5 Essential Tips to Prevent Common iPhone Issues and Boost Performance

As our reliance on smartphones continues to increase, encountering an issue with your iPhone can feel like a minor catastrophe. These essential devices keep us connected, entertained, and organized. So, what happens when you’re faced with a common iPhone issue? Before you panic, let’s explore some preventive measures and simple solutions to common problems.

For those living in Lowell, you’re in luck. Lowell Phone Repair provides expert iPhone repairs including screen repairs, battery replacement, water damage repairs, and more. They also offer a 30-day warranty on all iPhone repairs. But before you find yourself in need of professional help, let’s take a look at some ways you can prevent and address common iPhone issues on your own.

1. Preventing and Addressing Battery Drain

Battery drain is one of the most common complaints from iPhone users. As batteries age, they can’t hold the same charge they once could. However, you can do a few things to help maximize battery life:

  • Limit background activity: Many apps continue to refresh and use data even when you’re not actively using them. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn off any unnecessary apps or simply turn off Background App Refresh for all apps.
  • Adjust screen brightness: Bright screens drain batteries faster. Try adjusting your screen brightness in your iPhone’s settings or enabling auto-brightness.

If your battery continues to drain quickly or your phone shuts down unexpectedly, it might be time for an iPhone battery replacement. Lowell Phone Repair can efficiently and affordably replace your iPhone battery, giving your device new life.

2. Dealing with Screen Issues

iPhone screens are durable, but they’re not indestructible. Cracks and breaks happen, even to the best of us. If you’re dealing with a minor scratch, you may be able to buff it out using a screen repair liquid. However, if your screen is severely cracked or shattered, you should get it professionally repaired to avoid further damage.

To prevent screen issues in the first place, invest in a high-quality screen protector and phone case. Regularly clean your screen with a microfiber cloth to prevent buildup that can cause scratches.

When a professional iPhone screen repair becomes necessary, Lowell Phone Repair is your trusted local service, ensuring that your device looks and performs its best.

3. Combatting Water Damage

Even though newer iPhones are designed to be water-resistant, they’re not completely waterproof. Exposure to water that goes beyond your iPhone’s water resistance rating or any exposure to other liquids can still cause damage. 

If your iPhone does get wet, turn it off immediately and remove any accessories or plugs. Wipe down the exterior and let it dry completely before attempting to turn it on again.

Preventing water damage is always the best course. Avoid using your phone near water and consider purchasing a water-resistant case for added protection.

If your device has been exposed to water or other liquids and is not working properly, Lowell Phone Repair offers expert iPhone water damage repairs. Their technicians have the tools and knowledge to repair water-damaged iPhones and get you back up and running.

4. Managing Slow Performance

Over time, you may notice your iPhone running slower. This could be due to a full storage space, too many apps running in the background, or needing a software update. Try freeing up storage space, closing unused apps, and updating your iOS software to improve performance.

If your device continues to run slow, it might be worth resetting your iPhone to factory settings and starting fresh. Just make sure to back up all your data before doing so.

5. Sound and Speaker Problems

If you’re experiencing issues with your iPhone’s sound or speakers, ensure that your device is not stuck in headphone mode and check the sound settings. Also, a simple restart can often fix minor glitches.

However, if you’re still experiencing issues, you may have a hardware problem that needs professional attention. Lowell Phone Repair can expertly address any sound or speaker issues you might have.

iPhone Repair Experts at Your Service

When facing issues with your iPhone, it’s essential to know when a DIY fix is appropriate and when it’s time to seek professional help. Lowell Phone Repair provides top-quality iPhone repair services for all common issues and more. Their skilled technicians can help you troubleshoot issues and provide affordable, effective solutions, backed by a 30-day warranty.

Contact Lowell Phone Repair at +1 (978) 455-0159 to get started.

Remember, while some problems can be prevented or easily fixed, don’t hesitate to seek professional help when needed. This not only ensures your device is in safe hands but also saves you time and potential frustration. Trust Lowell Phone Repair to keep your iPhone in peak performance condition.

Apple Tablets vs. Android Tablets: Which Is Best?

Looking for a new tablet in today’s market can be overwhelming. With so many brands to choose from, picking the right tablet for you might take a long time, or you might miss out on something good if you rush into a purchase.

As experts in tablet repairs, we’re here to help you pick the right type of tablet for your needs. Should you go with an Apple tablet or an Android tablet? Let’s dive into what features you should be looking at to get the best value for your money.

