How To Make Your Old Phone Feel New
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Before rushing out to buy a Brand New Phone try these tricks to make your old phone feel like new.
Picture the scene. Your best friend has just upgraded to a brand new phone. It’s shiny and has loads of amazing new features and he/she is sat there waggling all its amazingness in your face.
And it instantly makes you want to trade your old phone in for a super awesome brand new shiny phone too.
How to Avoid A Pricey Phone Upgrade
Except there’s nothing actually wrong with the phone you have. It works fine. It may be a little grubby looking by now, it’s okay though.
But that thought of a new shiny awesome phone still niggles until you find yourself in Carphone Warehouse discussing the price of an upgrade and how much more data you are going to need.
Sound familiar?
Before rushing into a decision think about whether you really need that new phone. Think about how long the feeling of joyful smugness will last before you start to think about how much more your phone bill is going to be each month.
Sometimes we really do need a new phone. If it’s broken beyond repair or has major functionality issues then fair enough.
But if it’s simply a case of keeping up with the Jones then it may be worth thinking again.
Try these tips to make your phone feel like it’s new.
Give Your Phone A Good Clean
How often do you clean you your phone? Have you ever cleaned your phone? Taking the cover off and giving it a really good (but gentle) clean can go a long way towards making it feel like new. If you have sticky buttons, (particularly the home button on an iPhone) you can use rubbing alcohol to gently loosen them up again.
Buy A New Phone Cover
I have had my current phone cover almost as long as I have my phone and to be honest, it is starting to look a bit grubby. Having a lovely new phone cover can make your phone feel shiny and new without actually having to buy a shiny new phone. Costs a heck of a lot less too.
I also like to change up my background and lock-screen pictures from time to time too.
Clear Out Your Phone
Every now and then I like to go through my phone and have a really good clear-out. Delete old contacts, old photos and apps that I no longer use.
This helps prevent my phone from feeling cluttered and being full of random stuff that I don’t really need. It also helps keep memory free for things I actually want on there.
Find Some Fun New Apps
Okay, so I admit it, I am a bit of an App obsessive and have close to 100 apps on my iPhone. There are literally apps for everything from banking to betting and fitness to quizzes.
Do some research and try out some new apps – since there are so many out there you’re bound to find something you love.
It should also help you feel like you are getting more from your current phone, especially if it’s something that makes your life easier or save you money.
Here’s a list of 10 fantastic organization apps to get you started.
Try Some DIY Remedies To Fix Your Phone
One of the biggest reasons you may be considering an unnecessary upgrade is because of the overall condition of your phone. Chips, scratches and cracks can make any phone feel old and worn.
While the only remedy for a cracked or smashed screen is a costly replacement, there are some things you can do about chips and scratches.
How To Avoid A Pricey Phone Upgrade: Does A New Phone Really Need To Be New?
There are loads of places nowadays where you can get a reconditioned or refurbished phone for much less than you would pay brand new. These usually come with a warranty too so if there are any issues you can send them right back for a repair or replacement.
Sometimes over the course of a year, it can be much cheaper to buy a ‘refurbished’ phone and downgrade your current contract to just data, texts and minutes.
If you must go for new, this website is excellent if you want to compare prices and get the best deals.
And when you really do need to change your phone, one option is to trade it in online with a company like Plunc and recoup some money, so you can buy your next one!
FAQ – How To Make Your Old Phone Feel Like New
How Much Does A New Phone Screen Cost?
In the U.K getting a phone screen replaced costs between £60 and £80 on average, depending on the type of phone and where you get the screen replaced.
How Long Does It Take To Fix A Phone Screen?
Most stores will need around an hour to fix your phone screen although some may take longer if they have a backlog of phones that need working on. Some places may offer a while-you-wait service while others may recommend you pop back in an hour or two.
Can I Fix A Water Damaged Phone?
When it comes to fixing a water-damaged phone, time is of the essence so the best thing to do is get it to a repair shop as quickly as possible.
If you’ve dropped your phone in the bath/toilet/pool/sink the first things you should do are switch the phone off, remove the sim card, wipe away excess water and keep the phone facing screen side down.
While many people say you should put the phone in a bag of rice, this doesn’t actually work.
The next steps are then to either perform a DIY fix yourself or take the phone to a repair shop.
This is really clever writing – love the “Get ‘Appy” headline! I was nodding yes and laughing through a lot of this (“have you EVER cleaned your phone?”) Love it, and it’s great advice.
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post.
Great information. I want to try to have my iPhone 7 last 5 year. Good helpful ideas.
Thank you