When thinking about the most common ways in which people break their phones, I narrowed down to the three below.
1. Hard surface drop
2. Water damage
3. Accidentally sitting on it
After going through that list, let me start with tips to protect the outside of your device.
1. Keep it safe and clean
Please be aware of the dirt, dust, and moisture that can get trapped in your case. From time to time, you will need to remove your case and clean both your case and your phone. A good time to do this would be after a camping outing, a trip to the pool or beach, sweaty run, or your latest hunting adventure. You can clean your phone and case by simply wiping and drying it (air drying works best). You can also use a clean toothbrush to gently clear debris from any port.
2. Carry it safely
Any tight pants with small pockets seem like a secure place to put your phone. Wrong! Remember, the pressure on your phone from those tight pockets intensifies when you move, which can, and will, cause the screen to break. Next, forgetting to remove your phone from your back pocket before you sit down could result in a broken device. I would suggest putting your phone, all by itself, in a dedicated front pocket. Keeping your phone and keys in opposite pockets will prevent unwanted scratches and cracks. Ladies, instead of just putting your phone in the main “anything goes here area” of your purse, try putting your phone in a side pocket.
3. Buy a case
It seems simple, but a case and screen protector are the cornerstones to ensuring a long life for your device. A good case will protect your device from accidental drops, scratches, spills, and maybe even curious children who got a hold of your device.
4. Avoid extreme temperatures
Extreme temperatures can send your device to the recycling bin quickly with screen issues, Internal component failure, and even Battery death. For this reason, try not to expose your device to temperatures less than freezing or above 95°F. Something as simple as leaving your phone on the seat of your car on a hot day could expose your phone to temperatures upward to 200°F – causing all kinds of damage. If you have to take your phone anywhere near water, remember to keep it in the shade, preferably in a cool spot with airflow.
5. Protect the inside
Let me be straightforward, using your device in the bathroom is just asking for a water soaked device, and I’m not just talking about phones dropped in water, aka the sink, bathtub, or toilet. Steam is a smartphone killer. The hot water you use every day in the bathroom produces steam. Steam seeps into the device, allowing moisture into the heart of your phone. Over time this moisture could short-circuit the hardware inside your phone.
I hope that you have found my tips and tricks to extend the life of your device handy. Finally, I would like to leave you with a few bonus tips below.
Bonus Tips:
If your smartphone happens to be exposed to the elements such as sunlight and overheating, water or freezing temperatures, the best thing to do is turn the device off for an extended amount of time (Normally 24 hours) and allow it to cool down, warm-up or dry off. The latter will help prevent additional damage to your device that might occur during your next boot up.