Price

Price used to be a base of comparison between iPadOS and Android tablets. But now, there are tablets from known brands running Android that are in the same price range as Apple tablets. Brands like Samsung, Lenovo, Huawei, and Amazon are keeping up with the power and quality of Apple tablets.

If price is a major deciding factor between choosing the winner of the Apple tablets vs. Android tablets, Android tablets fare better. That’s because Apple’s cheapest iPad starts at $329. On the other hand, the cheapest Android tablet from Amazon’s Amazon Fire line starts at $59.99.

Size options

When it comes to tablet and display size, the smallest you can get from these three brands is a 7” display. If you prefer smaller-sized tablets, Amazon Fire 7 is a good option. However, this Android tablet isn’t as powerful as iPads and newer Android tablets from Samsung and Lenovo.

The smallest Apple tablet you can get is the iPad mini, which sports an 8.3” display. For bigger tablets, you can get anything from 9” to a little below 13” tablets from Lenovo, Samsung, Amazon, and Apple.

Durability

As for tablet durability, you can opt for tablets with outer materials made of aluminum, such as Apple’s iPad models. If you have no issues with thick tablets, you can also opt for a tablet that’s thicker than normal tablets without sacrificing the processing power and operating system support.

Since newer tablets are thinner than old ones, it’ll be difficult to find a newly-released tablet with thicker builds.

Additionally, since most tablets use the same materials, durability boils down to how you use your tablet. If you’re careful and use your tablet with a protective case or a tempered glass on its display, they can last longer than when you use them without any form of protection.

Screen resolution

Regarding display resolution, you can rely on Apple’s tablets because of their proprietary Retina display. Most Android tablets use AMOLED displays, which are also of high resolution.

When it comes to display quality, the rule of thumb is the resolution should be enough to support a tablet’s display size without sacrificing image quality and the smoothness of movements.

4 Common Apple Watch Issues and How to Fix Them

As an Apple Watch user, you rely on your watch for your daily activities. If one of your Apple daily drivers encounters a problem, it can disrupt your routine. That’s why knowing the quickest and most effective fix to specific issues is important. As your trusted Apple Watch repair provider, we’ve compiled a list of the most common Apple watch issues and how you can address them:

  1. Wake Screen on Wrist Raise doesn’t work

An Apple Watch is a watch for a reason. If you use it as your normal watch, you like to see the time as soon as you put your raise up to check. However, there are times or issues that are hindering your watch from showing you the time. It can be something in the Apple Watch’s settings you forgot to change or a more serious issue with your hardware.

Fix: Check your Settings

  1. On your Apple Watch, go to “Settings.”
  2. Select “General.”
  3. Look for “Wake Screen” and make sure the “Wake Screen on Wrist Raise” is on.

Note: You can also do this on the iPhone paired to your Apple Watch through the “Watch” app.

Fix 2: Turn off Theater Mode

  1. On your Apple Watch, pull up “Control Center.”
  2. Scroll down and ensure Theater Mode is disabled.
  3. Simply tap on the icon with two masks to turn the feature on and off.

To know what your Apple Watch’s Control Center icons do, read this guide from Apple.

  1. No iPhone Connection Error

Even if your Apple Watch is totally fine, it may at times encounter a “No iPhone Connection” error. However, we can assure you that this is very common and the cause can be as simple as you forgetting to turn your iPhone’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on.

But if it’s a persistent issue that you experience with a single Apple Watch and multiple iPhones, you’re looking at a more serious problem that needs professional care.

Before you reach out to your local Apple Watch repair provider, make sure you try to troubleshoot on your own to save time and money. Here are some ways to do so:

Fix 1: Check if Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on

  1. On your iPhone, pull up “Control Center.”
  2. Tap the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons. When they turn blue, that means they’re turned on.

Fix 2: Put your Apple Watch in pairing mode

  1. When you first get your Apple Watch, its start-up should immediately be on pairing mode.
  2. If not, it’s probably still paired with another iPhone.
  3. Use this guide to reset and unpair an Apple Watch.

Fix 3: Turn Airplane Mode off

  1. On your iPhone, pull up “Control Center” and turn Airplane Mode on and off.
  2. On your Apple Watch, pull up “Control Center” and turn Airplane Mode on and off.

