Justin Drake Carroll iPhone

To Buy Or Repair Your iPhone, That Is The Question

Are you going back and forth on your decision to repair your phone or buy a new one? 

After the pandemic, iPhone’s weekly screen time reports increased and people are getting concerned. With the lockdowns and travel restrictions, there’s only so much you can do without the internet. This is why people relying on their devices for working from home, online schools, and staying updated. 

It’s quite troubling and concerning when you’re having troubles with your phone right now.

Having problems deciding whether to buy or repair your iPhone? Don’t fret, we’ve got a simple yet informative guide to help you! Let’s talk about the top reasons and ways on what to do for making an informed decision:

Cost of Repairing Versus Buying a Phone

The total repair cost will vary depending on the specific model and feature included. The same goes for the severity and the nature of the damages in your current iPhone. You can expect the expenses of more than $30 to $490 or even higher.

Of course, iPhones will be expensive from a flagship store with prices between $399 and $1,399. In third-party and online retailer stores, the prices will be more forgivable and affordable in your pocket. The price ranges from as low as $99 to $999, depending on the model and defects on the phone itself. 

When to Repair Your iPhone

For the most part, simple iPhone fixes are much cheaper and efficient rather than buying a new one. This is especially true when the issues are easy to fix within a few hours of waiting. The only thing you need to worry about is the potential costs of the repair. 

If you’re worried about it, there are different ways to offset them and why you should not fix it yourself:

Check Your Phone Warranty

Buying an iPhone and other Apple products come with a (1) year limited warranty. Read the phone warranty to check if you can be eligible for hardware repair coverage at no charge! It should state the specific types of damages covered and not covered in the warranty.

Do you have AppleCare+ protection? It offers extra 2 years of warranty with a replacement service program. This also includes tech support, theft, accidental damage, and loss coverage. 

The protection prices may vary depending on the device. Each iPhone screen repair cost about $29 and $99 for the other types of damage.

Go to Your Local Independent Repair Shop

Apple is always known for restricting third-party shops and control for iPhone repairs. They announced a new program allowing a cheaper repair option for out-of-warranty devices. The repair shops will get trained and provided authentic parts by Apple themselves.

You don’t have to worry about wasting your money on fake iPhone battery replacement anymore! At the very least, this is true as long as you go to the authorized service providers. It’s no secret independent repair shops are usually more affordable than official Apple stores, with or without a warranty. 

Do Not DIY Repair Your iPhone

Do you have enough knowledge and experience doing fixing common iPhone problems? If you don’t, DIY repairs may not be for you and you should leave it to the professionals. Doing it yourself is never a good idea because iPhone devices don’t have any removable parts.

Problems such as cracked screens and software problems may lead to unwanted damages. You need to consider the cost and finding the specific tools needed to disassemble the parts. Taking the time and energy on figuring out how to repair the type of problem you’re having at the moment. 

When to Buy a New iPhone

When in doubt, there’s a good rule of thumb for the never-ending ‘buy or repair’ debate you can count on. Make sure to calculate the total cost of repairing first. If it reaches way more than half the cost of replacing the newer phone model, repair might not be the best option. 

Take a look into some of the best reasons why buying a new phone is in your best interest:

Repair and Maintenance Is Too Expensive

How many times have you tried to repair your phone? Once or twice visits to the repair shops are pretty normal, but anything more than that is a waste of your time and money. 

Yes, a single repair may prolong the lifespan of your iPhone by several months. However, it doesn’t matter that iPhone or iPad screen repair cost is cheap in the long run. If you’re always going to the repair shops to fix it, it will eventually add up and hurt your wallet. 

Broken Beyond Repair

Never mind the total costs of the maintenance and repair of your iPhone. How old is your current phone model? Can you still use it without the phone restarting or freezing at random times? 

Modern devices nowadays only last on an average of 2-3 years. After the expected lifespan, you’re more likely to experience signs of slowing down and damages. You can consult with a professional technician if your iPhone is a lost cause, to be sure. 

You’re Overdue for an Upgrade

There are a lot of newer iPhones for sale with great features out there! Apple even released some of the best phone models and upgrades this 2020. No need to hold on to your old iPhone, especially when the version of your operating system is no longer working. 

Enjoy better features like longer battery life, a powerful camera, and better processors. With the new phone at your disposal, you can still use your old phone for backup and emergencies. It’s also possible to sell or trade it online for a small discount and pay off your phone. 

Should You Buy or Repair Your Old iPhone?

Here are some of the considerations of whether to buy or repair your iPhone is the right choice. Be sure to think about it hard before committing to any decision.

Are you thinking of having your phone repaired, instead? We offer smartphone repairs for any brand! Select a location and get in touch with us today!

Justin Drake Carroll Phone FAQs

5 Ways Touch Screen Cleaning Wipes Can Protect Against Covid

Covid-19 is the buzzword of 2020. And with good reason.

It’s affected all our lives in one way or another. While we know to disinfect our phones, little information tells us why this is so important. Thus, the aim is to make sure you have the right understanding of how our devices carry airborne viruses.

