of light pollution.

The eVscope 2 takes nearly all the pain away. It’s all about convenience, combining a 21st century take on the classic Newtonian reflector telescope with a motorised mount and a smartphone app to make back garden astronomy about as easy as it gets. It’s not going to be the right telescope for everyone – not least because of its stratospheric price tag – but if you have a big budget and minimal time, it could change the way you look at the cosmos.

Unistellar eVscope 2 review: What do you get for the money?

Nearly £4,000 buys you a 114mm telescope with a 450mm focal length and a heavy-duty Unistellar tripod. The motorised mount is integrated into the optical tube assembly along with all the Wi-Fi connectivity and supporting electronics, and slots into a circular hole in the tripod plate, where it’s secured with a couple of bolts.

The tripod has two levels of extension and a built-in spirit level, making it easy to get a good, solid platform for the telescope. At a total weight of 9kg it’s fairly portable, and Unistellar even bundled in a sturdy backpack with my review kit. Disappointingly, though, this will cost you an extra £329 to buy.

The telescope itself is unusual. It works mostly like a standard Newtonian reflector, where light is gathered in a primary mirror at the base of the telescope then reflected up to a secondary mirror that sends the image to the eyepiece. However, the eVscope 2 design replaces the secondary mirror with a Sony IMX347 CMOS sensor, while the eyepiece is a tiny OLED display embedded within a custom Nikon lens assembly.

What’s more, you’ll spend most of your time with the eVscope 2 not even looking into the eyepiece. Instead, you connect the telescope via its built-in Wi-Fi to the Unistellar app on your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet, then use the latter to move the telescope and point it at your chosen viewing targets. Of course, you don’t need to do so manually. Just ask the app to find an object, tap a button and the telescope will find it automatically.

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Unistellar eVscope 2 review: What does it do well?

In nearly every respect, the eVscope 2 is incredibly easy to use. It configures itself automatically when you first connect, based on your location, and all you need to do is point it at a clear area of night sky, then let it work out where it’s pointing.

From there, you can select stars, planets, nebulae, clusters and other deep-sky objects from a menu of highlights, tuned to what’s going to be best and brightest at the current time, or search for specific targets. Make your selection and the app will give you basic information, and all it takes is a tap to navigate there.

Moving – or slewing –  to your targets isn’t instantaneous, and you’ll have to wait while the eVscope hops from position to position, using its internal star map to zero in on your chosen object. And once you’re there the initial view might not be instantly amazing; we’re still talking about a reflector telescope with a fairly small 114mm mirror.

Give it time, however, and the eVscope processes and enhances the image, using a sort of real-time image stacking to add contrast and detail without excessive noise. Even on the outskirts of a small town with some light pollution, I was able to get good views of clusters, nebulae and some brighter deep-sky objects; and in locations with less light pollution you can expect better still.

What’s more, the eVscope 2 makes astrophotography easy. Tap the shutter button in the app, and it will capture the current view. You can adjust the exposure time and brightness gain, and while you won’t get the kind of results experienced astrophotographers can get with a DSLR, computerised mount and some expert image-stacking and processing, the images it produces can look pretty good.

I also like the fact that, if you get serious about astronomy, the app provides tools to share observations and images with the community, and with NASA and SETI research projects.

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Unistellar eVscope 2 review: What could it do better?

For me, the biggest issue with the eVscope 2 is focus. Manual focusing using the dial at the bottom of the telescope is a fairly painful process. The focuser isn’t smooth throughout its travel, and the digital eyepiece is, in some ways, harder to focus with than a conventional, sharp optical eyepiece.

To help, Unistellar provides a Bahtinov mask inside the dust cap you can use to optimise the focus, but using this is also a faff, and not ideal for making small adjustments. I’ve used significantly cheaper telescopes where it has been easier to get a crisp, clean view, particularly when it comes to viewing planets.

What’s more, the eVscope 2 has a cheaper sibling – the Odyssey Pro – that incorporates an auto-focus mechanism. It hasn’t quite got the same power or magnification as the eVscope 2, but it’s easier to get a nice, crisp image.

I also found that the eVscope 2’s automatic gain and exposure settings can be a bit overzealous, making it tricky to get a good view of bright objects without making your own manual tweaks. To make things worse, the sliders used for doing so can be tricky to manage with cold hands on a smartphone screen.

Unistellar eVscope 2 review: Should you buy one?

This is the tricky bit. The eVscope 2 makes back garden astronomy truly accessible to a wide range of users, and with patience and a bit of tweaking you can get some excellent views.

However, it is also wildly expensive. At £4,000 there are some fantastic alternatives – large diameter telescopes, many with their own computerised mounts. You won’t get the built-in image enhancement or astrophotography features, but the light gathering capabilities and optics will be better and telescope-mounted camera sensors aren’t too expensive these days. I haven’t seen another all-in-one solution that works as well as Unistellar’s, but you’re paying an awful lot for it.

It’s also not going to please all amateur astronomers. Many will miss the ability to quickly change views by switching eyepieces, or just the sense that you’re looking at light from distant stars through a lens in real-time, rather than a view that’s been enhanced through digital means.

If you can afford it, convenience alone makes the eVscope 2 a compelling proposition. There’s something about being able to get your telescope up and running in under ten minutes, particularly when you’re just trying to pack a quick session in on an unexpectedly clear night. But if you don’t have the budget, don’t worry – you can still enjoy the cosmos without splashing this much cash.

The Honor Magic 6 Lite kicked off the brand’s smartphone offerings for 2024, before being joined by the flagship Magic 6 Pro. Despite being the de facto affordable entry in Honor’s smartphone lineup, the Magic 6 Lite cuts an elegant silhouette, with a slim, curved body and a large, impressively bright display. 

Add in an impressively long-lasting battery life and the Honor Magic 6 Lite is ticking boxes for both razzle and dazzle. The middling chipset doesn’t quite match the performance of the best smartphones in the sub-£400 bracket, and software support leaves a lot to be desired, but overall the Magic 6 Lite conjures up enough class to project the illusion of a much pricier handset.

Honor Magic 6 Lite review: What you need to know

The Honor Magic 6 Lite is incrementally bigger than its predecessor in just about every way. The build has swollen slightly to 76 x 8 x 164mm, the better to accommodate the larger 6.78in AMOLED display, and it’s a little heavier at 185g. 

The triple camera array on the rear remains mostly the same, once again offering up a 5MP ultrawide and 2MP macro as the backup cameras, but the main lens has bumped its pixel count up from 64MP to 108MP.

Inside, the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor may have the same 2.2GHz clock speed as its counterpart from last year but it’s joined by 2GB more RAM (now 8GB) and twice the storage space at 256GB. That’s all you get, however, as there’s still no microSD card slot.

The Magic 5 Lite already had a relatively large 5,100mAh battery, but the Magic 6 Lite’s is an even bigger 5,300mAh. The only area in which the specs have shrunk slightly is the charging, with a max capacity of 35W coming in marginally lower than the 5 Lite’s 40W.

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Honor Magic 6 Lite review: Price and competition

At £350, the Magic 6 Lite is £20 more than its predecessor, but as mentioned above, it also squeezes in twice the on-board storage, so that just about comes out in the wash.

