With more and more shiny new devices launching on the market every day, keeping up with tech trends can get expensive. On average, smartphones cost us a whopping $228 per year of use, with laptops not far behind. Video game consoles and smartwatches may cost us less than $100 per year of use, but that doesn’t make us want to protect them any less!
Getting the most out of your tech devices means knowing how to extend their lifespan. Unfortunately, a few bad habits can ruin your devices fast. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways people damage their favorite devices without even knowing.
Charging Devices Overnight
When it comes to bad habits with tech, most people have heard the popular advice that charging your device overnight can be bad news for your battery.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a myth. Keeping your phone charging at 100% for long periods, whether it’s day or night, can strain a lithium-ion battery. This is because batteries grow warmer when plugged into a charger, and heat decreases your battery life.
However, if you do choose to charge a device overnight, know that some modern devices fare better than others.
Newer Apple devices, for example, support optimized battery charging. With this feature enabled, your iPhone will stop charging past 80% based on your charging schedule. Your phone then predicts what time you’ll unplug it, typically the time you wake in the morning, and schedules a rapid charge to 100% right before then.
Draining Your Battery Too Often
Another way to kill any lithium-ion battery is to drain it until it’s dead.
Modern batteries are strained the most when they’re low or empty as well as when they’re fully charged. In an ideal world, you’ll keep your device’s battery charged to a sweet spot of 30-80% at all times. (Note that taking your battery off a charger before it hits a 100% charge isn’t damaging; this common myth is a holdover from the days of nickel-cadmium batteries.)
If you haven’t plugged in your device before it hits 20%, be sure to turn on the battery saver mode, if it has one. Both iPhone and Android devices offer various power-saving settings that help preserve your battery life until you can find the nearest outlet.
Using Unofficial Chargers
It’s always a good idea to use the charger that came with your device. Barring that, you should replace broken or lost chargers with another model from the original manufacturer. You can also use chargers from brands that go through the trouble of getting certification from the original manufacturer, such as Apple’s MFi certification.
Unofficial chargers may not send the right current to your device. Some chargers may not stop delivering a charge when your device’s battery is full. Both of these things can wreak havoc on your battery life.
While it’s true that some unofficial chargers may offer the perfect charge, it can be hard to tell whether or not you’re getting a product tailored to your device. Instead, play it safe and reach for an official or certified product.
Failing to Update
Whether you’re dealing with a phone, tablet, or computer, it’s important to update your device’s iOS when a new one is available. Sure, updates take time and may require a reboot, but they can also make your device more stable and usable while adding new features.
Even better, software updates often patch known vulnerabilities in your iOS. These patches protect your sensitive data and even safeguard your device from malware and viruses that can affect the software in the long run.
Leaving Devices in the Sun
As we mentioned above, heat is a battery killer. Worse, too much heat can cause permanent damage to your phone, impacting your files, limiting processing power, or even making certain features inaccessible. You may end up needing to buy a new phone!
It’s tempting to keep your expensive tech by your side when you’re sunbathing or exercising outside, and you might not think twice about leaving it on the front dash of your car. However, these habits can cook your favorite devices if you aren’t careful! Just like you’d protect your own skin, stick to the shade where possible and try to keep your devices out of the sun for long periods.
Not Using a Case or Cover
This is one of those tech habits that may seem like a no-brainer, but we’ve had plenty of customers come in with a broken device that doesn’t have any kind of protective covering. Accidents happen to everyone, and the last thing you want is a costly mistake that damages your device in a split second!
From spills to accidental drops, a sturdy case or cover can help protect your device from harm. Even if you don’t want to add too much bulk, a sleek silicone phone case or a slim tablet screen protector can make a difference. You can even get cases and silicone keyboard covers for your laptop.
On that note, it’s also a good idea to get a protection plan or a warranty when you’re buying your device, if one is available to you. This way, if you do end up ruining your tech, you’re still protected!
Get More Out of Your Tech Devices
Taking good care of your tech devices can preserve their battery life and improve their lifespan. Though you’ll have to put some thought into how you treat your phone, tablet, or computer, a bit of effort can help you enjoy your device for years to come!
Of course, we also understand that mistakes happen, no matter how careful you are. That’s why our team is here to offer fast and professional repairs with a lifetime warranty. Contact us today to repair everything from phones to digital watches to game consoles.