Here are five ways that touch screen cleaning wipes help prevent the spread of the virus.

1. Touch Screen Cleaning Wipes Kill Viruses

Did you know the average person presses their cellphone over 2500 times a day? It’s no surprise that our mobile devices are also a prime place for germs to live in today’s connected world. It’s an unpleasant truth that people use phones in the restroom yet don’t sanitize after.

You may take every precaution to wear a mask and use antibacterial handwash. But nothing will stop an airborne virus from landing on your device if exposed to the air. Whether that’s texting, browsing, or taking a call, it’s unknown where it will land next.

Covid-19 has proven to be active for up to 72 hours. So if you touched your mask to take it off for a phone call, you’d want to make sure you wipe your phone down with your cellphone cleaner.

2. Designed With Electronics in Mind

Electrics and water don’t mix. So any cleaning products for mobile devices have to be tailor-made. Using ordinary household equipment can damage your phone. It will almost certainly result in a visit to your local repair shop.

Plus, any nooks and crannies in your phone are breeding grounds for viruses and germs. A good repairer can give your iPhone or smartphone up for a reasonable price and spot any damage before it’s too late.

The habit of using smartphone cleaning wipes can also prevent the need for repairs. They force an increase in attentiveness and look at the state of your screen. There may be a hairline crack you haven’t noticed before. As a result, a simple repair or, as a quick fix, a screen protector can prevent the phone from damaging further.

3. Prevents Spread to Others

Remember, keeping your phone clean isn’t only about self-prevention if you touch your contaminated cellphone and then touch a door handle, that will spread the virus. Also, think about any area you use that comes into contact with others.

Chances are, the risk of them carrying the virus is reasonably high, so it’s best to engage in high sanitization levels at all times and use your cell phone cleaner.

And if you need to hand the phone over for a phone call at the office, that’s even riskier. You’re passing invisible germs from one person to another. The result is that all attempts such as handwashing are becoming ineffective, so it’s best not to give the phone to someone else in these circumstances.

In some cases, despite your best efforts to maintain good hygiene, it’s unavoidable. Therefore, wipe the phone down with the cleaner before passing over. That way, you know you are doing everything you can to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

4. Emergency Use for Other Surfaces

Let’s not forget those screen cleaners aren’t just for cellphone screens. Cleaners for screens are also suitable for tablet screens, TV screens, games console screens, to name but three. Another screen that often gets forgotten about is the in-car entertainment system.

This is critical if you are a professional working from your vehicle. Whether there are people in the car or not, it’s vital to regularly sterilize your screen for the same reasons as your mobile, as your passengers or anyone you’ve come into contact with may be carrying the virus.

And remember that not all masks are of the same quality. Different materials, filters, and straps result in masks that fit the face differently and aren’t effective. Therefore, it’s better to keep sanitizing with smartphone cleaner more often than you would first imagine reducing infection risk.

5. Encourages Wider Hygiene Habits

Sterilizing your phone using wipes will cause you to think about your hygiene in other areas. By cleaning your phone, it encourages you to consider if anything else needs cleaning. And if you own a business, make sure you are prepared if anything happens in the office. 

Good business services will consult with you and discuss how they can help, whether that’s with the cleaning products or the tech itself.

If you’ve touched your mask while on a phone call, for example, you’ll want to wash your hands and wash the mask when you can. It can trigger remembering you sneezed near a desk while on a call, so you can make sure that area gets sterilized. 

It’s terrible practice these days if businesses don’t supply hygiene options in their establishments. There should be a product nearby to assist with cleaning any infected areas. And if not, you can always use a sterilizing wipe on the spot. That way, you’ll be doing whatever you can to minimize the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Covid Isn’t the Only Virus Around

It’s easy to forget that there are many more viruses and germs around than Covid-19. Influenza is the other giant virus, but even stomach bugs and other harmful bacteria can live on your phone, so it’s always a good idea to carry some touch screen wipes with you wherever you go.

Touch screen cleaning wipes are a cheap and easy fix to the solution. As they are easy to carry, if your phone could be at risk, it’s quick and easy to clean. It might also save you the repairs as you’ll be paying more attention to making sure there isn’t any damage that may need repairing. But if not, there are replacements available.

The saying “better safe than sorry” is more valuable than ever in today’s society. Now you know how to protect yourself while using your devices, see how we can help you with your tech today.

Justin Drake Carroll Phone FAQs

What Are Phone Warranties and Why Do You Need Them?

The average person spends roughly 3 hours and 15 minutes a day on their phone. That amount of usage can cause a smartphone to deteriorate fast. When you are spending anywhere from $800 to $2,000, you want your phone to last as long as possible.

Phone warranties help you to accomplish that. However, sometimes they come with their own price tag. When you are already spending a lot on the phone, it can be hard to decide if a warranty is worth it.

If you’re interested in learning more about phone warranties and what their benefits are, continue reading. 

What Is a Phone Warranty? 

Nowadays, most of the companies that make phones provide a one-year warranty when you purchase a phone at no extra cost. The only issues that these warranties typically cover, though, are manufacturing defects and hardware failures. 