We’ve got a few strong contenders at this price range. Despite being a generation behind, the Google Pixel 6a still looms large, with excellent cameras and performance for the price. It originally retailed for £399 but can currently be picked up for £299.

Recently, I’ve also reviewed the Nothing Phone (2a), which costs £319 for the 128GB model or £347 for 256GB, and the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G (£338 for 128GB, £389 for 256GB). Both offer decent performance for the price and the Nothing in particular managed terrific battery life in testing, while the Samsung impressed with its main camera.

Honor Magic 6 Lite review: Design and key features 

I said it with the Magic 5 Lite and I’ll say it again: Honor knows how to dress up a mid-range phone with style. The slim build and curved display combo may be a little out of vogue, but I’m very much still a fan. It feels great in the hand, particularly the soft vegan leather coating on the Sunrise Orange model I was sent for review. If that doesn’t take your fancy, there’s also Emerald Green and Midnight Black, though these have frosted glass rears.

The circular rear camera module returns but this time it has a notched metal ring running around the edge, adding a splash of class to the proceedings. On the front, the selfie camera is set beneath the display and offers an efficient and generally accurate face-unlocking feature. There’s also an optical fingerprint sensor towards the bottom of the display.

The slim edge running around the phone is plastic but it’s got a mirror finish, imitating metal. The performance is believable enough from a distance, helping enhance the aesthetic quality of the phone, but you can clearly feel that it’s plastic when holding it. Along the right edge, we’ve got the power and volume keys, while the bottom is home to the USB-C port and a SIM-tray with space for two nano-SIMs. Unfortunately for wired listeners, there’s still no 3.5mm headphone jack.

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Honor Magic 6 Lite review: Display

As well as growing an inch or so, the 6.78in 120Hz AMOLED display has also squeezed in a few more pixels, now offering a 2,652 x 1,220 resolution. Particularly impressive here is the brightness; on manual mode, I measured a peak brightness of 580cd/m² (a decent uptick from the Magic 5 Lite’s ceiling of 518cd/m²), while flicking on adaptive brightness and shining a torch on the ambient light sensor pushed it to an outstanding 949cd/m².

Of the two colour profiles, the Vivid setting was my go-to when streaming, while the Natural mode offered more realistic-looking colours. On the latter profile, I measured an sRGB gamut coverage of 94.1%, with a volume of 94.2%, which is exceptionally accurate. The average Delta E colour variance score isn’t quite as good as the Magic 5 Lite’s (1.06, compared to 0.96) but it’s still low enough to be essentially perfect.

Honor Magic 6 Lite review: Performance and battery life

The octa-core 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset puts in a middling performance, delivering a solid bump over its predecessor but failing to outstrip other rivals. It roughly keeps pace with the Nothing Phone (2a) but the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G pulls 20% ahead in the multi-core portion of the Geekbench 6 benchmark. And then there’s the Google Pixel 6a, putting the whippersnappers to shame with leads of 63% over the Magic 6 Lite in the single-core benchmarks and 35% in the multi-core. To be clear, the Magic 6 Lite still runs smoothly, jumping between apps without pause and scrolling swiftly, but if you want the most horsepower for your cash, there are better options.

It’s a similar story in the GPU benchmarks, except it’s the Nothing Phone 2(a) that slips into second place behind the Pixel. The Magic 6 Lite’s results are reasonable for the price but if your gaming aspirations extend beyond simple card games and Candy Crush, there are more suitable phones than this, not least of which is the Google Pixel 6a.

Just as the Pixel starts to show its age, the Honor proves its worth. The Magic 6 Lite’s beefier battery may not quite match its predecessor for stamina but considering that it has a larger, more pixel-dense display to illuminate, I’m still chalking this one up as a terrific result. A hair over 27 hours will easily see you into a second day of use and lands the Magic 6 Lite squarely on our best phone battery life ranking.

The 35W charging isn’t enough of a drop from the Magic 5 Lite’s 40W to be a deal breaker – either way you’re looking at over an hour to charge from empty. The Galaxy A35 5G and Pixel 6a are both slower than this, with only the Nothing Phone (2a) charging any faster (its 45W capacity gets the job done in about an hour). 

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Honor Magic 6 Lite review: Software

The Magic 6 Lite runs Android 13 out of the box, with the Magic OS 7.2 launcher plastered over the top. The icons are a little oversaturated for my taste and a few of my pet peeve preinstalled apps are present – it even has the nerve to put Trip.com and WPS Office in a folder labelled ‘Top Apps’ – but it ran smoothly enough in testing and there are much more obnoxious software skins out there.

My biggest problem here is that Honor has only committed to two OS updates – one of which is Android 14, which is currently circulating – alongside three years of security patches. By comparison, both the Nothing Phone (2a) and Samsung Galaxy A35 5G launched with Android 14, and are confirmed to get three and four further OS updates, respectively, really putting this paltry offering into perspective.

Honor Magic 6 Lite review: Cameras 

The 108MP (f/1.8) main camera puts those extra pixels to good use, producing vibrant and detailed images in good lighting. Strong contrast makes each of the ripples in the water stand out, and the colours in the building and greenery are punchy without getting unnaturally oversaturated.

Those extra megapixels also make for a decent 3x digital zoom. It’s not the “lossless” quality that the marketing claims but there’s a good amount of detail retained, clearly showing each groove in the tree bark.

The night-shooting capabilities are definitely a step up from the Magic 5 Lite, too, with far less blooming from the light sources and solid colour reproduction, but the level of noise in the sky still isn’t great.

Things start to turn sour with the 5MP (f/2.2) ultrawide camera. Colour and exposure are carried over from the main lens well enough but the detail is unimpressive, with the leaves smudging together and barely any definition in the tree trunks.

The 2MP (f/2.4) macro camera is about as tacked on as it gets – Honor even buries the option for it in the shooting menu. Detail is reasonable enough, considering the weedy pixel-count, but the focal lines are fuzzy and the background blur is full of noise.

Video gets a slight improvement, now allowing for 4K at 30fps, as well as adding a 60fps option in 1080p. The extra detail and added frames are appreciated but the lack of any kind of stabilisation still hurts the video offering overall, with footage feeling quite shaky, even by cheap phone standards.

Honor Magic 6 Lite review: Verdict

The wobbles in the camera department and mediocre performance take some of the shine off the Honor Magic 6 Lite but they aren’t drastic enough drawbacks to dull it completely. Even the limited software support, which is by far my strongest criticism, is ultimately overshadowed by the level of quality you’re getting for your money here.

Battery life is terrific, the display is big, bright and beautifully represented and the design has a style well above its pay grade. Even the main camera, which is admittedly weighed down by lacklustre backing dancers, delivers effective improvements over its predecessor. For an affordable mid-range handset with the looks and stamina of a pricier phone, the Honor Magic 6 Lite is a real charmer.

Unistellar’s high-tech telescopes do a fantastic job of making backyard astronomy accessible to those without much expertise, but the new Odyssey Pro takes convenience to a whole new level.

Lighter and more compact than the brand’s eVscope 2, it’s incredibly easy to set up and use; just tell the smartphone app what you want to look at, and the integrated, computerised mount points the tube in the right direction.

