Help your phone go the distance

Check out our tips and tricks for device care to make your phone last longer and save you money

Your phone is a strong little thing – whether you’re throwing it in your bag, sitting on it in your back pocket, or giving it an impromptu crash test when you accidentally knock it off the sofa. It’s designed to withstand your daily life and general wear and tear.

But it’s not indestructible. Fortunately, you can do a few things to make your device go the distance. Keeping hold of your phone for longer will both save you money with O2 Refresh, we automatically lower your bill when you’ve paid off your phone) and help the environment. Scroll down to read our top tips.

phone near pool

Prolong your battery’s lifespan

Your battery is your phone’s engine room, so take care of it. There are a couple of easy tricks to ensure your battery’s lifespan – the amount of time your battery lasts until it needs to be replaced – is maximised. First, always update the latest software because updates often include energy-saving technologies. Also, avoid extreme ambient temperatures.That means don’t leave it exposed to direct sunshine – either when it’s charging or when you’re lying around in the sun. Similarly, if your phone is getting too hot in its case, consider removing it for a short period to let it cool down.

phone being cleaned

Clean your screen

How many times do you think you touch your phone’s screen a day? Put it this way: it’s a lot.. So, it stands to reason you should probably take care of it more than rubbing it on your shirt occasionally. A gentle wipe with a dry microfibre cloth (while your phone is off) is a good place to start. Equally, there are effective phone screen cleaners or antibacterial cleaning kits for a deeper clean. But watch out! Stronger liquids, substances or materials that aren’t designed to do the job may corrode your screen.

phone cases

Protect your phone

A phone case is usually a prerequisite for a shiny new phone these days. Although it wasn’t always. Most of us have an “experience” that led us down that enlightened path. But if you’re lucky enough not to have experienced the heartbreak of seeing your device bounce off a pavement, take advice from the weary thousands who learned the hard way: get a good case with shock absorption. A screen protector gives you double defence. Even if your screen takes a hit, it’s so much easier (and cheaper) to replace the screen protector than more valuable components.

person holding broken phone

Repair or replace parts

Your phone is often one of the most expensive pieces of kit in your home, and yet unlike so many other things we own – washing machines, fridges, boilers or even computers – repairing them isn’t always our first thought. But it’s simpler, quicker and, crucially: cheaper than you think, especially minor repairs like new screens or batteries. And if your phone is only a few years old, parts are readily available. Make sure you always go directly through the manufacturer itself or a certified service provider to ensure a reputable repair that lasts and doesn’t cause further problems.

phone near laptop and coffee

Get rid of your device the right way

Once you decide to upgrade your handset, it’s important not to throw the old one away because you can give it a new lease of life with O2 Recycle. As well as decluttering your home from old phones, you can earn some extra cash. For instance, a Samsung Galaxy S10 128GB could be worth £99.25, so long as it’s in fully working order. Plus, by sending us your old phone, you can also help us reduce e-waste, as many of your phone’s components can be reused in future devices. It’s a win-win.