Simply put, 5G is a mobile network.
A “mobile network” is comprised of a vast number of geographical areas called cells. Within each cell there is a base station called a cell tower. Each cell tower has a limited range that is long enough to communicate with the cell tower next to it. Then that cell tower in turn is able to communicate with the next cell tower closest to it. It is in this way that your smartphone is able to link with all of the cell towers in it’s network.
The very first mobile network 1G was analog voice. Then came along 2G or digital voice. Next came 3G which was a huge catalyst for the rapid spread of smartphones by allowing data connections and access to the internet. With the arrival of 4G the network became even faster with a larger bandwidth permitting things such as streaming.
Which brings us to today and the introduction of 5G.
5G or the 5th generation of mobile networks promises a great increase in speed and capacity along with near zero latency. All of which would be impossible with the 4G network, powering most of our current smartphones….
Things to consider when buying your next smartphone…
One of the first things you should do when deciding where to buy your next smartphone is to determine your price range. Cell phones nowadays can go for as little as $60 and they can also sell for as much as $1800. If you are on a tight budget it may be a good idea to consider buying a used or refurbished phone.
There are many places to buy a good slightly used cell phone. They are widely available across the internet and can be purchased without even leaving your home.
A good place to start in your search for a new cell phone is eBay or Amazon. These are in my opinion better than other sites because most of the sellers offer delivery options so there’s no need to meet in person.
There are so many things to consider when buying a cell phone that there is no single best option. One of the most important things to consider is how much storage your new phone will have. Many of the cheaper devices will have 32 gigabytes of memory or less. This may be ok for some but I would recommend that you go no less than a 64 gigabyte model.
If you are one that likes to actually hold the phone in your hand before you buy it you may not want to buy it online. Another good option is to make your purchase from one of the big box stores like Walmart, Target, or Sams. There are also some good deals offered by the phone carriers themselves. Places like Verizon, T-mobile and AT&T sometimes offer a free phone as an incentive to sign up with one of their monthly service plans.
Stay open minded, ask a lot of questions. Take your time to shop around and I have no doubt that you’ll end up with a cell phone that is just right for you.
IPhone users have become wary of updating the software on their iPhones, especially after Apple has openly admitted to intentionally slowing down their older model devices by way of an update.
It has been suspected for a long time that the reason for this was to encourage users to upgrade their old phones to a newer model. In the year 2017 Apple had no choice but to admit that they were intentionally slowing down their iPhones by way of an update. They claimed that they did this to compensate for a battery that could no longer supply enough power to the device causing it to shut down unexpectedly. That in itself would be fine. The problem is that they did this without informing the consumer. Many believe that the real reason for this “slow down” was to encourage people to buy a new phone although Apple claims the accusations are false. This throttling of speed was first implemented for the iPhone 6. It is still being done today, but iOS now informs the user when the battery can no longer keep up and power management has been switched on.
You might have wondered if the aftermarket battery you had installed at that third party cell phone repair shop is really going to perform like an original. The answer to that question may not be a simple yes or no.
Here’s why…
Most cell phones and all iPhones today use Lithium-ion batteries. During discharge lithium ions move from the negative side through an electrolyte to the positive side. Then during charging the lithium ions move back to the negative side. All of these batteries contain highly flammable Electrolytes that could be a safety hazard if not designed correctly. Some aftermarket battery companies may sacrifice safety for cost leading to disastrous results. This is why you should never buy a phone battery from an online supplier that you don’t know and trust. A good aftermarket battery is constructed well using good materials and approved by a safety agency. There are many good aftermarket batteries out there. Phoenix Phone Fix only buys from one reputable supplier that has been proven to only stock batteries that adhere to strict safety margins. So if you would like to change your cell phone battery without risking safety, rest assured that Phoenix Phone Fix is a place that you can trust.
Nearly all of us keep a cell phone in our pocket or purse nearly one hundred percent of the time. It is always within our reach and I’m willing to bet my last dollar that you have one in your hands this very moment.
Now what if I told you that the device you hold so close is potentially causing you great harm? What if the phone in your hands is shortening your life right now even while you are reading this.
It is the radio frequency energy that your phone emits that may be a danger. Radiation is being absorbed through your body as you are exposed to something that is completely invisible yet may be carcinogenic in nature. And although there is not enough scientific data to prove that there is a significant threat. Studies have shown that there is indeed a viable cause for concern.