What’s more, it delivers great views – and some impressive photos – using a mix of traditional optics and digital enhancement. Like the eVscope 2, the Odyssey Pro is a big investment, but if you’re keen to see some of the best sights the night sky can offer and you’re short on time and astronomy know-how, it could be just what you’re looking for.

Unistellar Odyssey Pro review: What do you get for the money?

The Odyssey Pro is effectively a short-tube Newtonian reflector telescope with the secondary reflector – the mirror that transmits the view to the eyepiece – replaced by a CMOS sensor. The 85mm primary mirror is actually pretty small – especially for £3,499 – as is the 320mm focal length, but the Odyssey Pro does more with less by using real-time digital processing and enhancement.

Once the telescope has zeroed in on its target, the onboard processor captures and stacks exposures in the same way amateur astrophotographers do in post-processing, but while you watch. Ambient light from street and city lights is filtered out and light from the stars, planets and deep-sky objects is enhanced; as a result you get something that looks less like a small and indistinct ball or a grey cloud in the view, and more like the kind of image you’d expect from a high-end telescope. This is then sent to the telescope’s digital OLED eyepiece, and to your smartphone, where you can view it and capture it for later viewing and sharing.

The telescope tube comes integrated into a motorised GoTo mount, which slots and locks into the sturdy extending tripod supplied, and connects to the accompanying Unistellar app on iOS and Android. This covers all the basic setup tools, including auto-alignment and sensor calibration, then provides you with a changing menu of stars, planets, clusters, nebulae and galaxies to look at, with the top picks for the current night sky on the first tab.

The selections change hour by hour as targets emerge from or go over the horizon, and you can always request your own targets with a quick search. 

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Unistellar Odyssey Pro review: What does it do well?

I was impressed with the ease-of-use of the eVscope 2, but the Odyssey Pro is even better. Assemble the telescope/mount and tripod and connect the app to the built-in Wi-Fi. You’re then quickly taken through the alignment process and sensor calibration, and from there you’re good to go.

The optical system, developed with Nikon, takes care of itself, so there shouldn’t be any need for collimation as with most Newtonian reflectors. As long as you can get the mount level, using the circular spirit level on the top of the tripod, and point it at some stars, it will sort out everything else for you. And if you need to re-align or recalibrate, the tools are only a couple of menus away.

Meanwhile, Unistellar’s app is an excellent way to navigate and learn about the cosmos, with simple panels that give you the basic facts about your chosen target, and a single button to tap to set the telescope to slew there.

Most importantly, you can get some fantastic views – and some impressive stills – out of what’s still quite a compact and easy-to-store telescope; without the tripod legs extended and the tube upright in its parked position, it stands just under 82cm high and 37cm wide. The initial view is nearly always underwhelming, but tap the enhance button and wait. Contrast will improve and stars will come into crisper focus.

Planets will, given ample brightness and proximity, start to show their colours, bands, spots and distinct rings, not to mention nearby moons. Best of all, nebulae and galaxies will go from indistinct cloud patches or blurry patches of colour into visible objects with their own distinctive shapes.

Sure, you may get better views in a dark sky area with a 150mm or larger telescope with a decent eyepiece, but that’s not always an option. I’m lucky enough to live on the edges of a small-ish town, but there’s still some light pollution to contend with, and the Odyssey Pro gave me good views of a wide range of objects, including galaxies and nebulae. I could have it up and running within ten minutes, then start enjoying what that night’s sky had on show.

A key part of this is that – unlike the eVscope 2 – the Odyssey Pro has autofocus. I sometimes struggled to get the views from the former sharp and clear, while I only discovered some captured stills were less than crisp when I viewed them on my laptop later. With its new autofocus system, the Odyssey Pro seems to be bang on every time, and there’s no issue with viewing and capturing distant stars then nearby planets without having to refocus in-between.

READ NEXT: Best wildlife camera

Unistellar Odyssey Pro review: What could it do better?

There’s a small price to pay for that autofocus, and it’s the speed with which the tube can lock on and then focus on a target. Like the eVscope 2, the Odyssey Pro can sometimes take its time to locate and then narrow down on a planet, star or deep sky object, and the autofocus can then add another ten to twenty seconds while it tries to get the image sharp.

Given the precision and finesse with which these mechanisms need to work, it’s hard to grumble, but there were times when I caught myself thinking that I could have found the moon or the Great Orion Nebula myself a little faster (though in practice, I’m not sure that I could).

And while the Nikon digital eyepiece is a plus for more traditional astronomers, it’s still not perfect. The image still looks more like a live video feed from a camera – which is what it is – and is slightly grainy, and not really much different from what you can already see on your smartphone screen. It has advantages over an optical eyepiece, including hassle-free focusing, more eye-relief and less time spent trying to make your eyes adjust to see dimmer objects, but for a lot of experienced amateur astronomers it won’t be the real deal.

Unistellar Odyssey Pro review: Should you buy one?

That last point is pretty crucial. For some backyard astronomers, part of the appeal will always be that you’re seeing the light of a star or the dim glow of a galaxy or nebula transmitted to your eyes, unmediated by a sensor, screen or any processing. The Odyssey Pro doesn’t deliver that experience. 

It’s also extremely expensive – you could save over £1,000 by going for the Odyssey base model – which has the same optics, app and processing, but not the Nikon eyepiece. Even then, £2,200 could still buy you a lot of conventional telescope, along with a computerised GoTo mount and eyepiece camera.

All this is true, yet the Odyssey Pro still offers a fantastic combination of compact design, convenience, ease-of-use, simple astrophotography and consistently impressive views, especially if getting out to a dark sky area isn’t a practical option for you. It’s a shame you’ll need deep pockets to afford it, but you probably won’t regret it if you do.

A robot vacuum cleaner can be an excellent investment, taking care of arguably one of the most tiresome household chores with very little input from you. As Reena Patel, floorcare category manager, EMEA at iRobot explains, robot vacuum cleaners are designed to be a “hands-free solution for cleaning your home, giving you back time in your life to do more important things”.

However, in order to ensure your robot vacuum cleaner does the best job possible, it too will require cleaning. Whether you have a traditional robot vacuum cleaner, or one of the newer models that not only vacuums floors but mops them as well, they all need some level of maintenance – some more than others.

Don’t worry, help is at hand: I’ve been using robot vacuum cleaners in my home for more than seven years, so I’m well versed in how to best clean them. As well as offering tips based on my own experience, I’ve also spoken to Reena Patel of iRobot and Paul Keast of Dyson to get their expert opinion on cleaning a robot vacuum cleaner.

How often should you clean a robot vacuum cleaner?

This will very much depend on how often you use your robot vacuum cleaner, as well as the features it offers. To some extent, the brand of your cleaner will also determine its cleaning routine.

So, for example, if your model of robot vacuum cleaner comes with a self-emptying base, then you won’t need to empty the dirt bin on the cleaner itself as much as a model without such a base, since that part is handled by the robot itself. However, you will need to consider the self-emptying base in your cleaning schedule.

For those wondering about how to clean a Roomba or another model with a self-emptying base, again, you likely won’t need to worry about the dirt bin as much as those models that come without a base, but you will need to keep an eye on the bag within the base and change it before it becomes too full.

