Personalised Galaxy S23 Cases

As the smartphone industry continues to advance, Samsung remains at the forefront, consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation. The Samsung Galaxy S23 series, consisting of the Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra, represents the pinnacle of Samsung’s cutting-edge technology. To ensure the longevity and aesthetic appeal of these flagship devices, investing in a high-quality personalised phone case is essential. In this guide, we will delve into the world of Samsung Galaxy S23 phone cases, exploring their features, the significance of image uploads, and the ability to add your own text and initials.

The Importance of Samsung Galaxy S23 Phone Cases
A high quality phone case will safeguard your Samsung Galaxy S23 series against accidental drops, scratches, and impact and offers a superb balance between protection and style.

We offer various types of phone cases for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, including slim hard cases, tough shockproof cases, folio wallet cases, genuine leather cases and clear cases.

To create the highest quality phone cases, ours are made using long lasting, high quality materials such as polycarbonate, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), leather, and silicone.

Design considerations
It is important to choose a phone case that complements the Samsung Galaxy S23 series’ sleek and modern design.
Using our incredibly user friendly app you can select any colour background you like and add your own images to create your own design to suit your individual preferences and style.

All phone cases are specifically designed for the Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra models with precise cutouts and access points to accommodate the larger size, multiple cameras, and all buttons and charging points.

There are additional protective features on phone cases designed for the S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra, such as reinforced corners, shock absorption, and raised edges for screen and camera protection.

Personalising Your Samsung Galaxy S23 Phone Case

We have an innovative photo upload feature that allows users to customise their phone cases with personal photos, artwork, or designs quickly and easily direct from their phone or computer or even from social network sites like instagram.

Customers have the ability to add text to their phone case design, enabling users to include meaningful quotes, names, or personal messages. There is fantastic flexibility to choosing font styles, sizes, and colours to match individual preferences.

You have the option to add initial designs, names and monograms in an unlimited number of colours and fonts.

Investing in a personalised phone case for your Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, or S23 Ultra is an excellent decision to protect and personalise your device. The wide variety of phone cases styles available, coupled with the ability to upload photos, add text, and create initial designs, allows you to make your phone truly unique. With the right case, your Samsung Galaxy S23 will not only be safeguarded but will also reflect your personal style and individuality, shop for yours now.

The post Galaxy S23 Personalised Case appeared first on Wrappz Blog.

iPhone 14, the same but different

The all new iPhone is a wonderful smartphone with a very impressive CPU, beautiful screen, and decent cameras. It isn’t anything like as good as the iPhone 14 Pro, but then of course that is an extra £250.

Pros
+ Same familiar design and build quality
+ A new heat dissipation interior
+ Enhanced TrueDepth camera
+ Emergency satellite communications

Cons
– The notch is still there
– Uses the previous generation A15 Bionic chip
– Includes mainly minor upgrades

It’s quite difficult to get too excited about an iPhone that features last year’s chassis, last year’s screen layout, and last year’s CPU, however taken on its own and out of the substantial shadow of the new iPhone 14 Pro then Apple’s new iPhone 14 appears to be a really decent smartphone.

Although the iPhone 14 looks an awful lot like the iPhone 13, there are several upgrades under the hood that promise to provide a significantly improved experience.

The two rear cameras on the phone, a 12MP wide and a 12MP ultra-wide have new sensors, and the 12MP TrueDepth camera takes on even more light and can now also autofocus. All of the lenses use Apple’s new Photonic Engine. In a practical sense, this is a reordering of Apple’s imaging pipeline, which now utilises the Deep Fusion neural engine image processing to uncompressed images (obvious right!).

Something you will not find here is a 48MP sensor with quad-pixel binning or indeed any kind of zoom. For that, you will need to upgrade to the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The phone still has the fantastic Super Retina XDR OLED screen, but if you really don’t like the notch then you might want to instead choose the 14 Pro or Pro Max, which are both sporting Apple’s clever new ‘Dynamic Island’, in addition to an adaptive refresh rate and always-on display.

Apple have also decided to keep the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus on last year’s Apple silicon. It’s not the same A15 Bionic that ran last year’s iPhone 13 and 13 mini, now instead of a four-core GPU, this A15 Bionic has a five-core GPU. It’s basically the same chip that was in last year’s iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, and should boast improved performance over the iPhone 13’s chip.

Now for all the obvious similarities, there are some great new features, for example crash detection where the phone knows if you’re involved in a car crash and will automatically alert the emergency services and your key contacts. In a piece of similar functionality, the iPhone 14 can now use satellite communications to contact emergency services. This is an industry first, and it’s really good to see that even Apple’s entry-level iPhone 14 has this new ability.

There are other significant under-the-hood updates to the iPhone, specifically a new heat dissipation system that will help the phone to manage temperatures more effectively, and work more efficiently. Apple has also stated that this iPhone is easier to repair than the previous models, because among other things, the glass on the back can now be replaced without having to change the entire enclosure.

APPLE IPHONE 14 PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

128GB: £849
256GB: £959
512GB: £1,179
On September 7th 2022, Apple revealed its entire iPhone 14 line: the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The iPhone 14 became available to pre-order on the 9th September and is now available, as of September 16. The starting cost is £849 for the 128GB model, however you can get it with up to 512GB of storage.

In contrast to most Android phones, there are no options for additional RAM, beyond the basic 6GB, although that is more than the base iPhone 13, which only had 4GB.

APPLE IPHONE 14 DESIGN

A nearly identical design to the iPhone 13
The SIM slot has gone (in the United States only)
The same notched Super Retina XDR display

Apart from a new selection of colours, the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 looks very similar to the iPhone 13. The aluminum frame, button positions, stereo speaker grilles, Lightning port, and even the screen, all look unchanged. There are, though, some tiny structural differences.

Sized at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8mm, it is just slightly thicker than the iPhone 13. It is also a couple of grams lighter than the last phone, which we guess is down to the new thermal architecture inside. Even though the chassis is very similar, the iPhone 14 doesn’t quite fit in the official iPhone 13 MagSafe case, the body slides in ok but the iPhone 14’s two-lens camera arrangement is a little larger.

Each of the phones materials including the Ceramic Shield over the display are the same, also the dust and water resistance remains unchanged from the iPhone 13.

APPLE IPHONE 14 DISPLAY

Familiar 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR
The notch remains
Does not include adaptive refresh or always-on functionality
Still has a high-quality OLED display

With a 2532 x 1170, 460ppi resolution, the iPhone 14’s Super Retina XDR display is almost unchanged from the iPhone 13. The widely unpopular notch that has been removed from the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max survives in this now rather aging design. It includes an updated TrueDepth camera (it’s still 12MP but is now backed by an improved light-gathering sensor and has the ability to autofocus), an IR sensor, flood illuminator and above it all, the top speaker (the other speaker is on the bottom of the phone). This is highly likely to be the last appearance of the notch, as it is extremely unlikely that it will be included in next year’s iPhone 15.

