Smartphones are an integral part of our lives in today’s world. They help us solve important tasks, help us relax when we are stressed, and make our lives easier and more interesting. But like any other technology, improper use can cause your smartphone to malfunction much sooner than you expect.
For your smartphone to work as long as possible, we recommend you follow the simple rules of caring for it.
It is better to take care of your smartphone in advance so that it will serve as long as possible.
After all, if the phone breaks, you will have to buy a new one or carry yours for repair. The first variant will demand money, and with the second now it is more difficult: it is difficult to find a good and inexpensive master.
It is better not to lead to either. We tell you how to properly care for portable equipment and not to spend a lot of money on repairs.
Tips on how to care for your smartphone
- Charging your battery properly
- Protect your smartphone from cold and heat
- Keep your phone free from dust and dirt
- Keep it away from liquids
- Use a protective cover
- Use glass or cling film
- Clean your phone from unwanted programs
Charge the battery properly
The battery of any smartphone begins to lose its capacity after 500 charge/discharge cycles, but this point can come much earlier if you charge it incorrectly. Try to follow full charging cycles, i.e. do not overcharge your smartphone and do not let it discharge to “0”.
Optimal charge level
Experts from Battery University believe that it is best to keep the battery at 65-75% charge at all times. That is, unplug the phone from the socket at about 80%, and connect the wire when half of the capacity is left, without waiting for the “red” zone.
This is due to the peculiarities of the electrochemical reactions inside the lithium-ion battery: at maximum and minimum charge it does wear out faster.
For the same reason, it is better not to discharge the phone completely. However, no one gives any exact data on how many days, months, or years such a usage mode will prolong the battery life.
So you should not leave the phone for charging at night, it is better to charge it during the day.
But it is inconvenient to constantly monitor the charge, so many smartphones have an optimized charging mode. With iPhones, it works by remembering when you unplug your device most often, and not charging your phone above 80% until it’s needed. For example, if you leave your smartphone charging overnight, the remaining 20% will not be charged until closer to morning.
You can also see which apps drain your battery the most and draw the necessary conclusions.
Don’t forget to turn off charging
Most often you connect your smartphone to a charger – a wall outlet or a desktop computer/notebook – in the evening. The battery is fully charged in an average of 3-4 hours, but the device remains in the socket until morning.
After a full charge, the device is only occasionally energized to maintain a 100% charge level. The battery slowly “dies” (its maximum capacity decreases), being under stress due to long charging times and increased temperature. With this approach, after a year you will notice that the operating time is gradually decreasing.
When the battery is fully charged, unplug it from the charger – so it lasts longer! If possible, turn off your smartphone before you put it on the charger. When your device is completely off, it will charge faster because it won’t use energy for communications, screens, apps, and other functions.
Don’t worry if the charge level is less than 100%
It is not necessary to constantly charge the lithium-ion battery of the smartphone to 100% if there is no particular need. Try to recharge the battery gradually and use only original chargers, they usually do not allow overcharging the battery and automatically cut off the current supply when fully charged. Also, try not to drain your smartphone to zero. Keep an eye on your lithium-ion battery’s charge and plug your smartphone in on time before it’s completely off.
Extend battery life
Charge the battery in batches a couple or three times a day: for example, in the morning in the car, at work from the computer, and in the evening at home from the outlet. This will extend the life of your device. The lithium-ion battery can survive about 500 full charging cycles from 0 to 100%. If it is charged and discharged, for example, in cycles of 50%, it can triple the service life. It is possible to maximize the battery life by keeping the charge somewhere between 40 and 80%. If you do not plan to actively use your smartphone in the near future, charge it to 50%. If you decided not to use the phone at all for a while – remove the battery from it.
Observe a temperature mode
The optimum temperature is very important for the operation of the smartphone battery. Because of the heat or cold, the battery runs out quickly, and overheating or overcooling can lead to total failure. Do not leave your device under direct sunlight in summer, especially in the car! In winter, do not carry your phone in your outer pockets, and try to use it less in the cold.
Monthly “training” on the battery
Once a month you can fully discharge your smartphone and then charge it to 100%. This will calibrate the electronics so that the charge level is displayed correctly. Over time, if you do not do this, the indicator will start to “lie” a little. This procedure should also be done with a newly purchased new device. Connect your smartphone, discharged to 0%, to your home computer for at least 6 hours to charge it for the first time. Discharge the battery to 100% only for the first two battery charging cycles.