If you have a robot vacuum cleaner that doesn’t come with a self-emptying base, then you should clean out the dirt bin of your model after each use. Sometimes, you may find you need to do it mid-way through a cleaning cycle. In terms of the other elements that make up the cleaner, Dyson’s product manager for intelligent machines, Paul Keast, recommends “cleaning your filter at least once per month to maintain optimum suction power”.

Meanwhile, Eufy, which owns RoboVac, offers an easy to follow schedule that outlines how often various elements of a robot vacuum cleaner should be cleaned.

• After each use: Dust collector or dirt bin, washing mop or cloth if applicable, water tank and mopping modules.
• Twice a week: Filters, if you have a pet.
• Once a week: Filters, rolling brushes, rubber strips.
• Once a month: Side brush, brush guards, sensors, charging pins and swivel wheel.

READ NEXT: Best cordless vacuum cleaners

When to replace the various parts of a robot vacuum cleaner

Like cleaning, the replacement schedule for the various parts of your robot vacuum cleaner will depend to a degree on the frequency your vacuum is used. iRobot’s Reena Patel says “robot vacuums are capable of doing as good a job, if not better, than a traditional upright vacuum” with their abilities to “reach areas where an upright vacuum cannot, such as under the couch or bed”. With that in mind, there’s a good chance you’ll be using a robot vacuum fairly frequently, she says.

It will depend on the manufacturer, but many accompanying robot vacuum cleaner apps will serve up a reminder when it’s time to replace a part. As a general rule of thumb, iRobot offers a schedule of the rough times to expect to replace parts on its Roomba models, though the guidelines can be applied to robot vacuum cleaners across the board:

• Every 2 months: Filters
• Every 6-12 months: Brushes, extractors
• Every 12 months: Front wheel

READ NEXT: Best Shark vacuums

How to clean a robot vacuum cleaner in 8 easy steps

The process of cleaning a robot vacuum cleaner will vary depending on the make and model of your robot vacuum cleaner. However, as Reena Patel at iRobot highlights, there are some general guidelines to follow – whether you have a Roborock, Neato, Miele or Dyson model – to ensure your cleaner remains in tip top condition, capable of cleaning your floors for years to come.

With that in mind, read on to discover our 8 steps to clean your robot vacuum to ensure it works its best to leave you floors sparkly clean.

1. Power off your robot vacuum cleaner

An obvious first step, but a necessary one. “It’s essential that before cleaning you make sure the robot vacuum is turned off and unplugged from the power source”, Patel explains.

2. Empty the dustbin

No matter which model of robot vacuum cleaner you have, it will likely have a dirt bin into which it will collect dust, dirt and debris from your floor. Some models – self-emptying models, in particular – have such a bin in the main unit, as well as a separate bin in the base.

One of the first steps in cleaning a robot vacuum cleaner is emptying the dirt compartment on the robot itself. Depending on the make and model you have, this will involve “pressing a release button or opening a latch to access the dust bin“, Patel says.

3. Clean the filter

Most robot vacuum cleaners will have a filter of some sort and ensuring it’s cleaned regularly is essential to getting the best performance from your device. In terms of iRobot models, Patel explains: “Most of iRobot’s cleaners have a High-Efficiency Filter, which helps to capture and trap 99% of pollen, mould, dust mite and pet allergens.”

More generally, you will find step-by step instructions within the respective app of your robot vacuum cleaner on how to clean the filter for that particular model. Many apps will also send you a notification when a filter change is due.

Patel advises that you “check the instructions” on how to remove the filter, and then “clean it by tapping it gently to dislodge any trapped dirt or dust”. She adds that “you might also need to rinse it under running water; or replace it if it isn’t washable”.

4. Remove hair and debris

Hair, whether human or pet, loves a vacuum cleaner brush – and that applies to robot vacuum cleaners as much as traditional vacuum options.

Patel recommends “inspecting the brushes and wheels for any hair, string or debris wrapped around them”, and to “use any cleaning tools provided with your vacuum to remove any obstructions”. If your model doesn’t arrive with a hair-cutting tool in the box, for example, I highly recommend buying one from Amazon or elsewhere to make removing such tangles easier.

How easy it is to clean the brushes and rollers will again depend on the make and model of your robot vacuum cleaner, with some models enabling you to completely remove the units to clean them effectively.

5. Wipe the exterior

While robot vacuum cleaners might be great at cleaning dust and debris off your floors, they don’t have the ability to dust themselves off. Cleaning the exterior isn’t just about making your robot look better, however; it ensures the sensors and cameras are able to perform properly.

“Use a damp cloth to wipe down the exterior surfaces of the robot vacuum, including the sensors”, Patel says, “but avoid using harsh chemicals that may damage the plastic or electronics”.

6. Clean charging contacts

You’ll want to keep that damp cloth away from the charging contacts – electricity and water are not friends, after all – but in order for your robot vacuum cleaner to charge properly, Patel says: “Use a dry cloth to gently wipe the charging contacts on both the vacuum and the charging dock to ensure proper charging functionality.”

7. Reassemble and test

Once you’ve emptied your dirt bin, cleaned all your brushes and wiped down the exterior of your robot, you’ll need to put it back together. You needn’t worry, though: your robot vacuum cleaner has been designed to be taken apart for cleaning so putting it back together is usually a pretty standard procedure.

Patel advises that you should “reassemble the vacuum according to the manufacturer’s instructions”, and “after reassembly, test the robot vacuum to ensure that it’s working correctly”. That way, you’ll know that it’s ready well ahead of its next scheduled clean, rather than setting it off on a clean before you pop out, only to return to find it stuck with your floors still dirty.

8. Schedule regular maintenance

Depending on your model of robot vacuum cleaner, the accompanying app should provide information on when various parts need cleaning and/or replacing. Patel advises “establishing a regular cleaning schedule based on your usage frequency and the manufacturer’s recommendations” in order to keep your robot vacuum in top condition.

READ NEXT: Best vacuum cleaners

How to clean a Dyson robot vacuum cleaner

When it comes to cleaning a Dyson robot vacuum cleaner specifically, product manager of intelligent machines for Dyson, Paul Keast details a quick five-step process below to help get you started:

1.  Remove the filter from the robot.

2. Tap gently against the edge of the bin to remove any excess debris.

3. Place the filter under warm running tap water. Place your hand over the open end of the filter and fill it with warm tap water; shake it firmly to remove trapped dirt and debris. Do this until the water runs clear.

4. Rinse the outside of the filter under warm running water until the water runs clear and shake out the water firmly.

5. The filter must be completely dry before you put it back into the machine. We recommend waiting at least 24 hours before the next clean, leaving your filter in a warm, well-ventilated space.

While there will always be a few people who actually enjoy pressing a fresh pile of laundry, the vast majority will do anything to get out of it. Even if we do own the best steam generator iron money can buy.

Step forward Lynsey Crombie, best-selling author and TV cleaning expert – aka The Queen of Clean. Below, she shares her top ironing tips – and with her hacks under your belt, you’ll be able to reclaim hours of your life and, perhaps, even grow to love your pile of ironing. 

Lynsey Queen of Clean’s top ironing tips

We spoke to Lynsey, who offered these exclusive tips based on her battles with her own pile of ironing. From the correct set up to corners you can cut without anyone noticing, these hints and hacks promise to help seasoned and rookie ironers alike.