APPLE IPHONE 14 CAMERAS

The usual 12MP main + ultrawide on the back
New sensors across all round
Photonic Engine improves image quality
New Action mode

The iPhone 14 has just two rear cameras:

A 12MP main (26mm, f/1.5)
A 12MP ultrawide (120-degree field of view, 13mm, f/2.4)
These are decent cameras with improved sensors and overall low-light performance compared to their predecessors. The front camera which is also 12MP now has autofocus too, which should make group selfies easier.

Each of the new cameras benefit from a new imaging pipeline. The Photonic Engine prioritizes Deep Fusion neural image processing earlier than previously, so it works with uncompressed images.

Photography using the iPhone 14 is great, although after testing the iPhone 14 Pro, we do miss having optical zoom and macro abilities at our fingertips. Even so, this level of photographic capability in addition to the high-quality output will certainly make most users happy.

Just like the rest of the iPhone 14 line, this model will shoot up to 4K video, and Cinematic Mode has now been increased to support 4K at 30fps.

‘Active Mode’ is new, and is is enabled by selecting the running person icon in the top right-hand corner of the camera app’s viewfinder. This is an extremely effective way of removing a lot of the unstable footage from action videos.

APPLE IPHONE 14 AUDIO

Apple has been consistent on the audio side of the upgrades. All four of the iPhone 14 models have stereo speakers and spatial audio support, and can create loud, clear sound. For movies and music that support it, spatial audio adds a kind of surround-sound effect. There are some titles on Netflix, Amazon, and other streaming services which will enable you to enjoy the feature, plus Apple Music has an entire spatial audio playlist to get into.

APPLE IPHONE 14 PERFORMANCE

It uses the iPhone 13 Pro’s A15 Bionic chip
New heat dissipation system gives the processor much needed help
Great performance for the price

Firstly we should make it clear that there is nothing wrong with the A15 Bionic. It is a powerful chip that has regularly outperformed the best Qualcomm has to offer, and it has substantial headroom, which means mobile games like Asphalt: Legends and PUBG run smoothly. It enables you to edit 4K videos, browse the web, do everything you can do with the faster and more efficient A16 Bionic found in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

Bringing the enhanced A15 chip from the iPhone 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 was pretty smart. It’s a decent cost saving move that will leave most people satisfied.

The A15 Bionic, inside the new iPhone 14, has a new internal design for more efficient heat dissipation. Apple claims this helps with the ease of repair, and a cooler chip should also run better.

APPLE IPHONE 14 BATTERY

More than enough charge for a busy day
Wireless charging + MagSafe
You have to buy your own adapter

You can buy a 5W adapter, or you can spend a bit more for Apple’s 20W charger which will get you to 50% charge in just 30 minutes. The phone is also MagSafe and Qi wireless charging compatible.

APPLE IPHONE 14 SOFTWARE

All iPhone 14 models delivered with iOS 16
Packed full of new features
Custom lock screens, unsending texts, and cleaner notifications are included

Each of the Apple iPhone 14 models are delivered with iOS 16. It is a worthwhile upgrade that provides some of the most significant platform changes we’ve seen in quite a while.

The highlights include a new lock screen. Instead of just one static screen you get multiple screens, each with their own focus mode.

There are some powerful image tools that enable you take a photo and use it on your lock screen with, for example, a portion of someone’s head poking out over the redesigned time readout. You can add widgets (different ones for each lock screen) to really personalise the experience.

There are also some other cool features like editable and retrievable texts, multi-stop directions in Maps, live text in videos, and more.

It is a really nice OS update, and we believe it improves any iPhone running it.

Now onto our favourite subject… iPhone 14 cases, yes as usual Wrappz were the first to launch a range of beautifully crafted, high quality phone cases for Apples new offering and these are all available to order now.  We have clear cases, hard cases and our shockproof tough cases in stock.  You can also order iPhone 14 Pro cases, iPhone 14 Pro Max cases and iPhone 14 Plus cases right now, personalise and protect the best phone on the market.

The post The all new iPhone 14 range appeared first on Wrappz Blog.

This one gets a lot of ‘likes’

Our Instagram inspired design has immediately become one of our bestsellers this month, you can enter your own name, add an account icon image, enter your own description and hashtags, and of course, upload your own photo for the Instagram post layout. This design is available for hard cases, tough cases, faux leather wallet cases and the clear case. On all cases except the clear, you can also specify your background colour of choice. It’s the perfect phone case for all you influencers!

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

An ultra simple, and oh so chic, black and white striped phone case design adorns a cute little black heart icon, and allows you to add your name or initials for the perfect touch of personalisation. This design looks particularly beautiful on our clear cases, where the white areas are transparent to show the phone through the black stripes. A really lovely, minimalist phone case to make the perfect gift or accessory.

Are you ready for your close up?

Say Cheese! Another very popular addition to our personalised phone case range this month is this awesome retro camera design. Based on the classic Leica cameras which are still used today, this is one for you traditionalists and all things vintage lovers. Add your name, initials or any text you like over the masking tape area to give it an extra personal touch.

Verified and approved

We have added another Instagram inspired design recently and this one features the ‘blue tick’ verification seal. Use your favourite photo which covers the full back of the case, and then simply enter your name or twitter handle. The bright neon colours really sets this design apart, and it looks fabulous, if we do say so ourselves! Don’t forget that all our hard and tough phone cases are available in either high gloss or matte finishes, so you can even choose your finish with this phone case.

Hurry up TikTok

Yes, continuing on with the social media themed phone cases is this TikTok inspired layout which can be customised with any photo or image you like. We couldn’t leave the TikTokers out! You can also add your name, username or account details too. The design also includes a subtle addition of 80s inspired neon shapes, to round out the edges of the image background. Show off your personality with this stunning phone case!

Up up and away

To celebrate the fact that we can all travel again after 2 years, we have introduced this beautiful range of flight ticket design phone cases. The range gives you the choice of a range of location options for your flight boarding pass design, including London, Sydney, Paris, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and New York. Each design can be personalised with your name too, to make it feel that much more realistic!

Put on a happy face

This super cool smiley face phone case is already a top seller. This ‘trippy’ retro case can be personalised with your name in a minimalist font over this bold pattern. This design is available in most case styles including the clear case, hard case, the shockproof case and the imitation leather wallet case.

