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When it comes to mobile plans, those that come bundled with a handset tend to steal the limelight, but if you've already got a phone you're happy with, then SIM-only plans present an excellent opportunity to save some money.

As the name implies, a SIM-only plan is any plan that doesn't bundle in a phone, whether it's on a 12-month contract or a no lock-in situation where you simply pay month-to-month, there is often a great deal of value to be found in these plans.

To make it even easier for you, we've gone through each of the SIM-only providers available to Aussies right now and have hand-picked the best deals we've come across, whether they're big on data, low on cost, or an excellent middle-ground overall.

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• Compare Australian prices on the latest smartphones at Getprice

Editor's pick: Best SIM-only plan under AU$25

Circles.Life | 20GB data | Prepaid monthly | AU$18 per month (first six months, then AU$28 per month)

Circles.Life has taken the crown for the two best and most affordable SIM-only plans in Australia right now. This is thanks, in a big way, to the offer of AU$10 off the first six months of the 20GB and 100GB (see below) data plans. On top of that, there's no lock-in contract and you can earn bill credit by referring friends. Just remember to enter the code DATAMANIA when signing up.

Total minimum cost is AU$18View Deal

Editor's pick: Best SIM-only plan under AU$40

Circles.Life | 100GB data | AU$28 per month (first six months, then AU$38 per month)

Relatively new to the Australian market, Circles.Life is offering up the best SIM-only deal we've seen to date. For only AU$38 per month, you'll score a huge 100GB of data, plus you can discount your first six months by AU$10 by entering the code DATAMANIA at checkout. You can add 300 minutes of international calls for AU$5 pm, cancel the service any time without a fee, and it uses the Optus 4G Plus network. It's a real winner, even after the discount is over.

Total minimum cost is AU$28View Deal

Live-updated SIM-only deals: Plans under AU$40

Editor's pick: Best premium SIM-only plan

Optus | 100GB data | AU$59 per month

Now that Telsta's plans have risen in cost, it's a better time than any to go with Optus if you're after one of the major telcos. You’ll score yourself 100GB of data each month, plus unlimited national talk and text and unlimited international talk and text to 35 selected countries. There’s also a 12-month subscription to Apple Music thrown in to make this a more tempting offer. You won’t face any cancellation fees if you decide to leave the service either. Total minimum cost is AU$59View Deal

Live-updated SIM-only deals: Plans over AU$40

Should I go SIM-only?

If you a) want to save some money; b) don't want to be tied into a lengthy contract; c) already own a perfectly fine phone; or d) all of the above, then going SIM-only is well worth considering. In fact, you're probably in one of two situations if your thoughts are turning to a SIM-only mobile plan:

1. You're coming to the end of your contract and your phone is still fighting fit (if it isn't, then head to our best mobile phones deal page to see what plan you can grab alongside a phone), but otherwise going SIM only on your current phone is a no-brainer. You'll wind up paying much less than you are under contract, and you can often stick to a rolling month-to-month arrangement so that if your circumstances change, you can change with them.
   
   
2. It's time for a shiny new smartphone and you want to get the best value humanly possible. You'll have to find a few hundred bucks (or thousand at this stage) up front for the handset (be sure to check our SIM free comparison chart) but you'll end up better off at the end of it all. Plus, if you're a commitment-phobe, most SIM-only plans don't require you to sign up for two years like you would with a normal contract.

What SIM card size do I need?

There are three sizes of SIM card that you can get for your phone, and the one you need will depend on your handset. It's been a while since the traditional, so-called standard SIM (15 x 25mm) has genuinely been the staple in new phones. Instead, any phone you've bought within the last five or so years is much more likely to require a micro (12 x 15mm) or nano (8.8 x 12.3mm) SIM – the iPhone 5 was Apple's first mobile with a nano SIM, while Samsung began using the smallest size in its Galaxy S6.