1. Set up your ironing station properly

“Before you start ironing, ensure that your ironing board is set up correctly”, says Lynsey. “If you’re standing, ensure it’s in line with your belly button for the perfect position. Make sure you have hangers to hand, the board is clear and clean, and you have a good film to watch for company.”

“It’s also important that you’re ironing in a well-lit room to ensure you can see what you’re doing, and that it has good ventilation”, she adds. That last tip is especially important: with all that hot steam in the air, you could quickly become flustered.

READ NEXT: Best steam irons 

2. Sort your clothes before you start

According to Lynsey, having 10 lightbulbs on in your house for half an hour will cost less than running your steam iron for the same amount of time. So it’s wise to do everything to minimise that “appliance on time” by prepping your laundry for ironing before you start.

“When you take out that full laundry basket, sort it into colours, sort it into fabric types and start with the materials that require the hottest setting first”, says Lynsey. “Then you can just adjust your iron down in temperature as you go along.”

Lydsey also adds that you should turn any dark fabrics inside out to prevent shine, do up zips and pull out any pockets – all of which will speed up the process.

3. A steam generator or garment steamer is worth the investment

“The better the iron, the quicker you’ll get through that pile”, says Lynsey. “Steam generators are great – they produce a powerful steam that makes all the difference and offer a range of fabric settings”, she says.

Lynsey recommends that you consider spending at least £100 on an iron if you want it to do a half-decent job, and get through your ironing pile quickly. “Always pick an iron with a big water tank, since that will again speed things up as there’s no stopping to fill it up”, she says. “And always look for a ceramic soleplate, which will glide through fabrics.”

You could also invest in a garment steamer – Lynsey and the This Morning fashion team have previously recommended the K9 Express Clothes Steamer (£159) from Morplan. It’s a super-quick way to get through a smaller pile of garments and you won’t have to waste time getting the ironing board out. For a more affordable option, try Tower’s Ceraglide Portable/Travel Garment Steamer (£30) from Amazon.

Lynsey recommends a model with a proper boiler system that will produce a lot of steam. “They’re great for giving school uniforms a quick refresh in the morning”, says Lynsey, “and they’re much easier on shirts, too, since you don’t have to touch the fabric with direct heat.” Discover more in our steam irons versus garment steamers article.

READ NEXT: Best clothes steamer

4. Never iron a stain

“Keep your eyes peeled for stains. If you spot a stain, the worst thing you can do is iron over it; the heat from the iron will set the stain even further into the fabric”, warns Lynsey. “Give the item a cold soak with some white vinegar and then wash again with a full load.”

5. Iron on only one side

If you religiously iron both sides of everything from socks to tea towels to duvets, you could be wasting both time and costly energy. “Only ever iron one side of anything”, says Lynsey. “Obviously, this will cut your ironing time in half.” 

Aside from saving time and money on energy bills, this tip can potentially save your wardrobe, too. “Over ironing can ruin your clothes”, Lynsey points out.

“Some awkward items may require a starch spray, so always keep some to hand in the bottom of your basket”, says Lynsey. You could also try Lenor’s crease release (£3) from Asda, of which Lynsey is a big fan. “Two or three sprays, a good pull and Bob’s your uncle – you’ll hardly need to iron the garment at all”, she says.

Lynsey says you can also make your own at home by half-filling a spray bottle with cold water, topping it with rubbing alcohol and finally adding 20 drops of your favourite essential oils. Shake it well before each use. “That will last about three months in your cupboard”, she says. “And it won’t leave a film on your clothes as fabric conditioner or hair conditioner can.”

“Or you can use corn starch, since it’s a stiffener”, adds Lynsey. “Add a heaped tablespoon to 200ml of cold water, to which you add in 50ml of boiled water and stir really well until the corn-starch has dissolved. Then add 20 drops of essential oils for fragrance.

“Pour into an empty spray bottle and shake well before each use”, she concludes.

6. Have a plan for folding and storage

So, you’re cutting through that ironing pile more efficiently – but don’t undo your hard work now. “You should hang or fold items properly as you go and put them away once finished”, says Lynsey. Otherwise, those creases will quickly return.

If you’re not confident of putting things away immediately, you could hang ironed items on a freestanding rail next to your ironing setup. But, ideally, just put them away – you’ll have to do it eventually anyway.

7. Store your iron properly

One last ironing mistake to avoid is storing your appliance incorrectly. “Make sure your iron has fully cooled down before putting it away”, says Lynsey. “Empty out the water tank to ensure that limescale doesn’t build up and give the plate a wipe over with a damp cloth. You don’t want all that brown scale shooting onto your white shirt as you’re ironing.”

And Lydsey’s top tip for keeping limescale at bay? “Use Calstop, a drop of white vinegar and distilled water and ensure you maintain your iron on a regular basis.”

Deciding where to place a baby monitor in your little one’s bedroom (or your own, if they’re sleeping in a crib next to your bed) will largely be determined by the device you choose, the space in question and the age – and, therefore, mobility – of your child.

Ultimately, you’ll want to ensure that you have the best possible view (or, if using an audio-only device, sound monitoring) of your baby. As such, it’s important to consider factors such as whether the device can be mounted on a wall as well as the camera’s panning and tilting range when choosing the best baby monitor for your family.

Naturally, safety is a key concern; knowing that your monitor won’t fall on your baby while they sleep, or that the device itself and any wires it comes with are safely out of reach of curious hands.

We explore the various factors to consider in more detail below, consulting nursery design and home technology experts to help you make an informed decision on the best place to mount your baby monitor.

Key factors that determine where to mount a baby monitor

1. Whether you have an audio-only or video monitor

Using an audio-only model provides a certain degree of flexibility when it comes to baby monitor placement, since you’re not bound by the position of the camera. For example, our top-rated audio model – the Vtech DM1212 – simply requires the monitor to be within a 1m range of the cot or crib in any direction, whether from either end or side.

For devices with video functionality, you need to consider the position from where you can get the best possible view of your little one. Helpfully, many monitors on the market today offer the ability to control the device’s camera angle, either via panning (left to right), tilting (up and down) or both.

The camera in the Sense-U Video Monitor, for example – named best value smart monitor by our testers – can tilt back and forth 90-degrees, as well rotate about 15-degrees either side.

2. Your child’s age

Mobility increases as tots turn into toddlers, and it’s something to take note of when factoring in a baby monitor’s placement.

“For a newborn in a cot, the camera angle only really needs to be focused on that area”, says Charlotte Hill, nursery product specialist at John Lewis, which offers a nursery advice service for new and expectant parents.

“For older children, however, it can be useful to have a camera with more motion – for instance, a 360-degree angle – in order to cover more of the room as they play, or when they reach an age where they can get out of bed themselves.”

READ NEXT: Best baby thermometers

3. How the device sits or attaches

Most – but not all – monitors are designed to sit free-standing on a flat surface. As such, you’ll need to identify potential spots in your little one’s bedroom for the unit to perch. Prime locations tend to include the tops of dressers, bookcases and wardrobes, as well as shelves.

If a suitable flat surface isn’t available, you may want to consider a wall-mountable device. The Nanit Pro Baby Monitor, for example, has an option specifically designed to be fitted this way. Alternatively, the Motorola MBP50 comes with a unique “star grip” mount, which features pliable legs that can be wrapped around items such as frame shelving units, curtain rails and floor lamps.