All you need is love

This wonderful pink and red heart design phone case is super cute and automatically makes your phone the perfect accessory. This personalised phone case can be customised with your name in a lovely matching script font, to take this bold, retro pattern a step further.

At Wrappz we are continually adding new phone case designs to our collection, so you will always find one to suit you. But don’t forget, you can personalise all of our phone case designs so that any style or detail you want can be designed by you! We also have a range of phone case types and devices, so you’ll always have plenty of choices to make sure you get what you need. Our personalised gifts are also a great option if you’re looking to treat someone special.

Browse more personalised phone cases here:

We provide phone cases and covers for a range of devices, whether you’re an iPhone or Samsung lover. Find all of our customisable phone cases here.

The post Our new personalised phone case designs appeared first on Wrappz Blog.

iPhone 13 Pro

This has to be on the list, as our favourite phone of the year, it just ticks every box you could imagine. From an unbelievably crisp camera to next-level responsiveness – why would you look anywhere else? The iPhone 13 Pro just goes to show how far phone technology has come and continues to go. iPhone’s are continually the nation’s favourite phone, and if you’re looking for an expensive tech gift, you can’t go wrong here.

Wrappz Personalised Phone Case

Few things are more important to a tech lover than their phone, therefore, it is vital to keep it protected at all times. But there’s no need to sacrifice style. Why not design a truly unique phone case that can be fully customised with images, text and designs? Our vast range of personalised phone cases for a large selection of devices provides excellent presents, as you can customise your message and ensure the case is a good fit for your phone and gift receiver!

The perfect gift for any tech lover as a personalised phone case keeps their prized possession safe, secure and looking incredible!

Oculus Quest 2

Virtual reality headsets are becoming increasingly popular, and why not? What could be more fun than immersing yourself in a 360 digital experience, in first-person view? Oculus has continued to refine its headset to develop a completely unrivalled experience that any tech lover is bound to love. 

As the range of games continues to grow, there is definitely something for tech lovers of all ages to enjoy, from Beat Saber to Star Wars!

Wrappz Personalised Xbox Series X/S Controller Skin

There’s no better way to customise your Xbox setup than getting a custom skin for your Xbox Series X/S controller. Using the Wrappz design tool, you can easily create a unique controller skin to make your controller truly personalised! Whether for hygiene, feel or style, a controller skin has many benefits!

These skins make the perfect gift for the gamer in your life, we have a variety of personalised game consoles & controller skins to fit a range of consoles.  

UE BOOM 3 Bluetooth Speaker

A Bluetooth speaker is integral to any tech lover’s collection, and the UE BOOM 3 is a completely portable speaker. It features 360 degree sound, deep bass, simple controls, and it is dust and water-resistant, so it’s designed for use on the go!

This speaker makes an ideal gift for any tech lover, as who doesn’t want excellent quality sound in a durable and, most importantly, portable package!

Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones

Whether you want to zone out from the noise, zone in to study, or just embrace the music, there’s nothing quite like a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, and Bose is a great choice for quality headphones. The new QuietComfort 45 Headphones do not disappoint, featuring plush ear cups, top-quality sound and a sleek design, these are the perfect gift for the tech lover in your life. 

These Bose noise-cancelling headphones should be the go-to for any music lover as they combine sound quality, noise-cancellation and portability!

Anker PowerWave Stand Wireless Charger

Keeping your gadgets charged up at all times is of paramount importance, especially for tech lovers. A great gift idea is to ensure they can get a boost whenever they need it from a wireless charger. The Anker PowerWave stand is a budget model that efficiently chargers your phone and doubles as a stand to watch films or keep an eye on any notifications. 

A wireless charger makes the perfect gift for any tech lover, as everyone needs to keep their phone charged up, whether it is overnight or a quick boost during the day. A wireless charger should be on everyone’s list for an affordable present option for tech lovers.

Browse more of Wrappz’s gifts:

At Wrappz, we have a wide range of fully customisable phone, laptop and tablet cases which make perfect presents, take a look at our full product range here. All of our cases can be fully personalised with images, text and designs – so why not browse our range of phone cases too! 

The post Top 7 Gift Ideas for a Tech Lover appeared first on Wrappz Blog.

iPhone 13 Accessories

There is a wide variety of accessories available for the iPhone 13 range, but we have compiled a guide to the most useful of these: screen protectors, cases and wireless chargers. These are the most important accessories available in order to protect, style and keep your phone running. It can be very difficult to decide which product is right for you due to the sheer number of accessories available for the iPhone 13 range. 

iPhone 13 Screen Protectors

A screen protector is vital in order to keep your new iPhone 13 safe and protected from those everyday scratches and scuffs. There is a wide range of options available for the iPhone 13 range and screen protectors come in either plastic or glass, depending on your preference and price point, here are our favourites.

Best Quality iPhone 13 Screen Protector

Belkin Anti-Glare Screen Protector

This screen protector, although pricey offers an added anti-glare feature that reduces any reflections from either sunlight or artificial light making it much easier to see your phone even in bright conditions.

Best Value iPhone 13 Screen Protector

Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector

This is our pick as the best value, a good balance between price, quality and protection. The Spigen screen protector comes with a really easy to use placement tool to ensure the screen protector goes on flush and straight (which solves the most frustrating part of fitting a new screen protector). This screen protector is made of tempered glass and has a 9H hardness rating and is perfectly shaped to fit the screen without compromising any of the functions or screen brightness.

Best Budget iPhone 13 Screen Protector

Supershieldz Film Screen Protector

This is a budget option and hence the screen protector is made of plastic rather than glass like the more expensive options. However, some users still prefer the feel of a traditional plastic screen protector. Although the protection offered is significantly lower with a plastic screen protector, scratches are still prevented and this is a much cheaper alternative to our other options.

iPhone 13 Cases

A case is the best way to make your iPhone 13 unique to your style and make it stand out, all the while protecting against drops and scrapes. Once again, there really are no boundaries to what type or style of phone case you can get. Whether you are a minimalist and want something sleek and understated, or you want to create a personalised case with photos of your last holiday. Here are some of our favourites. 

Best Quality iPhone 13 Phone Case

Wrappz Genuine Leather Monogram Case

This case is our favourite quality phone case. It is available in a variety of colours and can be customised including initials and an emoji too. It is the perfect companion for your new iPhone 13 and will really make it stand out from the crowd.

Best Value iPhone 13 Phone Case

Wrappz Tough Case

This case provides excellent value thanks to the high level of protection provided. If protection is your number one concern, then this case will be perfect for you as it combines our highest level of impact and scratch protection along with the ability to add your own photos to the back of the case.