In 1995 scientists discovered that the RF energy produced by cell phones increased the risk of tumors caused by brain cell damage in lab rats. And that this may also be the case in humans that have used a cell phone for a period of ten years or longer.
Even though there have been many studies that seem to reenforce the idea that phones can cause us harm, there is no conclusive proof that these devices cause bone loss, brain tumors, and cancer. There is just not yet enough evidence to do without something that has become such an important part of us and our daily lives.
With so many cell phone repair shops to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?
We now rely on our phones for just about every aspect of our daily lives. So when an accident has happened it is important to get your device running again in the shortest amount of time possible. There are many places to choose from. Here are some tips on how to differentiate the good ones from the not so good.
1. Check out the online reviews
One of the simplest and best ways to decide who to trust your beloved iPhone to is by first checking the reviews from others that have had their phones repaired there. If the shop you are planning to go to has many bad reviews then that would be an obvious red flag and a signal to move on to another. Try to find a repair shop with a bounty of five star ratings and your chances of success will be far greater.
2. Visit their website
Another source you can look at is the company’s website. A good way to get a feel for the phone repair shop is to go online and study their website beforehand. By doing this you can see what services the company offers. Do they specialize in only iPhone screen repair or do they perform repairs on Android devices and laptops also? Do they advertise any type of warranty with your phone repair? Are diagnostics performed for free or is there a charge? Are the prices for the repairs listed in the website or do you have to fill out a questionnaire form just to find out how much you repair will cost? Do they offer same day phone repair?
3. Give the repair shop a call
Calling the shop and speaking to a live person might help you decide if you want to have your phone repaired there. You may be surprised at how just speaking to someone for a few minutes can give you a good idea of what the business is about. Is the call answered in a friendly, pleasant tone? Is the person you are speaking with receptive to any questions you might have? Do they seem knowledgeable about the services the repair shop offers?
Of course there is no sure way of knowing which cell phone repair shop will be best. But with these tips and a little luck you’ll find a shop that will provide a quality repair at an affordable price. And just like having a good car mechanic, once you find a trustworthy cell phone repair shop, stick with them and don’t go anywhere else.
When we say Android, we aren’t really speaking about a kind of phone but rather the operating system that these phones use. Samsung, LG, and Motorola all use the Android operating system. While iPhones made by Apple all use the iOS operating system. So when comparing the two it would be more correct to say iOS vs Android.
During the comparison we also have to keep in mind that all phones using the iOS operating system are iPhones, and all iPhones are expensive high end devices. We also have to consider that not all phones using the Android (operating system) are high end devices. There are many cheap phones out there using the Android operating system. There are no cheap iPhones using the iOS operating system. So when we compare the two we have to make sure that we are comparing the operating systems and not the phones that are running them.
All iPhones run on Apple’s own operating system called iOS.
Google’s operating software was brought into existence in 2008, and is called Android.
Android is completely free for anyone to use. So many different cell phone manufacturing companies such as LG, Motorola, Samsung etc. have loaded the free for all Android operating system into their devices and the result is a seemingly endless and wide array of Android phones on the market.
This means that with all the different Android phones on the market there are many more options available than you will find in iOS devices. That’s one point scored for Android.
Some Android phones have a built in micro-SD card slot. This allows the user to add storage space to their device with ease just by inserting a micro-SD card. iPhones do not have a micro-SD slot so there is no way to expand the storage on any iOS device. That’s two points scored for Android.
Apple’s iOS on iPhone is however much easier to use. It has remained basically unchanged since it’s launch on June 29th, 2007 (back then it was called iPhone OS). Anyone picking up an iPhone for the first time can use it without any problem. It’s as easy as, touch icon, open app, and use it. Android however might not be that simple to use for some people that are new to the world of smartphones. That’s a definite one point for iOS.
When comparing an iOS iPhone to pretty much any android phone in the same price range the iOS phone pretty much always outperforms the Android device. This is mainly because Apple oversees the manufacture and build of it’s hardware and it’s software from start to finish and can pair them seamlessly together. While Android has to be paired with so many different kinds of devices that the pair can sometimes have a few hiccups. That’s two points for Apple.
When all has been said, and we have to choose a side. We are left with a very difficult choice. Just like apples and oranges, it’s all a matter of perspective on which one is better.