If none of these options are suitable, you may need to think creatively. “We’ve previously placed monitors on built-in joinery, utilised wireless cameras in children’s hideouts and play dens and even integrated cameras into headboards”, shares design expert Joanna Landais, founder of children’s interiors company Eklektik Studio.

4. The Wi-Fi signal available

“Some monitors may have a reduced range, depending on the wall thickness or age of the house”, says Charlotte Hill. So you may have to experiment, trying out several placements around the room to discover which is best, before settling on a final spot.

If your device connects to Wi-Fi and this is an issue, Landais advises trying a signal booster – take a look at our list of the best Wi-Fi extenders to help with this.

Note that Bluetooth- and wireless-enabled devices such as mobile phones and laptops can also interfere with the signal of your baby monitor. Most user manuals suggest keeping such devices at least 1-2 metres away from your monitor, or else turning them off if they appear to be causing interference.

5. Safety considerations

If your baby monitor of choice is powered via a mains connection, it’s of paramount importance that both the device and the wire are out of your little one’s reach, since this presents an obvious strangulation hazard.

If the location of the plug socket makes this challenging, consider securing the wire to the wall using cable clip nails – a pack will set you back less than £7 on Amazon.

This risk may seem minimal when your baby is still fairly immobile, or not yet rolling, sitting or standing; however, babies can develop these skills suddenly, with little pre-warning, so it’s important to ensure you place your monitor as if they were able to stand.

Also remember that your little one’s wingspan will increase as they grow, so set up your monitor with this in mind, too.

READ NEXT: Best car seats for safety and comfort

Where not to place a baby monitor

1. Inside the crib or cot

Practically all baby monitor user manuals warn against placing the device inside or on the baby’s cot or crib. This echoes The Lullaby Trust’s advice that a safe cot is a clear cot.

Charlotte Hill points out that some brands (such as Nanit) have a mount that attaches to the cot, providing a direct view over the baby. However, she warns: “As soon as a child can stand themselves up, anything attached to the cot should be removed to prevent them pulling it onto them, or pulling themselves out of the cot.”

She adds: “Some monitors also have sensors that are designed to be inside the cot. These would usually be under the mattress, but parents should ensure they read all the safety information for these products before use.”

2. Near heat sources

To prevent overheating, you should avoid placing your baby monitor too close to heat sources such as radiators and heaters.

Landis also points out: “If the monitor has a temperature sensor, it should not be placed near potential heat sources as this may trigger the alarm unnecessarily.”

3. Near water

Electrical devices and water are never a safe combination. As such, baby monitors should always be kept away from water.

Bear this in mind if you keep houseplants that require watering close to your device. While there are various benefits to adding a little greenery to your little one’s bedroom (from purifying the air to providing sensory stimulation), you do run the risk of an accident – so be sure to take the plant away from your device to water it.

It’s easy to see why the popularity of 12 month broadband deals is rising in the UK. Rather than tying you down for two years, they give you the flexibility to shop around and dodge any pesky price rises. Even better, they’re no longer pricier than longer contracts too, with many lesser-known internet service providers (ISPs) and Expert Reviews favourites such as Now Broadband offering attention-grabbing plans.

To help you find the 12 month broadband deal that closest fits your needs, we’ve collected all of the best tariffs below, complete with context and links to our full, in-depth reviews. It isn’t an exhaustive list, but rather the offers that we’re happy to recommend after researching them and weighing them up against the competition. Happy shopping!

Compare the best 12-month broadband deals in your area – LIVE!

The best 12 month broadband deals you can buy in 2024

1. Now Broadband: The best 12 month broadband deal overall

Price: £23/mth | View deal at Now Broadband

Now Broadband has made waves over the past few years with its simple, eminently affordable plans, which start at just £20/mth. However, while we once gave the ISP four stars out of five and an Expert Reviews Recommended award, our latest Now Broadband review resulted in three stars, primarily for its poor reliability and comparatively slow speeds.

Still, unusually for a major provider, Now Broadband offers 12 month broadband deals, rather than the standard two years, and this one is its best: an average download speed of 63Mbits/sec, which is enough bandwidth for a handful of devices to connect wirelessly at the same time, for £23/mth on a one-year contract, with just a £10 deliver fee to pay upfront. That’s an outstanding offer.

There’s another caveat, though: the monthly price will increase each April by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation plus 3.9%, which is something that all of Now Broadband’s ISP rivals are doing too.

Read our full Now Broadband review

View deal at Now Broadband

2. Hyperoptic: The best 12 month broadband deal for speed

Price: £40/mth | View deal at Hyperoptic

In our most recent Hyperoptic broadband review, we awarded the ISP four stars out of five and an Expert Reviews Recommended award for its compelling mix of blistering speed and excellent customer service. It may not be one of the big names, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to value. There is a caveat, though: at the moment, it only reaches 1.4 million homes in the UK, meaning wide areas of the country aren’t covered at all.

If you’re one of the lucky few, you can take advantage of Hyperoptic’s terrific 12-month offers: here, we’ve highlighted the all-singing, all-dancing Hyperfast plan, which nabs you a stunning average download and upload speed of 900Mbits/sec for £40/mth on a one-year contract, with £19 to pay upfront.

Read our full Hyperoptic review

View deal at Hyperoptic

How to pick the best 12 month broadband deal for you

Finding the best 12 month broadband deal can be tricky in a market where lots of potentially confusing terms and numbers get thrown around. To help cut through the noise, we’ve rounded up the most important considerations below.

Can you get full fibre?

In recent years, brand-new networks have been popping up across the UK to offer full-fibre connections – instead of the far-slower copper cables. This wealth of competition has also driven down broadband prices, which is great news for consumers.

If you live in an urban area, you’ll likely have access to a full-fibre connection, but that doesn’t mean you should write one off if you live in the countryside. To see what you can get, simply select one of the dazzling deals above and use the internet service provider’s tool to see what’s available at your home address.

What’s the best speed for you?

There’s a massive range of different plans to pick from and you don’t want to end up paying for speeds you simply don’t need. As a handy rule of thumb, we’d say that a download speed of around 100Mbits/sec should be enough for the majority households, which you can step up to 300Mbits/sec or even 500Mbits/sec if there are lots of devices under one roof or you regularly do intensive tasks such as downloading game updates.

Gigabit speeds (1,000Mbits/sec) should only appeal to a minority of power-user homes and, at the other end of the scale, a download speed of 36Mbits/sec should only really be for those who browse the web or do an occasional spot of streaming from a couple of devices. If you work from home and have regular video meetings, it won’t be enough.

Will the price rise during your contract?

Unfortunately, the answer to this is increasingly likely to be “yes”. Many of the major ISPs have decided to hike up their prices every March or April by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation plus an additional 3.9%. We’ll always flag when this is the case on our lists of deals, however, and there are some exceptions to the rule such as our top provider Zen Internet.

How much will you have to pay upfront?

The days of having to pay extravagant setup fees are past and it’s unlikely that you’ll have to pay more than a £30 one-off fee. In fact, many of the ISPs like to waive the payment entirely as an extra incentive for signing up.

