Essential Smartphone Hacks and Shortcuts You Need to Master
In today's digital age, smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, offering a myriad of advanced features such as front and back cameras, fingerprint scanners, and technology like heart rate monitors. However, managing these devices effectively is crucial to ensure they serve us optimally. Here are some key tips to increase smartphone battery life and make better use of its features.
Charging Habits
- Battery Management: Avoid keeping the phone fully charged at 100% constantly; instead, aim to keep the battery between about 20% and 80% to reduce long-term wear. Occasionally let the battery drain close to empty before recharging. Avoid frequent use of fast charging and wireless chargers, as they generate heat that accelerates battery degradation. Remove phone cases during charging to reduce heat buildup.
Display Settings
- Dark Mode: Enable Dark Mode, as it consumes less battery compared to light mode, especially on OLED screens.
- Screen Brightness and Timeout: Lower the screen brightness and reduce screen timeout duration to minimize power usage. Turn off "Always On Display" features on lock screens, which drain battery continuously.
App and Permission Management
- Location and Notifications: Limit location access to apps only when necessary, close unnecessary apps running in the background, and disable push notifications that you don’t need. Regularly check app permissions to prevent apps from tracking location or using resources silently.
Other Practices
- Low-Power Mode: Use low-power or battery saver modes provided by the phone for automatic optimization of settings and app activities. Minimize use of graphic-intensive applications and games that strain the battery. Keep the device cool—avoid exposing it to high temperatures.
By combining these strategies, users can extend daily battery life and preserve battery health over the long term, often resulting in a more reliable and efficient smartphone experience.
Moreover, many smartphone features are not being utilized by most users, and these features can be made more useful with the right tips and tricks. For instance, using the volume button to take photos, taking panorama 360-degree photos, or even using the smartphone camera as a scanner with document scanner apps can add convenience to daily life.
Remember, understanding and managing your smartphone's battery life can significantly enhance its performance and longevity. Happy smartphone-ing!
[1] Battery University. (2021). Smartphone Battery Care: Tips for Longer Life. Retrieved from https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/smartphone_battery_care
[2] Tom's Guide. (2021). How to Save Battery Life on Your Android Phone. Retrieved from https://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-save-battery-life-on-your-android-phone,news-26023.html
[3] Digital Trends. (2021). How to save battery life on your iPhone. Retrieved from https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-save-battery-life-on-iphone/
[4] TechRadar. (2021). How to save battery life on your smartphone. Retrieved from https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-save-battery-life-on-your-smartphone
[5] Lifehacker. (2021). How to Save Battery Life on Your Phone. Retrieved from https://lifehacker.com/how-to-save-battery-life-on-your-phone-1822407873
- To make the most of your smartphone's advanced features and preserve battery health, follow tips like enabling Dark Mode, managing battery levels, and limiting location access.
- By utilizing hidden features such as the volume button for photography, panorama 360-degree photos, and document scanner apps, you can increase the convenience and utility of smartphones like smartphones.