Best Budget iPhone 13 Phone Case

Wrappz Clear Soft Silicone Case

This case strikes the perfect balance between value for money whilst also protecting your new iPhone 13. As with all of the Wrappz cases, the case is customisable using our design tool, so you can add your own designs, images and text.

iPhone 13 Wireless Chargers

Wireless chargers have become a necessity for convenience, style and practicality. They allow you to charge your phone with the added convenience of simply placing it onto the charging pad. We have compiled our favourites which are available today to keep your phone juiced up. 

Best Quality iPhone 13 Wireless Charger

Apple MagSafe Duo Charger

This wireless charger is ideal for anyone who has both an iPhone 13 and an Apple Watch, as it provides a wireless charging station for both of these devices. As this is an Apple product, it includes MagSafe for faster charging. This charger is also highly portable as it folds up to allow you to take it with you anywhere.

Best Value iPhone 13 Wireless Charger

Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE 15W Wireless Charging Pad + 24W Wall Charger

Belkin has teamed up with Apple to produce a range of accessories for your iPhone 13 including a number of wireless chargers. This model provides excellent value thanks to the reasonable price being complemented by good charging power. The design is sleek and understated, making it a good addition to any room.

Best Budget iPhone 13 Wireless Charger

Anker PowerWave Stand

This wireless charger is our favourite budget option as it is cheap and perfect for sitting on your desk to keep your phone charged up all day. Due to the price of this charger, it only charges at 10W which is far from that of the more expensive models and chargers, but this is a drawback of getting a cheaper option.

At Wrappz, we have a wide range of personalised iPhone 13 phone cases to truly make your phone stand out from the crowd with a one of a kind case.

The post iPhone 13 Accessories Guide appeared first on Wrappz Blog.

Browse our 10 best personalised birthday gift ideas here:

iPhone 13 Pro Tough Case

If someone has recently got the new iPhone 13 Pro, then it is pretty important to make sure it is protected. Our tough case provides the perfect combination between style and substance with a hard outer layer and a TPU inner all wrapped in your personalised design which could be a combination of any images or text. 

Find out about our other iPhone 13 cases.

Xbox Series S Console Skin

Using the Wrappz design tool, you can create a wide range of custom designs to go onto your Xbox Series S Console. We have a wide range of skins, including for other consoles and controllers too. 

Find out more about our other console skins.

iPhone 11 Glitter Case

This personalised glitter case is the ideal gift for anyone who loves to make a statement. The glitter particles are suspended in the back of the case and flow freely to create a dynamic design. This case really stands out, all whilst protecting your phone at the same time. The back of the case can also be personalised to add the name of that special someone to truly make this present unique. 

Find out about our wide range of iPhone 11 cases.

MacBook Pro Hard Case

Protect your MacBook Pro from scuffs and scrapes with our personalised hard case that will make yours stand out from the crowd. It features top and bottom pieces that are easy to put on and also take off. Choose to add your own images or designs to make your MacBook Pro unique!

Discover our other personalised MacBook cases.

iPad Case

An iPad case is a great idea and is so useful to keep your iPad safe and secure at all times whilst standing out. This padded neoprene zipped sleeve is the ideal way to transport your iPad while protecting against any scratches and scuffs. You can personalise this as you like with your own text and images to make it truly stand out. 

Find out about our other tablet and laptop cases.

iPhone SE (2020) Faux Leather Case

This case provides practicality with style, utilising the flip design for security and storage of cards along with a personalised cover. This faux leather case includes the ability to personalise the cover with images and text. Using our easy-to-use design tool and templates, you can create almost anything. With a black leather interior and slots for up to three cards, this case provides a great mix of style with practicality. 

Explore our wide range of personalised phone cases.

Classic Framed Print

A great present is a classic framed print, however, our one can be customised any way that you like with our easy-to-use design tool. You can use any image you like, and it comes with a frame and a wall mount too.  

Discover our range of custom wall art.

Google Pixel 5 Hard Case

This premium hard case will protect your Google Pixel 5 whilst being durable and lightweight. This hard case is ideal for anyone who needs help protecting their phone! But there’s no need to compromise on style. This case can be customised with images, photos or text to produce a truly one-of-a-kind birthday present. 

Find out about our other personalised phone cases.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Clear Soft Silicone Case

Our clear soft silicone case is lightweight, flexible and also 100% recycled. This case is ideal to protect your Samsung S21 Ultra whilst remaining slim. This case can be customised by adding a combination of text and a range of logos. 

Discover our selection of Samsung phone cases.

Personalised Beach Towels

A personalised beach towel is an ideal gift for any beach lover! Our personalised towels are printed in full colour, images are clear, and the towels are super soft and absorbent. 

Find out about our wide range of personalised gifts. 

At Wrappz, we have a wide range of personalised gifts ranging from phone cases to aprons and everything in between. You’ll be able to find the perfect birthday gift, and personalise it to make it truly special!

The post The 10 Best Personalised Birthday Gift Ideas appeared first on Wrappz Blog.

Apple’s new iPhone 13 series is eagerly anticipated to arrive next month, and if rumours are to be believed, then Apple fans have a lot to look forward to in the newest generation of iOS smartphones!

First, what is the iPhone 13 release date?

Apple’s typical release cycle for the iPhone is somewhat routine, although the global pandemic threw a spanner into the works in 2020. Most of the time, the new iPhone models are announced with fanfare at the start of September and then become available to us a week or so later. 

However, in recent years there have been one or two devices that were announced in September, but then appeared later than normal, with the iPhone XR being released in October 2018 and the iPhone X arriving in November 2017.

Because of the huge disruption caused by COVID-19, the iPhone 12 was delayed until October, but now with life slowly returning to normal we are hoping for the traditional September release for the new iPhone 13 in 2021. (fingers crossed!)

Bloomberg has suggested that Apple is planning to manufacture as many as 90 million new iPhones, which is a huge 20% increase when compared to the iPhone 12. The Chinese news agency cnbeta has also hinted that Apple has ordered over 100 million A15 chipsets earmarked for use for their new products, including the new iPad Mini 6.

How much will the new iPhone 13 cost?