Manufacturing defects are pretty rare, and hardware problems don’t usually start to occur until after one year of using the phone. Furthermore, cracked phone screens, water damage, and misplaced phones are not part of the warranty plan. These issues fall under the category of “accidental damage” and are common mishaps.  

For these reasons, many phone companies, including Apple, Google, and Samsung, have created longer-term insurance plans that cover a wider-array of phone problems. They offer more services as well, but this all comes at a cost.  

AppleCare+ is a two-year plan that costs anywhere from $99 to $129, depending on which iPhone you have. It covers accidental damages and offers express replacement care services. When you need to talk with an Apple Expert, you’ll have priority access and will be able to contact one at any time of the day, every day of the week.

Apple has also offered an advanced package that includes theft and loss. This offer has all the perks that come with AppleCare+ too.  

Samsung and Google have insurance plans that are similar to this, and they have similar price points. The great news about Samsung phones is that they have been making water-resistant phones since 2016. So if you have a limited warranty, you won’t have to worry about water damage being an issue. 

Phone care providers, like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, also offer protection plans. Before going ahead and purchasing an insurance plan, you should weigh your options to see which one is best for you. 

Hardware Malfunctions Phone Warranties Can Fix

Say you aren’t interested in paying the extra money for a phone insurance plan and want to stick to the limited warranty, that is entirely understandable. You should know what hardware malfunctions your warranty covers, though.

Below are the issues that most plans will fix. However, you should also check with your provider to see if they do cover all of them.  

Batteries and Charging

One of the first signs of a malfunctioning phone is its short battery life. When your phone’s battery life starts to dwindle as soon as you take it off the charger, it is probably time to have it looked at. iPhone users can check their battery’s maximum capacity to see if how worn it is or if it is not holding its charge due to a hardware problem. 

While on the subject of low battery life, phone warranties also cover broken charging ports. If your phone is no longer charging, this could be because the pins in your port are broken or bent. Make sure that you prevent debris and residue from settling in your charging port, as most warranties will not fix it if this is the cause.  

Broken Pieces

Sometimes a quick dusting off of the camera lens doesn’t cut it. When your photos don’t seem to be coming out as sharp as they once were and your camera lens looks foggy, you might need a lens replacement, which you can get from the phone’s manufacturer or a third-party company.

Phone manufacturers are considered the more reliable option but are likely going to charge you more for the lens. If you choose to use a third-party company, check their reviews and media coverage to make sure they offer high-quality phone parts. 

Your warranty should cover broken buttons and touchscreen if they aren’t working due to accidental damage. iPhone users can turn on AssistiveTouch and Samsung Users can use the AssistiveMenu to access the button controls from the touchscreen. 

Furthermore, there are steps you can take to try and fix the touch screen on your own, like resetting your phone. You should take your phone in for repair, though, if these actions did not help or if you do not prefer to use the AssistiveTouch on your phone. 

Lack of Connection 

Internet connection issues could be coming from your network, your router, or your provider. Otherwise, your WiFi/Bluetooth IC Chip may need to be repaired.

This is a process that would be a challenging task to complete on your own, as you’ll need to take your iPhone apart to do so. If you are under warranty, you can take this to your manufacturer. If not, you can always take this to a third-party repairer as well. 

Who Should You Call to Fix Your Phone? 

Because phone warranties only last a year and do not cover accidental damage, it is always good to have a backup option for when they run out. Get your phone repaired at Fruit Fixed. They’ll get your iPhone or Android back up and running in no time.

Plus, if you are having problems with any of your other Apple devices, they’ll help you out. Fruit Fixed is dedicated to repairing your technical issues quickly and at a reasonable cost. 

Justin Drake Carroll Phone FAQs

Where to Find Electronics Parts in a Pinch

When your device breaks, your world comes to a standstill. Getting it fixed fast and cheap becomes an immediate priority. The world we live in is built around the devices we keep in our pockets and on our desks.

If it breaks, not every device is covered by a warranty. Even if it is, a warranty repair may not be your best option or even feasible. Sending your device back to its parent company for a repair can be costly and time-consuming.

Now more than ever it is important to be able to find electronics parts in a pinch. Having a local electronic parts store on speed dial can save your day and your device.  But where can you find the best electronic parts outlet? 

Find a Reliable Electronics Parts Store

Finding a reliable store with a good reputation for quality of work and service can be a major challenge. When disaster strikes and your device is damaged it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

In the heat of the moment, it may be hard to do your research about who can do the best quality work for an affordable price. That’s why finding a reputable store before the inevitable phone catastrophe happens is all the more important.

Forming a relationship with a reliable electronic parts outlet will benefit you in the long run as a consumer. You will save money compared to dealing with the device’s parent company directly.

An electronics parts supplier may also be willing to do custom repair jobs that a normal device dealer won’t touch. But what should you look for in a store?

For starters, you need to know the store’s repair capabilities. To do this, you need to first know the most common forms of damage that your device is susceptible to.

Common Repairs for a Device

One of the most common repair jobs for an electronic parts store is a screen repair. The screens on devices are one of the easiest parts to break. Fortunately, screen repairs are often a cheap service for even the most expensive of devices.