Fix 4: Restart your Apple Watch and iPhone

Apple Watch

  1. To restart your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button.
  2. Slide to power off.

iPhone

  1. On your iPhone, press and hold the power and any of the volume buttons.
  2. Slide to power off.
  1. Digital Crown not responding

Aside from the “action” button, your Apple Watch’s Digital Crown is one of its only parts that you can press and rotate. That makes the Digital Crown prone to damage due to accidents or wear. If your Digital Crown stops responding, you might think it’s time you get an Apple Watch repair or a new Apple Watch. However, we highly recommend you try these fixes before seeking professional help or getting a new unit:

Fix 1: Restart your Apple Watch

  1. To restart your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button.
  2. Slide to power off.

Fix 2: Unpair and pair your Apple Watch

  1. See this guide from Apple.

Fix 3: Clean your Apple Watch

  1. Use this Apple Watch cleaning guide from Apple.

4. Poor battery life

Of all Apple’s battery-powered products, the Apple Watch is probably the one that lasts the longest. With the correct settings, your Apple Watch can last a day or more. But with the new Always On Display feature in the Series 7s, holes in Apple Watch’s battery life began to show.

However, if you don’t have Always On Display turned on or have a model that doesn’t have it but still think your Apple Watch should be lasting longer, you can tweak a few settings to save some juice. If tweaks change little to nothing, it’s time to get an Apple Watch repair.

Before you contact your repair provider, try these possible fixes:

Fix 1: Reset your Apple Watch

  1. On your Apple Watch, go to “Settings.”
  2. Select “General.”
  3. Tap “Reset.”

Fix 2: Turn on Power Reserve

  1. On your Apple Watch, go to “Settings.”
  2. Scroll and select “Battery.”
  3. Scroll to the bottom and slide to put your Apple Watch in Power Reserve mode.

Note: Read this support page from Apple Watch to know more about Power Reserve mode and what it can do for your Apple Watch.

Google Pixel 6a vs. Apple iPhone SE: Which low-cost phone is best?

Apple released the iPhone SE on March 18 this year in the market. And Google announced the release of the Pixel 6a phone this same year, having pre-orders on July 21 and hitting on July 28. The Pixel 6a appears to be a solid Android equivalent to the entry-level iPhone SE. Prices for both are quite similar, but which of Google and Apple’s budget phones is better? Here, we compile the specs to find out.

Apple iPhone SE vs. Google Pixel 6a: Display

Google Pixel 6a’s screen measures 6.1 inches with an OLED touch screen that displays 2400 by 1080 pixels and a 20:9 ratio; that’s 429 PPI density. The phone is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, an Always-on display. Apple’s iPhone SE’s Retina HD LCD sports a fairly 4.7 inches with 1334 by 750 pixels of display resolution and a ratio of 16:9, for 326 pixels per inch. This device is protected with Ion-strengthened glass that is coated with oleophobic, wide color gamut, and true-tone. This makes the Pixel 6a have a bigger and notably sharper display. But both claim to have high contrast levels and wide colors.

Apple iPhone SE vs. Google Pixel 6a: Battery

iPhone SE says it has a Li-Ion 2018 mAh that is not removable. That would be 6.96 Watt-hours. This could charge as fast as 20W, 50% in just 30 minutes. This is also 7.5W with Qi wireless charging. This can offer up to 15 hours of video playback.

On the other hand, the Pixel 6a has a battery Li-Po 4410 mAh (also not removable). Its charging rate is at least 18W used with USB Power Delivery 3.0 which is lower than iPhone SE. So in terms of battery life, the Apple iPhone SE has longer hours.

Apple iPhone SE vs. Google Pixel 6a: Processor

Apple iPhone SE has an Apple A15 Bionic Hexa-core with 2 by 3.22 GHz Avalanche and 4 by 1.82 GHz Blizzard; an Apple GPU of 4-core graphics. This operates with iOS 15.4 which is upgradable to iOS 15.5. It has no slot for a memory card, yet it’s available with NVMe internal memories of 64GB and 4GB RAM, 128GB and 4GB RAM, and 256GB and 4GB RAM.

Meanwhile, Google Pixel 6a operates with Android 12 that runs with Google Tensor chipset of Octa-core (2 by 2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 and 2 by 2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 and 4 by 1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G78 MP20 GPU. This also has no card slot but has UFS 3.1 128GB and 6GB RAM. In this case, the iPhone SE has more edge than the Pixel 6a.

