A Child’s First Smartphone: 4 Things to Consider

Summer is the ideal time to buy the first smartphone for a child – they’ll have plenty of time to learn to use it before school starts and it’s easy for parents to see how they’re managing with it. Buying a used phone is also a highly viable option.


Does a child need a smartphone?

There are many answers to this question. There are good and bad sides to a child’s smartphone use, but these days there are notable benefits of a child having one, both for the parents and child. Parents may be worried about their children having access to inappropriate content or using the phone excessively, but these problems are easy to overcome thanks to modern technology. In this article, we will discuss issues that should be taken into consideration when buying a smartphone for a child, and ways of making children’s smartphone use safer.
child’s phone sees and experiences all kinds of adventures: it may occasionally lay on the grass, be covered in sand or even take a swim in a puddle. Although you can protect the phone with a protective case, it’s worth buying a smartphone that is durable and safe. It doesn’t have to be the finest or newest model with the best features, instead, a good phone for basic use is enough.


At least by the time when the child starts to travel independently, smartphones become a very important tool for communication. You don’t have to worry about the child’s comings and goings and trips to school when you can monitor their location through a smartphone app.


A good first smartphoneSo what should you take into consideration when choosing the first smartphone for a child?

In our opinion, the most important things are the phone’s size, price, quality, durability and safety.
As children have small hands, small phones are easier for them to use. The phone shouldn’t be too large, so that it’s easy for a child to handle and use. Of course, a smartphone with a big screen looks good, but it’s not necessarily practical for a child. Children can easily leave an oversized phone at home or in their bag, which makes it difficult to reach them. When the phone is pocket-sized, it’ll easily fit in the child’s hand or pocket and they’ll be more likely to keep it on them, making them easier to reach. You should pay particular attention to the width of the display.


A child’s first smartphone doesn’t have to be the most expensive model on the market. Since the phone may easily be damaged in use, it will save you both money and a headache to not buy the most expensive phone for a child. The price should be such that buying a replacement phone won’t hurt much – a cheap basic smartphone is often good enough. A child’s first smartphone is typically average-priced, that is, between a hundred and three hundred euros. Cheaper phones often contain nearly the same features as expensive flagship models and are completely suitable for children’s needs.
A durable and high-quality smartphone for a childThe phone will see and experience all sorts of things. Children don’t always remember to treat their belongings with care, and this applies equally to their phone. The phone can easily break: it might be in their pocket when they’re wrestling with friends or rolling in snow.


Fortunately, the phone can be protected in various ways. You should definitely buy a tempered glass screen protector, which will prevent scratches and cracks in the screen. Phone cases also protect the child’s phone. They are available in many different styles: the wallet case is a good choice for a child, because it offers the best protection for the screen. Bus cards and library cards can also easily be transported in them.
Phone cases let the child customise their phone as they like. Online stores are full of various cases, from which the child can choose their favourite one – and the cheaper ones are usually good enough for children. There are also waterproof cases available. If the phone has a waterproof case, it’s not such a big deal if it starts to rain while it’s left lying on the grass.
You shouldn’t underestimate children as phone users, however. Many children take better care of their belongings and smartphones than adults. Accidents happen to everyone, but when the phone is durable and well-protected, it will usually survive all sorts of bumps and knocks.


A safe smartphoneNaturally, phone use has its own risks. Anyone can be in contact with the child through the internet or they may encounter content inappropriate for their age. The child might not understand what kind of pictures should be uploaded to social media or what kind of conversations they should have in their class’ WhatsApp group.
The easiest way to childproof a child’s smartphone use is to agree shared family rules. It’s a good idea to set limits for phone use, i.e., how much it can be used per day and for what purpose. It’s important to teach the child good online habits and explain what kind of photos and posts are approp  riate for uploading on social media. Age limits are worth knowing and adhering to – there’s a reason why Facebook and Instagram have an age limit of 13 years.


The phone also presents a risk in traffic. You should definitely remind the child to keep the phone in their bag and their eyes on traffic on their trips to school.
It’s also important to prevent the misuse of the phone in case it’s accidentally lost or forgotten somewhere. It’s a good solution for the child to use a smartphone fingerprint sensor. The advantage of it compared to a passcode or unlock pattern is that people can’t peep over their shoulder and copy the code. In addition to this, installing a location tracker app on the phone is a smart move in case it gets lost.

4 things to consider:Price – the first smartphone doesn’t have to be the newest and most expensive model.Size – the phone should fit in the child’s hand or pocket.Durability – protect the phone with a screen protector and case.Safety – agree ground rules for phone use with the child.

An iPhone for the first phone?

An iPhone is a good choice for a child’s first smartphone. The older models in particular are very well-suited for children’s use. They are pocket-sized and fit easily in the child’s hand or pocket. The price of older models isn’t sky-high either. iPhones are durable phones and there are huge amounts of accessories and cases available for them. The operating system is simple and won’t take long for the child to learn how to use it.
An iPhone is an especially good choice for a child if the rest of the family also uses Apple phones and devices. It’s easy for the child to learn to use an operating system that the rest of the family uses as well, and using it is safe because parents can easily keep track of what their child is doing on their phone.
Apple’s Family Sharing makes everyday family life and monitoring the children’s phone usage very easy. For example, the family can share photo albums, reminders and their locations. One adult from the family has to be chosen who will define the family sharing settings.


Family sharing enables close monitoring of the child’s phone use. All new app downloads and purchases made on the phone have to be approved by the parents and the parent can track the child’s location through the phone.A used smartphone for a child?A used smartphone is not a bad idea at all for a child’s first smartphone. The price is cheaper than a new one, of course, and the phone’s functions and condition are totally suited for a child. Nowadays, it’s easy to buy used smartphones online. Swappie sells refurbished and fully functional used iPhones, which can be ordered easily online or collected from their store. All the devices have a 12-month guarantee.

What is Swappie’s iPhone trade-in?

Are you looking to buy an Apple iPhone to replace your older model?