Before you purchase your new SIM, double-check the manufacturer's website to see what size you require. And if you're simply not sure, most networks now simply send out a triple SIM, so you'll get one of each size.

What contract length should I get?

Unlike with a contract, there's a lot more flexibility available when it comes to how long your SIM-only plan will last. Two-year commitments are virtually unheard of, with the norm now being rolling one-month contracts for ultimate flexibility. You can sometimes get better prices if you tie yourself in for 12 months, especially on larger data tariffs. But sticking to one month at a time means that you could effectively hand pick a new plan to suit you every 30 days or so.

How much data do I need?

Because you can change your plan up more regularly than a normal, lengthier contract, it's less crucial to get this nailed from the start. But if you're thinking of grabbing a 12-monther or just put a personal pride on getting things right first time, then we'll help you pick out the sweet spot of data for you.

Firstly, check your phone to see how much data you've been using to date, and whether you have the tendency to use more than your current allowance every month. Then, if you're still unsure, check out our guidance: 

• 0-5GB Tiny amounts of data on SIM only plans could be a blessing or a curse. If you're putting it in a rarely used phone that will scarcely be away from Wi-Fi then it makes total sense. But if you end up with one because your head's turned by the incredible price, then you could end up paying more if you continually go over your allowance.
• 5-10GB For anybody who needs data for little more than the occasional Google Maps route planning, 10GB plans come cheap and give you much more freedom to scroll away online away from the Wi-Fi.
• 10-20GB If you can't leave the house without having a music streaming service like Spotify pouring into your ears, then it might be worth paying for some extra GBs of data.
• 20-40GB This is a significant amount of data and many networks now offer something in this range for a reasonably appetising price. Whether streaming music, downloading podcasts and watching social media videos or the occasional movie or TV show is your thing, you should be covered.
• 40GB+ Only smartphone junkies that need regular (and hefty) data fixes need bother with this avalanche of GBs. You'll be able to rinse Netflix, Spotify and online games without too much fear of topping out.

The SIM-only plans on this page are checked regularly, so make sure you visit often if you want to get the most up-to-date information on the plans that are currently available!

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Latest Tech News

Stuck-at-home gamers, you’re in for a real treat. Microsoft has just kicked off its Ultimate Game Sale, and stacks of AAA titles and big-hit releases for Xbox One are now steeply discounted by up to 50%.

It’s not just Xbox games that’re on sale though – for the PC faithful, there’s also some huge savings to be had on gaming laptops from the likes of Razer, MSI and HP, plus a variety of excellent keyboards, mice and gaming headsets if you’re already set up with a desktop.

If you’re not sure what games you want to pick up, you can always opt for a subscription to Xbox Game Pass, giving you access to a rotating roster of full Xbox and PC games. There’s over 100 games to choose from, including all of Microsoft’s biggest and best titles and dozens upon dozens from other famous studios. You can subscribe now and get your first month for just AU$1, with an ongoing cost of AU$15.95 for each month thereafter.

Save up to 50% on select Xbox games

There’s excellent news if you have an Xbox One as your console of choice. It wouldn’t be an Ultimate Game Sale without some games being involved, and Microsoft has delivered by slashing the price on a massive selection of both the biggest recent releases and a wide selection of other greats. We’ve included some highlights below, but you’ll also find The Outer Worlds, Borderlands 3 and many more discounted directly from Microsoft.

Red Dead Redemption II | AU$54.97 (RRP AU$99.95; save AU$44.98)

Jump on a horse as the gun-slinging outlaw lead and start your epic quest across the Wild West – without needing to spend top dollar. This AAA title came out towards the end of 2018, and it’s arguably the best open-world game Rockstar has ever created. If you’ve yet to play it through, you can now pick it up for a very nice price of AU$55 from Microsoft.View Deal

Forza Horizon 4 | AU$49.97 (RRP AU$99.95; save AU$49.98)

