Act quickly in case of submersion, take extra precautions against falls, or have a powerful antivirus to help you enjoy your smartphone for longer.
The Spanish consumer electronics brand SPC compiles a series of recommendations to protect your smartphone from external dangers.
Smartphones have become an indispensable tool in our daily lives, but they are also vulnerable to emergency situations.
Nowadays, our smartphones are key to enjoying our vacations 100%. We use maps to navigate new cities, look for food and entertainment recommendations, and take hundreds of photos that prove how much we enjoyed our time off. There is hardly a moment in the day when our mobile phones are not in our hands, pockets, beach towels, or on the table at a beach bar. And in any of these situations, the device is at risk of an accident.
In this article, we offer first aid tips to solve common problems that may affect your mobile device. Follow these guidelines from SPC, the Spanish consumer electronics brand, and keep your smartphone in optimal condition:
Smartphones are designed to survive falls, but watch them closely
Most devices are designed to withstand accidental drops from about one meter high: from the hand to a hard, flat surface, for example, without damage.
But we don’t always face those conditions. A phone slipping from your pants or a shaky hand while taking a selfie can cause the device to fall down stairs or balconies. Although a very strong impact can damage internal components, this is not common. Usually, these are quite durable and the exterior is designed with some flexibility to absorb shocks.
On the other hand, if the surface the phone hits is not smooth, for example, a rock on the beach, the component that most often breaks is not the phone’s screen itself but the glass protecting it. The fall could damage camera lenses or speakers; but generally, no matter how dramatic the fall or which component breaks, everything is usually repairable. The worst that can happen is damage to the phone’s storage because, although it can be replaced, what was stored on it will be lost forever.
To avoid or reduce impact on the phone’s surface, you can use protective covers, cases, or tempered glass screen protectors. To prevent permanent loss, regularly back up your data to ensure your photos and documents are safe in the cloud or on a computer. Then, simply sync that backup with the repaired device.
What to do in case of a cyberattack
Malware, by definition, acts on the phone’s software, but that doesn’t mean it can’t affect the hardware, for example, by overloading resources until components overheat. However, it is very unlikely that the hardware will be damaged. Modern phones can handle excessive heat and have protection mechanisms like automatic shutdown.
In any case, it is unlikely the phone will become unusable due to this type of attack. Some malware cyberattacks overwrite memory, but everything is repairable by replacing the electronic board or battery.
The best way to deal with them is to use antivirus software or restore the operating system to factory settings.
If sand or dust gets on your phone, clean the exterior and do not use a hairdryer
A phone is a closed container, designed with some degree of sealing, where sand can only enter through openings to the outside, such as battery and headphone connectors, as well as speakers and microphone.
Although sand has a hard time getting inside the device, dust can enter much more easily. It is advisable to clean these residues from the exterior, especially to avoid scratches on the screen and casing. Lint often gets inside smartphones, especially when carried in pants pockets or inside bags and tote bags, which can affect audio and camera, though not completely damaging them.
If the phone has a removable cover and battery, it is good to remove them occasionally and wipe the interior with a dry cloth (microfiber, cotton swabs…). It is also advisable to gently remove dust and lint from the outside of connectors, speaker, and camera.
What you should not do is use compressed air for cleaning, as it can damage other components if not done carefully. This cleaning method is better left to professionals.
If the device gets wet, forget false myths and use dry environments
Water dangers mainly arise when the phone is submerged. If it is on, a few seconds underwater can cause a short circuit in the electronic board or battery that renders it useless. Even if it starts afterward, it will fail over time. Also, audio components like headphones and microphones are very sensitive to moisture.
Sea water is by far the worst. Saltwater has a very fast, almost immediate corrosive effect on the phone’s electrical components. It is crucial to recover it as soon as possible and dry it completely before reconnecting the battery and turning it on. To dry it, the best is to forget myths like rice and place the smartphone in a dry environment.
Keep the battery charged between 30% and 80% to extend its lifespan
Current phone batteries suffer if kept at very low charge for long periods (but also if kept at high charge). Leaving the battery discharged for a long time can cause irreversible damage. In fact, some manufacturers have built-in safety systems that prevent charging a completely drained battery.
Manufacturers recommend keeping lithium batteries between 30% and 80% capacity. They suggest charging when it reaches 20% and unplugging before 100%. However, it’s okay if the battery reaches full charge and doesn’t stay at that level long. If you charge your phone overnight, it’s fine if it reaches 100% as long as you use it during the day.
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