If so, you have come to the right place. At Swappie, you can trade in your old Apple iPhone to pay for a newer iPhone model. a new life and save some money when buying a new one.
At Swappie, we offer a variety of used and professionally refurbished iPhones. Our reliable and fully functional refurbished iPhones have been sold to us by their previous owners and then meticulously repaired to be sold forward. Read more about how Swappie’s iPhone trade-in service works and how you too can put your old iPhone to good use.


How to trade in your old Apple iPhone

When buying a refurbished Apple iPhone from Swappie, you can select the phone’s model, colour, storage capacity and condition. in your old iPhone as well.
1. Estimate your iPhone’s trade-in valueWhen choosing to trade in your old and used iPhone, you need to answer a few questions to estimate the iPhone’s trade-in value.
iPhone modelStorage capacityWhether or not the phone functions normallyIs the display in good shape or are there cracks or colored spots on itIs there any damage to the phone’s screen and bodyIs the phone’s camera lens and back glass in good shapeIs the phone bent or curvedHave you dropped the phone in waterEstimate these things and answer truthfully to the questions to estimate the iPhone’s trade-in value.


2. Prepare your old iPhone for trade-inAfter buying a refurbished iPhone from us, we will send you a trade-in kit that is used to send your old model for inspection. well as a secure package that keeps your device from getting damaged. The trade-in kit does not cost anything and shipping your old Apple iPhone to us is completely free. Before shipping us your phone, check how to clear an iPhone to sell it.


3. Ship your iPhone to SwappieYou have 14 days to ship us your old iPhone. After we have received your iPhone, Swappie’s professional technicians will closely inspect your device and check that its condition is as you stated. In case our inspection of your iPhone’s condition does not match your estimate, we will send you an email with instructions. You will also get a new, updated offer of the iPhone’s trade-in value. In case you are happy with the new offer, you can proceed to sell us your phone. Send your old iPhone back free of charge.

What are the benefits of Swappie’s iPhone Trade-In?

There are many benefits to Swappie’s iPhone Trade-In service. Most importantly, these are price, convenience and sustainability.
save moneyBy selling your old and used Apple iPhone to Swappie when buying a new refurbished one, you can save hundreds of euros. Your savings are even greater when buying a refurbished iPhone rather than a brand new one. 
Better for the environmentDid you know that the manufacturing of a smartphone causes up to 90% of its annual carbon footprint? On top of that, about 70% of the materials in a modern smartphone can be recycled. By recycling your old iPhone and buying a refurbished device to replace it, you are helping us in our mission towards a greener world.
Sell ​​your old iPhone and buy a new one in the same placeInstead of going from one place to another to first sell and then buy an iPhone,


why not do it all in the same place?
Swappie’s iPhone Trade-In is a more convenient way to recycle your old iPhone and buy a replacement.
Easy price estimate for the trade-inEstimating the price of your old Apple iPhone is done online. Select the iPhone model you are looking to sell and answer just a few questions to receive an estimate of your phone’s trade-in value. 
Free shippingWe cover the shipping costs, so all you have to do is send your iPhone to us using the free trade-in kit. If we need to return your iPhone to you, this does not cost you anything either.


Warranty and right-to-returnRefurbished iPhones bought from Swappie are covered with our 12-month warranty and a 14-day right to return.
Trade in your old Apple iPhone at Swappie!When you are looking to trade in your old Apple iPhone, check out Swappie.com. You can find all iPhone models we are currently selling on our website. Check out Swappie’s refurbished iPhones on sale. If you only want to sell an old, used or even slightly broken iPhone, make sure to visit our Sell Your iPhone -page as well. There you can find an up-to-date list of iPhone models we currently take in.

What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Do to Extend Your Phone’s Battery Life

One of the biggest complaints people have about theirsmartphone is that the battery doesn’t last long enough. For many people, just making it through the day can be a challenge, which is why you see so many “How to make your phone’s battery last longer!” articles in your friends’ Facebook feeds. But many of the claims in those articles are specious at best, and some of the tricks they suggest could actually shorten your battery life. So which ones should you try


We partnered with The New York Times to find the answer by testing, on both Android and iPhone smartphones, a slew of procedures that people, publications, and—in some cases—smartphone manufacturers suggest for getting more use time out of your phone.1 The article on the NYT website includes a summary of our findings, but if you want to know more, read on for our extended recommendations.
Table of contentsBig battery suckersThe easiest solutionsUse the screen less—or at least turn brightness downUse an ad blockerSwitch from push to fetch email if you have many accounts or get lots of emailStore music locallyAvoid extreme temperaturesUse airplane mode or low-power mode (if you must)The next stepsDisable cellular or Wi-Fi when the signal is badConsult your phone’s battery-usage screen to find the biggest offendersDisable GPS or location services—but only for power-hungry apps or apps you don’t needDisable unnecessary push notificationsFor iPhone: Use Bluetooth instead of AirPlay to listen wirelesslyBattery-saving mythsMyth: Turn off BluetoothMyth: Turn off Wi-FiMyth: Close (quit) unused appsMyth: Use a battery-saving utility or task manager on AndroidMyth: Disable location services completelyMyth: Always choose Wi-Fi over cellularMyth: Disable Hey Siri or OK GoogleMyth: Calibrate your battery to extend its lifeMyth: Use only the charger that came with your phoneIf you still need more juice: Battery packs
Big battery suckersBefore we get into the specific changes—to settings or behavior—that you can make to extend your phone’s use time, we want to point out some activities that have a big impact on your battery. people engage in these activities regularly.


One is streaming video. Watching a movie on, say, Netflix requires your phone’s screen to be on continuously (the biggest battery drain), your phone to maintain an active Internet connection (another notable drain), and the phone’s processor and graphics processor to decode the video and audio. For example, we watched Pee-wee’s Big Adventure on Netflix with the volume and screen brightness both set at 50 percent. On an iPhone 6s Plus, streaming over Wi-Fi for an hour consumed 5 percent of a full battery; LTE streaming used 11 percent. On a Moto X Pure, Wi-Fi used 11 percent of a full battery, and LTE used 13 percent.