Apple iPhone SE vs. Google Pixel 6a: Price

The latest Pixel model has a lot of great features that have a low cost starting at $449. That price makes it great for comparison to Apple’s iPhone SE, which starts at $ 429. Though we can’t really give a clear verdict since the Pixel 6a hasn’t reached the market yet, we have its stated specs to give us means of comparing the Google Pixel 6a to the Apple iPhone SE. It seems the Pixel 6a costs more than the iPhone SE, right? And the iPhone still has more upper hand over low-cost phones. But still, both seem to have reasonable and fair prices with all of their capabilities.

Other than the above comparisons, here’s more.

iPhone SE also has main camera features of Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama having dual 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, and 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm with video qualities of  4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS. It has a selfie camera feature of HDR that has a single 7MP, with f/2.2 video quality. Then Pixel 6a also has main camera features of Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, and Panorama having single 12MP, f/1.8 wide, PDAF, and OIS with video qualities of  4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. It has a selfie camera that features Auto-HDR, a panorama that has a single 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm, with 1080p@30fps video quality. 

In terms of communication, the latest model of Apple features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot; a 5.0, A2DP, LE for Bluetooth. It also has A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and QZSS; a 2.0 USB Lightning type. The Pixel 6a on the other hand, features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot; also a 5.2 A2DP, LE for Bluetooth. Same as iPhone SE it has GPS features and NFC.

The body of the Google Pixel 6a has a dimension of 152.2 by 71.8 by 8.9 mm which weighs 178g, while iPhone SE has 138.4 by 67.3 by 7.3 mm and weighs 144 g. Pixel 6a has an available SIM slot for Nano-SIM and/or eSIM. Both have IP67 dust/water resistance, but iPhone SE also has Apple Pay that can also be used with Visa, MasterCard, and AMEX Certified.

Graduated and Need to Buy a New Laptop? Here’s What to Look For.

Are you considering buying a new laptop but wondering what’s best for you? Many people search for the best devices with high-end features but miss what to look for, which is what they need and what’s best for them. Here we’ll discuss what to look for.

Processor

This is also referred to as a chip or CPU (Central Processing Unit). Intel and AMD are the two companies that make processors for laptops.

Core i3 is weaker but cheaper. Yet this chip is still ample for everyday computing tasks. This is available as dual-core and at multiple speeds ranging from 1.30 GHz up to 3.50 GHz, with features of either 3MB or 4MB of cache. 

One may ample if you run web browsers, Office applications, media software, and low-end games. But it can’t handle content creation, heavy editing, or video work. It may also slow down with tougher games.

AMD Ryzen 5 and Intel i5 are indistinguishable when browsing the web or editing documents. Core i5 CPUs are capable of handling a broader range of situations. 

This is usually available as dual-core or quad-core. Its multiple speed ranges from 1.90 GHz up to 3.80 GHz, with 3 MB, 4 MB, and 6 MB cache. Ryzen 7 and Intel Core i7 can also be similar. Intel i7 features either four cores or six cores with frequencies of 2.60 GHz up to 3.70 GHz. This processor is primarily marketed to gaming enthusiasts, gaming artists, filmmakers, and makers.

The Core i9 processor is the most powerful among the four units. These CPUs feature six to eighteen cores with two threads per core when hyper-threading is enabled. It has 2.9 to 3.6 GHz, and up to 5 GHz frequencies if using Intel Turbo Boost. 

In terms of graphic performance, AMD tends to have an edge. So if you’re a video editor or a gamer, this is likely to be your upper hand. 

Memory

Choosing the right memory might boost your device’s performance. It’s been a norm to have 8GB as the bare minimum as it fits our budget and it can already meet our productivity fairly. But for experienced users, it’s not a great choice.

Your machine may get sluggish because some programs demand more memory capacity even modern web browsers lightens the load. So most users who want to multitask without the slowdown are recommended to choose 16GB of main system memory or 36 GB for those heavy multitaskers like video editors. 

The more RAM you have, the faster your laptop performance is. Check if the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, you can upgrade the RAM yourself if it is not soldered. You would also want to check if it has DDR (Double Data Rate). DDR 4 RAM is speedy and common in most laptops. But the manufacturer will give you a list, so it’s better to check before buying.

Storage

This is your laptop’s filing cabinet. The most common storage choice these days is a solid-state drive (SSD), but some budget laptops still use spinning drives. SSD is can be budget-friendly and faster especially if they use an NVMe connection. 

