Whether you’re looking to get your hands on a new phone , upgrade your current device or just get something more reasonably priced as a backup, you’ll likely encounter a slew of various phone jargon .

For the tech-savvy among you, you’ll know the difference between megabytes and megapixels . But, for those who think we’re speaking gibberish, we’ve put together this guide to help you decode the hieroglyphs that are modern phone terms .

3G

A shortened version of ‘3rd Generation’, meaning the third generation of mobile devices that allow for speedier access to the internet and the ability to download music and video faster than previously achievable.

4G

You guessed it, short for ‘4th Generation’, devices that support 4G are capable of super-fast internet speeds up to 300Mbps. These devices are currently the standard benchmark in mobile technology .

5G

Welcome to the world of tomorrow; 5G presents the opportunity for mobile performance far beyond the current 4G network . Internet speeds have the potential to reach hundreds of times faster than current 4G with many new phones in development already being 5G-ready.

Additionally, it will affect day to day life much more than 4G has done, allowing for household items such as smart fridges to connect to the web. It will also make the futuristic idea of driverless cars a very real possibility .

Air Time

Air time is the number of minutes that you are allowed by your phone provider to make phone calls. When taking out a monthly contract , this will nearly always be part of the package, along with texts and data allowance .

AMOLED

The phone industry is packed with abbreviations, AMOLED stands for Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode . This technology is used in a device’s display and offers sharper images than the traditional LCD, along with being more battery efficient .

Android

One of the two main operating systems used by mobile phones, Android is the name of software developed by Google that powers a phone. Typically manufacturers that use this technology are Samsung, HTC and Sony , along with Chinese manufacturers such as Huawei, Xiaomi and OnePlus .

Audio Jack

A contentious topic at the moment, the audio jack is a small hole located on the exterior of your phone where you can plug headphones or an auxiliary cable . Many new smartphones come without one and will require an adaptor or Bluetooth headphones instead.

Bezels

A bezel is an outside frame on the front of your phone that surrounds the screen. Some new smartphones have begun reducing the size of their bezels to increase screen space without increasing the overall size of the device.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a connectivity technology that allows two devices to transfer data . This could be sharing images or music with a friend or beaming music to a Bluetooth wireless speaker. This can only be achieved over short distances , typically around 10 meters .

Cloud Storage

Cloud storage refers to a technology that allows you to store information and data on the internet , allowing you to access this whenever connected to the web, wherever you are in the world . This could be photos, music or work documents , meaning you are not limited to your device’s internal storage.

Coverage

Coverage is the area where your mobile phone provider has a signal , meaning that you can make and receive phone calls, send texts and connect to the internet.

Dual Lens

This term refers to a smartphone that uses two camera lenses as opposed to one, allowing for higher quality photos to be taken.

Dual-SIM

Dual-SIM refers to a mobile phone with the ability to hold and use two SIM cards simultaneously . This feature allows you to make calls, send texts and use data from two separate SIMs without removing either.

This could be used for having a work and personal number on the same phone, or for travelling and using a local phone provider as well as having your native package too.

Fast Charging

This is a technology that allows your device to charge its battery faster using a higher-than-normal voltage. It’s worth noting that your phone, your power cable and your wall plug will need to support this technology.

Hands-Free

This is a technology that allows people to make and receive phone calls without needing to hold their device to their ear . It is particularly popular with people who frequently drive as it means they can take phone calls while at the wheel without breaking UK law .

Iris Scanner

An iris scanner is a feature in new mobile phones whereby the camera scans the iris of the user as a method of unlocking the phone. This offers an extra layer of security to the device and is seen as a more secure method than fingerprint sensors .

mAh

A shortened version of milliamp Hour, this is a unit of measurement for the capacity of a battery . Generally, the higher the mAh, the more battery capacity.

Mbps

This is a shortened version of megabytes per second and is used to measure the speed at which your device can use the internet .

Megapixels

Megapixels are a rough guide to the quality of a camera . Generally speaking, the higher the megapixels, the better the quality of the camera, although there are other considerations.

microSD Card

This is a small, SIM-sized card that can be used to increase the internal storage capacity of your phone.

Operating System

The operating system (OS) is the base software the powers the device. It provides the basic underlying functionality of the phone, allowing you to operate apps, make calls and carry out all other functions.

Common examples of an operating system are Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android .

Refurbished Phone

This is our bread and butter. A refurbished phone is a device that has already had one or more previous owners , or has experienced a manufacturing defect, or both. They are then repaired to industry standard and are resold for lower than retail prices after going through extensive quality control checks.

Roaming

Roaming refers to the use of your phone in another country . Until recently, this service would incur charges; however, recent changes in policy have meant that minutes, texts and data are used as normal. Although, we’d suggest checking with your provider before heading abroad.

SIM Card

An acronym for Subscriber Identity Module, this is a small card that fits into your device that allocates the mobile number to the phone and identifies your mobile to the network .

There are three different sizes of SIM card: standard, micro and nano . Most new phones use the nano size, and there is no difference between the three, other than their size.

Splash-resistant

Often used to describe modern phones, this refers to devices that are able to repel a small amount of water (such as a splash or light rainfall) but would likely not survive being dropped in a puddle.

Standby Time

Often linked to battery size , this refers to the amount of time, left unused, that your phone’s battery will last, from 100% battery down to 0%. Any use of your phone will decrease your standby time.

Talk Time

Similar to standby time, talk time is the number of hours that your phone battery would last if constantly making one or many phone calls .

USB and USB-C Cables

A USB cable is used to connect a phone to another device such as a laptop or PC . This could either be to charge the device or to transfer data .

USB-C is a newer version of the USB cable that allows for faster data transfer and more efficient phone charging.

Both of these cables are traditionally used when connecting to a wall outlet.

Voice Commands

This technology is incorporated into many new smartphones and allows them to perform actions based on certain pre-programmed spoken phrases . These commands are often activated using a ‘wake word’ such as ‘ok, Google’ for Android devices or ‘hey, Siri’ for Apple devices.

Water-Resistant

Devices which are designed to be water-resistant have the ability to be partly or completely submerged in water and can still function without impairment. Typically, these devices will have an associated IP rating to denote their ‘waterproofness’ and detail how long they can be entirely submerged and to what depth.

We’ll keep adding to this guide to keep it up to date with the most important industry jargon. If you have any questions about anything here, don’t be afraid to get in touch! Our customer service team will be happy to help.

If you’ve found what you’re looking for, then now’s the time to take the plunge and upgrade your device! Search our range of reconditioned phones to find the perfect fit for you!