Battery repair is a slightly more complicated procedure if your phone or computer has an internal battery.

For this repair, you would probably want to call for an estimate before bringing it into a shop. This would ensure that the cost of the repair isn’t more than the device itself.

It can be a significantly cheaper and easier repair if your device has a removable battery. Examine your device prior to calling for an estimate to see if it has an internal or a removable battery.

Many electronic parts and repair stores also can fix internal issues with phones, computers, or tablets. This can include things like replacing the circuitry, fixing water damage, dealing with motherboard issues, or fixing/changing internal components.

The price of internal issue repairs can fluctuate greatly based on the extent of the repair work to be done and the availability of parts.

A lot also depends on what type of device you have. It would also be wise to contact the store for an estimate before getting this type of work done.

There are many other types of common repairs for devices including solving connectivity issues or fixing a charging port problem. The right shop can handle them all!

Sometimes you may not know what exactly is wrong with your device. In this case, an electronics parts store can diagnose what the problem is. They can then give you an estimate for how much the repair job costs.

What Should I Look for in a Store?

The first thing you should do is google “electronic parts store near me” and see what comes up in your immediate area. Look for a store that has good reviews on Yelp or an equivalent review site.

You may want to balance out the reviews from multiple review sites to gain a broader understanding of the business’s reputation. The next step is to get in contact with someone at the store via phone, email, or chat.

Chances are if they are a reliable, customer service oriented business this will be obvious after having a conversation with a team member. 

Another important part of your store research should be making sure that the electronic parts or repair store has some sort of low-price guarantee. If they aren’t willing to stand by their work or prices, most likely there is someone else in town who is.

Once you have received an estimate from a store, bounce this number off the device’s parent company to see if you are really getting the best deal. A good store shouldn’t charge more for repairs than the factory store’s repair service.

Most importantly, once you have found a good store forge a relationship with them.You never know what time of the night or day an emergency may happen and having your store on speed-dial can be a lifesaver.

Get Your Device Repair Dialed

If you haven’t found a legitimate electronics parts store, chances are you have been getting ripped off for exorbitantly high repair fees. Don’t fall prey to ridiculous rates or inferior quality work.

Do the proper research and find a reliable electronics parts and repair store near you. In the long run, you will save yourself a huge amount of stress and money. When disaster strikes you will know that your device is in good hands.

You will also have peace of mind knowing that your problem will be fixed quickly and not subject to the long waits and uncertainty of a mail-in warranty repair. Support your local electronics parts store today, and forge your digital independence.

For all of your other tech repair info and needs make sure to check out the rest of our blog!

Justin Drake Carroll Apple, iPhone

7 iPhone Maintenance Tips to Implement

Want to know how to keep your trusty iPhone by your side ’til the end of time?

Well, you don’t have to be a certified Apple Genius to learn how to do maintenance on an iPhone. As long as you follow basic tips to keep your phone in great shape, you can prolong its life and keep its performance high. Your iPhone won’t last forever, but it can definitely last longer than you’d expect it to.

Keep reading for some key iPhone maintenance tips you can put to use today!

1. Charge Your Phone!

Are you the kind of person who gets distracted and lets your phone die before recharging?

Well, now might be the time to change that habit. Keeping your phone within the middle range of charging levels will help keep your battery as healthy as possible.

2. Close What You’re Not Using

Your iPhone likely has multiple applications and browser pages open in the background whenever you use it. So every so often, do your phone a favor and exit all the apps you won’t need to use for a while.

And close any Safari tabs you don’t need to use anymore. It might not seem like a big deal to have these “dormant” pages open, but it can affect your phone’s performance. Once you close those extra applications and tabs, you might notice your phone running better than before.

3. Delete What You’re Really Not Using

If you don’t think you’ll need to use an app ever again (or for the foreseeable future), go ahead and take it off your phone. This might feel scary, but it’s not a big deal. Once you’ve bought or downloaded an app, you can always re-download it even after deleting it from your phone.

There’s even an iPhone setting that will do this for you. If you go to “Settings” on your phone, you can find an option that will offload apps you haven’t used in a while. You’ll still see them on your screen, just offloaded—so don’t worry, you won’t forget about them completely if you don’t want to.

4. Try Not to Strain Your Phone’s Storage

Every iPhone comes with a certain storage limit, but this doesn’t mean you should use up all that capacity when you get a chance.

When you get to the limits of your storage capacity, you might start to notice problems with your phone’s performance. This goes beyond the app cleaning of the previous step. If you’re like most people, the main things taking up space on your phone will be photos, videos, audio content (like podcasts), and messages.

So if you want to get a head start on managing your storage, you can practice downloading the important things on a computer or hard drive every so often. You can also upload them to an online storage service or cloud, like Apple’s iCloud.

Once you’ve got your photos and other items backed up, you can delete them from your phone. Doing this regularly will ensure that you’re not making your phone strain to keep all your media.

5. Get a Case

This is more of a physical way to protect your phone.

