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The Energizer Bunny can’t help you with this one
Quick notes
● Your phone can shut down in the cold
● Phones can explode from being charged at zero percent
● A phone case is important for protecting your phone
On average, smartphones can last around three to four years before slowing down. Unfortunately, some owners never reach that point because their phones die within a year. As expected, some believe phone companies are secretly shutting off phones to get more cash. Others know they goofed up big time. Fortunately, we have a list of five ways you can make your phone last longer.
Keep that battery in check
The one thing that can hurt a phone is a bad battery. Many times, people take smartphone batteries for granted. It’s not hard to find a replacement if the battery on your phone dies. Due to poor usage by the owner, they might purchase more batteries than expected.
Keeping your phone plugged in after its full charge can deteriorate the battery. Charging the phone when it’s at a decent percentage is also bad. Charge your phone when it reaches below 5 percent. If you think charging the phone when it’s dead will solve things, it won’t. In fact, an explosion can occur if it’s being charged at zero percent. While it’s a rare case, you don’t want to be an odd story on the six o’clock news.
Obtain a great case
If you’ve been to the mall, you’ve noticed kids with smartphone cases. They don’t have a Hello Kitty case because it looks cool. A smartphone case is great for protecting your phone in various situations. You’ll never know when a torrential downpour will arrive while you’re outside. According to The NPD Group, one in four people don’t have a smartphone case.
These cases can showcase your personality. You can represent your favorite sports team or your favorite Harry Potter book. If you’re not looking to make a scene, there’s plenty of regular cases for your choosing. To fully protect your phone, purchase a case with a screen protector. Even if your phone has Gorilla Glass, this would give it more protection.
Clean your phone
it’s always important to keep your phone clean. We’re not talking about getting rid of apps you don’t use anymore, either. The exterior of your phone is filled with a plethora of bacteria. The University of Arizona discovered phones have 10 times as much bacteria as a toilet seat. That’s not something you’d want to think about when you’re playing Candy Crush on the can.
Certain parts of your phone can become unusable if they’re filled with dirt. If your phone becomes too clogged, it can die on you. To fix this, use an air pressure canister to remove the dirt. Use disinfecting wipes to clean your whole phone. With dirt and bacteria gone, you won’t have to worry about your phone turning into a paperweight.
Keep the temperature in mind
Imagine Goldilocks in the modern world, but instead of porridge, it’s smartphones. She wouldn’t want phones that are hot or cold. The one with the right temperature would be her ideal choice. Getting the perfect temperature isn’t as hard as it seems. Shutting down battery-draining apps can change things. Turning down the brightness on your phone is another helpful solution. There’s also the issue with outdoor weather. Phones can shut down because of the chilly temperatures in winter.
“In the event that your phone does shut down, do not restart it until you’re inside and give time for your phone to warm up. Restarting your phone immediately could actually cause more harm to your phone and actually shorten your battery life,” Cell Phone Repair’s Jeremy Kwaterski told CNN.
During the summer, phones can quickly overheat. To prevent this, place your phone in airplane mode when you’re not using it. With airplane mode on, your phone will cool down quicker than usual.
With these tips, you’ll be able to hold onto your phone a while longer. We can’t help you if you drop it in the toilet, though.
A deeper dive — Related reading from the 101:
● Battery myths about charging your smartphone overnight debunked | Living101
We hope you’re not charging your phone while reading this.
● Sleeping with your cellphone is impacting your health | Living101
You might think twice about having your phone next to you.