At the same time, experts from Samsung say that there is nothing dangerous in using a smartphone while it is charging and leaving it plugged in overnight. Experts agree that modern devices are smart enough to prevent overcharging and complete discharge.
To do this, manufacturers put special protection measures in place. When you connect the phone to the charger, the current flows into the battery not directly, but through the chip controller. As soon as the lithium-ion battery reaches 100% of its capacity, the power supply is cut off.
Chargers. Some protective measures are provided not in the smartphone itself, but in the charging adapter. It is not necessary to use exclusively “native” chargers, but it is important to avoid low-quality and potentially defective devices.
Power adapters have various safety adjustments to limit the amount of current and stop charging after reaching 100% charge. That is, you can charge your iPhone with a branded unit from Samsung or Huawei. But plugging any phone into a cheap, no-name adapter with a frayed, frayed cable can be dangerous.
Replacing the battery
The lithium-ion battery has a limited lifespan, so sooner or later it will have to be replaced. Experienced users can do it on their own, but we recommend contacting a service center: modern devices are almost impossible to disassemble without special tools so as not to break or scratch anything.
Small private shops in basements and markets charge for the work less than trusted services, but it is better to avoid them. At best they can put a low-quality Chinese battery instead of the original. In the worst case – it and even scratch, bend or otherwise damage the phone during disassembly. Therefore you should contact only certified large services – look for addresses and names on the website of the manufacturer of your device.
Keep your smartphone from frost and heat
It is important not to let your smartphone overheat and overcool. According to studies, it is safe to keep your device turned off at temperatures between -20 and +60 °C (-4°F – 140 °F). But the optimal operating temperature is quite different: from +15 to +35 °C (59 °F – 95°F).
Summer Care
At too high a temperature, the processor resets frequency and slows down, and the battery begins to degrade. Its capacity gradually decreases, and in some cases, the battery may bloat or even catch fire. That’s why it’s important not to charge your phone under a pillow or leave it in direct sunlight for too long – for example, on the dashboard of a car.
Try to use your smartphone in the shade. Even if the screen stays readable in the sun, high temperatures won’t do you any good.
Care In Winter
In the cold the device can slow down, quickly discharge, and even turn off altogether. At low temperatures, the chemical reaction in the battery slows down or even stops completely. Chemists, however, have little idea why this is the case.
When you return from the cold to a warm room, let the phone sit for 10 to 30 minutes and slowly warm up. Try not to use it or connect it to a charger – the sudden heat of the battery and processor can damage internal components or cause condensation and corrosion inside the case.
Keep your phone free of dust and dirt
Apple and Samsung experts advise you not to use any solutions, cleaners, abrasives, or lint-free cloths – including a T-shirt – to clean the display. They will destroy the oleophobic coating of the screen or protective glass.
The oleophobic coating is a layer of silicone, alkylsilane, and a solvent several nanometers thick. It repels grease, dirt, and water droplets, and helps your finger glide smoothly across the screen.
To clean the display from streaks, fingerprints, dust, and dirt, a microfiber cloth is best. It is a special cloth that effectively removes dirt and leaves no scratches. The rest of the surface of your smartphone can be wiped with it. Coarser cloths can leave imperceptible defects on the surface and remove the oleophobic coating, which will cause the screen to get dirty faster over time.
To clean Apple monitors, a special wipe is recommended: the anti-reflective coating on them is very fragile and can be damaged even with normal microfiber.
Apple and Samsung allow you to slightly moisten the cloth with clean water. Charge the smartphone, in this case, can not: even if it is protected from moisture, it is better to be reinsured and turn it off. It is worth avoiding contact with the holes and grills of the speakers, and at the end remove any residual moisture with a dry cloth.
As recommended by Apple, you can use wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol. It not only dissolves grease and dirt, but also disinfects the surface, killing microorganisms.
Do not try to clean the charging jack with conductive metal objects: paper clips, tweezers and screwdrivers. But you can use an ordinary wooden toothpick. Do not blow the speaker grilles with a vacuum cleaner: there is a risk of damaging the diaphragm.
Try going over the speaker with a dry, soft brush in light strokes. And for the 3.5 mm jack, a thin ear wand soaked in isopropyl alcohol will do. If the situation is absolutely neglected, entrust the cleaning of the device to a specialist in the service center.
Dust often gets inside the speakers and charging slot, but it must be removed carefully and not with any sharp object.