A simple case can help prevent damage from falls and other accidents. If you want another layer of protection, you might be interested in a waterproof or shockproof case. These are usually clunkier, though, so there’s a bit of an aesthetic trade-off.

For the screen itself, you can get a screen protector. This will protect your phone from scratches and breakage. And if the screen protector gets damaged over time, you can just replace it (rather than going for expensive screen repairs).

6. Temperature and iPhone Maintenance

Have you ever noticed your phone struggling in hot or cold weather? That’s not your imagination.

iPhones, like most pieces of technology, are designed to operate at a certain optimal temperature. If you subject your phone to very hot or cold conditions, you could be messing with its proper functioning.

The good news is that you can make a big difference just by making simple decisions. No one’s saying you need to keep your phone in a temperature-controlled glass case all day. But what will help is keeping it in the shade rather than in the path of direct sunlight.

And when it’s super cold out, you might want to cut down on the outdoor texting and scrolling if you can. Your iPhone will likely be happier in your warm pocket until you get to an indoor spot with heating.

Another tip for cold weather is to warm up your iPhone before trying to charge it. If you plug it in while it’s cold, you might end up doing damage to the phone’s battery.

7. Do Your Regular Updates

What’s the point of iOS updates?

The flashiest thing about them is their new features. From cool emojis to new settings, iOS updates give iPhone users new things to play with every time a new update comes out.

This might lead you to think you can just opt out if you don’t want those new features. Maybe you’re afraid of change! That’s alright, but you should know that iOS updates are about more than just the fun parts.

The team at Apple is constantly searching for bugs in the operating system. If they find anything, they’ll correct it in the next iOS update. So if you want to keep your phone in tip-top shape, do your updates when they roll out!

The nice thing about iOS updates is that they keep any iPhone model up to date even if the hardware is older. So whether you’re doing iPhone 6 battery maintenance or working with the new iPhone 12, operating system updates can keep everything running smoothly.

…And If All Else Fails, Call Us!

iPhone maintenance is something you can work on every day as a responsible and savvy user. Remember to back up and delete photos, close unnecessary things running in the background, and do your updates.

But at the end of the day, things happen. If your phone goes haywire or starts slowing down out of nowhere, just give us a call—our number’s (804) 698-0004, or you can call us right from our website.

Our team is ready to help you out! You don’t even need an appointment.

Justin Drake Carroll Apple, iPhone

7 iPhone Warning Sounds to Be Aware Of

Is your iPhone making a weird sound? Are you worried your phone might be broken? Are you just annoyed by all of the loud warning sounds waking you up?

You’re not alone. About one-third of Americans break their phone each year, and a portion of these breakages will cause weird iPhone warning sounds.

Let’s go through iPhone warning sounds so you can identify them when they come up.

1. Government Alerts

Sometimes, you may get a loud, annoying alert that you just can’t turn off. There’s a good reason for these. Your local government may have sent out an alert, to notify you of something urgent. This can be an Amber Alert, a weather event, pandemic-related, or another emergency activity.

These alerts may be irritating, but they’re important to keep us safe. However, you can turn them off, should you feel the need. In the notifications settings in your phone, go to Government Alerts and switch them off. 

2. Emphasis Notifications

Sometimes, Apple adds new sounds to its phone repertoire. That may startle you when you’re not used to these sounds. For example, with the iOS 13 update, Apple added new sounds for Tapback notifications (so, when some reacts to one of your iMessages).

Unfortunately, these notifications can’t be turned off just yet, but hopefully Apple will add that functionality in the near future. 

3. Random Chirping Noises

It happens, sometimes your phone will get buggy. Some users have experienced random noises erupting from your phone, for no discernable reasons. To stop the noise, try clearing your browser history and cache in the Safari application.

If that doesn’t work, try updating your iPhone to the newest iOS. You might simply be getting feedback from an outdated application. 

4. No Sounds

Are you simply getting no sounds at all from your iPhone? This is a common bug, and there are a few ways to correct it easily. First, try restarting your phone. You can also try turning your ringer sounds all the way on and all the way off again a few times, which can help reset the issue.

Reset all of the settings on your phone to make sure you haven’t accidentally turned all of the sound on your phone.

Next, make sure that the Do Not Disturb function a few times. Disable Bluetooth, which can cause interference with other aspects of your phone’s performance. Make sure that there’s not a third-party application interfering with the sound on your phone.

You can restore a backup version of your iPhone information, just in case there is a software issue with your cell phone.

Double-check and make sure that there’s no garbage or other debris stuck in any of the connectors in your cell phone. If none of these things work, try plugging your headphones into your phone; you may be having an issue with your phone’s speaker.

Unfortunately, if you’ve damaged your phone’s speaker (for example, with water damage), you may need a replacement. There are many places to get replacement iPhones for a low cost.

5. Phone Sound Interference

Sometimes, you might just be getting interference when you’re making phone calls. This is actually a pretty common problem, that happens to a lot of people. The phone Noise Cancellation feature on your iPhone can cause interference which makes it hard for you to hear people on the other side of your phone calls.