Similarly, when you’re using a mapping app for long navigation sessions, your phone’s screen is on and the app forces the phone’s GPS circuitry to refresh at a more frequent rate than in normal usage. Fi connections in order to aid in pinpointing your location.
If your battery is getting low, or if you need it to last longer on a particular day, avoid video streaming and GPS navigation unless you’re connected to a power source.

The easiest solutionsAnyone can make a few simple changes to their phone’s settings, or to their own behavior, that can have a significant effect on how much power a device uses.

Use the screen less—or at least turn brightness downThe component that uses the most energy on your smartphone, by a considerable margin, is the screen: The more you use it—for checking Facebook, streaming Netflix, texting with friends, whatever—the faster your battery drains. about running your battery down too quickly, limit the amount of time you’re actively using the phone (that is, with the screen on).
Of course, many of the things that you bought a smartphone to do require the screen. This tweak reduces the amount of time the screen is on each day. For example, if you unlock your phone 25 times per day, and your screen-lock delay is three minutes, changing the screen-lock setting to one minute can cut the time your screen is on by up to 50 minutes. On an iPhone, go to “Settings” then “General” then “Auto-Lock”; on an Android phone, go to “Settings” then “Display” then “Sleep.” , you can manually put the phone to sleep whenever you’re done using it.
When you are actively using the phone, you  can extend the battery life by reducing screen brightness: In Wirecutter testing using the Geekbench utility’s battery-intensive routines for an hour, an iPhone 6s used 54 percent less battery—12 percent of a full charge versus 26 percent—with the screen brightness at minimum A Moto X Pure Edition Android phone used 30 percent less (21 percent of a full charge versus 30 percent).


battery saving tips auto brightnessThe screen where you enable the auto-brightness setting on an Android (left) and iOS (right) device.Using a dim screen in bright environments is tough, however, so most phones offer an auto-brightness mode that automatically adjusts the screen’s brightness based on ambient light: In bright environments, the screen gets brighter, in dim environments, it gets dimmer. a moderately well-lit office, our iPhone 6s test phone used only 16 percent of a full battery over an hour of the Geekbench stress test with auto-brightness on (with initial brightness set at 50 percent). similar test resulted in the phone’s using 25 percent of a full charge. In other words, enabling auto-brightness will save most people a good amount of battery life compared with setting it to a bright level all the time,though not as much as if you kept the brightness down all the time; the advantage of auto-brightness is that the screen will remain easily readable in all environments.

Use an ad blockerIf you spend much of your smartphone-screen time on the Web, one of the easiest ways to make your battery last longer may surprise you: Install an ad blocker. Much of the debate around using this kind of software, which is designed mainly to prevent certain kinds of ads from loading while you’re browsing websites, focuses on revenue (for publishers) and annoyance (for readers). But ads, just like any other form of online content, use resources: Your phone must download the ad images and video and then display them (often running browser scripts too), and these tasks use energy.
battery saving tips ad blockerThe Ghostery browser for Android (left) and the iOS screen for enabling an ad blocker (right).We ran an automated Wi-Fi Web-browsing session in Safari on an iPhone 6s, cycling through a set list of websites for two hours with no ad blockers; then we ran the same test with the 1Blocker ad blocker installed. , the test used 18 percent of the phone’s battery, but with the ad blocker, it used only 9 percent—so viewing ads doubled the impact of Web browsing on the phone’s battery! Ghostery Privacy Browser and got results that were even more dramatic: With no ad blocker, a two-hour browsing session in Chrome used 22 percent of the phone’s battery, whereas the Ghostery ad-blocking browser (which uses the same browser engine as Chrome) consumed only 8 percent.

Switch from push to fetch email if you have many accounts or get lots of emailA feature called push automatically delivers new email, new or revised calendar events, and updates to your contacts list (such as from a Gmail or iCloud account) to your smartphone whenever such changes occur on a central server. can use a goodly amount of power, as it requires your phone to always be listening for new communications from your account provider. Most phones let you configure them to use “fetch” instead, where the phone polls a server on a schedule—say, every 30 minutes—or only when you manually tell the phone to do so.
battery saving tips fetch emailMail-retrieval settings on an iPhone, with accounts set to fetch new mail every 30 minutes.If you have a single email account and you don’t receive much email, you won’t see a real difference in battery usage between push and fetch. those accounts receive, the more energy your phone will use, as it has to communicate with those account servers continually. accounts, receiving a total of 20 to 30 messages per hour. Over 24 hours with push enabled, Mail was active in the background for about 18 minutes. When we switched to a 30-minute fetch schedule, the same phone, handling roughly the same amount of email, was active in the background for only 4 minutes over 24 hours.It’s difficult to determine conclusively how much of Mail’s energy use is specifically attributable to communication with mail servers, but in these tests, having push active over the course of a day with this particular email load2 caused Mail to account for 5 to 10 percent more of the phone’s total battery use.
Anecdotally, during January’s Consumer Electronics Show, when Wirecutter staffers were receiving hundreds of press-release emails each day abled meant having to charge our smartphones by early afternoon; switching to fetch or manual allowed the same phones to survive well into the evening before needing a charge.
The manual setting will save the most battery life, but you likely won’t see a huge benefit over fetch, and you’ll lose the convenience of being notified of new mail and events on a regular schedule.


If you switch from push to fetch or manual, and you don’t notice an improvement in battery life after a few days of use, you might want to switch back to push for the convenience it offers. those email accounts on which you really do need to see messages immediately, using fetch or manual for the others.

How to boost your iPhone’s battery charge

How often does the charge on your iPhone run low just when you need it the mostBattery lifeis always an issue on mobile phones. Fortunately, there are ways to not only see how much charge is remaining but also to extend that charge before it runs out.