The recommended minimum space amount is 256 gigabytes. If you use Cloud, you can choose less. But it’s better to have a ready space for more. It will eat up space quickly if you install a lot of software or games. You may notice that the hard drive doesn’t have the same space as what was advertised. The space didn’t reduce, it just has something to do with the difference between the binary that Windows use and decimal bytes that drive makers use. 

Battery Life

Many focus on the number of hours that the manufacturers quoted. A laptop’s battery life is often different from what is said on the box. It can differ due to the screen brightness, type, or amount of software you run. These affect how long the battery lasts. 

The battery life of your device also differs from the type of processor that you use. You should look for the rating of the battery in milliamps-hours (mAh) or Watt-hours (Wh). If the number is bigger, the battery will last longer.

Design

You should consider your laptop design according to which field you are in or where you use your laptop for. If you travel and take your laptop with you a lot of times, you might like the slim ones. There are also notebook laptops, which are slimmer, lighter, and simplified sets of tools. Ultraportable and Ultrabook are quite similar to notebooks. 

Ultrabook’s strong point is strong security and anti-theft protection. In convertible (2-in-1), you can quickly switch to touchscreen mode or the traditional keyboard model. Convertibles also transform in various ways like detaching, sliding, twisting, and fold-back mechanisms. The most high-end convertible has a high-resolution screen with a wider color gamut, optimized for multimedia that is great for watching videos.

After you narrowed down your choices, check the reviews and look for something beyond the specifications you prefer. I hope you find this article helpful.

Apple iPad Air 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

If you’re in the market for a tablet, the number of choices you have can be overwhelming. That’s why our experts have rounded down two of the latest tablets from technology powerhouses Apple and Samsung.

In this gadget A versus gadget B article, we’re going to compare Apple’s iPad Air 4 (2020) and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra (2022). We’re breaking down which one fares better in terms of:

  • Specifications
  • Price
  • Design
  • Display
  • Performance
  • Camera
  • Battery life
  • Software

Specifications

Looking at the quick specifications for both products below, we can see significant differences in starting price, cameras, battery life, weight, and color choices. These differences might be the point where you pick either of the two. 

You might like the iPad Air 4 because it’s $500 cheaper and lighter, but you might also like the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra for its better camera, bigger display, longer battery life, and higher storage capacity.

iPad Air 4Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Starting price$599$1,099.99
Display10.9 inches (1640 x 2360)14.6 inches (1848 x 2960)
CPUHexa-coreOcta-core
RAM4GB8GB
Storage64GB128GB
Rear camera12MP13MP + 6MP
Front camera7MP12MP + 12MP
Battery life7606 mAh11200 mAh
Size9.75 x 7.03 x 0.24 in12.85 x 8.21 x 0.22 in
Weight458 g726 g
ColorsSpace Gray, Silver, Rose Gold, Green, Sky BlueGraphite

Price

In the table above, you can see that the iPad Air 4 is half the price of the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. The reason behind this is that the iPad Air 4 was released two years before the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. That’s a long time in the technology for the industry, long enough for both manufacturers to come up with better products.

Aside from the release date, you should also consider their differences. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is more expensive, but that’s because it fares better than the iPad Air 4 in terms of tech specs.

Design

In the iPad Air 4, you can see Apple’s consistent design choices and wide color options. Granted it has thicker bezels than the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. But if you’re a fan of Apple’s design and what colors you can get from them, the iPad Air 4 is designed better, just 0.02 in thicker and roughly 300 g lighter than the S8 Ultra.

Display

The S8 Ultra has a bigger viewable area than the iPad Air 4. It also has a higher screen resolution, which makes for crisp viewing. However, that also means the S8 Ultra is heavier and requires more space for storage.

Performance

The iPad Air 4 has a 6-core CPU and the S8 Ultra has 8 cores. If you’re not into bench testing your tech, you won’t notice the difference 2 cores can make. But when it comes to RAM, the S8 Ultra will fare better because it has 4GB, compared to iPad Air 4’s 4GB.

Camera

If you look at the specs sheet on top of this article, the S8 Ultra has better (and more) cameras. But if you’re someone used to the quality of either brand, you’ll easily spot the difference between the camera quality. Samsung’s front cameras are known to underperform in low light settings, while Apple’s fare much better without much light on subjects.

Battery Life

It’s inarguable that the S8 Ultra has a better battery life because it’s much bigger than the battery pack the iPad Air 4 has. But with a slightly bigger display, more CPU cores, and more RAM, you should expect the S8 Ultra’s juice to run out faster if you’re a heavy user.