When it comes to determining the difference between LCD cell phone screens and the newer OLED phone screens there are a few facts that you will need to know.
The main difference between these two types of screens is how they are illuminated.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens are lit up by a constant light source supplied by LED lights.
Organic light emitting diode (OLED) screens do not have a back light. Each pixel produces its own light individually. Even the brightness of each pixel can be controlled separately per-pixel.
So on OLED screens the whites are brighter and the darks are deeper. The overall contrast is more bold and vibrant. OLED screens are also thinner than LCD screens. This allows for a bigger battery to fit inside your phone, and the larger the battery the longer the life.
But is it really worth the extra $400 you might pay for the higher contrast you’ll get out of an OLED cell phone screen? That would depend on each users own personal preference. Keep in mind that we have been using regular LCD screens all the way up to the iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone X released in 2017 was the first apple device to come with an OLED display, and if not advertised, few of us would even have noticed the change. So in my opinion having an OLED screen is probably not worth the extra $400 you’ll have to spend on an iPhone XS Max, and the less expensive iPhone XR equipped with that magnificent LCD screen will be more than enough to make you happy.
Many of us have wondered if buying a screen protector is really worth it. I mean, how do we know if they even work? Cell phone glass has become much more resistant to scratching now than years past. However, put your cell phone into the same pocket as your keys and you will soon find that even Corning’s Gorilla Glass is not impervious to damage. There is however, a way to prevent this. Screen protectors give your precious iPhone screen nearly 100% protection against scratches. Those minor hairline imperfections may not bother you much now, but later when it comes time to sell your phone you’ll wish that the resale value of your device was still intact.
Another question I have often heard asked is “Does a screen protector save your screen from being cracked or broken?” The short answer to this is no, not much. Although screen protectors are relatively cheap, they don’t do much when it comes to keeping your phone safe from falls. The best way to do this is by using a sturdy cell phone case. Get one that has a lip to overlap the edges of your phone. Then add a good quality screen protector to keep your phone safe from scratches. You’ll be happy you did.
Roughly 30% of iPhone users report some form of damage to their device over the course of a year. Commonly, these damages include cracked screens and water damage. As frustrating as it is to damage it, it can be even more frustrating trying to find the right phone fix. Going to the manufacturer or first place you come across can result in you paying more than you need to for a great cell phone repair.
When you suspect your phone has water damage, the first step is to remove the device from the liquid immediately. The longer your device remains submerged, the higher the chance for more severe damage. Once you’ve removed your phone to a dry location, turn it off completely and leave it off. The next step is to remove any protective casing that may be trapping excess liquid. If you can, remove the battery and any sim cards. Water can build up in these areas and you’ll want to make sure it’s aerated.
After separating the necessary parts, pat your device dry with a cloth. Do not rub, as this can push liquid into crevices that lead to more sensitive wiring. If your phone was completely submerged in water, you can try gently vacuuming across the creases to suck out excess liquid. It’s also important to remember to keep your device in a cool, dry place. As much as you might want to leave it in the sun, it’s not as effective as keeping it cool.
Another common trick is placing your device in a bag of rice. While there are some success stories to this, it’s not a consistent method. A better method is to fill a bag with silica gel and place your phone inside for 24 to 48 hours. Silica has proven to be much more successful in removing unwanted moisture. After you’ve taken all of these steps, power your device back on. If you run into issues, try plugging in the charger and see if that makes a difference. This can help you gauge how much damage your phone may have sustained.
If your phone still doesn’t work properly, it’s time to consider taking it to a professional for repair. Cell phone damage is no joke and should be left to experienced professionals in more extreme cases. Attempting to fix further damage yourself may result in even more damage.
One place most people consider when needing cell phone repair is the device manufacturer. Sure, they will be able to help you out and give you a good result, however, it may end up costing more. If you’re on a tighter budget and want to save some money, look for experienced repair professionals that list water damage repair as one of their specialties. Be sure to check reviews and explore the company’s offerings before you make an appointment. Not only are these types of companies often just as experienced as manufacturers in phone repair, but they are also more cost-effective.
Damaging your phone can be a stressful experience. Finding the right phone fix when your device has water damage doesn’t have to cause added distress. Your phone is an important and expensive piece of equipment, so making sure your repair is in the right hands is crucial. Taking the necessary first steps and finding the right phone fix partner can turn a negative situation around in no time.
Can you trust an aftermarket cell phone battery?
