Adrian holds a BA in English Studies and an MA in Philosophy and Contemporary Critical Theory. He has been writing about technology for a few years now, working both in Poland and with English-speaking publications, such as PCWorld, TechAdvisor, and now Pocket-lint.
He is particularly interested in sustainable tech, loves all things second-hand, but also enjoys writing all kinds of guides, how-tos, and comparisons. When not working, he is pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy -- so, essentially, doing some more work. Whether you want to talk about phones, aesthetics, or critical theory, he's glad to have a chat!
Over the last few years, the push towards more eco-friendly, longer-lasting smartphones has finally taken root. Multiple manufacturers extended their software support, and some even started providing spare parts for DIY repairs. It's certainly a step in the right direction, but the fight to keep your devices in working condition is not done. Especially now, when more and more consumers are considering things like reliability, repairability, and longevity when making purchases.
And even though various design choices impact the phone's durability, it's mostly about the way you treat your smartphone that will decide its lifespan. Fortunately, in order to extend your phone's lifespan significantly, you really don't have to do much. It's really about everyday care and a bit of maintenance. A couple of minutes and a bit of elbow grease every once in a while works just fine.
Dress it up a bit
Protective gear for your phone
I'll be the first to say it: I hate phone cases and screen protectors. The phones are made so well nowadays, with all the cool colors, materials and textures. I'd love to just show off the phone. Unfortunately, reality happens, and with it sudden drops from your desk or a bit too much sand in your pockets. And as much as I dislike cases, I don't like cracked screens with dangerous grass shards even more.
So, the best way to make sure that your phone is in as good a condition as possible, you have to equip it with a bit of protective gear. A case is a must, and a screen protector a close second. I'd advise against plastic screen protectors, they just feel much worse to swipe on than glass ones.
Give it a wipe once in a while
Check every nook and cranny
Now comes the from-time-to-time part. Phone cases are great, but they have a nasty secret: all the dust and little particles collecting inside. Especially if, like me, you tend to do things outside, dust just finds a way into your pockets.
The collected dust can surprisingly quickly wreak havoc on your phone's metal frame. That's just a bummer when, after removing your phone from a case, you keep it on to protect the phone from scratches, just for it to be scratched anyway.
If that sounds like a problem you have, the solution's really easy. Once a month, remove the case and get your phone a good wipe. Then, clean the case from the inside. A cotton swab with some isopropyl alcohol would be ideal, but just using water is fine as well. It's a few minutes from your month and can really make a difference.
One more thing to keep in mind is handling all the holes in your phone. Charging ports can have a tendency to get plugged up with lint, while dirty speakers and microphones can render even the best audio totally useless. Caring for them is, once again, really easy. Just take a dry toothbrush, ideally with really soft bristles. Then give all the port and speaker wholes as nice wipe.
They're not into extremes
Moderate climate for your phone
Smartphones are extremely tough pieces of tech. Just think about any other machine that daily survives all the things a typical phone does. However, even with all that toughness, there are electronics underneath, and they come with all the usual limitations.
So, even though these smartphones are quite good survivalists, keeping them from extreme temperatures is a great idea. It's the double problem for phones: electronics don't like excessive temperatures, and the same is true for batteries. That makes it a good idea to protect them from heat or cold.
Of course, it's fine for a phone to be in your pocket in the summer or winter. But when you're leaving your phone on a beach chair to hop into a pool, maybe just throw a towel on it so that it doesn't burn itself in the heat. And if it's freezing, and you start feeling your battery getting drained, don't panic. Just put your phone in your inside jacket pocket, or any other place, you can heat it up with your body heat.
Only top up when necessary
Sometimes you don't want 100%
Speaking of batteries, there is one more thing to remember about them. While, theoretically, you can use it from 100% charge to 0%, it really is not recommended. These last 15–20% on each end are rather tough on battery health. It means keeping your phone charged between 20% and 80% is best for the battery. Fortunately, phones nowadays offer ways to reduce charging and set a maximum charge percentage, so you can easily set up these limits in just a few clicks.
Software needs a clean as well
Spring-cleaning for your iOS or Android
When you're done with all the hardware, you should as well take a look at the software side of things. First, make sure your system updates are done. They might be irritating and appear in the worst possible moments, but having your phone up-to-date is important. Security features there are your best defense against all the new threats, and keeping your phone secure is crucial.
One more thing to keep an eye at is your storage space. If you're running out, it's good practice to offload your photos and videos to a disk or a server. You can keep them save in the cloud, and originals will stop eating away at your phone storage. Plus, it is recommended to keep around 15% of your SSD free, as it helps tremendously with longevity.