The battery percentage indicator can appear on the screen to show you how much charge is left. Low Power Mode will extend that charge by reducing background activity. Your phone will provide certain tips on preserving battery power and show you which apps chew up the most power , and you can optimize your battery charging to extend the overall life of your battery.
How to boost your iPhone batteryFirst, update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS if you haven’t already done so. Go to Settings and then General and select Software Update. You’ll be told that iOS is up to date or prompted to download the latest update.
Next, go to Settings and select Battery. To see the current amount of battery charge remaining, turn on the switch for Battery Percentage.The battery icon in the upper right will display the current percentage. To extend the battery charge when you run low, turn on the switch for Low Power Mode. This feature reduces certain background activities until your phone can be fully charged again

Turn on “Battery Percentage” and “Low Power Mode” in the iPhone Settings.Image: Lance Whitney/TechRepublicThe Battery screen offers certain suggestions to help extend your battery charge, such as reducing the brightness or turning on Auto-Brightness. Tap each suggestion and follow the steps to enable it, especially if your charge is running low 

Adjust the brightness settings on the iPhone.Image: Lance Whitney/TechRepublicSwipe further down the Battery screen. The graph reveals a few useful pieces of data, such as when the battery was last charged to 100%, any activity on your phone that impacted the charge and how long the display has been active.
The graph highlights spikes in activity to help you try to avoid such spikes in the future. You can switch this view between the last 24 hours and the last 10 days (Figure C).

Access the graphs that reveal battery data in the iPhone settings.Image: Lance Whitney/TechRepublicSwipe down further to see a list of apps that have eaten into your battery charge. The screen shows you the biggest battery drains at the top so you can avoid using those apps when you need to preserve the current charge. Tap anywhere in this section to switch the view between the percentage and the number of minutes for each app 

Go to the list of Apps in the iPhone battery settings to check each of their battery usage.Image: Lance Whitney/TechRepublicSwipe up on the screen and tap the setting for Battery Health & Charging. Here, the option for Maximum Capacity indicates the top capacity that your battery can hold. A new phone should display 100% capacity. If the capacity falls below a certain level, such as 80%, and you plan to keep the phone for the near future, you may want to replace the battery.
Next, the option for Peak Performance Capability kicks in as your battery ages and loses capacity. Your phone uses certain built-in features to try to counteract the normal chemical aging process, thereby preserving your battery life.
The third option for Optimized Battery Charging tries to reduce aging by not charging your battery after it reaches 100%. In this case, the charging stops at 80% and then waits to continue charging when your phone is again running on battery power. , you’ll want to keep this switch turned on.


If your phone is running iOS 16.1 or higher and you’re based in the US, a fourth option appears for Clean Energy Charging. With this option, your iPhone tries to determine the carbon emissions from your local energy grid and uses that information to charge the battery when cleaner energy production is available. Keep this switch on, but if a notification consistently pops up to tell you that charging has been suspended, you may want to turn this option off 

New ways your phone can keep you safe in an emergency but you need to set up now

Smartphones are already deeply integrated in our daily lives , which presents a unique problem for the tech companies designing them: What can be done next?
So far, we’ve already seen companies like Apple and Google add lifestyle enhancements and current event-related features to their respective operating systems, such as contact tracing and easier screen-locks for mask wearers. Tap or click here to see how to get These features on your iPhone.


But beyond enhancements for COVID-19, how can a smartphone become an even more essential product for people to use? Google thinks it has the answer in the form of new safety check-ins, which can potentially help you out during emergency situations. lifestyle features like this potentially reduce violence and crime in the world?Forget what you’re doing — Google wants to know how you’re doingGoogle just released its new Personal Safety app in the latest update for Pixel 3 and 4 series smartphones. Here’s how it works: The app gives you the ability to upload emergency contact information for several people you know and trust. in a sticky situation, you can send an emergency alert to all these contacts at once with the push of a button.


At the same time, a more important feature called Safety Check is also rolled into the app. You can set your phone to perform “checks” at regular intervals, where you respond and let your phone know you’re safe. respond to one of these checks, the phone will automatically send out an alert without you having to do anything.
This is extremely significant for several reasons. People don’t always have access to their phones during emergencies, and should it be out of reach, there is often no way for a victim to call for help. With Safety Check, contacts are informed of your last immediate location, which can help pinpoint where you are to emergency services as well.

The update includes a few other new features that complement the Personal Safety app, including a battery monitor that drastically reduces power consumption as your phone gets closer to dying.
These new features have the potential to give people peace of mind when venturing outdoors again — especially now that quarantines are finally winding down in much of the world.


This is all well and good, but I don’t own a Pixel. What are my options?

Apple is already way ahead of you in terms of emergency options and contacts. You may not have access to safety check-ins, but Apple’s approach still makes it easy to get alerts out to your emergency contacts and emergency services.
Here’s how you can set up emergency contacts on your iPhone in the event of a crisis:
Open the Health app and tap your profile picture or initials if you don’t have a picture.Tap Medical ID. Tap Edit, then scroll to Emergency Contacts.Tap the add button to add an emergency contact.Tap a contact, then add their relationship. Tap Done to save your changes. Note that you can’t add 911 as an emergency contact, but don’t worry. Apple’s SOS call feature automatically dials 911 for you.


Here’s how to make one:
Press and hold the side button and one of the Volume buttons until the Emergency SOS slider appears. Drag the Emergency SOS slider to call emergency services. If you continue to hold down the side button and Volume button, instead of dragging the slider, a countdown begins and an alert sounds. If you hold down the buttons until the countdown ends, your iPhone automatically calls emergency services.

iPhone 7 models and earlier have slightly different instructions:
Rapidly press the side (or top) button five times.Drag the Emergency SOS slider to call emergency services.Once your call is complete, your emergency contacts will automatically be informed of your situation.


And if you’re looking for something more like the Personal Safety app, SafeTrek, Inc.’s Noonlight app works as an emergency button that you can hold in times of danger, and if you release it, it auto-dials 911 for you It’s available through theApple App store here, and you can also download it for Android smartphones on the Google Play Store here.
It also includes integration with the Tinder app, which is a major step forward for digital dating safety. Tap or click here to see apps and safety tips from an online dating expert.
In light of societal events and social unrest, it’s good to see tech companies putting the human element of their business model before trivial features and more advertising. Whether or not this trend continues remains to be seen. and socializing might feel a little less sketchy going forward.