As you can see from the following list, iPhone prices have fluctuated a little over the past few iPhone models:

• iPhone X: £999/$999
• iPhone XS: £999/$999
• iPhone 11: £729/$699
• iPhone 12: £799/$799

The drop in price of the iPhone 11 is likely because it was launched at the same time as the release of the iPhone Pro range. However, the increase of the price of the iPhone 12 by £70/$100 is a little less obvious. Although, it does mean the existing Apple smartphone range is now quite standardised, with options at differing price points. The full iPhone catalogue of models looks like this:

iPhone 12 Pro Max – £1,099/$1,099

iPhone 12 Pro – £999/$999

iPhone 12 – £799/$799

iPhone 12 Mini – £699/$699

iPhone 11 – £599/$599

iPhone XR – £499/$499

iPhone SE – £399/$399 

As shown above, the iPhone 12 is priced slightly above the mid-range, £100/$100 more expensive than the new iPhone 12 mini, but £200/$200 less than the iPhone 12 Pro. The cheaper end of the list is populated by older iPhones that have been kept in circulation to give buyers the opportunity to enter the world of iOS without having to spend around £700/$700.

With the above pricing structure in mind, we would take an educated guess that Apple will be swapping new devices for old when it updates the range in 2021. Therefore Apple’s iPhone 13 is likely to cost about £799/$799, with the Mini and Pro devices on either side of that pricing.

What new features will the iPhone 13 have?

• A smaller Face ID notch
• Better cameras for the whole range
• 120Hz refresh rate on Pro models
• A faster processor
• Increased storage with up to 1TB
• In-display Touch ID is now expected

As the new iPhone 13 is yet to be unveiled, we don’t have much concrete news regarding its features or specification. However, as always, that hasn’t stopped the rumours from flying! The usual various leaks and speculation about what Apple has in store for us has provided us with a few theories…

A thicker phone

Although it’s very likely that the iPhone 13 range of devices will look largely the same as the iPhone 12, rumours say it might be slightly thicker in this version. But why? Well it might be caused by the camera module according to leaked documents shared by MacRumours.

However, renders showing what LeaksApplePro have claimed is the ‘finalised’ iPhone 13 Pro show a slight reduction in the camera bump. They seem particularly confident that this information.

This also appears to be the case with a photo posted by leaker Sonny Dickson, which apparently shows dummy models of the whole iPhone 13 range, and also confirms the rearranged camera module.

Mac Otakara also states that the thickness of the iPhone 13 range will be increased by approximately 0.26mm, and that the latest models will be heavier than their predecessors because of their larger batteries. 

A smaller Face ID notch

Since launching the iPhone X, the notch at the top of the screen that contains the Face ID cameras has been quite a contentious issue. While some people quite like it, some have simply got used to it, and some people absolutely can’t stand it.

The new iPhone 13 model is unlikely to completely do away with this feature, but Ice Universe has stated that they believe that the notch will be slimmed down a bit so that it doesn’t take up as much real estate on the display.  

This opinion is reinforced by MacOtakara, who also reports that the iPhone 13 will feature a reduced notch due to the shrinking of the TrueDepth camera system.

LeaksApplePro has posted renders of what they claim is the finalised iPhone 13 Pro, which seems to confirm the smaller notch.

Mark Gurman from Bloomberg and Ming-Chi Kuo also state that the controversial notch will be reduced on the iPhone 13, and Kuo has even said that Apple will most likely introduce a hole punch like configuration when certain iPhone 14 models are launched in 2022. 

Although, a tweet from the reliable tipster @MauriQHD says that a new release of the iPhone may get rid of the notch altogether, although this would mean marginally thicker bezels.

120Hz refresh rate

Whether the notch is reduced or not, the display itself is quite likely to feature significant upgrades, with high expectation that the iPhone 13 will increase to a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate that will allow ProMotion scrolling and help to catch the Apple smartphones up with most of the Android flagship models.

There also seems to be speculation that the new models of iPhone will be enhanced by switching to Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide or LTPO panels, which are currently being used on the Apple Watch. These would mean increased energy efficiency over the current OLED panels, and that in turn may significantly increase the battery life. 

Improved camera setup

On the hot topic of the camera setup, rumours are that minor, but reasonably significant, changes will be introduced.

Mac Otakara says that it’s likely the rear camera setup of the entire iPhone 13 range of devices could be covered in sapphire glass, and the iPhone 13 Pro will feature the same camera module as the 13 Pro Max, including sensor-shifted OIS.

DigitTimes Asia claims Apple increased VCM orders far beyond what is usually expected, and this is a component which could very well be utilised in the sensor-shift OIS system, which would suggest it could be introduced to other models of the new iPhone 13. 

It has been speculated that every phone in the iPhone 13 range could include LiDAR technology on the rear cameras. Daniel Ives, analyst at Wedbush, claimed in an investor’s note, seen by MacRumors at the beginning of June, stating that LiDAR will likely remain limited to the iPhone 13 Pro models. Although it is worth pointing out that Ming-Chi Kuo, TrendForce, and leaker @Dylandkt all disagreed with the theory.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has also suggested that a portrait video mode is in production, and also “a new ProRes video-recording feature that will let iPhone users capture clips in a higher-quality format that gives editors more control during post-production”. Gurman also describes an additional feature that will “let users better control the look of colors and highlights in their pictures” that will allow users to, among other things, change colours to appear warmer or cooler without affecting white tones. 

Indian tech blog MySmartPrice posted 3D renders of what it says is the standard model of iPhone 13, showing a familiar design with a notable difference in the rear camera layout.

The render clearly shows a diagonally arranged rear-facing camera setup, and although it isn’t clear why this should be the case, it may be to allow the new sensor-shifted OIS.

Processors & storage

We can speculate with some confidence that the iPhone 13 will launch with the latest version of Apple’s A-series processors. Just as the iPhone 11 included an A13 Bionic and the iPhone 12 shipped with the A14 Bionic. It’s also a fair assumption that Apple’s iPhone 13 will come with a new A15 Bionic.

Exactly how this will enhance the performance is yet to be determined, but we can expect enhanced performance and improved energy management with the new silicon. An intriguing tweet which appeared in October 2020 from tipster Jon Prosser was that the iPhone 13 could include a 1TB storage tier. This increase would double the maximum storage currently available on the iPhone Pro line up, and greatly increase that of the iPhone 12 basic model. 

The variety of storage options for the iPhone have stayed the same ever since the release of the iPhoneXS in 2018, and Samsung began offering a 1TB option with the Galaxy S10. So it would be a very good time for Apple to update its offering to reflect the higher quality videos and larger apps we all have on our phones nowadays.

Touch ID makes a comeback

This rumour has been circulating for quite a while now, and some people suggest that it would be a feature of the iPhone 12, but of course as we now know, that was not true. 

Originally, Bloomberg suggested that Apple was planning on bringing Touch ID back to the iPhone, as it has remained a staple on the Mac and less expensive iPhones. However, with a significant change, it will be integrated into the display this time. 

