Category: Cell Phone Batteries

When your cell phone’s speaker stops working properly,it can negatively impact almost everything your phone does. The music stops playing, you can’t make calls using the speakerphone, and you don’t hear notifications. Your phone uses its speaker constantly and that means there is a high likelihood that it will eventually become damaged or simply wear out.

The speaker on your cell phone is constantly exposed to the environment and all the debris it contains. While your phone itself is built to withstand a lot of these environmental factors, its speaker doesn’t always protect itself well against small particles that can damage or muffle it.

Before you worry that you have a broken phone speaker in Warsaw, try:
Rebooting your phoneChecking for software updatesMaking sure your volume levels are turned up. If you have an iPhone, make sure it isn’t set on “do not disturb” or vibrate.Ensuring your speaker isn’t set on “mute” in any appTaking your phone off “Headphone Mode”Being sure your phone isn’t set to play sound through a Bluetooth speaker, TV, or other devicesCommon Broken Phone Speaker Causes
Once you’ve tried all of the above simple fixes for a muffled or broken phone speaker in Warsaw, Indiana and haven’t been able to get your phone working, it’s time to bring it into The Lab.

Our certified repair technicians can take a look at your iPhone, Samsung, or Google Pixel and diagnose the problem with your speaker. Whether you need your speaker repaired or completely replaced, The Lab can handle it for you.
Dirt & Debris In The SpeakerYour cell phone’s speaker vents collect all kinds of debris over time (makeup, dead skin cells, pocket lint, etc.) and that can cause the sound to become muffled. 

This isn’t a repair you want to try to do yourself. Using compressed air, chemicals, or water to try to clean your speaker at home can damage not only the speaker but your entire phone!

Liquid DamageDamage from a liquid is a common cause of speaker problems. If you’ve spilled water on your phone or dropped it in a puddle, even if your phone starts working again, your speaker still might need to be repaired or replaced.
If you’ve spilled something like soda, juice, coffee, or tea on your phone, that can leave a sticky residue on the mesh that covers your speaker. Until that film is cleaned, the sound on your phone will continue to be muffled and distorted.

Improper Phone StorageIf you aren’t storing your phone in a clean, dry place, it can easily be damaged. Because your phone’s speaker is one of the most delicate parts of your phone, it is very susceptible to damage. 

Make sure to keep your phone in a protective case whenever possible. If you’ve dropped your phone recently without its protective case, that could be the cause of your speaker damage.
Software IssuesIf your phone’s software isn’t working or is outdated, your phone might not be the right signals to its speaker. The good news is that most software problems are easy problems to fix that can be remedied with sending a simple software update or reinstall.

Bring Your Phone Into The Lab In Warsaw, IndianaMuffled, distorted sounds caused by a broken phone speaker can make using your phone nearly impossible. Stop stressing about your phone’s damaged speakers and bring it into The Lab so we can help.

Learn how to use software or gadgets to record calls on Android or iPhone.

OUR MEMORIES ARE imperfect, so it can be helpful to record important calls. As a journalist, I often record phone calls to preserve a subject’s words. It is surprising how often there are differences when I check my impressions against what was actually said. If you expect perfect recall of the details of a meeting, you must record it. There are various ways to record a phone call on your iPhone or Android phone, and I’ ve tried them all. These are your best options.

The laws on recording phone calla vary from country to country, and for the US, from state to state. Sometimes consent is required from both parties. Sometimes consent from one person on the call is enough. Recording a call you are not participating in is Generally illegal. For folks in the US, this law firm document breaks it down clearly. Check your legal obligations before you record any calls.