There are a couple of exceptions, though: one-month rolling broadband plans, which are still rare, tend to come with far larger upfront costs, as do broadband and TV deals. We’ll always mention if a 12-month offer comes with an upfront cost.

The best broadband and TV deals combine an eye-catching array of channels and streaming services with an internet connection capable of making the most of them. Even better, they can also save you hefty sums of money, and the best broadband providers are jostling for your attention by throwing in exciting extras.

But which is best for you? We’ve weighed up plans from internet service providers (ISPs) big and small to draw up a live list of the most head-turning offers, which is constantly updated. Read on to find a brilliant bargain for your home this month.

Compare the best broadband and TV deals in your area – LIVE!

The best broadband and TV deals you can buy in 2024

1. Now Broadband: The best broadband and TV deal overall

Price: £31/mth | View deal at Now Broadband

If you gobble up the latest stateside dramas, this is the broadband and TV bundle for you: as well as an average download speed of 63Mbits/sec, you’ll also get access to the Now TV Entertainment package for £31/mth on a 12-month contract (£10 upfront), although that price will change during your contract.

That means you’ll be treated to hundreds of Sky dramas and documentaries to binge at your leisure, as well as 16 live channels such as Sky Atlantic, Sky Max, Sky Comedy and Sky Documentaries. Want to see what all of the Succession, The Last of Us and The White Lotus fuss is about? Now is the perfect time to catch up.

There are a couple of caveats, though: first, the ISP was the recipient of a middling three stars out of five in our latest Now Broadband review, where we praised its low prices but raised questions about its poor reliability. Second, as with many of the big names on the market, Now Broadband has decided to increase prices each April by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation plus an additional 3.9%.

Read our full Now Broadband review

View deal at Now Broadband

How to pick the best broadband and TV deal for you

The world of broadband and TV bundles can be something of a minefield, with lots of numbers and deals being thrown around in an attempt to capture your attention. To help you get started, we’ve put together a short checklist of questions.

Is it worth going for a bundle?

This is the first question you should ask yourself before signing up for a broadband and TV deal. While there are some outstanding offers, there are a couple of hurdles to traverse: will you actually watch all of the channels you’re being promised? Is the broadband part of the package up to snuff? In the deals sections above, we’ll always provide a link to the full broadband review and give you a low-down of what you’ll be getting.

More complicated is the question of value for money: many initially attractive offers might actually end up being more expensive than if you signed up for the broadband and TV contracts separately. However, we’ll always crunch the numbers for you and won’t include these in the list above. If you’re going for a deal elsewhere, make sure you do your research to avoid losing money.

Can you get full fibre?

There’s been a lot of positive disruption in the UK broadband market recently. While it was once dominated by a handful of big-hitters, there is now a wide range of smaller, often very regional networks around the country that deliver full-fibre speeds. That means it’s become something of a buyer’s market and, consequently, a great time to jump ship to a new provider.

If you live in a town or city, it’s likely you’ll have access to a full-fibre broadband connection, but you might still be lucky out in the countryside. The easiest and quickest way of finding out is to pick one of our recommended broadband and TV deals above and use the ISP’s tool to see if full-fibre speeds are available in your area.

What’s the best speed for you?

With the notable exception of Now Broadband, most ISPs serve up a bewildering array of different plans, which means it’s easy to accidentally sign up for speeds that you won’t need. As a quick rule of thumb, we’d argue that an average download speed of around 100Mbits/sec is enough for most households, which you can step up to 300Mbits/sec or even 500Mbits/sec if you’ve got a big family or do lots of bandwidth-hungry tasks such as downloading game updates.

Gigabit speeds (1,000Mbits/sec) should only appeal to power users and, at the other end of the speed spectrum, 36Mbits/sec will suit those who browse the web or do an occasional spot of streaming from a couple of devices. It won’t be enough if you’re working full-time from home and need to, say, join large video meetings.

How long should the contract last?

Most providers offer 18-month or 24-month contracts, although some have 12-month plans. The latter will allow you to wriggle out and switch to a better deal sooner, but keep in mind that many ISPs have recently decided to hike up their prices mid-contract in April, usually by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation plus an extra 3.9%.

How much do you have to pay upfront?

Unlike broadband-only deals, which only tend to come with a small setup fee nowadays, you have to be wary of upfront costs when signing up for a broadband and TV bundle – especially if it comes with new hardware such as a set-top box. That said, you’re still unlikely to pay an enormous amount and we’ll always make sure to flag any fees in the sections above.

Once a niche service you might use on holidays or as a backup while moving home, mobile broadband has now hit the mainstream. On the one hand, a new generation of mobile 4G and 5G routers mean you can share one connection across lots of devices, which is perfect when you’re travelling, living somewhere where a fixed line isn’t an option, or moving into temporary digs.

On the other hand, 4G and 5G connections are now a viable alternative to a traditional ADSL or fibre connection. In some cases, the best mobile broadband connections might even be faster than anything BT or its rivals can offer at your property. That’s only going to happen more often as 5G services roll out further and the technology matures.

We rounded up the very best mobile broadband options, along with a handy buying guide, below.

Best mobile broadband: At a glance

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The best mobile broadband you can buy in 2024

1. Three Home Broadband: The best unlimited 5G broadband

Price: £22 (£11/mth for six months) | View deals at Three

If you’re lucky enough to live in an area within Three’s 5G coverage, its Home Broadband package is difficult to beat. For £11/mth for the first six months of a 24-month contract (then £22), you get unlimited 5G broadband at the fastest speed available, with performance that can match and even beat many fibre options.

Three promises average download speeds of 150Mbits/sec, and it isn’t unknown for data speeds to peak above 400Mbits/sec. Some customers still complain of slow or inconsistent connections, although increased and improved coverage seems to be working in Three’s favour. The bundled 5G Hub supports download speeds of up to 2.33Gbits/sec and has two Gigabit Ethernet ports and 802.11ax Wi-Fi with 4×4 MIMO, so you have everything you need to handle higher speeds, should they come through.

Both coverage and performance have improved over the past year, according to RootMetrics. Three can now offer 5G services to more than 60% of the population in the UK’s major cities, and has the best combination of 5G coverage and performance of any network in the UK. While it now comes second to EE for median 5G download speeds at 165.7Mbits/sec to 174.1Mbits/sec, its top speeds are much higher, with the fastest 5% reaching an average 853.4Mbits/sec to EE’s 638.5Mbits/sec.

The monthly price shown will increase each April by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation plus 3.9%.

Read our full Three broadband review

View deals at Three

2. EE Smart 5G Hub: The best high-performance 5G broadband option

Price: From £45/mth | View deals at EE

If you’re happy to pay more for your 5G broadband, EE offers a compelling mix of high-end hardware and impressive speeds. The brand has recently upgraded its Smart 5G Hub to a new model with a pair of Gigabit Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi 6 and support for up to 100 devices. EE claims average 5G speeds of 144.6Mbits/sec, which may be the faster option if you aren’t in a full-fibre area.