The reintroduction of this functionality makes a great deal of sense when taking into account the need to wear facemasks more regularly, rendering Apple’s advanced Face ID tech essentially useless. A combination of Face ID and Touch ID would therefore give users the best of both worlds and speed up the unlock process when required. 

More mmWave

A somewhat unexpected rumour is that Apple may be planning to expand the use of mmWave 5G technology on the next generation of iPhones. In the iPhone 12 series, only the US models have mmWave support, whereas models elsewhere are limited to Sub-6GHz frequencies which are more extensively supported by non US networks.

However, a report from DigiTimes Asia has claimed that more than 50% of iPhone 13 models may include a mmWave modem. Given the availability of mmWave this will probably help with future-proofing, making sure that more iPhone 13s will continue to support the faster 5G standard when it is more widely available worldwide in a few years.

Larger batteries & faster charging

An extremely popular difference from the next generation of iPhone is likely to include bigger batteries than ever before. This is partly to compensate for the additional tech, particularly the high-power 120Hz displays.

Apple themselves do not tend to publicly share specific battery capacities for the iPhones, and they tend to try to keep battery life consistent year-on-year. So perhaps we shouldn’t expect a vast extension to battery life, rather it is more likely that these larger batteries will assist the phones in keeping up with the 12 series, and also deliver a little extra power.

Charging itself could also be improved slightly. When talking to EverythingApplePro, leaker Max Weinbach has stated that the wireless charging coils inside the iPhone 13 phones will be larger than in the iPhone 12 series.

This could mean faster wireless charging speeds, increased from the 15W limit of the iPhone 12. It might even mean the introduction of reverse wireless charging to allow you to wirelessly charge AirPods or other products from your iPhone. 

New colours

The new iPhone 13 Pro line could include a new matte black colour option, which it is claimed is significantly darker than the existing Graphite and Space Grey colour options available on some Apple devices. Leaker Lanzuk, posted on Naver claiming that the iPhone 13 Pro models will be available in not only black, but silver, rose gold and sunset gold too. 

Apple will ditch all ports on the iPhone

Possibly the strangest rumours gaining attention is that Apple will remove the Lightning port, and rather than move to USB-C like on the MacBook and iPad Pros, it will surprisingly have no ports at all. This would mean all charging is wireless, and connecting your iPhone to another device or peripheral will have to be done by Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Jon Prosser and his fellow tipster ‘Fudge’ have already agreed publicly on this theory, and Bloomberg has also claimed Apple discussed the idea. With Apple’s recent history of removing ports, and at the same time releasing pretty expensive wireless accessories, we could see it happening. But maybe not with the next generation of the iPhone, with the new iPhone 13. 

Where can I buy a new iPhone 13 case?

Looking for a new iPhone 13 phone case? You can create your own personalised case using our easy-to-use templates for a stylish treat, thoughtful gift, or protective case!

Browse our selection of personalised iPhone 13 cases here!

The post What to expect from the new iPhone 13 appeared first on Wrappz Blog.

Now that lockdown restrictions are at last lifting all over the UK we can all finally get out there and live life to the full again.

But let’s make sure we are all being responsible and safe… so before you go booking that holiday or rushing to the pub with friends lets make sure our phones are looking their best and most importantly protected at all times with a personalised phone case personalised phone case from Wrappz.

We are still offering all the greatest case types like clear cases, hard cases, flip wallet cases, genuine leather and the ever popular tough phone cases and now we have also introduced numerous new Summer phone case design templates for you to choose from.

So here goes, take a look through our newest on trend designer phone cases and see if there is anything that takes your fancy.

The Dalmatian Phone Case

This cool design which is available in numerous colour combinations has become an instant classic and firm favourite with our customers. As with so many of our new designs you can personalise the case with your name or initials so there is no mistaking who the owner is. The cool paint effect Dalmatian spots give the design a real fun edge.

The Signature Phone Case

Again this wonderful template can be customised using your initial and also your name in signature script style across the middle and this layout is also available in numerous wonderful colour combinations so you can even match it to your outfit.

Happiness Phone Case

The name says it all, if you are as delighted as us to be heading out of the pandemic then perhaps this case is for you, it is hard to look at without smiling and of course you can make it your own by adding your name or initials.

Just Bee-you-tiful Phone Case

As soon as this design hit the store it was (pardon the pun) flying off the shelves, it has proved incredibly popular and we have had such wonderful comments about it we are buzzing (I’m so sorry).

Peace Phone Case

This creation is just so much fun and the ladies love it, the gorgeous girly pastel pink background offset with a wallpaper of perfect fingernail laden peace signs is a superb mix. Add your name, initials or any text and show your personality – the ultimate cool chick phone case.

No matter what your style, you are sure to find a Summer phone case to suit it and if you don’t then, well, we give you the easiest to use application so you can create it yourself, browse all similar phone case products now.

Have fun, be safe and live life to the full.

The post Stunning New Summer Phone Case Designs appeared first on Wrappz Blog.

Having a screen protector for your phone or tablet is a great way of ensuring that the screen is well protected against impacts and scratches. They are also important for maintaining a smooth and responsive touchscreen, as well as helping your device retain its value should you wish to sell it in the future.

Unfortunately, screen protectors can be notoriously fiddly to apply, and need to be replaced every so often to ensure they are providing maximum protection and to remove any infuriatingly persistent air bubbles!

Here at Wrappz, we know a thing or two about keeping phones scratch and scuff free, which is why we’ve created this handy guide to all things screen protectors. So whether you’re unsure which type to buy, want to know how to apply a new one, or looking for the best way of removing an old screen protector, we’ve got you covered!

Which screen protector should I buy?

If you search the internet for “screen protector”, you’ll likely be overwhelmed with the vast amount of brands, prices, and types, making it hard to understand which type best suits your phone and budget.

To make things clear, we’ve outlined the three most common types of screen protector, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

The positives are that PET protectors are very light, smooth, and thin, so you will hardly notice them on your phone after applying.

The downsides of PET are that it’s a stiff plastic and therefore cannot go edge-to-edge on phones with curved screens, leaving areas of your device vulnerable. Despite this, they do offer moderate protection against and bumps considering their relatively low cost.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)

TPU screen protectors are notoriously difficult to apply, requiring a lot of spraying solution and squeegeeing. Another issue with TPU protectors is that they give your screen a rubbery texture and can cause a slightly unpleasant “orange peel” glare. 

However, TPU screen protectors aren’t without their benefits; they have better protection against impact than PET, and the material is “self-healing” against small scratches. They are also flexible, making PET screen protectors ideal for phones with curved screens.