Forza Horizon 4 is a toy box full of fancy cars and the open-world roads to drive them on at break-neck speed. There’s both a structured campaign mode and plenty of off-shoot distractions to discover as well – so there’s certainly more than meets the eye for this racing title. If you’ve yet to give it a whirl, it’s now available for the bargain price of AU$49.98 from Microsoft.View Deal

The Sims 4 + Cats & Dogs bundle | AU$41.97 (RRP AU$69.95; save AU$27.98)

This fourth instalment of the incredibly popular Sims franchise can now be snapped up for significantly less from Microsoft. Explore life as a star athlete, a mad scientist or a criminal Sim who plays by their own rules. This bundle comes with the Cats & Dogs expansion pack, so you can own pets, or become the town vet for something decidedly more normal.View Deal

Save AU$150 on an HTC Vive Cosmos VR Kit

We might be spending much more time at home, but there’s plenty of ways to escape into other worlds – virtual worlds. A VR headset for PC can be a pricey investment, but if you can wait until they’re on sale, it’s possible to save a decent chunk of change – and such is the case now, with the premium HTC Vive Cosmos seeing a nice AU$150 discount. The full details are below – and also check out what else is available from Microsoft’s virtual reality offering.

HTC Vive Cosmos | AU$1,149 (RRP AU$1,299; save AU$150)

This wireless VR headset for PC from HTC offers an excellent virtual experience from the comfort of home. This base model of the Vive Cosmos can also be upgraded over time if you want to get more serious – by swapping out the front faceplate, so you can adjust it to suit your future needs. It works with the excellent Half-Life: Alyx – good news considering the Valve Index isn’t available in Australia at the moment. Head directly to Microsoft to save AU$150.View Deal

Save up to 25% on select gaming PCs

You’ll find a selection of high-specced machines discounted on Microsoft, including from the likes of HP, MSI and Razer. We’ve hand-picked the standout deals below, or you can head to the website to see all the PC gaming deals on offer.

HP Omen 15 | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / RTX 2080 | AU$2,849.25 (RRP AU$3,799; save AU$949.75)

There’s a surprising amount of power under the hood of this gaming laptop for the price. Under AU$3,000 for an RTX 2080 GPU is almost unheard of, but that’s exactly what’s now available in this Microsoft sale. It’s paired with a 9th-gen Intel i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM, which will see you playing AAA titles with all the bells and whistles. All that’s encased inside an all-metal chassis. This 15-incher is now 25% off directly from Microsoft.View Deal

Razer Blade 15 Advanced | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / RTX 2080 | AU$3,674.25 (RRP AU$4,899; save AU$1,224.75)

Our colleagues over at PC Gamer called this the best gaming laptop you could buy in 2019 – and that would still be the case, had it not been followed-up by the 2020 model. But this 2019 version is still very much worth considering – particularly with this discount. It has powerful innards, including a 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, teamed up with an Nvidia RTX 2080 GPU. Despite those power-hungry components, it still manages around five hours of battery life, which is unusual for a gaming machine of this calibre. There’s a hefty AU$1,224 slashed off this gaming workhorse, available directly from Microsoft.View Deal

Razer Blade Pro 17 | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / RTX 2060 | AU$3,074.25 (RRP AU$4,099; save AU$1,024.75)

For the gamers and creative types looking for a little more screen real estate, this Razer Blade Pro 17 could tick all the right boxes. It’s packed with a 9th-gen Intel i7 chip and an Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card, so games promise to be buttery smooth on its 17-inch display. Despite its size, this laptop manages to be slim and sleek, making it a great choice for portable gaming on a big screen. Save just over AU$1,024 when you buy from Microsoft.View Deal

Save up to 20% on select Razer gaming accessories

If you’re looking to kit out your PC gaming setup, Razer makes some of the best accessories in the business. You’ll find a discount on everything you need to add some flair to your PC, from keyboards, mice and gaming headsets. We’ve selected a few of our favourites here, or head to Microsoft to browse all the discounted Razer gear.