This is a pretty simple problem to resolve – just turn this feature off! Go to the settings section in your phone, and click the Accessibility section. Once there, scroll down to Phone Noise Cancellation and turn it off. Voila!

6. Static Noise Coming From Your iPhone

On occasion, software issues can cause static noises to come out of your phone. In order to solve this problem, you’ll have to restore your iPhone. You can get a phone repair technician to do this for you, or you can try it out for yourself. 

First, make sure you create a backup of everything on your phone. This is very important, since the restore process will wipe all of the information out of your phone. Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes installed. You can then try out a soft restore, a hard restore, or a DFU restore. 

If you suspect your phone may be physically damaged, especially if you think it may have water damage, do not attempt a DFU restore. This can cause your phone to fail entirely, and make it impossible for your phone to start again. Instead, stick with a soft restore and contact a phone repair company if the problem persists.

If none of these restores solve your problem, the static is likely the result of a hardware problem rather than a software problem.

7. None of the Above

Are you getting weird noises on your phone that don’t fall into the categories on this list? You might be getting notifications for an app you don’t regularly use, and you might have turned off the banner notifications but not the sound. Go through your notification settings, and keep your eye out for anything that looks unusual. 

These iPhone Warning Sounds Are Just the Beginning

Now that you know about iPhone warning sounds, it’s important to be aware of other technical issues surrounding your phone.

Does your phone need to be repaired? Are you looking for a new device? Make sure that you contact us today.

Our low-price guarantee will get you the best deal in town!

Justin Drake Carroll Apple, iPhone

The Ultimate Guide to Apple iPhone Troubleshooting

Apple sold 15 million iPhones in the second quarter of 2020, giving it nearly a 50 percent share of the smartphone market in the U.S.

While many of those buyers were people upgrading from old models or buying their first iPhone, some of them were people who were having trouble with their current phone and bought a new one to “fix” the problem.

That seems like an expensive solution, doesn’t it? Let’s look at some Apple iPhone troubleshooting tips that can help you avoid the cost of a new phone sooner than necessary.

The First Step for Apple iPhone Troubleshooting

An iPhone is ultimately a computer like the one sitting on your desk at home or the office. It looks and operates differently but when you boil it down to the components inside, it’s not as different as it seems.

If you’ve used a computer for any length of time, you likely know that sometimes the best way to fix a problem is to reboot it. That same tip applies to iPhones.

If something isn’t working quite right, sometimes all it takes is a restart to get everything sorted out. The process varies depending on the model of iPhone but every generation has a simple way to restart the phone.

Your iPhone Isn’t Charging

There’s nothing worse than grabbing your phone when you head out the door in the morning and seeing that it didn’t charge overnight, even though you had it plugged in.

If your iPhone isn’t charging, try a different cable. With the cable getting plugged and unplugged so often, they do eventually break down. If a new cable still doesn’t charge the phone, try swapping the power block or USB port it’s plugged into as well, just to be safe.

If you still have trouble after those steps, it could be a problem with either the battery or the charging port on the phone. Fruit Fixed’s iPhone repair service can help with either problem.

Short Battery Life

iPhone batteries wear out over time. The most obvious side-effect of this wear and tear is shorter battery life.

If your phone isn’t lasting as long on a charge as it used to, you can check the battery health in Settings to see how worn down it is. Open the Settings app then tap on Battery > Battery Health.

You’ll see the maximum capacity of the battery, relative to when it was brand new. You’ll also see the current performance capability based on the battery health. Once the capacity drops below a certain point, iOS starts to throttle (slow down) your phone to help extend the battery life.

If your battery is getting a bit long in the tooth, Fruit Fixed can help. We can replace the battery on all models from the iPhone 5 forward so it will hold a charge like the day you took it out of the box.

iPhone Won’t Turn On or Extremely Short Battery Life

There are a couple of unique situations that we should mention related to the first two Apple iPhone troubleshooting steps — charging problems and battery life.

If your iPhone won’t turn on at all or the battery life is extremely short, as in only a couple of minutes before shutting down, it could be a temperature problem. If you use your phone in extremely hot or cold environments, it can temporarily affect the battery.

If that’s the case, take your phone to somewhere with a more normal temperature. Once it adjusts to the new environment, it will likely work fine again.

Cracked or Shattered Screen

A cracked or shattered display is one of the most common iPhone problems. This is one problem that a simple restart isn’t going to fix though.

If you drop your iPhone or do something else that cracks the screen it may or may not still be usable. Sometimes you can still tap and swipe but the crack makes it hard to read the display. Other times, nothing works at all.

You should consider replacing the screen even if it seems to be working fine though, especially if it’s more than a simple crack. Piece of the glass can fall out and expose sharp edges which can be dangerous when you’re swiping your finger across them.

Fruit Fixed offers screen replacement services for models from the iPhone 5 forward for much less than it would cost to buy a new phone.

Can’t Install the Latest Version of iOS

Apple typically releases a major update to iOS (the iPhone operating system) every year when new models of the phone come out. They also release minor updates throughout the year.