Tempered Glass

Tempered glass screen protectors are the toughest in terms of scratch and drop protection, and can be bought relatively inexpensively these days. They are much smoother to touch than TPU, and can also come with useful features such as privacy and anti-glare.

The downside to glass screen protectors is their thickness, making them much more visible and not ideal if you prefer something more subtle that blends into your screen.

Which screen protector is best?

If damage protection is top of your agenda, then we would recommend a tempered glass protector, for the smoothest and toughest shield for your screen. If you are more concerned about aesthetics, then a less visible PET or TPU protector might be better, especially the latter if you have a screen with curved edges.

How to remove a screen protector

When it comes to removing screen protectors, you have two options: using your hands or using a toothpick and credit card combination.

Using your hands

A screen protector that has been properly applied shouldn’t come off easily using your fingernails alone, so to help loosen the adhesive, point a hairdryer on a very low setting at your phone for about 15 seconds.

1. Try lifting each of the corners of your screen protector up using your fingernail until it begins to peel off.
2. Gently pull up from the corner.
3. Slowly peel up along the sides of the protector to make sure it comes off in one piece.

Using a toothpick and bank card

You may find this method more effective than trying to use your fingernails.

1. Using a toothpick, try to get underneath one of the corners to loosen the protector. Make sure to point the sharp end of the toothpick up and away from your screen to avoid scratching it. 
2. Once you have loosened a corner, use your fingers to gently prise the protector away from a corner.
3. Slowly peel up along the sides of the protector to make sure it doesn’t shatter.
4. Slide a bank card or drivers license between the gap formed and gently guide it down your phone’s screen until the protector is completely off. 

Tips for removing a screen protector

The most important thing to remember when removing a screen protector is to go slowly. Be too aggressive and you risk breaking the protector into lots of tiny pieces of glass or plastic which is not only fiddly to deal with, but also creates a potential hazard for cutting your fingers, so it’s best to be as slow and steady as you can.

How to apply a screen protector

If you’re applying a screen protector for the first time or replacing an old one, you’ll want to make sure you follow some basic principles to ensure you apply it correctly. Start by making sure your hands are clean, and then clean your phone’s screen using a microfibre cloth or screen cleaner. You’ll find that many protectors you buy come with appropriate cleaning tools.

Depending on the protector you buy, you will have to follow either a wet or dry application method. You should know if your protector requires a wet application if it comes with a special solution.

Dry application

1. Once your screen has been cleaned and is completely dry, remove the film from the sticky side of the protector.
2. Line up the screen protector with your phone’s screen. You can use reference points on your phone such as the camera lens to ensure it’s perfectly aligned before you install it.
3. Place the protector on the screen starting at one end and slowly move down until it has completely stuck.
4. Remove the top layer of film and admire your hopefully successful installation.
5. If you notice any bubbles, use a card or microfibre cloth to apply pressure, working from the centre and pushing them out to the edges of your screen in short, quick movements.

Wet application

1. Spray the solution on the front and back of the screen protector to ensure it stays moist during installation.
2. Slowly place the screen protector down onto your phone starting at one end and moving to the other, making sure it’s perfectly aligned.
3. Use the squeegee that came with your kit to push the excess solution out from underneath the screen protector. Start from the centre and push out towards the edges, making sure you hold the screen protector down in the desired position to stop it from moving around.
4. Leave the protector to dry for a minimum of half an hour.
5. Once the solution has fully bound your protector in place, you can use it as normal.

Tips for applying a screen protector

The best thing you can do when applying a new protector is to remove air bubbles before the adhesive completely sets. Start from the centre, and push bubbles out towards the edge until your protector is firmly attached.

Another tip for dry application is to not remove the film from the sticky side of the protector until the very last second of application. This will help prevent dust particles getting stuck and causing annoying air bubbles.

How to remove bubbles from a screen protector

The best way of removing bubbles that can form between your phone and protector is simply to prevent them from happening in the first place. The biggest cause of air bubbles is applying a screen protector to a phone which hasn’t been sufficiently cleaned beforehand causing tiny dust particles to prevent the adhesive from forming an air-tight seal.

Most screen protectors come with a microfibre cloth and a disinfecting wipe for cleaning your screen before application and using these will go a long way to preventing air bubbles. As well as having a clean screen, make sure you have clean hands and ideally perform the installation in a dust and dander free zone. We have heard rumours that applying a screen protector in a steamy bathroom is best for preventing dust ingress, but there is little evidence to support this theory.

If you notice any stubborn dust particles on your screen after cleaning, a handy trick is to use sticky tape wrapped around your finger to pick up any last bits of dirt that could cause air bubbles.

How to remove existing bubbles

If you want to remove existing air bubbles you have two options.

The first is to lift a corner of your protector off ever so slightly, and use a bank card or driving licence to push the bubbles towards that corner to escape.

The second is to have patience and wait for any bubbles to go away on their own. Many will simply work their way out naturally after 48 hours, so it may be worth biding your time before resorting to the plastic card method above.

Does a screen protector completely protect my phone?

Whilst a screen protector is a great tool for keeping your touchscreen working at its best, it will do little-to-nothing to protect the other delicate areas of your smartphone like the camera lens or back and edges, which is why we always recommend pairing it with a phone case.

Unsure which case to get? Let us help you decide with our guide on which is the best type of phone case for me.

A silicone phone case is perfect for adding extra protection to your screen as it has a lifted bevel around the screen, allowing you to place it face down without worrying about scratches.

If you’re someone who is slightly more accident-prone, a tough phone case will offer excellent shock protection against everyday bumps and falls, even more so when used in conjunction with a screen protector.

Whatever your needs, we stock a wide range of personalised phone cases, including those mentioned above, all of which will work perfectly with a screen protector to keep your device looking and working at its best!

The post How to use screen protectors appeared first on Wrappz Blog.

With the decline of phone boxes and home phones being well documented in recent years we thought we’d explore people’s sentiments towards home phones and find out how landline access was evolving in the UK.

Attitudes towards landline phones

With the latest statistics from Ofcom showing the time Brits spend on landline calls has almost halved since the start of the last decade, it is inevitable that home phones will play less of a role in our day-to-day lives in the future. In a bid to better understand people’s landline habits we surveyed 100 people from across the UK. Rather predictably we found Brits are most likely to speak to their parents on a landline with 78 per cent of people saying they call their Mum or Dad’s home phone the most. Grandparents are the second most likely recipients of a call on the landline followed by a friend in third.

Being designers of phone cases we recognise people are becoming increasingly reliant on technology but, 38 per cent of Brits did admit to still being in possession of an address book – you might have to explain to teenagers about what one of those is! It was a completely different story when people were asked about using a phone box though with a whopping 95 per cent of respondents saying they had never used one.