This doesn’t come cheap, with monthly fees starting at £45/mth for an 18-month contract with a 500GB monthly data cap, or £50/mth for unlimited data, both with £100 cost upfront. What’s more, a quick look at the small print reveals that the unlimited deal isn’t all that unlimited, since EE considers usage above 1,000GB to be non-personal and may apply traffic controls. Given that an hour of watching 4K streaming video on Netflix can use up to 7GB, while big game downloads could involve 100GB or more, 1,000GB isn’t all that generous a cap, however soft.

On the plus side, EE is well-equipped to promise you high levels of performance. The latest figures from RootMetrics still place the network top for overall 4G and 5G speeds and coverage, and while Three will sometimes provide faster connections in some locations, EE still has the best UK-wide median 5G download speed, at 174.1Mbits/sec. Even its slowest 5G download speeds, at around 15.4Mbits/sec, are faster than any other supplier – if your 5G connection is that poor then you might be better off sticking with a 4G service, though.

The monthly price shown will increase on 31 March 2024 by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation plus 3.9%.

View deals at EE

3. Vodafone GigaCube: Solid 5G mobile broadband

Price: From £40/mth | View deals at Vodafone

Vodafone’s 5G GigaCube router comes with a choice of two plans, available on either a rolling monthly contract or a 24-month plan. For £40/mth, you’ll get the 5G GigaCube router with 200GB of data, while unlimited data takes the cost up to £60/mth. Otherwise, the major difference is the upfront costs, which range from zero on the 24-month unlimited plan to £175 on both 30-day plans.

The TCL-produced GigaCube router is the star of the show, enabling up to 64 devices to connect simultaneously, with support for Wi-Fi 6 and 4×4 MIMO to ensure you can get a good connection around the home. The GigaCube also packs in a single Gigabit Ethernet port alongside a faster 2.5Gbit LAN/WAN port. And if you don’t have 5G in your area yet, you can get a 4G GigaCube router with a 4G SIM, with the monthly rates running from 200GB for £40/mth to 300GB for £50/mth.

Vodafone has slipped behind Three and EE when it comes to 5G performance, but it’s still very competitive in many locations across the UK. RootMetrics’ latest round of testing had Vodafone posting median 5G download speeds of over 100Mbits/sec in all 16 of the UK cities where it runs its metropolitan tests, with 5G availability improving in 11 of those and media download speeds up in ten.

The monthly price shown and all out-of-bundle charges will increase each April by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation plus 3.9%.

View deals at Vodafone

4. EE 4G WiFi: The best 4G broadband on the move

Price: From £14/mth | View deals at EE

There are at least two good reasons to pick EE’s 4GEE bundles if you’re after mobile broadband on the go. For one, RootMetrics still rates EE as the number one UK network for 4G and 5G performance, with its UK-wide median download speed of 68.6Mbits/sec far in advance of the nearest competitor, Vodafone, at 34.5Mbits/sec. Second, coverage is excellent, and you shouldn’t find it hard to get a decent signal even in rural or coastal areas, although there will always be some remote spots or awkward places where it slips.

EE’s 4G WiFi Mini router is also pretty useful, with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and a 2,150mAh battery that should last up to 12 days. It measures less than 10cm across and weighs only 85g. EE has also adjusted its range of plans since our last review, starting with a £14/mth plan with 5GB of data, then moving up through the £17/mth 25GB and £40/mth 125GB plans, to the unlimited data option at £50/mth. There are no upfront costs on any of these plans.

EE also offers a Smart 4G Hub home router with its own £30/mth 100GB and £50/mth unlimited plans. These offer a solid alternative to standard fibre broadband packages if you have a good 4G signal, although the £150 upfront cost on the unlimited deal might be difficult to swallow.  There’s stiffer competition here from Three, but EE’s faster 4G connection speeds might help make up for the higher pricing.

The monthly price shown will increase on 31 March 2024 by the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation plus 3.9%.

View deals at EE

How to choose the best mobile broadband service for you

What is mobile broadband?

Until fairly recently, mobile broadband meant buying a pocket-sized router that worked with a 4G SIM to create a mobile wireless hotspot, which could be used to hook up your laptops, tablets and handheld games consoles to the internet while you were away from home.

Increasingly, though, we’re seeing fully featured designs that do everything you’d expect of a conventional ADSL or fibre router – only using a mobile connection, rather than a fixed line. So far, the limited speeds of 4G services have put such devices in a bit of a niche, but the advent of 5G changes that. When you can get up to 500Mbits/sec just by slotting in a SIM card, why wait for a supplier to bring a full fibre connection to your home?

How much data will I get?

Typically, 4G and 5G mobile services have a data allowance or usage cap, which may be somewhere between 50GB and 300GB. That will be fine for work, browsing and music streaming, but if you spend a lot of time watching streaming services or downloading PC and console games, then you need to look for an unlimited package. These are now more widely available than they were, although they do come with a price premium and, in some cases, a longer contract.

What is the router like?

Take a good look at the router you’re getting with your package. The 4G and 5G home routers now have more features than they used to, with some including two or more Gigabit Ethernet ports and 802.11ax Wi-Fi. However, 4G services might come with a less well-equipped router, while routers designed primarily for mobile use might focus more on the compact size and battery life than the connectivity options.

Can I get decent coverage?

4G

Ofcom’s latest study into UK mobile and broadband connectivity reports that 95% of all UK premises should have access to broadband through a fixed wireless access service, including satellite and mobile broadband.

However, most of these services will be based on a 4G signal, and the fastest 4G+ or LTE-A services, with speeds of over 40Mbits/sec, still tend to be available only in larger towns and cities. What’s more, just getting a decent 4G signal in your neighbourhood is no guarantee that a provider will offer fixed wireless access services in your area. Even if they do, it pays to check the coverage and compare predicted speeds for your location before you sign any contracts.

5G

Although 5G coverage is improving, it remains fairly patchy. EE has the largest 5G network, now in reach of more than 60% of the UK population and stretching across over 1,000 UK locations. That doesn’t only include major towns and cities, but 500 rural and semi-rural areas. The other major networks are also catching up. Three also now claims to cover over 60% of the UK population across over 600 locations, and the proposed merger with Vodafone should see the merged network stretching even further.

Just remember that not everyone within a 5G area will be able to get a solid 5G signal, and that getting a signal on your phone outdoors doesn’t necessarily mean 5G broadband services will be available in your area, or that you’ll get a consistent, high-speed signal in your home.

How we test mobile broadband

We base our mobile broadband reviews on research conducted specifically for our own annual Mobile Network Awards, and on customer service, coverage and performance research from Ofcom and RootMetrics.

Our Mobile Network Awards survey asks nearly 4,400 UK readers about their satisfaction levels with their current provider, and how well their 4G or 5G connection holds up while watching video, browsing the internet and streaming. We also ask for more detail on their experience of 5G services, to discover any benefits or issues that readers are experiencing.

Meanwhile, Ofcom’s Comparing Customer Service: Mobile, Landline and Home Broadband report provides a detailed indication of customer satisfaction with service, value and support for each UK network, including data on how many complaints are made and how they’re handled.

Finally, RootMetrics runs in-depth performance tests across the length and breadth of the UK to capture figures for performance and coverage – including more specific 4G and 5G performance tests in 16 of the UK’s largest towns and cities. The results are updated twice a year.

We take all these results into account before coming to a conclusion about the best services in terms of performance, reliability and overall value for money.