Every time you get a new iPhone you vow to yourself to look after it – you’ll never use it in the bath, never be careless on concrete floors and you’ll certainly never dive into the sea with it still in your shorts pocket, right?
This is all well and good, but wear and tear, as well as the creeping effects of every day usage and a damp climate – many an iPhone repair in Miami involves water damage – will all take their toll as your contract rolls along. Of course, no-one expects a two-year-old iPhone to look exactly as it did out of the box, but there are a few things you can do to make sure you get the highest resale value possible when it’s time to upgrade.
Give your phone a regular clean
We handle our phones a lot, sometimes for hours every day, and they’re also in our pockets, handbags, rucksacks and so on. There’s no way they’re not going to accumulate bacteria, lint, grease and all sorts of other grime, so they need a good clean at least once a month.
Ideally you should use a clean microfiber cloth and a mild cleaner – or just a trace of water – and make sure your phone is off. The cleaner should go onto the cloth, not directly onto the phone itself. When you’re done that, use compressed air spray to clean out lint and dust from the jacks, the mouthpiece and the speakers.
Use a protective case
A good case will protect your iPhone from bumps, drop and other knocks, as well as minor spills (unless you opt for a heavy-duty waterproof model). There are literally thousands of different styles and looks to choose from, so have a think about your lifestyle before you start shopping.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors – on the beach, gardening, or if your job is outdoorsy and manual – then you’ll need rough, tough and waterproof. If you’re an office worker with a gym and club habit, then it’s probably best that you have a lighter case, but one with all-over protection to cover your phone from spills and scratches from keys and jewellery.
A screen protector is a must
The screen is what counts when it comes to trade-in and upgrade time. It’s the first thing people look at, as it’s the most visible – scratches to the body can be covered with a case, after all. You can have an all-in-one case and screen shield, or use a standalone screen protector in conjunction with a case. These screens really do protect your display – you can see this after a couple of weeks when they start to show up scratches themselves! The good thing is that these shields can be taken off and replaced in minutes for a few dollars.
Of course, there’s always going to be the odd accident that you can’t predict or do anything about – but that’s what insurance is for! By and large, you are in control of looking after your iPhone so that it leaves your hands looking almost as good as new, so start as soon as you get it and keep up the good work!
