22 Oct 7 Ways to Extend the Lifetime of Your Smartphone
Want to avoid sending in your smartphone for repair and extend its lifetime?
Our repair team here at Phonenomena has seen it all; cracked screens, batteries not charging, software glitches and buttons not working. These issues are all avoidable if you take good care of your device from day one.
So, what can you do to protect your smartphone?
We had a chat with our Repair Team to get their tips on the best ways to look after your new smartphone so you can avoid replacing or repairing it.
Keep It Clean
Dust. We take care to remove it from our rooms and belongings, but what about our devices?
When you leave your phone in a dusty area or in pockets or handbags, dust particles can get into the device via its small ports (e.g. the headphone jack or the micro USB/ lighting port).
If dust accumulates, it can cause your phone to heat up, which can then lead to critical components to fail unexpectedly. Dust can also interfere with the electrical connections on the device’s ports, which will cause issues when connecting your device to a computer or a charger.
To keep dust out of your phone’s ports, you will need to clean your smartphone routinely. Use a small dry brush to gently remove any dust or dirt from the ports.
Charge and Drain
After purchasing a smartphone, make sure to charge it to 100% and then do not charge it until it’s about to die (approximately 10%) which will reboot the battery and getting it running to its best.
From then on, you should try to fully drain then charge the battery once a month (no more as this can shorten the lifespan of your battery). This process allows for the recalibration of your battery, ensuring it runs efficiently.
Charge it BUT Don’t Overcharge
If you leave your smartphone to charge overnight, you most likely leave it plugged into the charger way past its fully charged point.
While most chargers are designed to stop charging the battery once it is full, it’s much better to disconnect your phone from the charger once it hits 100%. Overcharging can overheat the battery, which reduces both its capacity and lifetime.
Use a Case
The phones we buy today may be advanced pieces of technology which we can’t live without, but unfortunately they are a little more fragile than the Nokia 3210’s we used to use.
This is why it’s important to have a durable case for your smartphone to prevent damage to the screen or the body when you drop it. Some cases also feature dust and water resistance, protecting the inside of your device as well as the outside.
Be Careful When Disconnecting
When you are inserting or taking out the cable from the charging port, it’s important to do it gently.
By yanking out the cable or moving it from side to side, you run the risk of bending the pins in the charger port of your phone, which will interfere with charging or even prevent you from charging your device again.
Keep Away From Moist Areas
Not all water damage comes from pools, lakes and oceans.
If you’re the type to use Spotify, Pandora or any other music app whilst in the shower, the moisture generated by the steam can seep into your smartphone.
The same goes for using your device in the rain. While your device may be covered, the increased moisture in the air can also finds its way into your phone.
While the effects of this may not be felt immediately, you run the risk of short-circuiting your smartphone when it is connected to a power source.
Keep It OUT of the Sun
By leaving your smartphone in the sun or a hot car for lengthy periods of time, you can do a lot of damage to your device.
Apple state that iPhones should be kept in temperatures that range between 0° to 35° C. Any temperatures outside of this (including colder temperatures), can damage the battery, the processors or the LCD screen, shortening the lifespan of the smartphone.
If you do happen to leave your phone in direct sunlight or it has overheated, turn the phone off and let it cool down. Do not use the phone or turn it on until it has cooled down. If your device has a removable battery, it is also a good idea to remove it from the phone and let it cool down separately.
Do you have any tips or tricks that will extend the lifetime of your device? Let us know in the comments below!