Avoid liquids
Any phone should be protected from contact with water, juice, soda, beer, and any other liquids. Even if the manufacturer claims to be waterproof and dustproof.
The IP67 standard allows the device to be in a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes and IP68 for up to 1.5 meters. The tests are conducted in a laboratory environment with pure fresh water, which is far less dangerous than salty sea water or sugary drinks. In addition, over time, the water-repellent coating and seals inside the smartphone can deteriorate, so it’s better not to take any chances.
Even if you’re confident in your phone’s level of protection, don’t wash it under the tap, as pressurized water can get in where it doesn’t belong. Also, never use soaps, shampoos, detergents and all kinds of solutions for cleaning your phone: they may well dissolve not only the dirt, but also the waterproof coating on the joints of the parts of the device.
If you drop the device in water, do not dry it with a hair dryer. The air will drive the liquid deeper inside the case. Do not put your smartphone on the battery or in the microwave – they will permanently disable it. A jar of rice or salt is also unlikely to help: rather the small particles will be blocked in the speaker and connectors, causing even more damage. Contact the service center as soon as possible: there is usually a professional ultrasonic bath-dryer for electronics.
Apple and other manufacturers claim moisture protection for their devices, but the warranty does not cover water damage if it does get in
Use protective accessories
Protective case
The case protects the device not only from scratches, cracks and dents on the body. If dropped, your smartphone can get internal damage, such as the motherboard or cameras.
Manufacturers of android-smartphones often put in a set of thin silicone case. It will not protect from serious damage, but at least the body and the cameras will not scratch on small debris and dust in pockets, on tables and in bags.
To begin with, study the original cases, which are offered by the manufacturer of your smartphone. As a rule, they are the best quality and take into account all the features of the model.
When buying a shock-proof protective case, do not save money. Expensive branded accessories with a high probability will save your phone in the event of a fall, but cheap analogs can only harm. Prefabricated metal bumpers often have to tighten with screws for maximum reliability. If parts will not fit tightly, or the manufacturer will economize on rubber gaskets and liners, the quality of protection will decrease significantly.
Glass or a screen film
Screens even inexpensive smartphones are covered with durable tempered glass. But no matter what the advertising claims, any glass can get scratched or broken.
In authorized service centers, it is almost impossible to replace only the glass: most manufacturers require installation of a modular part, which also includes the screen, touch layer and biometric sensors. As a result, replacing a broken screen can cost up to half the price of a new smartphone.
Android phones often come with a protective film attached. Usually it is of sufficient quality, has its own oleophobic coating and is suitable for the first time. But I do not recommend buying a plastic film separately: it quickly gets covered with scuffs and scratches, it does not protect against falls and it is worse for slipping a finger.
In most cases glass is much preferable. If you drop your smartphone badly, part of the force of the impact will be on it, not the screen. Protective glass in such a case may break, but it will give some kind of safety net.
When choosing glass, pay attention to the level of hardness. The classic version is 9H. The optimal thickness is 0.33 mm. The glass should have an oleophobic coating. It is better to take a glossy glass with self-adhesive backing, it is as transparent as possible and easy enough to attach.
When gluing the glass the most important thing is to keep dust and dirt from getting under it. To do this, do not touch the “inner” surface of the glass, do not turn it upside down and try to work in a clean room after airing. If you have never installed an additional safety glass, a specialist in the service center can help you do this.
If you buy a safety glass, take at least three, not just one. Almost no one is able to glue it perfectly the first time. In addition, you may need a replacement glass at any time.
Clean your phone from unwanted programs
Smartphone, as well as the body, should be periodically cleaned from the “slag” accumulated there during its use. This is especially true for smartphones running on the Android operating system.
By removing periodically unnecessary cache and residual files, as well as freeing the RAM, you can significantly reduce the number of glitches and brakes in your smartphone. One of the best apps for cleaning your smartphone from “junk” is Clean Master for Android and iPhone Cleaner for Apple phones.
Only install apps that have been tested
Before installing any app, first read the reviews and comments on the program, as well as check it with antivirus, and only then install it.
In this article, we have listed the basic tips for proper smartphone care. In addition to all of the above, these tips will be equally important: do not allow the device to fall, do not leave your smartphone for long periods of time in the sun and do not use the device in the rain.
Never try to fix any damage to your smartphone yourself, as this leads to the loss of warranty. Also, do not forget that any mobile device has a serial number, write it down just in case. This number will help in finding your smartphone in case it is stolen.