Software

In terms of Software, the iPad Air 4 fares a lot better because of the highly-integrated “Apple ecosystem.” You can connect all other Apple devices you have with ease. With the S8 Ultra, the chance to integrate with other Samsung devices as much as the iPad Air 4 can with other Apple devices is slim.

4 Smartphone Features You’re Not Using

Did you pay a few hundred bucks or over a thousand dollars for your smartphone? Then you should be milking its every feature for what they’re worth. Read this article to learn what features you might be missing.

What more can you get out of your device?

Aside from being able to obtain driving and commuting directions, video and voice calling people, taking high-definition photos and videos, and many more, there are other features that one can’t even fathom to come with a handheld device.

Here are some of the surprising things you can do with your smartphone:

1. Using it as a closed-circuit camera alternative.

If you need a quick fix when it comes to monitoring surroundings you can’t stay in, you can tap your smartphone’s ability to capture videos and images coupled with motion detection. It’s as simple as downloading an application from your smartphone’s corresponding application store. For iOS users, they can use the iPhone CCTC application from the App Store. Android users on the other hand can make use of an application called Motion Detector.

Unsurprisingly, you can use an old phone for longer CCTV use. Download the application, make sure the battery is juiced up, and place it somewhere you want to monitor. If the old phone’s screen has screen damage that will compromise the quality of what it captures, bring it in for LCD repair services. 

2. Displaying contact information on lock screens.

It’s impossible for a smartphone not to have its lock screen. Any phone from all price ranges comes with this feature, and they’re also highly customizable. A user can opt to display images, calendars, and contact information.

Displaying contact information is useful when you lose your phone or get in an emergency where you can’t access your phone all by yourself. The person who found your phone will be able to locate you to either return your property or contact family members to alert them of your situation.

3. Screen time management.

When you have a handheld device that can cover any task or type of entertainment, it’s difficult to pry your fingers and eyes off it. Fortunately, smartphones now come with built-in screen usage features that monitor the time your phone’s screen is on with the activity. At the end of the day or week, the feature tells you about your phone usage habits. They can even show the applications you spend most of your time using.

This is extremely helpful if you want to minimize your screen time and focus on more important tasks.

4. Dashboard camera alternative.

The nearly 4 billion smartphone users have drivers in the mix. These users can turn their smartphones into dashboard cameras when they’re on the road. We’re all aware of how useful they are because they can be used for the safety and protection of people on the road. Simply plop your smartphone on your dashboard and make sure the placement is sturdy, open your camera application, then begin recording. It’s optional if you want to leave your phone inside your car, but isn’t ideal when it gets too hot inside vehicles and you might damage your phone, or worse, it might even turn into a hazard.

Final thoughts

Depending on the brand and model of your smartphone, you may have fewer or more features within your reach. Some brands have features unique to them, and some features are universal, but some manufacturers do them better. If you already have a device and would want to make every dollar worth it, make sure you use your phone’s hidden features that can help with your daily tasks.

5 Ways to Free up Space on Your iPhone Storage

Before we had 1TB storage iPhones (iPhone 13 Pro Max), the biggest iPhone storage capacity users could have was 8GB (the first iPhone). If we were in the year the first iPhone came out, 8GB is probably more than enough for music and low-quality photos and videos. 

But in 2022, a 1TB iPhone is easily filled up by 1080p@60fps videos and HDR photos. Put some mobile games on top of that, and a 1TB iPhone will start giving your iPhone storage warnings. We can’t even begin to fathom what an 8GB iPhone can bring (or can’t bring).

As your trusted iPhone repair experts, it’s necessary for us to help you maximize your iPhone’s storage and avoid missing photo ops. 

Here’s a list of five ways to free up space on your iPhone:

  1. Check which unused apps are taking storage space

You might have iPhone apps that you used only once that are taking storage space but aren’t actually useful to your daily smartphone use. Fortunately, you can easily check this by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

In there, you’ll see a breakdown of file types and apps that take space. Since newer iOS versions have the “Recommendations” section that’ll give you tips on how to free up space, you can follow those and get a few good GBs.

Alternatively, you can scroll down and view the list of apps and figure out which ones you don’t use and how much space they’re taking. If you don’t use them at all, just remove them, especially if they’re taking a lot of space that you can use for other stuff.