It’s important to check your laptop battery’s health – here’s how

Batteries aren’t meant to last forever, including the battery that powers your laptop.
It’s important to keep an eye on your laptop battery’s health for that very reason: it can, and likely will, die at some point, and you don’t want to get stuck replacing it in a pinch. Plus, just because the battery has died doesn’t mean you need to buy a new laptop. Tap or click here for five signs it’s time for a new laptop.
Let’s take a look at how you can check the life of your laptop battery on both PCs and Mac laptops, brought to you by our sponsor, IDrive.


How and why laptop batteries dieMost laptops use lithium-ion batteries as the power source, and as a general rule, this type of battery tends to lose charging capabilities.
This can interfere with productivity — and also your laptop’s efficiency. Laptops are meant to be portable, but if you can’t move them from one place to the next without the battery dying, it can cause issues with how useful your device is to you .
This happens because your laptop battery is only equipped to handle a limited number of complete battery cycles or, in layman’s terms, the charging process in which your battery goes from 0% to 100% before it starts losing efficiency. it will lose efficiency, and so will older batteries as they age.


Your laptop battery can also lose efficiency if you’re partially charging it. Let’s say you regularly charge your laptop from 30% to 50%, or about 20% each time you charge it. completed one battery cycle because you’ve charged your laptop 100% in total.
You can’t just avoid charging your battery to cut down on the cycles you put it through, so it’s essential to check your battery’s health instead. Doing so will give you a good idea of ​​how much more abuse your battery can take and help prompt you to make some changes to preserve battery health.
But how do you do that?

How to check the battery life on your laptop

The steps you take to check your battery health will depend on your laptop type. Checking on the health of your battery on a MacBook is much simpler than checking the health of your battery on a PC laptop, which involves a much more laborious process. with the difficult one first.
You may also like: New ways your phone can keep you safe in an emergency
How to check the battery health of your PC laptop


Option 1: Use the Windows PowerShell terminal (Windows 8 or later).
You just have to use one simple command from the Windows Powershell terminal to check your battery health.Click the Start menu on your laptop.Search for PowerShell and then click on the PowerShell option that appears.Once it appears, type the following command: powercfg /batteryreport.Press Enter, which will generate a report that includes information on your battery health.Search for the folder in your user accounts directory with the name: C:\Users[YourUsername] to access the report.Note: Rather than searching for Powershell, you can opt to type “cmd” while pressing the Start button.Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run it in administrator mode.While in admin mode, type powercfg /batteryreport.Hit Enter.Go to Users\Your Username folder and look for the battery-report.html file to access the report.Following either set of instructions above generates a report containing a ton of information on your laptop, including information about your battery health. This report will be an HTML file, so all you have to do is double-click it to view the contents.
You can find the information about your battery health by scrolling down on the report to the Battery Information section. This section will include subsections with details on Design Capacity, Full Charge Capacity, and Cycle Count.
It also includes a subsection called Battery Life Estimates, which will give you a clearer picture of how long your laptop battery will last on a full charge, along with information on how long it would last on a full charge when it was new. Understand your battery’s life cycle.


RELATED: 4 ways to extend your Windows 10 laptop battery life
Option 2: Use Battery Report, which allows you to see your battery health (best for older laptops)
Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu.Choose Command Prompt (Admin). (Note: This opens Command Prompt as an administrator, which allows you to run a battery report for your laptop).When Command Prompt opens, type in the same command you use for Windows PowerShell: powercfg /batteryreport and run the report.This will do the same thing as the Windows PowerShell method: it will generate a report that includes information on your battery health, which can be found by searching in your accounts directory for a folder called C:\Users[YourUsername].
As with the PowerShell method, this report will show you information about your battery, along with the name, serial number, and chemistry type of the battery.


How to check the battery health of your Mac laptop

It’s surprisingly simple to check the health of your MacBook battery, especially when compared to checking the battery health on a PC laptop.
Hold the Option key and click on the Apple menu.Click on System Information.Scroll down to Hardware > Power > Cycle Count.
The “Cycle Count” section will give you a firm number of times your laptop battery has completed the battery cycle, and you can use this number to better understand where your MacBook battery is in its life cycle.
You’ll also find information on the full charge capacity, the charge remaining, and a ton of other information about your battery, including the serial number. This information is important because the battery cycles will vary with each model of the Macbook
As you can see in the screenshot above, the MacBook this was written on has a cycle count of 253, which may seem high, but it’s a MacBook Pro and MacBook Pros that were released in 2009 and later have 1,000 cycles on their batteries. MacBook is about a third of the way into the full battery life cycle.


But, if you complete a battery health check and find that your battery is at the end of its life cycle, don’t panic. There are plenty of replacement batteries available to keep your laptop up and running, and there are tons of ways to help preserve your overall battery life, which you can learn by tapping or clicking here.
Bonus: Protect your files with Kim’s pick for back upEvery once in a while, the computer you rely on can fail you. And if you don’t have a solid backup in place, you risk losing all your important files. That could be years of work and your precious memories gone. IDrive.
Save a whopping 90% when you sign up at IDrive.com and use the promo code “Kim” at checkout.

Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max

Hoef jij niet per se de allernieuwste iPhone te hebben, maar wil je wel graag een toestel met alle moderne features? En dan het liefst met een groot scherm? Dan is de iPhone 12 Pro Max echt een aanrader! kun je altijd nog bij Swappie terecht voor een refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max!


Refurbished of tweedehands iPhone 12 Pro Max: wat is het verschil?
EEN Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max is UitgeBREID GETEST ENDIEN NODIG GEREPAREERD. Een Tweede Hands iPhone 12 Pro Max Daarentegen, Wordt Simpelweg Verkocht Zoals Hij IS. hebt over de conditie van de iPhone. meegaat als de bedoeling is. Kortom, wil je een gebruikte iPhone 12 Pro Max kopen, kies dan voor een gereviseerd exemplaar!