Razer Viper Ultimate | AU$215.20 (RRP AU$269; save AU$53.80)

If you’re looking for pinpoint accuracy in your next gaming mouse, the Razer Viper Ultimate is worthy of your shortlist. It’s a wireless mouse with a phenomenal 20,000 CPI sensor and a battery that lasts up to 70 hours from a single charge, so you’ll be able to get some heavy use out of this mouse before returning it to its charging cradle. It’s retail asking price may have placed it into ‘maybe someday’ territory for many, but snap it up now and you’ll save 20%, or just over AU$50.View Deal

Razer Kraken X | AU$79.20 (RRP AU$99; save AU$19.80)

When it comes to budget-friendly headsets, Razer’s Kraken X is one of the most affordable you can buy with 7.1 surround sound. That feature promises to deliver a more immersive experience, so you can scope out your enemies by detecting nearby footsteps, or clearly hear the direction of gunfire. With a lightweight build, headband padding and plush earcups, they should be very comfortable to wear for long gaming stints too. That’s all delivered through a set of cans that’ll now only cost you just AU$80, available from Microsoft.View Deal

Razer Huntsman Elite | AU$303.20 (RRP AU$379; save AU$75.80)

For a wonderfully lit RGB gaming keyboard, the Razer Huntsman Elite surely delivers. It features the brand’s Opto-Mechanical switches, so it uses a beam of light rather than the traditional metal switch to activate each key. Aside from the super-fast switches, you’ll also find a dedicated suite of media controls. If that sounds like the keyboard to round-out your gaming setup, grab it from Microsoft for AU$303.20.View Deal

Save up to 30% on select Bose headphones & speakers

There’s more than just discounted gaming gear up for grabs. Microsoft is also dropping the price on a selection of audio hardware from Bose, so if you’re looking for a superb set of headphones for everyday use or a top-notch portable speaker, there’s something for you here. These are the particularly noteworthy Bose deals worth a look.

Bose QuietComfort 35 II | from AU$359 (RRP AU$499; save up to AU$140)

The ever-popular Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones have Bose’s class-leading noise cancellation, and we found them incredibly comfortable to wear for long periods in our review. If you fancy the black or silver colour options, they’re both available for AU$359, while the rose gold variant is slightly more at AU$399.View Deal

Bose SoundLink Micro | AU$99 (RRP AU$139; save AU$40)

The Bose SoundLink Micro brings big sound to a small package, and it’s now touting an even smaller price tag. Don’t let its size fool you, this tiny yet mighty portable speaker puts out impressive sound. It’s ruggedly built with an IPX7 waterproof rating, so it can withstand a fall in the pool, or even the ocean. Discounted in black when you head to Microsoft.View Deal

• Click here to check out all the great deals in Microsoft’s Ultimate Games Sale

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Latest Tech News

Update (August 13): The Realme 6i will go on sale again today at 12 noon on Flipkart.

The Realme 6i will go on sale for the first time in India today. The device was launched in India last week. The Realme 6i is the third device in the Realme 6 series after the Realme 6 and Realme 6 Pro.

Realme 6i will go on sale via Flipkart for the first time at 12 noon. The Realme 6i 4+64GB model is priced at Rs 12,999 and Rs 14,999 for the 6+64GB variant. It is available in Lunar White and Eclipse Black colour options. 

Check out the Realme 6i on Flipkart

Realme 6i specifications

It flaunts a 6.5-inch Full HD+ screen with 90Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass protection. The screen aspect ratio is 20:9 and screen to body ratio is 90.5%. Under the hood, the device comes with an octa-core 12nm MediaTek G90T chipset clocked at 2.05 GHz and for graphics, you get ARM G76 GPU. 

On to the optics, there is a 48MP quad-camera array with a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide shooter, a 2MP portrait lens, and a 2MP macro lens. You get a 16MP punch-hole selfie camera. There’s support for HDR, nightscape, slow-mo, ultra-wide-angle video, 4K video recording with the rear camera.  You get HDR selfie, slow-mo 120fps, nightscape, slow-mo video with the front camera. 