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Use the Phone App (Android)

Some Android phones offer call recording built right into Google’s Phone app, or the manufacturer’s phone app. Whether it appears for you depends on your phone manufacturer, carrier, and the region you are in. Here’s how to use the feature if you have it:

Open the Phone app.Tap the three vertical dots at the top right (a gear icon on some phones).Choose Settings.Tap on Call Recording (Record calls on some phones).You can choose Always record or pick Selected numbers.Once you have turned this feature on, you should also see a Record button on screen during any calls. Tap Stop recording or simply end the call when you’re done.
You can listen to recorded calls in the Recents section in the Phone app. Tap the caller’s name, select the recording from the list of calls, and tap Play to listen.
Use Google Voice (Android or iOS)If you are in the US, you can use the Google Voice app for Android or iOS to record incoming calls (it cannot record outgoing calls). This voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) service is free to sign up for and easy to use. Here’s how:

Go to Google Voice and create an account.Tap the gear icon at the top right.Choose Calls on the left-hand side.Toggle on Incoming call options.Now you can simply press 4 on the dial pad during a call to start and stop recording.To listen to recorded calls, choose the Recorded option from the menu in the Google Voice app or website.
Use a Third-Party Call Recording App (Android or iOS)While Google’s crackdown on apps using Android’s accessibility APIs for non-accessibility reasons effectively purged many call recording apps, and Apple never allowed those kinds of apps in the first place, there are still several options if you want to use a third-party app to record calls. Unfortunately, most of them are awkward to use or expensive or both
They tend to fudge by creating three-way calls where you merge in the recording line. If you plan to try one, ensure your carrier supports three-way calling, and check for technical issues with your phone model and carrier first. We also advise reading the privacy policy to ensure your calls stay private.

Perhaps the best known option is TapeACall for Android or iOS. The free version is limited, and the price for a subscription fluctuates, but it usually starts from $3 per month for unlimited recording. Additional features like transcriptions and word search are also available as in -app purchases.
Use Another PhoneIf none of our suggestions thus far work for you, maybe consider using another device to record calls. You will probably have to crank the call volume up or put it on speaker for this to be effective. We will look at dedicated devices in a moment , but if you have a second phone you can use, there’s no need to buy anything else.

All phones come with a voice recorder app. Google’s Recorder app for Pixel phones is my favorite because it can automatically transcribe conversations and has a dedicated site where you can review or download them. For other Android phones, your manufacturer has likely included an app. For example, Samsung phones have an app called Voice Recorder. You may also consider a third-party recording app, such as Easy Voice Recorder, but always read the privacy policy first. You can use Voice Memos on an iPhone.

Use Another Recording DeviceFor frequently recording conversations in person and on the phone, you might consider a dedicated device. Aside from the cost, you must activate it at the right time, and be aware that it may pick up background noise, so it likely won’t work well for you if you can’t take or make calls in a relatively quiet space.
I tested the iZyrec Mini Recorder ($100) recently and was quite impressed by the audio quality of recorded calls. It’s small enough to hold against the back of your smartphone, easy to use, and can record both sides of a call without the need for speakerphone mode. The companion app connects via Bluetooth, enabling you to download and review recordings on your phone. Sadly, the voice activation is a bit flaky.

The Sony ICD-PX470 Stereo Recorder ($47) is an old-school digital recorder that’s affordable and works well. You get 4 GB of storage built in with a microSD card slot to expand if required. It can record for up to 55 hours from two AAA batteries, and plugs directly into your computer via USB-A to download calls.

One final option is the RecorderGear PR200 Bluetooth Recorder ($109), which connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and acts like a remote handset. Calls are channeled through the device, and you simply tap a button to record. It has 8 GB of storage inside , and the battery lasts up to 12 hours. There’s also a USB-A connector to plug directly into your computer to review calls.

The new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones have price jumps and a slew of new features, and Google’s latest smartwatch and earbuds got upgrades.Google Pixel 8 smartphones in various colors on a table

GOOGLE’S OCTOBER HARDWARE event took place this morning in New York City. During its presentation, the company showed off three new pieces of hardware: the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones, and the Pixel Watch 2. The new phones are flush with new features, from secure face authentication and seven years of software support to a built-in thermometer, while the second-generation Pixel Watch has more modest improvements over its predecessor. There are also some software upgrades coming to the Pixel Buds Pro, Google’s wireless earbuds. 

