How to use the phone to last you as long as possible?

Since the purchasing power in Serbia is as it is (read: desperate), and phones cost more than in a country where the average salary is 10 times higher, I believe that not everyone has the opportunity to change their phone every or every other year. That is why in this article I will write about how to use the phone to make it last as long as possible. I am writing after many years of experience and using the Galaxy S2 phone for more than 5 years.

Also, the text does not apply to iPhone phones (although some tips can be used) because Apple fans will buy a new iPhone as soon as it appears, even though it is the same as the old one with a couple of novelties copied from Android devices.

My case: Galaxy S2

This phone was considered to be the most complete and beautiful S series phone that came out of the Samsung factory until recently (now the Galaxy S8). It has a nice design, it is thin (especially during that time), it has solid specifications, and now (and then it was like today's Galaxy S8), it has a good battery, AMOLED screen… look at the specifications yourself.

I won it at the Samsung competition in creating Android applications in February 2012 and used it for 2 years without Root. The phone received regular updates for 2 years and after that, I did Root and inserted a newer system. Today there is Android 7 Nougat for that phone and it works perfectly!

There are no scratches on the case or on the screen, every button works perfectly, and every part works perfectly. It runs today's applications, I use it normally as well as the (currently) primary Galaxy S7. The only problem is the battery that has just broken down.

If that phone is so good, why did I take the Galaxy S7? Because I love everything new, new technologies, new hardware, everything that is current. In addition, it is certainly faster and can perform faster and more operations at the same time. And it has a better camera (plus manual mode), dust and water-resistant, and so on. But, I didn't replace the S2, I just bought the S7.

How?

Ok, if you want your current (or future) phone to last as long as possible, here are some tips. I note that there are certainly more tips because everyone uses the phone differently, so maybe something suits someone better, and someone doesn't like my methods. You can write your own in the comment.

Housing and screen protection

Of course, the first and foremost thing is to protect the phone itself from external influences. If your phone is not being water-resistant, get a waterproof cover. Protect the screen with foil, tempered glass is not needed, especially if the phone has a Gorilla Glass screen. If you don't like those bulky protective masks, buy at least some thin silicone to protect your phone from scratches and soft bumps.

If your phone has a fingerprint scanner, protect it as well. It usually comes with foil over it, but if it doesn't, then stick it on. They are easy to scratch and repair costs. Also, protect the camera cover if you have a cheaper phone. With more expensive flagship models, good protection is also placed on the camera.

Save hardware keys

Each hardware key has a guarantee on the number of pressures, say 10,000, and after that, there is a possibility that it will break. Of course, there is a possibility earlier, but it is under guarantee. It may sound excessive, but it is also desirable to save the number of keystrokes because they also break down often, especially with cheaper phones.

Home key:

if you have a hardware Home button, you will press it frequently when you want to return to the Home screen or turn on the screen. To save the number of presses of this key, to return to the home screen, install an application that does this, say this one. And you can use the Proximity sensor to wake up the phone.

Power key:

this key is used to lock the screen and wake up the phone (alternative to the hardware home key). You can also lock the screen with an application, say this one. Some Android Launchers have a built-in option to lock the screen by double-clicking on it - say Nova or Evie, and some phones have this option built into the system - mostly LG.

Volume keys:

You don't have to press the 10x button to decrease or increase the volume, you can only adjust it once and then with the slider (which appears on the screen). And you can install an application - say this one.

ALL keys:

and you can install an application that simulates all the hardware keys. There are various ones, so choose the one that suits you best - the link. Note: this does not apply to those phones that have soft navigation keys, such applications will be redundant.

Battery storage

Another critical part of the phone is the battery. If you can change it, then it's not a problem. But if the phone has a built-in battery, then it is advisable to keep it because later replacement or repair will be expensive.

I've already written a few articles about batteries, so read on:

Basically, if you install all those applications that replace the hardware keys, then the battery will consume a little faster. You have to make good compensation there. My logic is: that it is better to spend something that can be recharged and replaced cheaper (battery) than something that cannot be recharged and repair/replacement costs more (buttons). Again, judge for yourself.

The system

And another point in this text is the Android system itself. If you have chosen an Android phone, then you are lucky because you can upgrade it for a long time. In general, software support is very important and if your phone does not get new systems, it will not be able to run (or even install) new applications over time. With Android, this is not a problem because you can install the latest system on a phone that is several years old.

Official updates will stop after 2-3 years, but the developer community will make new versions. That is why it is important to buy a flagship phone because developers do not make systems for lesser-known phone models. But you can make your own system and kernel, Android is it, you have full freedom.

My suggestion is to use the Stock system (all about Stock, Custom, Stock-based system, kernel, root, etc. read here) as long as support lasts. When your manufacturer stops sending updates, do a Root (usually the warranty expires so you can feel free) and insert a new system. It is advisable to reinsert some Stock-based system as it is more stable than Custom Roms. When there are no more of them, then you can switch to Custom Rom, e.g. Lineage (formerly Cyanogenmod). This is a safer way because you will avoid possible mistakes and bricks for a long time. When you switch to Custom ROM then make sure you install stable versions, so no Beta, no Test, no Nightly, no Weekly, and the like.

Daily use

In the end, I can only suggest that you use the phone in moderation, charge it according to the instructions I wrote in those texts about batteries, do not throw the phone where you arrive, if it is not waterproof, make sure it does not get wet, make sure it does not fall on hard surfaces. him in the sun… and the like.

As you can see, there is not much advice because you only need to change your phone usage habits a little, and that will mean a lot in the long run.

Your experience?

If you have some tips or a story about your phone that you have been using for a long time, write below in the comments.

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