It’s a good idea to keep your phone up to date so you have the latest security patches and you get any new features they add. Sometimes you’ll run into trouble installing a new version of iOS though.

There are two common reasons for this:

  • Your phone doesn’t have enough storage available
  • The new version doesn’t work on your phone

If you don’t have enough storage available for the iOS update to install itself, you’ll get a message during the update process. The only solution here is to delete some apps and data to free up enough space. Sometimes restarting your phone will also help since it deletes some temporary data during the restart.

Apple is one of the best smartphone companies for supporting older models. They usually support iPhones going back 4 or 5 generations with each new major iOS release.

Eventually, they have to drop support for older phones because they don’t have enough processing power, memory, or some other feature needed to run the new version.

If that’s the case, there’s nothing you can do besides upgrading to a newer phone. That doesn’t mean you have to buy the latest model though.

Fruit Fixed sells a range of older models of iPhone, letting you upgrade to a better device for a much lower cost than the latest flagship model.

Affordable Help for iPhone Problems

Once you go through these Apple iPhone troubleshooting steps, you’ll know if it’s something you can sort out yourself or if you need some professional assistance.

If the problem goes beyond a do-it-yourself fix, Fruit Fixed can help. We offer a range of affordable iPhone repair services to get your iPhone back in top working condition.

Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.

Justin Drake Carroll iPhone

5 iPhone Battery Life Tips for Cold Weather

As the iPhone continues to grow in popularity, some users became concerned that the phones weren’t durable enough to last more than a few years. When the iPhone 11 came out, some of those fears were assuaged as the brand announced they’d used the most durable glass on the market. 

While you may not have to worry about cracking your screen, there are still some concerns about the iPhone battery. One thing some users are alarmed to discover is that their phone “bricks” in low temperatures.

We’ve put together a list of iPhone battery life tips that will help preserve your battery longer. Now, we’re going to talk about the dreaded bricking and what to do when it happens.

Read on to learn the five best iPhone battery life tips for cold weather.

1. Understand What Bricking Is

Bricking occurs when an iPhone’s software locks up or becomes impossible to use. If your phone is bricked, it means that there’s something wrong internally while the hardware is perfectly fine. 

There are a lot of ways that your iPhone can become bricked. For example, if you disrupt an update or try to jailbreak the phone in order to install third-party software, you may cause the phone to brick. One writer even found that by setting the date on your iPhone back to January 1st, 1970, you can cause your phone to brick forever!

Fortunately, most of the time bricking is temporary. Extreme hot and cold temperatures can produce a similar effect by causing the battery to go haywire, an issue that tends to resolve itself. Basically, the iOS system starts behaving in a way that is designed to preserve the battery but actually causes the battery to drain itself. 

2. Recognize the Signs of Bricking

One of the most important iPhone battery life tips is that you should learn what your iPhone battery is doing and why. The way you should react to a broken charger port, for example, is different from the way you need to react to bricking caused by low temperatures.

When an iPhone bricks from cold temperatures, you’ll find that it shuts down on its own at an unexpected time. You might be using it and happen to notice the 50% battery life icon in the top right corner. Of course, at 50% battery life, there’s no reason for an iPhone to die–but a bricked phone will, no matter how charged the battery appears.

When you try to turn a cold iPhone back on, you may get the Apple logo as the phone attempts to boot up. Chances are, it won’t get much further than that before it shuts down again. Finally, you’ll probably get the blitzed battery symbol indicating that you need a charge.

3. Keep Your Phone Warm in Low Temperatures

The best way to deal with a bricked phone is to prevent it from ever reaching that point. If you know that you’re heading out in near-freezing or below-freezing temperatures, make sure that your phone is prepared.

First, make sure that you’re using a solid, quality case. Brittle plastic cases don’t do much for your phone in general and certainly won’t keep the phone warm on a cold day. Instead, you’re going to want a more durable plastic or silicon case.

Second, try not to take it out of your pocket much. In fact, if you have a pocket close to your body, that’s where it should stay. A good place would be a pants or breast pocket that is covered by a jacket. 

The less you expose your phone to the cold temperatures, the less likely it is to brick. If you’re dying to take a photo or listen to some tunes, use your phone as fast as possible before putting it back in a warm location.

4. Don’t Plug Your Phone In When It’s Too Cold

As we mentioned earlier, a bricked phone may show you the blitzed battery symbol, prompting you to plug your phone in. It is imperative that you don’t plug your phone in while it’s still too cold to operate.

Lithium-ion batteries can be finicky. If you try to charge them up when they are below their functional temperature, you can cause permanent damage. 

Rather than reaching for the charger right away, give your phone some time to warm up. It’s not uncommon for iPhones to turn back on by themselves after appearing to die from cold temperatures. Even if this doesn’t occur, leave your phone in a warm place for at least twenty minutes before plugging it in.

5. Don’t Panic

People tend to see an iPhone that won’t turn on and assume that it has kicked the bucket for good. Don’t go online and immediately order a new iPhone if, in actuality, your phone is just bricked. 

Follow our steps first. If they don’t work, then you may be in need of some repairs. If that’s the case, Fruit Fixed is at your service!