Today’s event wasn’t just about hardware. Google also unveiled its plans to inject Google Assistant with its Bard large language model, imbuing the voice chatbot with artificial-intelligence-fueled conversational powers. You can read more about that in a separate story. Below is everything you need to know about the Pixel 8 series phones and Pixel Watch 2.

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Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 ProGoogle Pixel 8 Pro smartphone
It’s year eight for Google’s Pixel smartphones, which means the handset line has officially survived longer than Google Reader. (I’m not salty.) 
The Pixel 8 is a bit smaller than last year’s Pixel 7, with a 6.2-inch screen; the Pixel 8 Pro retains the 6.7-inch screen size of its predecessor. Both phones have more-rounded edges than before—they mold to my hands quite nicely!—and the Pixel 8has a matte camera bar with a glossy glass back, whereas the Pro model has a soft-touch matte back glass with a glossy camera bar. Both of the new models have frames crafted out of 100 percent recycled aluminum. 

Google’s going the Apple route of giving its OLED displays a proprietary name—the Pixel 8 has an “Actua display” and the Pixel 8 Pro has a “Super Actua display.” Like Apple’s Liquid Retina Display, the cute name doesn’t really mean anything special. What’s new, however, is that the Pixel 8 can hit a peak brightness of 2,000 nits in outdoor conditions, 42 percent brighter than last year’s Pixel 7. The Pixel 8 Pro pushes this to 2,400 nits. Both phones support a screen refresh rate up to 120-Hz, making the animations on the display look smoother than ever, but only the Pro model has a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide screen, meaning it can dial back the number of frames per second displayed—anywhere from 120 to 1, based on what’s happening on the screen—to conserve battery life. 

One of the more surprising additions to the Pixel 8 series is support for secure face authentication. If you’ve been following Pixel hardware over the years, you’ll remember that the Pixel 4 was the only one to ever support facial recognition as a secure biometric authentication method, utilizing Google’s radar technology. The Pixel 8 series doesn’t have the Soli chip that powered that function in the older handset, but these new phones have the same capabilities. This means you can use your face to securely access banking and payment apps, or anything that usually requires a PIN or fingerprint authentication. If you don’t like face recognition, both phones still have fingerprint sensors.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find this next new feature on another smartphone: a temperature sensor. This is exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro. Google says you’re able to measure the temperature of almost anything by pointing the sensor on the back of the Pixel to an object. I measured cups of hot and iced water, and it delivered results quite quickly, though you have to get very close to the thing you want to measure, and you’ll get more accurate results if you choose one of the preset options on the material you’re trying to read, like glass or ceramic. (Google says these presets help calibrate the sensor.) Theoretically, you can even measure someone’s body temperature. Google has submitted the app to the FDA for this purpose, but it hasn’t been cleared for such use.

These new phones are powered by Tensor G3, Google’s third generation of its custom silicon processor, and the company says “every subsystem has been upgraded,” including the image signal processor to improve the Pixel’s picture-taking capabilities. Speaking of, the Pixel 8 has an upgraded 50-megapixel primary camera with what Google claims is a 20 percent improvement in light sensitivity. (More light sensitivity means brighter and sharper photos, especially in low light.) It’s joined by a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera that supports macro mode from the Pixel 7 Pro, so you can capture close-ups. 

The Pixel 8 Pro has upgraded light-gathering capabilities in all three of its cameras: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide, and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom. Its macro mode can now get even closer to a subject, and the Pro’s autofocus system is now “multi-zone,” allowing for a wider cone of focus in photos. This Pixel also gets an exclusive Pro camera mode that allows shutterbugs to tweak things like ISO and shutter speed while still taking advantage of the Pixel’s computational photography.

Both phones have a 10.5-megapixel selfie camera, but I have good news and bad news. There’s finally autofocus on the front-facing camera, allowing you to see all your pores in sharp detail. Unfortunately, this is available only on the Pixel 8 Pro. The Pixel 8’s front camera has a fixed focus.