Wat zijn de kenmerken van de iPhone 12 Pro Max?
De iPhone 12 Pro Max heeft net als de iPhone 13 Pro Max en de iPhone 14 Pro Max een schermformaat van 6.7 inch; het zijn de grootste modellen in het Apple assortiment. De iPhone 12 Pro Max is een stuk goedkoper dan de andere twee modellen en dus perfect voor wie een grote én betaalbare iPhone zoekt. De A14 Bionic chip waar de iPhone 12 Pro Max mee is uitgerust staat garant voor fantastische prestaties, en het slanke ontwerp van keramisch glas en chirurgisch RVS is een ware lust voor het oog. (en dus ook de Pro Max) was overigens de eerste iPhone serie die geschikt was voor draadloos opladen.


iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 12 Pro Max


De iPhone 12 Pro Max is net als de iPhone 12 Pro verkrijgbaar in de kleuren Pacific Blue, Gold, Graphite en Silver. Beide toestellen zijn verkrijgbaar met een opslagcapaciteit van 128GB, 256GB en 512GB. tussen deze twee modellen zit vooral in het formaat: de Pro Max is met zijn 6.7 inch display en gewicht van 228 gram een ​​stuk groter en zwaarder dan de Pro, die een 6.1 inch display en een gewicht van 189 gram heeft. graag een iPhone met een lekker groot scherm wilt is de iPhone 12 Pro Max een uitstekende keuze!


Welke voordelen heeft een gereviseerde iPhone 12 Pro Max van Swappie?
Wanneer je kiest voor een gereviseerde iPhone 12 Pro Max van Swappie, dan ben je verzekerd van:
Een betrouwbaar toestelOnderworpen aan een 52-staps control procedures.
 Minimal 80% battery capacityOf een nieuwe batterij tegen een kleine meerprijs.
 Een snelle leveringJe hebt je gereviseerde iPhone 12 Pro Max binnen 1 tot 3 werkdagen in huis.


Maar liefst 2 jaar garantie op je aankoopGaat je iPhone binnen de garantietermijn kapot, dan repareren we deze of je krijgt een nieuw toestel.
 Optionele Swappie Care verzekeringOnze eigen iPhone vervangservice.
14 dagen bedenktijdMocht je niet tevreden zijn, dan kun je het toestel gewoon retourneren.


Ja, ik heb interesse in een refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max !Een refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max tegen een betaalbare prijs?
Die bestel je heel snel en gemakkelijk via Swappie. Mocht je toevallig nog een oude iPhone 8 of nieuwer hebben liggen, dan kun je indien gewenst ook je gebruikte iPhone inruilen. Ben je er nog niet uit of je dat wel wilt, dan kun je natuurlijk ook op een later tijdstip je oude iPhone verkopen.

Everything You Need to Know About iPhone Batteries

In Apple’s iPhones, it is fair to say that the battery is a bit of a mystery box. Unlike some of its competitors, it’s non-removable, so you have to trust that what you are getting is actually good. When shopping for a refurbished iPhone, a good battery is just as important as a sleek appearance.


Fortunately, you don’t have to stay in the dark. In this guide, we will answer some commonly asked questions regarding iPhone batteries, from understanding good capacity levels to the typical performance of an iPhone battery across different models.


Everything mentioned in this guide is applicable to all current and recent models of Apple smartphones. Where necessary, we’ve pointed out how different models function when it comes to their batteries. Generally speaking, though, this comprehensive iPhone battery guide will be helpful regardless of whether you’re looking to purchase an iPhone 7, or iPhone 11.Understanding iPhone Battery CapacityWith the release of iOS 11.3 in 2018, Apple introduced a new feature that can tell you quite a lot about the capacity and function of your battery: Battery Health. It describes exactly how long your iPhone should last between charge cycles, on a scale of 0% to 100%.


Your phone’s maximum battery capacity goes down over time. New iPhones typically come with a 100% capacity, but charge cycles and potential damage (like exposing your phone to extreme temperatures) reduce the capacity.
As your battery’s health declines, so does its ability to deliver maximum performance.

What iPhone Battery Capacity is Considered Optimal Condition?

You might think that because your iPhone’s maximum capacity begins at 100%, it’s the only condition that can be considered optimal. However, that’s not quite true. Apple considers any iPhone with a battery capacity of 80% or above to be in optimal condition.
In fact, Apple feels so strongly about battery health that its 1-year warranty covers any battery at 80% capacity or more. It’s not unusual to see iPhones that, after one year, still have a battery capacity of 95% or above.


The reason is a type of fail-safe: Apple builds its batteries with excess capacity, meaning that it doesn’t actually use all of its potential operating power when its Battery Health states 100%. Even when it is at 80%, your phone is still operating in optimal conditions.
How to Check the Battery Status of Your iPhoneOn any iPhone with iOS 11.3 or later installed, you can find your battery capacity by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. It’s important to note that this feature is only available for the iPhone 6 and any models that came after it.
In your Battery Health screen, you’ll also see an important secondary metric: Peak Performance Capability. Because of the above-mentioned nuance, this screen might actually be more important than capacity.
If your battery runs optimally to support all of your apps, you will see a simple message that your phone is operating at normal peak performance. should be replaced.
If you see the warning message, your phone will still function, but the time between charge cycles will be significantly shorter. The message only appears when your battery capacity is at 79% or below.


How to Extend Your iPhone’s Battery Life and Performance

Apple has tried to extend the battery life of their phones through something called performance throttling, or performance management, which caused some controversy a few years ago. Performance management throttles your phone’s performance on your behalf to keep the iPhone running and conserve battery. turn it off manually, but your iPhone’s battery will run out very quickly if you do so, since the iPhone will be operating close to its limits.


Instead, it makes sense to take these few simple steps that can extend your phone’s battery life, courtesy of Apple:


Stay on the latest iOS upgrade. Every major upgrade comes with new features to preserve and extend battery life.Try to keep your phone in temperatures between 16 and 22 degrees celsius on average. Anything above or beyond might be damaging to your lithium battery.Avoid excess heat when charging. Some cases or surfaces can cause your phone to heat up, which can damage the battery. Check it while it is charging to make sure it stays cool.Store your phone half-charged. Emptying the battery completely could cause it to fall into deep discharge, which will cause significant damage.Turn on auto-brightness. The brightest screen settings tend to drain your battery quickly, which forces you to go through charge cycles quickly and lose battery health.Check your background activity in Settings > General > Background Refresh. Too many apps running in the background will drain your battery.How iPhone Batteries Perform Based on Individual ModelsWhen researching used iPhones, battery life and performance are probably among your top considerations. You can look at factors like the processing speed or RAM, but how much does that really tell you about the phone’s actual user experience?


