The most common smartphone repairs and how to avoid them
We rely on our smartphones for everything. Communication, navigation (all hail Google Maps), entertainment and more. This constant use of phones also makes them vulnerable to damage.
Repairs are expensive and it would be totally nice to just avoid these repairs altogether.
This article will break down the most common smartphone repairs and explore ways you can prevent them while also extending the lifespan of your phone.
Consider this your guide to keeping your digital lifeline healthy. 😉
Cracked Screens
77% of people between ages 18 and 29 have broken phones making it one of the most common smartphone damage.
Cracked screens happen when a a phone is dropped, hit by something or you decide to press it too hard like you would an old button phone.
It is expensive to fix a cracked screen, especially for high-end phones like Samsung. And as the old saying goes, obedience is better than sacrifice.
Here’s how you can avoid cracked screens
- Use a tempered glass screen protector to reduce damage from falls.
- Buy a shockproof case to protect your phone from impact.
- Avoid placing your phone on slippery or unstable surfaces where it can fall.
Battery draining quickly
Raise a finger if you’ve noticed your phone doesn’t last as long as it used to.
If you’ve noticed, that is your battery life slowly giving up the ghost And you might be wondering why.
Overcharging, extreme heat, constantly draining it to zero and using the phone while charging (I am very guilty) speed up battery death.
Replacing a phone battery might be something you don’t want to do, so here’s how you can avoid it
- Don’t let your battery drain completely before charging it. Try to keep it between 20% and 80%.
- Use original chargers to avoid battery damage.
- Keep your phone away from heat and avoid using it while charging.
Water damage
Water nor get enemy, but your phone is an enemy of water
Many phones get damaged when they are dropped in water, exposed to rain, or used in humid areas like bathrooms.
Water damage can affect the panel and other components, making repairs expensive. In some cases, the phone may not work again.
How do you avoid it?
- Use a waterproof case if you often use your phone near water.
- Avoid using your phone in the bathroom, kitchen, or poolside.
- If your phone falls into water, turn it off immediately and dry it properly. The best option should be to take it to a professional.
I would have to shout while saying this DO NOT PUT YOUR WET PHONE INSIDE RICE.
Related: Here are some common device mistakes you should avoid
Charging port issues
Your charger won’t connect properly, or your phone only charges when you hold the cable at a weird angle. That’s a sign your charging port is damaged
Charging ports can get damaged due to frequent plugging and unplugging, dirt buildup, water, the way it is handled and even electricity surge. This is especially important to consider if you’re buying a second-hand phone.
How to avoid it
- Insert and remove the charger gently to prevent damage.
- Clean the charging port regularly with a soft brush or compressed air.
- Use only certified chargers to avoid damage.
- Avoid plugging your phone during power surges.
Speaker and microphone problems
“Hello, hello, can you hear me?”
“Hello, I can’t hear you o.”
These are examples of what a microphone problems.
Speakers and microphones can stop working due to water, accidental damage, or software issues.
You can fix these parts by either cleaning them or completely replacing the damaged components.
How to avoid it
- Keep your phone away from dusty and damp areas.
- Avoid covering the speaker or microphone with dirt or lint.
- Clean the speaker grills and microphone with a soft brush.
Phone lagging
Sometimes your phone can move like a snail and it is top three frustrating moments.
Lagging happens when your phone is running too many apps at once, has outdated software, or is overloaded with temporary files.
How to fix a lagging phone
- Restarting your device regularly.
- Update your software regularly as it makes your phone run better.
- Check background apps. Some apps keep running even when you don’t need them. Check your settings and shut them down.
- Keep your phone clean by clearing cached data, deleting old files, photos, and apps you never use.
Overheating
Too hot to handle is a catchphrase that also applies to phones as well.
Sometimes, mine gets so hot that I would get to hold it with a towel.
Your phone can be overheating because of too many apps running, heavy-duty apps being used, exposure to sunlight or even a faulty factory.
To avoid overheating:
- Give your phone a break. If your phone is heating up, put it down for a while. It’s not going anywhere.
- Avoid using it while charging.
- Close heavy apps. Video streaming, gaming, and video calls are some of the biggest heat-generating culprits.
No storage space
Ever get a "Storage Almost Full" notification when you haven’t even downloaded anything recently?
Your phone hoards junk files, app data, and duplicate photos until it has no room left.
To fix this, you should:
- Check your storage settings to see what’s taking up the most space.
- Delete unnecessary apps and media.
- Free up storage space by using cloud storage like Google Drive, iCloud, or OneDrive.
- Clear app cache to free up space.
Ilaya Teejay
App crashing
“Instagram stopped working.”
That's one of the most annoying notifications I get especially with I have to work.
It might have happened to you with another app..
The gist is that app crashes are common.. they happen when they’re buggy, outdated, or not compatible with your phone’s system.
To fix this, you need to:
- Update the app. Developers fix crashes in new updates, so keeping apps updated helps.
- Restart your phone. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple reboot.
- Clear app data and cache. This removes corrupt files that might be causing issues.
- Check if the app is down. If a popular app crashes for everyone, the problem is on their end, not yours.
System freezing
Sometimes your phone just wants to show you who is boss and just goes AWOL A frozen phone can be caused by low memory, software glitches, or overheating. Sometimes, a rogue app is the problem.
To fix it you need to:
- Free up RAM by closing apps running in the background.
- Keep your software up to date.
- Force restart your phone by holding down the power button and volume down button.
- Uninstall problematic apps. If your phone started freezing after downloading a new app, it might be the culprit.
Ilaya Teejay
Final thoughts
Smartphones are powerful, but they aren’t invincible.
A little maintenance goes a long way in keeping them running smoothly. Keep your storage clean, avoid overheating, and don’t ignore software updates.
If problems persist, our trusted repairers at gamp are always available to help you fix your devices.
You can also get an upgrade through our trade-in options because you might not have the patience to deal with a laggy phone for a long time.