When it came to explaining why they didn’t have a landline or ended up getting rid of theirs, nine in ten people (90 per cent) cited the fact they had a mobile phone to be the main reason. Just 7 per cent of Brits said it was down to getting too many nuisance or sales calls while others admitted to only having a landline because it came with their broadband packages.

Landlines to disappear from UK households in less than 50 years

Having built up a strong picture of people’s sentiments towards home phones, we thought we’d take a deep dive into data from Ofcom to find out just how quickly landline usage was declining. Analysing data from the past six years we were able to reveal some fascinating findings.

Our research found there are currently just less than 20.9 million households in the UK with an active landline, that’s 74 per cent of all households. While this might sound like a high proportion of people are still in possession of a home phone, in 2015, 84 per cent of households had a landline. Although this increased to 85 per cent in 2016, the number of people with home phones has steadily dropped over the past five years and there are now 2.4 million fewer households with an active home phone (one they can receive or make a call from) than in 2016.

Should landline access continue to decline at its current rate of 1.6 percent each year, in just 16 years time more than half of UK households will no longer have an active landline. By 2052 just a quarter of households will have a home phone with landlines completely disappearing from the UK in June 2067. That’s in just 46 years time!

The regional breakdown in England

Of course, landline access is declining at varying rates across the country as well. Analysis of Ofcom’s data reveals people in the East of England have been transitioning away from home phones the most. Over the last few years the number of households with an active landline in the East has dropped 3 per cent each year, a rate which is almost double the UK average of 1.6 per cent.

With several areas in the East of England such as North Norfolk being home to some of the most ageing populations in the UK, this suggests it’s not only the younger generation who are transitioning to a more digital way of communicating. In contrast, people in the East Midlands seem most reluctant to ditch their home phone with the number of households with an active landline declining at just 0.6 per cent each year. Perhaps surprisingly, the rate of decline in London falls directly in line with the UK average although this may be down to the fact many Londoners have already moved away from using a home phone.

The International picture

The UK isn’t the only nation which continues to experience this huge digital shift away from landlines either. Across the other side of the world in Australia the decline of home phones is occurring at a much faster rate. The number of households with a landline dropped from 83 per cent in 2011 to 64 per cent in 2017 – an average yearly decline of just less than 3.2 per cent. Should this rate of decline continue, by 2037 no Australians will have access to a landline.

Back on European soil, although there are currently a greater proportion of households in France with landlines (76 per cent) than in Britain, the rate at which landline access is declining is also happening much faster than here in the UK at 2.3 per cent. 2055 is therefore the year when all French households will no longer possess home phones. Au revoir landlines!

It’s a similar story in Germany in terms of there being a greater proportion of households with landlines (84 per cent) than in the UK. However, the rate of decline over the last five years has been slower with the number of households with an active home phone decreasing by just 1.2 per cent each year compared to 1.6 per cent in the UK. At that rate, landlines would remain in Germany until the beginning of 2089.

Ranked: The rate of landline decline in the UK compared to France and Germany:

Commenting on the study, director of Wrappz, Liam Williams, said: 

“At a time when people have very little choice but to keep in touch with friends and family through technology it has been fascinating to explore the trends around home phone usage, not just in the UK but internationally as well. 

“While our research highlights how many of us are transitioning to more digital methods of communication, it is important to remember the many benefits of having verbal conversations. Although mobile phones provide us with the ability to do almost anything at our fingertips, the pandemic has reminded us that plenty of people still rely on using landlines to connect with the outside world.” 

‘Emojis and GIFs simply cannot replace our tone of voice’ – a view on landlines from the experts 

With our research highlighting the growing decline of landlines across not only the UK but the whole of the world, it begs the question what impact is this digital evolution having on our mental wellbeing. While communicating in a more digital fashion has many advantages (let’s face it we don’t have much of an alternative at the minute) the importance of picking up the phone, whether that be a mobile or landline, to have a verbal conversation with somebody cannot be understated.

Şirin Atçeken, psychotherapist at medical treatment specialists WeCure, highlights why talking to friends and family over the phone has never been more important than during the current pandemic. 

She said: “People’s brains are wired to connect with each other and talking on the phone is one of the best ways to do this. Having verbal conversations allows us to express our emotions and empathise with one another. Emojis and GIFs simply cannot replace our tone of voice. 

“From an evolutionary point of view, getting together in social groups made people stronger and more resilient to survive in the wild. While this is not possible at the minute, speaking on the phone is one of the best alternatives to physically meeting up.”

Here are three reasons why Şirin believes people should favour communicating verbally on the phone rather than through text messages, emails or even video calls:

1) To express our emotions – While video calls with friends and family have become the norm over the past year, research in America has actually shown we can better understand people’s emotions when we can only hear them rather than being able to see them as well. This is because focusing solely on the voice and sounds gives people a better understanding of moods and feelings rather than incorporating body language as well. So, the next time you’ve got a FaceTime scheduled, why not try an audio-only call? 

2) Easier to find resolutions/overcome challenges – Due to the current circumstances many of us will be facing some of the greatest challenges or struggles of our entire lives. As communication is much more fluent on the phone it’s far easier for you to share your struggles and work towards finding solutions to your problems. When you’re relying on text messages or emails to communicate it can be very easy for the meaning of your words to get lost or misinterpreted resulting in little progress being made. 

3) To maintain an element of privacy – Holding difficult conversations has unfortunately become a regular occurrence during the pandemic. In these circumstances many people actually feel more comfortable communicating on the phone rather than through messaging where conversations can be referred back to, used out of context or misunderstood. A lot of time, holding discussions on the phone can provide people with a greater level of comfort as a result of this. 

Methodology 

To work out when landlines would disappear in the UK we analysed data from Ofcom’s Technology Tracker from January 2015 to January 2020. From this we could work out the proportion of households in the UK with an active home phone had declined by 1.6 percent each year since 2015. The data from Ofcom showed 76 percent of households had an active landline in 2020 meaning if the current rate of decline continued there would be no landlines left by June 2067. 

Using data relating to how many households there were in the UK in 2016 from Euromonitor International we could calculate there were 23,348,140 households with an active landline in 2016. With the proportion of households with an active landline declining by 1.6 percent each year we could forecast there are currently 20,855,346 households with an active landline. All data relating to the number of households in the UK, France and Germany was taken from Euromonitor International. 

We used data from Statista to work out how landline access was declining in France and Germany. Data relating to Australia was taken from the Australian Communications and Media Authority. 

The post Decline Of The Landline: Brits Bid Goodbye To The Home Phone appeared first on Wrappz Blog.