Do you find yourself buying a new smartphone every year or two?
The average smartphone lifespan is only 2.5 years, which isn’t very long when you think about the hundreds of dollars that you spend on getting a new one. That number comes from the people that still have their iPhone 5 on one end and those that lose or break their smartphone within a year on the other. This article is for the latter.
Today, we’re going to give you 5 things you can do to prolong the average lifespan of a smartphone. If you’re more careful with your phone and you take the right measures to keep it working well, you can have the same phone for years to come. That way, you can save your money to buy the best new phone when the updates really matter.
1. Screens and Cases
Probably the biggest reason that people have to prematurely replace their smartphone is that they drop it and shatter the screen. Even small cracks will eventually become larger, making it extremely difficult to see what you’re doing or use the phone without putting your fingers in danger.
No case or screen protector is going to ensure your phone’s safety when you drop it, but if you’re clumsy with your phone, they’ll help you out more often than not. Companies likeOtter Box and Lifeproofmake heavy-duty and sometimes waterproof cases for those that need that little bit of extra protection. When you use something as much as your smartphone, it’s bounty to take some bumps and bruises, so get yourself a sturdy case.
As far as screen protectors go, find yourself a tempered glass one because it’s going to be a lot cheaper than replacing your screen. And, if you do crack the screen, a protector will allow you to keep using your smartphone without cutting your fingers.
2. Avoiding Software Updates
If you want to keep using an older smartphone for more than a few years, you have to live with the fact that you’re going to miss out on some of the newer software. As a general rule, if your phone is more than 2 generations old, avoid any new software update.
These updates are only compatible with the hardware in the newer phone. If you try to perform an update on an older model, you might see some pretty significant performance issues that’ll leave you wanting a new one. Once an update happens, it can’t be undone.
The best thing you can do to avoid any issues is to do your research before performing an update. Companies are better at making their software more compatible than ever, but you should never update blind.
3. Charging and Replacing the Battery
The way you charge can actuallyhave a significant effecton your smartphone lifespan. Everyone seems to have different thoughts on the best way to charge and use a charge, so let us give you a better idea of what’s best for your phone and its battery.
In order to get the most out of a battery, try to charge it as soon as it reaches 75% and try to avoid letting the charge go below 25%. If you consistently let it go below 25%, you’re only going to get about 500 full charges before your battery gives out. It’s always best to keep a good charge when possible.
Another thing to note is that when your battery starts to go, you don’t necessarily have to buy a new phone. Simply replacing the battery once a year will keep your phone in better shape for much longer. You can buy a phone battery for less than $50 and if your phone doesn’t have a removable back, get yourself a battery case with your new battery.
4. Delete/Disable Things You Don’t Use
When you’re always putting your phone to work, it’s more likely to deteriorate much much more quickly. A phone that’s full of unused apps, pictures, and videos is going to lag and frustrate you until you get a new one. Avoidmaxing out the RAM and/or storageand you’ll have a much better user experience.
Believe it or not, this is a huge reason why people upgrade so quickly. All that you have to do is perform regular maintenance and you’ll have a phone that functions at a high level for a long time.
5. Be Careful With It
Maybe the most obvious tip we can give is that you should be more careful with your phone. Avoid situations that put it in danger because the more careless you are, the more phones you’re going to go through. Doing things like dropping it in the toilet, going for a run with it in your pocket, or leaving it in the hot sun for a long time is eventually going to come back and bite you.
Of course, when it does sustain some damage, you can always get smartphone repair instead of replacing it. Depending on the type of damage, it’s probably going to be much cheaper to fix it than to buy a new phone. However, the best thing you can do is pop a case and screen protector on it and start being more careful when you’re out and about.
Even something as simple as keeping your phone in your back pocket is likely to damage it. When it’s in your pocket, bits of debris get in the charging and headphone ports, so make sure to use compressed air to clean those areas out before there’s permanent damage. People rarely think about these things, but they’re important.
Your Smartphone Lifespan Depends On You
If you’re concerned about your smartphone lifespan because of past experiences, you need to change some of the things you do. Use these tips and you’ll see a difference in the way your smartphone performs and we’re sure you’re going to find that your smartphone lasts much longer.
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