There are some new camera software tricks this year. The coolest is Video Boost mode, yet another exclusive for the Pixel 8 Pro. Here, when you take a video in low-light conditions (up to 4K, 30 frames per second), the clip is sent to Google’s cloud servers for processing and is then sent back to you—depending on the length of the video, it can take several hours. However, the improvements are startling. Google showed me clips using this mode versus those from the iPhone 14 Pro, and the Pixel’s video was much brighter and sharper, with better stabilization.  

Most manufacturers want you to believe you can’t replace your battery, but that’s not true. Doing so can add years of life to your device.

YOU MIGHT BE in the habit of replacing your smartphone every couple of years, but most phones can last a lot longer than that. Like your car, they might just need a new part every now and then, and the best repair you can do on your phone to make it last longer is a battery replacement. But most batteries aren’t user-replaceable. So how do you actually get one?

Unfortunately, user-replaceable batteries are becoming increasingly rare, and most smartphone manufacturers don’t go too far out of their way to let you know that you can get a battery replacement at all. In fact, when Apple briefly lowered the cost of iPhone battery replacements, it resulted in about 10 times as many people replacing their batteries as usual (and, coincidentally, far fewer new iPhones sold that year). However, even if your battery is locked inside your phone, you can get a new one and keep your phone lasting longer.

Some Things to Consider Before Replacing the BatteryEven though battery replacements are very useful, they can also be a hassle to get done. In fact it’s not unlike getting work done on your car: You might be able to do it yourself, but it’s probably easier to pay someone else to do it , and you should expect to be without your phone for a while as you wait for the repair to finish.
Many places offer same-day repairs, as long as the battery for your device is in stock. That is, for repair places with physical locations near you. If you have a local Apple store or a uBreakiFix location near you, they might have what you need. But in some cases you’ll need to mail in your phone to get a repair, which could leave you without it for days. And while you may be able to get a loaner phone from some places, it can still be a hassle. On the other hand, it’s a lot better for the environment, not to mention your wallet, if you replace the battery rather than buy a new phone.

When You Should Replace the BatteryAs a general rule, if you’ve had your phone for a couple years and it’s starting to show its age, that’s a pretty good time to look into a battery replacement. That’s right around the time you might be thinking about getting a new phone anyway–many carriers still offer upgrades or payment plans that renew every two years to entice you–but you can also check your battery’s health manually if you want to see if you need an upgrade sooner.

On iPhones, you can navigate to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to find a Maximum Capacity value that will show what percentage of your battery’s initial charge capacity is left. This isn’t how full your battery is right now but rather how much charge it can hold relative to how much it could hold when it was new. If this gets down to 80 percent (especially if it’s still under warranty), get a new battery.

As always, Android phones are a little more complicated; there are many different models and they don’t all work the same. Instead, you can use an app like AccuBattery to get detailed stats on the health of your battery. The app uses an estimate, not an official report, and it may take a few days to get a full picture of your battery’s health. But if it’s below 80 percent of its original capacity, it might be time to take a look at a replacement battery.

Take Your iPhone Into an Apple StoreIf you have an iPhone and you want a battery replacement, you’re probably in the best position. If you’re still under warranty or AppleCare+, you can get a free battery replacement on most phones from the last several years. If you’ re outside of coverage, the fees range from $49 to $69, depending on which phone you have.
If you can bring your phone into an Apple store, they can often repair your phone the same day and have it back to you in a few hours. If the repair job is more complicated, the store may need to send it off to an Apple Repair Center, which can take up to 3 to 5 days to complete the repair. However, this is how long it would take to get a repair job if you mailed the phone in yourself anyway, so it makes sense to try an in-store repair first.

