9 Apple Hacks That Will Give Your Devices Longer Lives, According to Tech Experts
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Jennifer Taylor
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Apple devices aren’t cheap, so it’s important to make them last. Treating them with care is a must, but tech experts have also uncovered ways to make products like iPhones, iPads and MacBooks last longer.
Many of these techniques aren’t necessarily obvious to the average person, but they can make an impact. Here’s a look at nine Apple hacks two tech experts shared with GOBankingRates, to help extend the lifespan of your devices.
Don’t Be the First to Update
“OS updates are good, but they tend to have issues with bugs and glitches,” said Cache Merrill, founder of Zibtek. “Therefore it is recommended to wait until the first or second patch is released after a substantial update has been done to avoid stress testing one’s own device.”
This way, you’ll get all the benefits of the update, just with fewer kinks.
“Go ahead and let someone else test the soup before it is time to eat,” he said.
Uncover the Battery’s ‘Secret Mode’
“What a beauty the ‘optimized battery charging’ is,” Merrill said. “If you have an Apple phone with this feature, it saves out the last 20% of charge until you wake or unplug.”
He said this is great for your battery health.
“Think of this feature as a longevity tool for your batteries,” he said. “It reduces charging stress.”
Train Your Battery — Charge Smart Not Hard
“Batteries, like the rest of us, have their limits,” Merrill said. “There is no need to continuously hit full charge in your battery every day.”
Instead, he suggested keeping your battery at about 80% of capacity, only using it to full load on occasion.
“It is as if the battery is being trained but not maxing out its usage,” he said. “Hence, what develops is the ‘battery’s endurance’ in the long run.”
Preserve Battery Health through Low Power Mode and Battery Calibration
Another battery-saving tip, use of the low power mode isn’t just for drastic times, said Chris Dukich, a tech entrepreneur and owner of Display Now.
“Instead, it uses less battery cycle by impeding the operations in the background,” he said. “Whenever there is a drop in battery capacity to less than 40%, low power mode should be turned on.”
That’s not the only step you should take to preserve your battery, he said.
“Fully discharging the battery then charging it again every few months helps to keep the readings consistent while enhancing the lifespan of the battery,”.
Use Storage Management Tools to Clean Up Unwanted Files
A cluttered phone can be hard to navigate, but that’s not the only issue you may incur.
“With the use of Apple’s efficient built-in storage management tools — settings > general > iPhone storage — it’s important to relieve the load of unused apps and all files that take too much space every once in a while,” Dukich said. “It is also advisable to ensure that one’s storage does not exceed 80%, as it helps avoid any destruction to the internal storage components, thus prolonging their lifespan.”
Buy a Good Case With Tempered Glass
Protecting your device with a shock-absorbent case with a thick tempered glass is advisable, Dukich said.
“It saves from abrasive shocks which could lead to chips or internal malfunction,” he said. “It is also important to note that raised edges are better, as they protect one’s screen or rear camera lens from getting scratched.”
Control Background Apps and Steer Clear of Things Heat Up the Device
“Apple devices are constructed to allow for multitasking, but having many tasks running in the background often leads to overheating and contributes to a faster battery drain cycle,” Dukich said. “Always ensure that multiple applications are not running in the background.”
He also warned against keeping your device on heat-retaining surfaces, such as a bed or sofa.
“I would suggest using Background app refresh only on required apps,” he said. “Keep it off for the rest of the apps.”
Use Authorized Cables and Chargers
“The original Apple charger delivers the optimum power that the device requires for a quick charge,” Dukich said. “If you don’t use the proper chargers, like knock-off brands, they can generate a power surge, which eventually deteriorates the internal components.”
In this case, you get what you pay for.
“A little extra cost on authorized accessories can be economical in the long run, as you will not have to be replacing them often,” he said.
Paying more upfront for authorized accessories is an investment worth making.
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