Most people use their smartphones for only two years before upgrading to a shinier new device. When you take a step back and look at it, it’s a really wasteful process. Not just because it contributes to the e-waste problem and isn’t the best choice economically, but also because most phones can work perfectly well even after 2 years of usage. SmartphonesPLUS is here to show you some things you can do to make your device last longer and keep it in the best possible condition.
1. Take Care of Your Device’s Battery
Battery life is one of the major reasons people switch or upgrade their smartphones. This is due to the fact that lithium-ion (the technology used to make smartphone batteries) degrades naturally over time, which leads to a decrease in battery life.
So if you want to use your phone longer than most people, taking better care of your battery health is advisable. Here are a few things you can do to preserve your device’s battery life:
Use Original Chargers Only
Original chargers have lots of safety features that keep your phone and its battery healthy. Not just your phone, using a bad charger also poses a safety risk to you.
Don’t Fill and Don’t Kill
The way your battery charges is by pushing electrons inside it from the negative side to the positive side. So when one side holds too much ion because your battery is either filled up or dead, it stresses the battery thereby speeding up degradation.
So, the best thing for you to do is, charge your phone up to only 80% and make sure to plug it in before it drops below 25%.
Change Your Battery
Changing your battery instead of replacing your phone when its battery health severely declines is a good way to help your smartphone last longer. The best thing to do is to change your battery every two years if you can afford it.
2. Use a Screen Protector
Another major reason people don’t keep their devices for too long is issues with their screens. A phone’s screen is arguably the most important yet delicate part of a phone. It’s also one of the most expensive parts to replace. So, if you want your phone to last longer, you’ll have to use a screen protector to avoid any form of damage to your screen. We recommend a tempered glass or liquid glass screen protector, available for purchase with free installation at SmartphonesPLUS.
3. Prevent Slow Downs
Sluggishness is another thing that drives many people to upgrade their phones. Here are some of the reasons your phone could slow and how to fix it.
Low Storage Space
If you are struggling with phone slowness due to low storage, there are apps out there that can help free up some space for you. For example, Remo is an app that identifies duplicate files and photos and deletes them for you in bulk. You can also free up storage space by clearing cache data. Lastly, you can move things like your photos, videos, and other media to the cloud.
Trade Your Newer App Versions
As apps add more features and get better they get more resource hungry. So your phone with an aged processor might have some trouble running newer versions of apps that take up more power.
What you can do to avoid this is
- Move to lite apps and PWA
- Delete apps you don’t use.
- Identify resource-hungry apps and delete them.
Keep Your Phone Updated
Smartphone Software updates are sent out to not only protect your phone but also to help optimize your phone to keep it running as smoothly and as fast as possible.
If you’re using an Android phone you’ll most likely start receiving fewer updates over time, especially when compared to an iPhone. But do commit to constantly check for updates and install them as soon as they come out. This will help keep your smartphone using the latest and most efficient software, and make your device last longer altogether.
Reset Your Phone From Time To Time
Factory resetting your phone from time to time has a lot of benefits. For starters, it’ll make your phone feel as smooth as the day you unboxed it, and it’ll also help you clear out hidden junk files. Resetting your phone every new year should be good enough to keep it feeling smooth and fast.