Try Third-Party Repair Shops for Android PhonesFor Android phones, there’s no single manufacturer that also handles all repairs, like there is with Apple, but you can still get same-day repairs done with third-party repair shops. The most prominent of these is uBreakiFix, which has locations in most US states. Some major manufacturers like Google and Samsung give uBreakiFix access to OEM parts, which means they can repair your phone with the same materials those companies would use if you send them in directly.
Prices on Android battery repairs can vary, but usually are around or below $100, but you might need to call in to get an estimate. In some places, the company can even send a rep out to you to repair your phone on-site, in addition to the usual options of either going into a store or mailing in your device.

When All Else Fails, Do It YourselfIn some cases, it might not be feasible (or even possible) to bring your phone into a store or mail it in somewhere. If you really want to keep your existing phone, and you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you can try replacing the battery yourself. Repair site iFixit has guides for replacing batteries on most major phones that will explain in detail what tools you need and how to take apart your phone, with pictures for every step.

You might need a specialized toolkit (which iFixit also sells) that has the proprietary screwheads and other tools that might be required for opening up your phone. Also keep in mind, while you can replace a part without voiding your warranty (and in fact those warranty-voiding stickers are illegal!), the manufacturer still might try to fight you on the warranty if you break anything while doing so.

And potentially even if you don’t. If you’re comfortable with that–or if you’re already out of coverage anyway–then order a replacement battery for your phone online and give it a whirl.

Admit it, curved screen phones are well recieved.For example the new coming Samsung Galaxy S8 . You must have already been excited about this Samsung new flagship. It sounds fantastic, a curved, bezel-less infinity display, dual pixel 12MP rear camera, Bixby, the new intelligent assistant, a free Gear VR headset with Touch Controller (for those that pre-order), a pair of Harman AKG ear buds, the list goes on and on. Although, there might still be a shred of doubt about the reliability given what happened with the Note 7 battery debacle, seriously, we don’t want that happening again.

However, the fact is, the Samsung Galaxy S8 has broken all the pre-order records over the previous model, the Galaxy S7, in South Korea and it has also seen double digit growth in the USA.

The feedback and general public perception is positive regarding the S8 and it seems to be that the Note 7 problems are slowly becoming a distant memory.
As you can clearly see from the news headlines echoing around the Internet, Samsung is on the rise once more:
“What Note 7 recall? Samsung Galaxy S8 pre-orders see double-digit growth in the US” (ZDNET)
“Samsung says its new phone is selling well, showing consumers have gotten over the Galaxy Note 7 disaster” (CNBC)
“Maybe the Galaxy Note 7 Debacle Didn’t Hurt Samsung That Much After All” (Fortune)
samsung note 7 explosion1. The tremendous popularity of Samsung S8 and curved screen phonesOK, enough of the sorry tale of the Galaxy Note 7, let’s focus on the new world, the exciting world of the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Before I sat down to write this blog, I went through countless online reviews about the Galaxy S8, watched dozens of YouTube video reviews and poured over magazine articles about the latest and greatest phone. The overall view shows that there is almost 99% satisfaction, amazing.
Now, to be fair, that is not surprising when you consider the number of firsts that this delivers phones, the latest display technology, the latest battery technology, Bixby the new AI assistant, the new Gear VR headset etc.
Of all of these new and exciting features, the one I want to focus on is the curved surface screen.

samsung galaxy S8 holds an infinity displayThe experts at DisplayMate Technologies described the Samsung Galaxy S8 as the best you can buy right now. They went on to say that the S8 is pioneering the very latest in full screen OLED displays.
“It has many major and important state-of-the-art display performance enhancements, features and functions, with mobile OLED display technology now advancing faster than ever. The Galaxy S8 is the most innovative and highest performing smartphone display that we have ever lab tested. So the Galaxy S8 becomes the Best Performing Smartphone Display, earning DisplayMate’s highest ever A+ grade.”
The Galaxy S8’s screen has been highly praised due to its curved design, higher resolution, more accurate color representation, HDR video support and strong Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

And the curved screen design does make a lot of sense. It’s built using AMOLED technology with better flexibility and less fragility, reducing the chances of screen cracking. Also, curved screen phones feel more comfortable to hold and offer up a better visual effect.
Thanks to the front and back curved design, the S8 instantly feels comfortable in the hand, easing itself perfectly into the palm of your hand.

