Owning a smartphone can be expensive, and it’s important to protect your investment. Not only did you pay good money for your device, but you also pay a monthly service fee to be able to use it as a phone and to access the internet. Taking care of your phone will prolong its lifespan and prevent common issues that can be avoided.
Here are some of the best ways to care for your smartphone to ensure it lasts as long as possible and your data stays protected.
- Get a durable case right away
Imagine buying a new phone and a few days later, you drop it on the ground and the screen cracks. At first, it seems like it’s just a minor issue of discoloration, but after a day, the whole screen goes black. This is unfortunate, but it happens all the time. Sure, you can get your screen replaced, but that will cost more money and time.
Protect your phone by getting a case specifically designed to protect it when dropped. If you haven’t already bought one, SUPCASE has some of the best rugged cases for Samsung, Google, iPhone, and OnePlus phones. These are all high-quality, tested products specifically designed to withstand drops. Avoid using those $5 gel cases you get at the mall because they just don’t compare. You should also get a good screen protector to avoid scratches.
- Set up a password for your phone
Passwords are a great way to protect your phone from prying eyes in your family. In a perfect world, nobody would look through someone else’s phone, but it happens on a regular basis. If you value your privacy, password-protect your phone.
If you’re afraid your password is too easy to guess, set up a biometric lock on your phone. However, be aware that some people can use your photo to unlock your phone through facial recognition. If you can, use your thumbprint instead. If you’re really worried about someone going through your phone, don’t let it out of your sight.
- Reboot your phone daily
It’s normal to keep your smartphone on and only reboot when the battery dies. However, this isn’t good for your phone. Even though it goes in your pocket, it’s still a computer and rebooting periodically is necessary to keep it running smoothly.
The longer you keep your phone on without rebooting, the more likely you are to have problems with memory, excess heat, and too many mobile applications running in the background. Leaving your device on all the time can also contribute to a decrease in battery life and poor overall performance. It’s good practice to reboot your phone once a day if you can remember. Otherwise, do it at least once a week.
- Encrypt your data
This may not apply to everyone, but if you have sensitive data on your phone, for example, data you work with for your job, then encryption is necessary. In fact, it’s the only way to truly protect sensitive information. Passwords are just a surface-level solution.
Having a password on your smartphone will keep most people out, but it isn’t a true solution to security. Although it seems like the password is protecting your data, it’s not. Passwords apply to your device, not your hard drive. Someone can remove the hard drive and use it on another machine and get your data. There are also applications that can be used to extract data and even force reset your password. Hard drives have no inherent ability to be password-protected.
The only way to truly protect the data on your phone is through encryption. Encrypted data can still be stolen, but it can’t be read by anyone who doesn’t have the decryption keys.
- Take care of your battery
You can probably live with some scratches, but once your battery life starts to tank, you’ll be looking for a new phone. To avoid shelling out more money for a new device, take care of your battery from the start.
The most important thing to know is that lithium-ion batteries are best preserved when partially charged. Never allow your battery to drain to 0% or max out at 100%. These batteries experience the most stress when they are empty and full. For the best results, charge your phone no more than 80% and don’t let it drop below 30% if possible. Partial charging is the key to prolonging your battery life.
Make your smartphone last as long as possible
If you don’t like the idea of spending hundreds of dollars every few years on a new phone, take better care of the one you have. Smartphones won’t last forever, but with a little effort, you can make them last for many years.
