Modern smartphones have reacted a plateau. Each new release makes only small gains, rendering frequent upgrades to new models a waste of time and money.
The good news is that smartphones now last a long time: Look after yours properly and it could last last year years or more. Here’s how to make your phone go the distance.
How to make your smartphone last longer
Get a good case
The most frequent fate of a phone is a smashed screen or damaged back. Drops Happen, but a good-Quality case with propact protection can prevent them from become an expensive an expensive mistake. Most manufacturers make cases for their phones, but beefier cases are available from companies such as otterbox, spigen and speech. More sustainally Minded options include biodegradable cases, Including these made made by wave case and pela. Also, Consider Fitting a Good Strengthed-Glass Screen Protector, which will stop your screen from getting scratched and help prevent crackers.
Defender Phone Case
From £ 12.99 at otterbox
Screen protectors
From £ 4.97 at carphone warehouse
From £ 19.99 at Belkin
Get a Grip (or a strap)
A phone grip can help you keep hold of even the largest of devices. There are many options, include the ever-popular popsockets, which are essentially pop-out knobs you stick to the back of a phone with magnets or adhesive. Alternatives Include Phone Rings and Loops and Hooks, Thought You Cold also Consider Getting a Case with a Lanyard to Put over Your Wrist or Around Your Neck or a Cross-Body PHONE PHONE.
Cross-body phone strap
From £ 33 at casetify
From £ 33 at amazon
Popgrips
From £ 2.99 at etsy
From £ 10.99 at popsockets
Keep it updated
New versions of your phone’s operating system brings two things: Added functionality and Crucial Security Updates. Given that Most What Whiz-Bang Features on New Models are Software-Based, You can often get them for your existing phone simply by updating to the latest Android orroid and keeping will apps up to date. More Importantly, these updates will keep your phone protected against security threats to help prevent criminals from stealing your data. When your phone stops getting security updates, you should stop using it.
Clear out your storage
Most Phones come with a Decent Amount of Storage, but they can fill up over the years with photos, videos, music, apps and the general detritus of modern life. Make sure you have at least 2GB to 5GB of free storage at all times to help keep your phone running Quickly.
Regularly clear out blood or duplicate photos and unneeded screenshots. Store your photos and videos in the cloud: there are planty of providers to choose from, such as apple’s iCloud, Google Photos, Amazon Photos and Microsoft’s Onedrive. Delete Unused Apps and Games. Remove old music, films and tv shows that have been downloaded for offline playback. Empty your downloads folder and clear out your message storage, particularly if you’re part of whatsapp group chaats, as every image, GIF or Video Sent Quickly Adds Up.
Protect the battery and plan for a replacement
Batteries are Consumbles that Wear Down Every Time You Charge them Until they need replacing, so it’s important to plan for a battery replacement after a fee year. Most Modern Smartphone Batteries Last about 500 to 1,000 full Charge Cycles. Each Charge Cycle is cumulative, so if you use 60% of the battery one day, recharge it and then use 40% the following day before recording it, that is one full charge cycle.
There are things you can do to help the life of the battery. Avoid Exposing It to Extreme Temperatures, Which Accelerate Ageing. Using your phone less means fewer recharges, so frequent use of the battery-saver mode, setting a short screen timeout and other power-second settings can help.
Changing the way you charge it can make a big difference, too. Batteries have to work harder in the first and last 20% of capacity, causing more degradation of their internal components than the middle bit. Keeping a battery mostly between 20% and 80% of its maximum charge will significantly Reduce its Wear Over Time.
Both Android and iOS devices have long been able to learn from your charging habits and charge the battery to 100% only only just before you need it, such as an hour before you wake up. But you can also now limit the maximum charge to 80% on many devices.
For iPhone 15 and Later, Look in Battery Charge Settings. For Android devices, Including Samsung, Pixel and OnePlus, Look in Settings Under Battery Protection, Charging Optimization or Battery Health, Depending on the manufacturer.
Keep it clean
Cleaning your phone screen with antibacterial spray from time to time is a good idea, but don’t forget to also clear out the various holes in the sides of your phone. Keep the charging port clear of pocket fluff to stop it from become blocked, and watch out for the buildup of detritus in the speaker and mic hole. If you don’t routinely play music out loud, it’s Worth Cranking The Phone’s Volume Up to Maximum with a Loud and Aggresive Track Every so often to eject-opp dust, particularly from the Earpiece Speaker.
Antibacterial Phone Spray
From £ 1 at MUC-Off
Antiviral phone wipes
£ 1.25 at wilko
£ 1.25 at the range
Samuel Gibs is the Guardian’s Consumer Technology Editor