“Better even than the LG G6, which has similar proportions but no curved screen, and sleeker than the iPhone 7 Plus, which puts a smaller screen on taller, wider body.” Jessica Dolcourt from CNET commented the S8 like this. It showed that it’s the curved 4K display makes the Galaxy S8 stand out. According to Business Insider, Apple and Google are forecast to borrow the curved screen design on their upcoming devices.
In just two days, from April 7 to 8, something in the region of 550,000 Galaxy S8 units were pre-ordered, consequently breaking the record previously set by the Galaxy S7. This solidified the overwhelming popularity of Galaxy S8 and has introduced the new era of the curved screen.
However…

The things that excite consumers can be monumental challenges for phone case manufacturers.
2. Curved screen phones: A growing headache for case makersA curved screen is wonderful to touch and to use, but from a case maker’s perspective, it’s an absolute nightmare. The design challenges are significant and difficult to solve without ending up with a bulky, ugly case, which is not going to appeal to the person who has just purchased a shiny new Galaxy S8.
implied, as reported by Nikkei Asian Review, Apple has ordered 70 million display panels from rival Samsung Electronics for the upcoming iPhone 8.
iPhone8-concept-graphiPhone 8 (Concept Graph)

And another report from South Korea’s Electronic Times, noted that Google has offered to invest at least $880 million in LG Display Co., so as to guarantee a stable supply of OLED screens for its next Pixel phone  .
And what you might be surprised to know is that before the Samsung Galaxy S8, there were other curved screen phones that were well received, the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, the Huawei Honor Magic, the Huawei Mate 9 Pro, the Xiaomi Note 2 and the Vivo Xplay 6.

vivo xplay-6 vs. xiaomi note2 vs. huawei mate 9 proLet’s be honest here, curved screen phones are simply gorgeous. The Galaxy S8 is, in my mind one of the nicest android phones out there.
But the sad truth is, that you will find very few phone cases that fit the curved screen design perfectly.
To be fair, it’s not the phone case makers’ fault, most of them are frantically trying to solve the design constraints that a curved screen presents, although a lot of them seem to have just given up.

Just take a look at how many Galaxy S7 edge cases are out there and you will see my point.
Now, the biggest issue is how to strike the balance between protection and style so that it protects the phone in the event of a fall but doesn’t make the phone look fat and ugly.
Sadly, few have achieved this balance and if you look around at the phone cases out there, most of them are in fact fat and ugly, which completely ruins the design ethos that Samsung crafted into their latest baby.

curved screen phones will be a trendWhat is even more worrying when it comes to protection is that some cases out there do not leave enough room for a tempered screen protector. That means those seemingly most protective case will do interference on the tempered screen protector. As you can see the vast majority of Samsung Galaxy S7 edge tempered screen protector are full coverage ones to protect the beautiful curved screen fully. So those protective cases just don’t allow for a good tempered screen protector.

You’d either choose those bulky full covered phone cases or full covered tempered screen protector. In most occasions, I found  SmartphoneGalaxy S7 edge users used a bulky case and left the screen bare. That’s fine but I am jua bit of concerned about the gorgeous curved display.  

With one and half months away from that BIG day, news or rumors about the Apple iPhone 14 are circulating more wildly than before. 

No surprise. We’re excited about the new iPhone, too. And we’ve got some surprises this year for the iPhone 14 cases. 
Anyway, in case you’re too tied up with your routine and don’t feel like missing out, here’s what’s new about the iPhone 14 that we think would happen and what’s worth discussing. 

When is the iPhone 14 Coming Out?

For many, this could be most important question to answer. Most rumors said September 13 will the release date. But recently, we also heard predictions that September 6 will be the launch date for the new iPhones. We will soon find out by August. 
No More iPhone “mini”You’ve probably heard that the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini are not selling. So, it’s quite possible that Apple is doing away with the “mini” line this year. 