Fortunately, other metrics exist as well. One is Geebench’s Performance benchmark, which standardises all iOS devices to compare their performance directly against each other. The results, from highest to lowest performance, are as follows:
iPhone 11 Pro Max – 1,330iPhone 11 – 1,280iPhone XS Max – 1,110iPhone XR – 1,108iPhone 8-922iPhone 7-742iPhone 6S – 542iPhone 6-308Battery life is another important component when comparing iPhone models. The review specialists at AnandTech reviewed the battery life of each iPhone model from the last few years. They based their comparison on the amount of time a phone would be able to leverage a full charge when on WiFi.
iPhone 11 Pro Max – 15.58 hoursiPhone 11 – 14.03 hoursiPhone XR – 12.95 hoursiPhone 8 Plus – 11.83 hoursiPhone XS Max – 10.31 hoursiPhone 7 – 9.22 hoursThe trends for both performance and battery life tend to be linear. Each new model tends to be more powerful than those that came before it and comes with new features that preserve and extend its battery life. 
The bottom line is that newer models, regardless of whether their capacity is below 100%, tend to have longer battery life than their older counterparts and will be useful for longer as a result.


Refurbished iPhones vs. Other Phones: Who Wins the Battery Battle?Of course, you may be looking beyond iPhones. In that case, how battery life and performance compare between Apple’s products and its competitors is an important question to ask.
For new phones, Apple generally wins out. In both the performance and battery life benchmarks referenced above, iPhone models place above their counterparts from Android and Google from the same year.
But what about refurbished phones? Here, it’s still better to trust iPhones over other refurbished phones. Generally speaking, iPhones retain about 15% more value per year than even their best Android counterparts. Performance doesn’t reduce as fast and the screen doesn’t get damaged as easily.


All in all, the iPhone tends to win the battery battle. Not only does it start out strong, it also retains its strength for longer. That’s what makes it such a good choice for anyone looking for a refurbished smartphone.

What Can You Expect From a Swappie Refurbished iPhone?

At Swappie, we guarantee that every refurbished iPhone has a battery with at least 80% capacity, meaning that it will work and perform like a new iPhone. You don’t have to worry about replacing the battery to get the performance you want. standards are not guaranteed by other iPhone resellers. If you are unlucky, you could end up with a battery that has a capacity lower than 80%, significantly reducing its performance and remaining lifespan. It’s important to consider these things before committing to a purchase.


Especially in older models, even a perfectly functioning battery will not be as effective as it would be in a newer model.As shown above, an iPhone 7 lasts more than 6 hours less than the newest model.Keeping your expectations in line with reality can Help you make a purchase that works well for both you and your phone. 
So now that you have read our complete guide to iPhone batteries, we hope that you feel more confident with your knowledge. If you’re interested in checking out Swappie’s selection of refurbished iPhones, you can find them here.

How to Sell Your Old iPhone: The Complete Guide to Selling Your iPhone to Swappie

If you are considering selling your old iPhone, you are not alone. In fact, you are one of many in a growing community of people exploring the world of re-homing their old devices. The reasons for doing this ranges from maximizing the return on their initial investment to preserving our environment. Selling a phone to a company can seem like a strange thing and leave you with many questions. In this article I will answer the most common questions and concerns we hear about selling an old iPhone. take a look at some of the many reasons why people across the globe turn to Swappie when they want to sell their used iPhones.


How do I choose the right company to sell to?

No two mobile phone resellers are exactly alike. They vary widely in service and support, with companies offering sales processes ranging from smooth and simple to lengthy and laborious. The key to avoiding a long, difficult sales process is to know exactly what you are looking for in a company that buys and resells old phones.
If you are not familiar with Swappie, you may be wondering what qualities make our company stand out from the crowd. While the list of reasons is lengthy, we believe it is our quick and easy sales process that keeps customers across the globe coming back to us to sell their old phones. Below are 10 factors which make Swappie’s sales process as pleasant as it is.


1) SimplicitySelling a phone to a company should be as easy as 1-2-3! Here at Swappie, our goal is to keep the process as smooth and simple so you can receive your payment as quickly as possible. There are three steps to selling your phone to us: filling in the form, packing your phone and mailing it. First, fill out Swappie’s online sales form and print out your DHL label. Next, carefully pack your phone to protect it during shipping. Finally, schedule a pickup or take your package to a DHL service point for shipment.
2) SpeedYou can complete the three steps above in a matter of minutes. It typically takes 1-3 business days for Swappie to receive your phone and most phone inspections are completed within 2-3 business days. Once the inspection is complete, payment will be made to the bank account you listed in your form. Some customers receive payment within the same week that they shipped their old phone.
3) ConvenienceSwappie makes it possible for you to easily sell your phone from the comfort of your home or office. All you need is a small box, some packing material and a printer. Once you’ve taken a few minutes to fill out the form and send us your package, you can expect swift payment for your old phone.


4) SecuritySelling your old phone to Swappie is a safe and secure process. All of our shipments are handled by DHL, the world’s largest logistics company, who you can count on to take extensive care in protecting their shipments. All payments are made via direct bank transfer, which is the safest and fastest way to send payments. Most importantly, should you decide to cancel the sale before payment has been made, you can let us know and we will send your phone back to you in the same condition we received it.
5) ProfessionalismWhen you sell your phone to Swappie, you can have peace of mind knowing that you are dealing with an experienced team of industry professionals. In fact, the Swappie concept was born years ago when the company’s founders had a poor experience with an online used phone dealer. The founders established Swappie to give people across the world a safe and secure marketplace for buying and selling used phones.
6) FairnessSwappie strives to pay customers fair market value for their used iPhones. We follow the latest market trends to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve based on your phone’s model and condition. We will pay you via direct bank transfer to ensure that you receive your money as quickly as possible.


