Use a Great Case From Day 1

73 million Americans broke their phones in 2023. That’s a statistic emblematic of the biggest threat facing most phones today: overconfidence.

Modern flagship phones are built from the ground up with durability in mind, and while that makes for a great headline for ads, it doesn’t necessarily translate to indestructible phones. Even a minor drop from your lap can result in a damaged phone body if you’re not careful.

You can change that by getting a reliable, durable case for your new phone right from day 1. Materials matter here, too. Silicone is light but doesn’t make for particularly strong cases. Usually, you’ll want a hybrid that incorporates TPU/other tougher materials.

Read: How IIoT Technology is Transforming Maintenance and Asset Management

Case Maintenance

If you already have a case, you need to make sure you’re taking good care of it by:

• Regularly wiping it down with a microfiber cloth and clearing out any lint that might have accumulated in the corners, especially if you’re using a case with reinforced bumpers.
• Avoid leaving your phone in its case in hot areas for a long duration, as this can make it difficult for the phone to cool down and eventually harm its battery.
• Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean your phone case, as this can damage protective coatings.

Master Healthy Charging Habits

Most tech experts today talk about how important it is to charge your phone to a limit of 80%. There’s a very good reason for that. Healthy charging habits can have a massive impact on the lifespan of your phone by cutting down on unnecessary charge cycles and reducing the stress imposed on your battery’s lithium-ion cells.

Use Built-In Features

Here’s the good news: if you’re using a newer phone, there is a very good chance that it already comes with built-in features to optimize your charging habits.

For example, Apple’s own settings app lets you automatically halt charging at 80% (or any other level up to you). We recommend 80%, but you can go even lower if you’re certain you won’t need a ton of battery on a given day. You’ll find a similar AI-powered feature in any new Samsung Galaxy phone, too!

Avoid Low-Quality Chargers

Phones come with built-in safeguards against overheating, but using an unreliable no-name charger can create complications you just don’t need. You should absolutely avoid using low-quality chargers that can easily overheat and potentially damage your phone. You’ll end up saving a lot more in the long-term by investing in a reliable third-party or first-party charger.

Don’t Charge During Heavy Usage

This is one habit that tends to fly under the radar, and can cause the most amount of harm. If you’re someone who frequently uses your phone for gaming on 5G or other CPU-intensive activities, you could be putting your device under extraordinary strain by charging it during usage.

The lethal combination of heat + heavy load can quickly accelerate battery degradation. Let your phone charge in a cool zone and take a break!

Keep Software in Check

Manage Background Activity

Unchecked background activity can be a rogue killer for phones. If you’ve been experiencing rapid battery loss lately, it could be a good idea to head to your settings app and turn off any apps that appear to be consuming resources around the clock.

Restricting those battery-hungry apps can save a ton of strain on your battery and help maximize your phone’s life.

Prioritize Software Updates

If you’ve been using phones and/or computers regularly since the ‘90s, you could be forgiven for thinking software updates still slow phones down. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that Apple and Samsung got fined for planned obsolescence.

Things have changed significantly since then. Modern software updates are mostly all-fluff and tested extensively to ensure they won’t negatively impact your device. In fact, they can boost your phone’s battery life by:

• Getting rid of resource-hungry bugs
• Optimizing CPU routines to consume less battery
• Improving general app/OS performance

Long-Term Maintenance and Batteries

In the long-term, there will be cases where people do absolutely everything they can to maximize their phone’s life, only to end up with a significantly depleted battery. In fact, it’s more or less inevitable considering how modern lithium-ion batteries operate.

However, you still have options left.

If you’re sure you don’t want to trade your phone in at the end of its battery life, some companies like Apple will allow you to swap your battery out for a new one at any authorized service center. This typically involves a small fee, but you’ll get a fresh battery out of it. Your mileage may vary, even with a new battery, depending on modern OS needs, but it’s still a great way to extend your phone’s life a little.

Build Better Maintenance Habits Today

Better habits start with small changes. If you’re someone who frequently wonders, ‘Why is my phone overheating?’ the way out could be as simple as getting a higher-quality phone case or regularly updating your phone. Follow the tips listed above, and you’ll improve your phone’s performance in no time.

The post Simple Maintenance Habits That Can Extend Your Phone’s Life appeared first on Tech Globally.