The Realme 6i comes with a 4,300mAh battery with 30W flash charge via Type-C port. However, this time around Realme will be bundling a 20W charger inbox and the 30W charge can be bought separately from Realme e-store. It runs on Android 10 based on Realme UI out of the box. 

Other key features of the device include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Dual SIM, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Check out the Realme 6i on Flipkart

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Latest Tech News

One of 2019's most anticipated phones was the reimagined Motorola Razr, but the final product sadly fell short of the hype due to three key flaws: an exorbitant price point, middling specs and the existence of a far superior foldable in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.

Now, it appears that Motorola is ready to take another swing at the nostalgia-driven device, with the company announcing a virtual smartphone event on September 9 that's expected to reveal the 2020 Motorola Razr, or Razr 2 as may be called.

In the lead-up to its virtual event, the company has sent out 'Save the Date' press invitations which appear to show a folding device, accompanied by "flip the smartphone experience once again" messaging.

(Image credit: Motorola)

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What we'd like to see from the Razr 2

Given that there's clearly room for improvement, it's assumed that the Motorola Razr 2020 will address a number of its predecessor's drawbacks, of which there are sadly many. 

Despite being priced up to 50% higher than most other premium flagships, the Motorola Razr 2019 sported a disappointing (and decidedly mid-range) Snapdragon 710 chipset. 

It's expected that the Razr 2's processor will at least be updated to the Snapdragon 765G that powers the recent Motorola Edge handset, if not the flagship-level Snapdragon 855+ chipset boasted by the aforementioned Galaxy Z Flip.

Additionally, we think that 2020's Motorola Razr will receive more storage than last year's 128GB offering, along with a significant upgrade to the original model's 2,510mAh battery capacity.

You can also expect a far more impressive camera offering in this year's model – despite its ultra-flagship price point, 2019's model sported an underwhelming 16MP primary camera accompanied by a 3D ToF sensor on the phone's rear, along with a middling 5MP snapper for selfies.

Of course, those are all assumptions at this point – we won't know anything concrete about Motorola's plans for its next Razr until its virtual event on September 9.

[via Android Authority]

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Latest Tech News

TikTok has been getting a lot of coverage since the last few days. The Chinese social media app that is already facing a potential ban in the United States, is now found tracking user data on Android phones via means that are against Google’s policies.

It has been reported that TikTok had been tracking users via the MAC address of their Android phones for over 15 months. It has been accused of using a security loophole to bypass the policies, access user data and conceal it via an unusual layer of encryption, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

According to the report, TikTok bundled MAC address details of the devices with the advertising id during the sign-up, to track the usage. MAC address, unlike advertising ID, cannot be changed or reset. While this practice ended in November last year, TikTok did not inform users about the data collection nor did it provide users with an option to opt-out. 

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Dubious methods

While there is no clarity if TikTok was following this practice on iOS devices as well, however, both Google and Apple do not allow applications to track devices with their MAC addresses.

While TikTok is not the only application that is following this process to track users, AppCensus reports that over 1.4% of Android apps exploit this loophole. Interestingly, a bug report filed by AppCensus in June 2019 had informed Google about this vulnerability. However, the fact that TikTok had been encrypting this data, makes its actions more suspicious.

This is not the first time that TikTok has been embroiled in a controversy. Sometime back it was found to be copying clipboard data from iPhones running on iOS 14. It is one of the many apps that have been banned in India stating that it posed a threat to the country's “sovereignty and security”.

Though Microsoft and Twitter are reportedly in talks to buy out TikTok’s US operations, a section of the US political leaders are calling out for a ban on TikTok. Hence, this news couldn’t have broken out on a worse time than this and a lot of questions will be asked from both TikTok and Google.

Via: AndroidAuthority

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