7) SustainabilitySelling an old phone to be refurbished and resold helps the environment by reducing electronic waste, and reduces the amount of raw materials needed to build another phone from scratch.You also reduce the mining of valuable materials.Many people do not realize that mobile phones contain traces of copper, silver, and even gold! In fact, a growing number of countries are encouraging citizens to sell or recycle their old cell phones and electronic devices.
8) SupportStrong customer support should be the cornerstone of success for any mobile phone reseller. Although you can expect the sale of your phone to go smoothly, you may still have questions or concerns before, during, or after the sale process. are guaranteed a swift response from a highly trained iPhone specialist. Swappie offers exceptional customer service and makes every effort to respond to your inquiry within 24 hours.
9) TrustworthinessDetermining whether a phone reseller is trustworthy or not can be difficult.

 One of the best ways of checking a company’s reputation is to research their reputation online through reviews and comments. Generally speaking, a large percentage of highly favourable reviews indicates that the company is trustworthy.
The Swappie team is proud to have excellent customer ratings and a solid reputation for responding to customer questions and concerns. Three out of every four customers give Swappie a five-star rating and the majority of the remaining customers give a four-star rating. With thousands of online reviews by customers, this is a testament to Swappie’s dependability.


10) ExperienceIdeally, the iPhone reseller you choose should have several years of experience and a proven track record of success in the refurbished mobile phone industry. Swappie’s expertise is reflected not only in it’s excellent reputation, but also indicated by its growth and strong international presence. With over 200 skilled employees and a worldwide presence, Swappie has the resources to handle your iPhone inspection and payment efficiently

.Are there any limitations I should abut know before I sell my old iPhone?
Swappie accepts nearly all iPhone models in a range of conditions. However, there are some exceptions. Specifically, your phone should be intact and should be a model that was manufactured within the last several years. Below is a summary of phone types that Swappie will not purchase, or may only offer minimal payment for.Phones with severe damage. Examples include phones with dysfunctional motherboards or phones that have sustained water damage.


Swappie accepts nearly all iPhone models in a range of conditions. However, there are some exceptions. Specifically, your phone should be intact and should be a model that was manufactured within the last several years. Below is a summary of phone types that Swappie will not purchase, or may only offer minimal payment for.
Phones with severe damage. Examples include phones with dysfunctional motherboards or phones that have sustained water damage. iPhones older than iPhone 6. We also do not buy the iPhone 6 Plus or stolen phones. Our organisation operates according to high ethical standards. Please, do not try to sell us any phone that has been stolen. We will pass the case on to the relevant authorities.
It is good to note that the world’s top iPhone resellers continually update their policies to reflect current market trends and changes. For this reason, make sure you check Swappie’s website for up-to-date information before proceeding to ship your phone.


What should I do before I sell my iPhone?

Once you decide to take advantage of the benefits of selling your phone to Swappie, there are just a few steps that you should take before packing and shipping your phone to us. For safety and security reasons, make sure you do the following three things:
First, request that your current service provider terminates your contract to avoid continued charges.
Next, clear your phone’s memoryof all stored information, such as contacts and personal data.
Third, remove your phone’s SIM card and store it in a secure location or cut it up.
The last step is to find a box and protective packing material to ship your phone to Swappie. You can then wrap the box with bubble wrap and place it inside another slightly larger box for safe shipment. You can also choose a small box that allows you sufficient room to wrap and pack your phone.

A Familiar Hue with a Twist: iPhone 15 Pro to Bring Back Popular iPhone 12 Color

The leaks about Apple’s next big launch are in full swing. The iPhone 15 lineup, which is expected to be unveiled this September, will reportedly add a color option that should be familiar to us.

Following the success of Alpine Blue on the iPhone 12 Pro , a variant in Dark Blue would now be introduced to the iPhone 15 Pro, according to rumors.


Change of materials, change of colorsA rather distinctive color has been leaked by Unknownz21 (via MacRumors). This source has a good reputation and has previously provided accurate details about iPhones and other Apple devices, such as the Vision Pro. Now, their contribution joins the long list of rumors that will undoubtedly result in the iPhone 15 lineup coming in more new colors than ever before.

Let’s remember that until now, we were expecting the distinctive color for the iPhone 15 Pro lineup to be a crimson red. Traces and rumors of a blue color did appear However, what is clear and key to understanding this year’s colors is the change in materials for the iPhone 15 Pro.


If we take into account the leaks, this year’s Pro lineup will be the first to introduce titanium as the material for the phone’s frame. Therefore, the new blue shade will be used on an unprecedented material for Apple, and it should provide a brushed finish that is distinct from the stainless steel company has used in the past, which results in a shinier and more uniform appearance.


While this color is reminiscent of the blue tone used in the iPhone 12 Pro, it is expected to be darker this time and include a higher amount of gray to complement the titanium finish more effectively. Titanium is a material that often pairs well with dark colors .
While blue would be the definitive color for this generation of the iPhone, we expect Apple to continue offering silver and space gray options. However, both colors may differ significantly from previous generations due to the material change. In fact, there are suggestions that Apple may consider launching a model with a raw, untinted titanium finish, similar to what we already see in the Apple Watch Ultra, for example.

And is that goodbye to the Vermillion iPhone?

Regarding the crimson color for the iPhone 15 Pro, it appears that Unknownz21 has not seen any indications of this color being in development. However, according to the leaker, the blue color has been used in several iPhone 15 Pro prototypes, suggesting that Apple may be exploring specific shades and finalizing the finish before mass production of the device.
That being said, it is also true that using a particular color during the production validation stage does not necessarily mean it will be the color for the launch. we might see two new colors instead of just one.


In any case, it is clear that Apple is planning a significant number of changes for this generation of the iPhone. New materials, a new mute button, distinctive finishes, much-improved battery life, periscope cameras in the Pro Max model, and a long list of enhancements will make the iPhone 15 something special. Therefore, no matter which color we choose, we will be facing a highly notable release in the annals of iPhone history this coming September.