Thanks to the launch of iPhone 8 and iPhone X, the world is once again buzzing with phone FOMO about which device looks sexier and which offers the best specs…

While the focus is all centred on which is deemed better, ultimately whatever phone you buy, it’s ideal to know how to treat it.

More than half the world now uses a smartphone, according to the Digital in 2017 Global Overview report released earlier in the year. That’s around 3.5 billion people. Of those, it is estimated that 87% of them keep their phone within arm’s length for the majority of the day. With this quantity of phones and level of daily interaction, it’s no wonder devices repeatedly require repair, new screens, new batteries and updated software.

Along with more obvious errors in terms of how we handle our phones, there are also numerous ways that we might beinadvertently damaging them through bad habits and negligent use.

Asharaf Rogers, Technical Manager at weFix – SA’s leading smart device repair specialists – suggests these steps to help ensure you don’t cause undue damage to your mobile device:

1.     Too hot to trot:

Never leave your device in direct sunlight, in your car or exposed to heat. This is literally a possible explosion waiting to happen.

2.     Fire alert:

If your device has come into contact with liquid and you suspect liquid damage, the battery must be disconnected if possible or the device must be switched off. Fail to do this and any excessive movement during logistics could cause overheating and result in an exploding battery or a battery catching alight.

3.     Crack me up:

A cracked screen usually ends up with shattered glass fragments and this can be dangerous not just for your hands, but also for your eyes as these pieces of glass can break into tinier pieces invisible to the eye. So if you’re unlucky enough to crack your screen, don’t wait until it’s a health hazard before taking it in for repair. A very short-term tip is to cover cracked screens with sellotape!

Read: How to Easily Unlock Internet Modems Without Any Software 

 
4.     Malware:While you might be up-to-date with your PC security software, don’t forget about your phone. Be extra careful when installing apps on your smartphone and ensure you do your system updates regularly.

5.     Give it a rest:

Our smartphones are literally on 24-hours a day, 7-days a week but the reality is that they also need a rest. At least once a week, reboot your device or shut it down for 30 minutes or so. Doing this will ensure that caches are cleared and subsystems are properly restarted. You’ll also be helping ensure the longevity of the RAM on the device and enabling certain diagnostics to be run.

6.     Unplugged:

Don’t leave your smartphone plugged in and charging all night as this can generate excess heat and damage your phone.

7.     Drop it:

Even if you don’t immediately see a shattered screen or a dented corner on your device once you’ve dropped it, don’t assume there is no damage done. It’s still possible that a fall has weakened your phone’s casing or damaged something inside the device. Repeated impacts that may be doing more damage than you think.

Read: How To Get Free 750MB and 120 Mins to Browse and Call with MTN 

8.     Cover up:

Screen protectors and phone covers go a long way in protecting the device from drop damage. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

weFix’s Rogers adds, “While these are extremely isolated incidences, devices have been known to shatter in people’s hands due to heat or pressure and batteries have been known to explode in pockets and handbags, seriously injuring the device owner or close passers by.”

So whether you’re going all out on the latest smartphone or you’re opting for a budget-friendly device instead, be sure to take care of your smartphone and it will no doubt take care of you!

If helpful kindly drop a comment