  1. Back up your photos and videos in iCloud

Each iPhone comes with a free 5GB iCloud storage users can take advantage of to back up files on their iPhone. It works for anything you store inside your iPhone, even emails. The free iCloud storage is perfect for storing photos and some videos. However, if your iPhone’s gallery is heavy, you might need to purchase additional iCloud storage.

To check if your iCloud backup is turned on, go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.

As an alternative, you can use Google Photos. It offers free 15GB worth of storage you can use to back up your iPhone’s photos and videos. This means you can keep your gallery’s content and still save iPhone storage.

  1. Delete music you stopped listening to

Your music taste might have changed over the years, but you forgot to refresh your Apple Music’s contents. Since most songs average about 20MB per file, having a hundred songs you don’t listen to takes around 2GB of iPhone storage you can use to store other files.

Fortunately, it’s easy to delete songs on your iPhone. Go to Settings > Music > Downloaded Music. Tap “Edit” at the top right corner and tap “-” to delete a music file. 

Alternatively, you can turn on “Optimize Storage” to let your iPhone delete music that you haven’t played in a while. You can find this option in Settings > Music > Optimize Storage. Tap the toggle and turn it green.

  1. Delete old downloaded videos from Netflix or YouTube

Both Netflix and YouTube have offline downloads that take space on your iPhone storage, especially if the videos you’ve downloaded have piled up. They can take significant space if you continue downloading them without deleting old ones.

To delete downloaded videos in streaming apps, launch them and go to the downloaded videos section. Delete what you don’t watch anymore, and you should get free space to store other files.

  1. Delete old messages

It’s possible that your iPhone’s messages from the start are still in your phone and taking a lot of space. That includes media such as audio messages, photos, and videos sent over the Messages app.
You can manually delete messages from your Messages app or go into Settings > Messages. Tap “Keep Messages” and change it to 30 Days or 1 Year. Either option will delete messages received and sent based on your choice. This can save you significant iPhone storage since piled-up messages can take space.

Which iPhone Model Is the Best for You?

Apple usually comes out with 2 to 4 models of the iPhone with every generation. That means you’ll have to choose between 4 different iPhone models to find the best iPhone model that will suit your daily productivity, social, and entertainment needs.

Moreover, if you’re a smartphone user who takes high-quality photos and videos, plays heavy mobile games, and does other hardware-demanding tasks on your phone, you’re bound to look for an iPhone that can serve all your needs without an issue.

Fortunately, we came up with a list of iPhone 13 models to find the best iPhone model for you. Go through our list and finish reading it to find a suitable smartphone:

  1. iPhone 13 mini

Today’s smartphone mantra is the bigger, the better. That doesn’t stand true for the iPhone 13 mini. It has a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display, which is by far the smallest viewable screen since the iPhone 8. 

Since not everyone is a fan of big smartphones with wide screens, the iPhone 13 mini is perfect for people who like to have their cell phone fit just right in their hands and pockets. It’s never easy to always have to hold your phone in your hands because it won’t fit in any of your pockets, right?

With the iPhone 13 mini, you get 5G support, a powerful dual-lens rear camera that can capture up to 4K@60fps videos, the A15 Bionic chip, and up to 17 hours of video playback on Wi-Fi. When it comes to storage, you can have up to 512GB to store all your images, photos, files, and apps.

Even with all those features, the iPhone 13 mini is still mini – it only weighs 140g! Size-wise, this is the best iPhone model for users to like the comfort of having a cell phone with a size that’s just right to fit in their palms and pockets.

  1. iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 mini made a slight jump and became the iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 is just a tad bigger, with a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display and the same rear camera power. It’s also powered by the same A15 Bionic chip but has a bigger battery that can play up to 19 hours of video on Wi-Fi.

It’s also 5G-enabled to let you stream videos without a problem. However, you get 63 additional grams for a bigger display and battery. If you think carefully, 2 hours of additional video playback and .7 inches of additional screen size isn’t all that big of an improvement to accept carrying a 173g iPhone around when there’s the 140g iPhone 13 mini with the same features.

But if you’re looking for the selling point of the iPhone 13, it’s the familiar size that the colorful iPhone XR has. Are you a fan of the XR? The iPhone 13 is a good way to look back.

  1. iPhone 13 Pro

Since iPhones are famed for their superb camera quality, the iPhone 13 Pro gets a huge upgrade from the iPhone 13’s dual-lens rear camera set up.

