Smartphones have never been cheap, but today’s devices are more expensive than ever. Take the iPhone, for example. The first model came out in 2007 and cost $499. By 2017, iPhones cost between $699 and $999. That’s no small investment!
Today’s iPhones carry the same relative price points, and although manufacturers have found ways to improve the processing power, camera quality, and more, they have yet to create shatter-proof glass, or hard drives that can survive drops and impact.
Your smartphone is fragile and accidents happen when you least expect them, so here are several ways to protect your investment.
- Get a protective case
All smartphones should be protected with a proper case because you never know when you might drop your phone. Unfortunately, smartphones tend to fall face down, which can crack the screen. Dropping your phone can also damage the hard drive and while it’s possible to get it repaired, it’s a tedious process.
If you plan on buying one of the more expensive devices, like the iPhone 15, having a case is imperative. This new model is fragile, and a high-quality case will protect your iPhone from accidental drops from any angle. Many of the cases available have amazing designs and are specifically designed for maximum protection.
You can also get a waterproof case if you spend time around lakes, rivers, or the ocean. No matter what, placing it in a waterproof case and leaving it on dry land is a good idea, especially at the beach. You never know when someone might come along and spray or pour water near your phone.
- Use a screen protector
Screen protectors can minimize scratches and cracks to your smartphone. They aren’t perfect, and some of the tempered glass protectors can break, but they do work. It’s a simple and affordable investment to protect your phone.
- Be mindful
The ultimate protection is mindfulness. Pay attention to how you handle your phone and be intentional about where you put it and how you move it around.
As you go throughout your day, it’s easy to mindlessly pick up your phone and move it around as you look for something else in your bag, or when you’re clearing off a table. If you aren’t careful, you might end up accidentally dropping your phone off the side of the table or your bed.
If you break your smartphone, you can expect to spend around $90 for a general repair, or $149 for a repair directly made by Apple.
If you have phone insurance, your repairs will likely be covered, but don’t rely on insurance alone. It feels like good protection, but it will be time consuming to file a claim and get your repairs made. The one thing insurance can’t help you recover is your hard drive. If that breaks, you’re out of luck. You can get a new phone, but you won’t get your photos and other important files back.
- Put your smartphone on a wrist strap
Wrist straps are one of the most convenient smartphone accessories ever made. If you’re worried about dropping your phone, just put it around your wrist, and you don’t have to worry about anything.
If a wrist strap that lets your phone dangle isn’t your thing, you can get an armband that will mount your phone to a hard, flat surface so you can use it one-handed while it’s attached to your wrist.
As an alternative, there are also lanyards that will fit around your smartphone, kind of like webbing, or with thin straps. With this device, you can carry your phone around when you don’t have pockets and it will always be easily accessible.
- Don’t buy luxury smartphones
Unless you have an endless source of cash, try to avoid buying the super high-end smartphones. Most of these models don’t provide any additional features that you can’t already get in a decently-priced phone. While having a phone made with 18k gold and titanium, spending $6,000 (or more) on a smartphone you use on a daily basis is just asking for trouble.
Even if you are extremely wealthy, this isn’t the best investment considering how fragile phones are to start.
Always protect your device
Accidents can result in expensive repair bills and lost files. Following these tips will help you protect your smartphone from drops, shocks, and impact, so you can continue using your device for many years to come.
