There are ways to prolong your iPhone’s lifespan if you don’t want to buy a new one just yet.
We’re all different when it comes to upgrading our iPhones. Maybe you get a new one every year or don’t even think about it before having your device for at least five years. But no matter how often you swap your handsets, you want to make sure you’re giving your phone the best chance at a long life by properly looking after it.
This will result not only in a better experience for you but in not having to upgrade your iPhone as quickly as you otherwise would, saving you a substantial pile of cash along the way.
Invest in a case
No matter what iPhone you have, there will be cases available for it, including official and third-party models. These cases typically won’t cost you that much either, so they’re an inexpensive way to help keep your phone away from harm.
Even with its sturdy design, the iPhone is still susceptible to damage from everyday wear and tear. Buying a case can prolong the life of your iPhone by protecting it from drops, knocks, and spills.
iPhones are known for their tendency to suffer cracked screens. Newer iPhone models are a bit more crack-resistant than older models, but any drop or bump can still lead to a cracked screen. Using a well-built iPhone case is the best way to protect against this kind of damage. The phone case will absorb the impact of a drop or bump and prevent the phone from shattering.
In addition, phone cases help provide a secure grip so that the phone won’t slip out of your hand. This is especially beneficial if you’re an active person who enjoys running, hiking or any activity that raises the risk of dropping your device. It’s also helpful for people who frequently use their iPhones when they’re with their kids.
Phone cases can also help reduce the amount of dust and dirt that accumulates on the phone over time. With a phone case, you reduce your device’s direct contact with everyday particles that can cause damage to its components.
Screen protectors can also work alongside cases to keep the display on your iPhone safe. If it’s properly installed, you’ll barely notice it’s there and it can make the difference between your screen shattering or staying intact when you drop it.
Streamline the software
Sometimes it’s not the hardware that prompts an upgrade, but the software—Your iPhone has slowed down to a crawl and apps are crashing or taking ages to load up. There are ways to give your device a longer life by improving your device’s performance but know that you can’t put it off forever. There will always be a point of no return where you’ll either have to lower your expectation as to what you can do with your iPhone, or get a new one.
First and foremost, keep your iPhone updated with the latest versions of iOS and individual apps. This will allow it to run optimized code at all times, with the latest bug fixes and efficiency improvements. Software updates are mostly handled automatically, but you can still check for them via General and Software Update from iOS Settings.
It’s also worth freeing up as much storage space as possible,. An iPhone at or near capacity tends to lag. You can lighten its load by removing apps you no longer use and deleting photos and videos you no longer need (or moving the ones you want to keep to the cloud
Pay for professional fixes
Having a specialist repair your iPhone costs money, but in the long run, it can be worth spending a bit to prevent even worse problems. A small screen crack, for example, can weaken the display and lead to further cracks over time, so consider replacing it before your iPhone becomes unusable.
Another common repair is dodgy charging ports, which may be to blame for your iPhone not charging properly. Replacing this part can help protect the health of your battery and ensure that the faulty component doesn’t start damaging anything else inside your iPhone.
When you reach a certain level of damage, it’s probably more cost-effective to just buy a new iPhone, but it’s worth weighing up your options if a repair will keep your handset going for longer.
You might also want to consider getting your iPhone insured—especially if you splurged a big chunk of cash on a top-of-the-line, rare, and very expensive-to-fix device.
Protect the battery
If your battery maintains its health for a long time, so will your iPhone, which is why Apple introduced the Optimized Battery Charging feature to reduce strain on your battery.
Open Settings then choose Battery, Battery Health & Charging, and Optimized Battery Charging to turn the feature on.
There are several other ways to improve your iPhone’s battery life: Keep it away from extreme temperatures (like a hot car), take it out of its case while you’re charging it, and store it half-charged if you won’t be using it for a while. The latter prevents your iPhone from falling into a deep discharge state (if it’s not charged at all) or losing capacity (if it’s fully charged).
See also: How to Charge Your iPhone Correctly: Unveiling The Best Practices
Keep your iPhone clean
A clean iPhone is a healthy phone, and regularly taking a few minutes to remove dirt, dust, and grime can help it work better for longer. You can damage your handset if you don’t know what you’re doing.
- When you clean an iPhone, you should only use a water-dampened lint-free cloth.
- Avoid cleaning your iPhone with chemical products including soap and baby wipes — as they may damage the screen or case.
- Keeping your iPhone clean also means cleaning it immediately after it comes into contact with damaging elements like liquid, dirt, dust, grease, or chemicals.