The iPhone 13 Pro has a triple-lens set up with 6x optical zoom, LiDar Scanner for better photos in Night mode and low light environments, a bigger battery that allows up to 22 hours of video playback on Wi-Fi, and up to 1TB of storage.

However, the screen size didn’t change. The iPhone 13 Pro still has the same 6.1-inch screen you’ll see in the iPhone 13 but with ProMotion. Even if the Pro version weighs 33 grams more (203g), the only changes you’ll see is the better camera, bigger battery, and more storage capacity.

So if you want the iPhone 13 with a better camera and more storage to take advantage of the quality of that camera, get the iPhone 13 Pro.

  1. iPhone 13 Pro Max

The brightest of the iPhone 13 line is the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which has the same camera as the iPhone 13 Pro. However, its screen size is much bigger, with 6.7 inches of the viewable area on Super Retina Display with ProMotion.

It has a beefier battery, allowing up to 28 hours of video playback on Wi-Fi. Its storage capacity is also capped at 1TB, which we think is enough if you’re not trying to shoot movies on your iPhone.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max has the biggest display, so this one is perfect for creators who want to utilize the camera power of the 13 Pro Max for content creation. In addition, you’ll also appreciate this model if you love watching videos on your phone.

Top 4 Apple Accessories You Should Buy

Apple accessories make the Apple ecosystem more organized and usable. Here’s a list of the ones you should have in your arsenal.

The lifestyle sold by Apple is difficult to resist. It provides ease of use, organization, convenience, and a sense of minimalism all in one. While some Apple accessories might seem unnecessary, they exist for their own purposes and users love them. Otherwise, Apple wouldn’t think of releasing them if they knew their consumers wouldn’t bite.

Let’s take a look at the Apple accessories that are worth your money:

1. AirTag

The AirTag is one of Apple’s latest additions to the line of Apple accessories. It’s a keychain you can attach to anything, even non-Apple devices, and electronics. It helps you keep track of those items. You can attach an AirTag to your keys, backpack, wallet – the options are endless!

The best part of the AirTag is that you can see the location of the item it’s attached to in the Find My app. Simply put, once an item has an AirTag, it can be located just like the devices in your Find My app.

You can purchase as many AirTags as you want and pair them to your Find My app to keep track of things that are important to you. If you lose your keys and wallet frequently, then the AirTag is a great buy.

Furthermore, you can personalize your AirTags by getting free engraving services from Apple upon purchase.

2. MagSafe Battery Pack

There’s nothing better than having extra battery juice without carrying a power bank around with you all the time. That’s what the Apple MagSafe Battery Pack brings to the table for Apple fans. Not only that, but it also comes in different colors! You can match it with the rest of your electronics and Apple accessories to create an organized look.

The MagSafe magnets are compatible with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series, but there’s also a version for older iPhones called the Smart Battery Case.

Here’s how much the MagSafe Battery Pack can charge your iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, according to Apple:

  • Up to 70% additional charge with iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 13 mini and MagSafe Battery Pack*
  • Up to 60% additional charge with iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 and MagSafe Battery Pack*
  • Up to 60% additional charge with iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro and MagSafe Battery Pack*
  • Up to 40% additional charge with iPhone 12 Pro Max or iPhone 13 Pro Max and MagSafe Battery Pack*

3. AirPods Max

Another first of its kind from the group of Apple accessories is the AirPods Max. It’s the brand’s first-ever over-head earphones and audio accessory that comes in colors other than white! It has an impressive fit that prevents it from falling off your head, Hi-Fi audio, noise control with Active Noise Cancellation, and Spatial Audio.

You can customize it further by getting an engraving service from Apple upon purchase. Further, the colors are the following:

  • Space Gray
  • Silver
  • Pink
  • Green
  • Sky Blue

Lastly, you get a free 6-month subscription to Apple Music.

4. USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

Since Apple ditched USB-A ports for its Mac computers, it’s become essential for MacBook users to get Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter as one of their go-to Apple accessories. It not only comes with a USB-A port, but also has an added Type-C port and an HDMI port.

If you find yourself needing USB-A and HDMI ports often, this accessory is worth the purchase. With an HDMI port, you can plug your MacBook’s display into a much bigger one.

Final Thoughts

Truth be told, there are tons of Apple accessories you can choose from to make your maneuver with Apple electronics so much easier. Just pick the ones you need to make enjoying Apple products better, and you’re good to go!