Learn More iPhone Battery Life Tips and Get Repair Help

As we head for the long, cold months of winter, don’t let a bricked phone bring you down. Our iPhone battery life tips are designed to help you protect your iPhone battery from all sorts of conditions, including freezing temperatures. 

Looking for more ways to give your iPhone the longest shelf life possible? Take a look at more of our blog posts and find out everything you need to know about taking care of your iPhone. 

Does your iPhone require a little more TLC than you can give it? Give us a call or find out more about the repair services we offer.

Justin Drake Carroll Phone FAQs

How to Not Crack Your Phone: 9 Helpful Tips

It always happens in slow motion. The sudden loss of grip, the phone floating through the air until you hear the inevitable crack on the concrete. With the huge expenditure we are willing to pay on our devices, why don’t we take more care when protecting our phones?

If you do crack your phone, it could have easily been prevented. Below, we give our 9 tips on how to keep your device safe.

1. Place It in a Case

By accident or design, phones and tablets are not the most durable of items. One drop or nick and the whole thing can shatter into pieces. It stands to reason that you need an extra layer of protection to prevent craking phones.

If you are someone who uses their tablet while doing hands-on work or activities, you also need a case to protect it from paint, ingredients, chemicals, and for extra grip when you have slippery fingers. There is a wide variation of cases available, in all prices ranges, so you should be able to find one that suits you. 

The decision to place it in a hard or soft case is up to you. A soft case is likely to add more cushion if dropped from a height, though hard cases look more professional and keep the size of the item down. 

2. Add a Pop Socket

For anyone who does not know what a pop socket is, they are the plastic handles that you may have seen attached to the back of people’s phones. They allow you extra grip when using the device, by sliding your fingers around the circular handle. The flexible stem and disc end make them extremely ergonomic.

The main purpose is to stop you dropping your phone while texting or taking pictures, so it is more a preventative measure than a protection device. In addition to this, many of them are fashionable and customizable, so you can add some individuality to your phone. If you are a person who often uses their phone with one hand, then they are essential items. 

In fact, they are so essential that they are the number one selling phone accessory. The company sold over 25 million units last year alone and show no sign of slowing down yet.

3. Get a Screen Protector

Even when you have a case, you should still install a screen protector. This is because you may scratch the surface, or even drop something directly on to the screen and crack it. Screens can also be one of the most expensive items t replace on a phone. 

Although protectors seem like a simple piece of transparent plastic, they can also keep off finger marks and water damage. With such easy installation methods and a low price, you would be foolish not to pick one up and add it to your phone as quickly as possible. 

4. Store Devices Safely

It is really convenient to just throw your phone down on a table or slide it in your back pocket. However, these places are always areas that get lots of movement and objects trafficking through, which increases the possibility of risk and damage. Instead of doing this, try to place your devices somewhere safe. 

Set up specific spots, either in your home or on your person, to keep your phone. This decreases the chance of you losing it as well as the chances of cracking your phone. Make this spot safe and protected.

Inside a drawer or a desk would be a great place in the house. If you are on the move, a zipped up bag or internal zipped pocket would work well. 

5. Items on Top Will Crack Your Phone

One sure-fire way to crack your phone screen is to place items on top of it. You will have no doubt seen how fragile phones are at the corners when dropped. The centre of the screen is even more delicate.

The centre of the screen is filled with all the delicate sensors that make your touchscreen function. Behind it sits the circuits, chips and storage that power your device and keep it running. So why put external pressure on them?

Even if you place light items on top, you still risk scratching the surface. You can also find that it drops to the floor when the top item is moved or pulled. 

6. Use a Car Phone Holder

In an ideal world, you would not use your phone in the car. However, the reality is people do, and it may double up as your satellite navigation system. In this case, it pays to have a phone holder that grips the phone and attaches to the dash or windscreen.

7. Add a Skin

Many phone manufacturers are now adding glass backs to phones. While this does offer an added layer of protection, it can also make them extremely slippery. You can prevent the device sliding fro your hands by adding a skin.

8. Think About Where You Really Need It

While phones allow us to capture some amazing moments, we need to weigh up the risk factor and decide where we need to take our devices. It may be great to film yourself mountain biking down a trail, but one slip and your phone is gone. That is what durable mini-cameras were invented for. 

Use your common sense and think about the risk factor involved. If you are in a situation that would mean disaster for your phone, then store it securely or leave it altogether. 

9. Keep Liquids Away

Liquids will not crack your phone, but they can cause just as much damage, if not more. When a phone cracks, the screen or the shell needs replacing. When liquid gets inside, it seeps deep into the working mechanisms of your phone causing lots more damage. 

Prevent this by following all the advice for cases and screen protectors. In addition, keep your phone well away from any liquids. Even if they are sealed or have lids, knocking them over may still cause the contents to spill out and damage your phone. 

Keep It Clean

When you do crack your phone, make sure you replace the screen immediately and keep it clean. Cracks can allow dirt into the device and cause huge amounts of damage. Alternatively, call Fruit Fixed immediately for an instant repair quote from our professional, experienced team!