Still, there will be four models, a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, a 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max. It’s definitely good news for fans who prefer large screens. 

Bathtub Notch is Going AwayThis could be the biggest and the most-welcomed design change coming to the newest iPhone. Since 2017, after Apple released the iPhone X with the bathtub notch, we’ve heard many drums banging for getting rid of the notch. 
Last year, we saw a smaller display cutout at the top of the iPhone 13 screen, which clearly shows that Apple knows how people are unsatisfied with the design and can change it. So, we can totally expect them to go further.

iphone 14 leaked picture
According to the iPhone 14 design leak on Twitter, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature the same thinner bezel that looks like an exclamation mark or a pill plus a hole, while the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max have similar notches like that of the iPhone 13. 
Bigger and Better iPhone 14 CamerasEvery new iteration of the iPhone comes with updates on some parts or features. Maybe it’s the display refresh rate, battery, or chip. But we can always expect a camera update. 

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that we will see a major camera improvement on the 2022 Pro iPhone lineup. They will feature a 48-megapixel rear camera, upgrading from the current 12-megapixel camera, and 8K video recording capability, which allows creators to capture higher quality video with more details and greater clarity. 
And the higher-resolution camera sensor will lead to a bigger camera bump. If that’s true, then you can’t use your iPhone 13 case for the iPhone 14.

As for the front camera on all four iPhone 14 models, it is said to have autofocus features and a wider f/1.9 aperture, which should make us all look better on those video calls. 
Bigger BatteryBattery capacity is another concern of many people. We heard all iPhone 14 models will receive bigger batteries, except for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The rumored 0.2mm increase in width may be dedicated to the bigger batteries. But looking at the rumored battery capacity , it’s hard to call that an “improvement”. The battery capacity of the iPhone 14 is said to be 3,279mAh, up 52mAh from its predecessor. And iPhone 14 Pro Max will feature a 4,323mAh battery, slightly less than the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 4,352mAh. 

If you think the battery is not enough to last a day, you can always bring a portable wireless charging power bank with you. 
Titanium Alloy ChassisThe iPhones released in recent years use either aluminum or stainless steel for the chassis design. This year, however, Apple might shift to a stronger metal, titanium.

Apple uses titanium for the Apple Watch, apart from aluminum and stainless steel. And the titanium Apple Watch case is the most expensive. But Apple probably will use titanium alloys instead of pure titanium for the new iPhone. 
Titanium alloys, a mixture of titanium and other chemical elements, have light weight, excellent corrosion resistance, and high hardness, thus have been used in aerospace, transportation, and chemical industries. 

New Processor A16Traditionally, every new iPhone is equipped with a new chip. The iPhone 13 uses A15 Bionic chip, so presumably, the iPhone 14 will get the new A16 chip. 
The report has it that the A16 Bionic performs 11% better and 22% higher in energy efficiency than the A14, though it’s unclear how much better the A16 is than the A15 chip. 
But, again, only the pro models will get the newest processor, and the entry-level iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max models might still use the chip from last year. 
Lightning PortThere’s a widespread notion that Apple will eventually remove the Lightning port for a portless design. The question is when. 

Well, chances are it won’t happen in 2022. The European Commission announced a mandate that forces all smartphones to use the universal USB-C port for charging by 2024. So, there’s still time for Apple to figure out a plan to deal with losses once it gives ups its proprietary designn. 
We believe that at least some of the iPhone 14 models will continue to feature a Lightning port. 

Satellite Emergency Texting This feature was previously rumored to be available on the iPhone 13 last year. It didn’t happen. So, it’s reasonable to expect it on Apple’s best iPhone this year. 
Satellite connectivity lets users send texts or SOS distress signals to emergency services when there’s no cellular or Wi-Fi network, which sounds like a life-saving feature. 
Vaper Chamber Thermal SystemThis is another rumor starting to abolish last year. It’s said that Apple is “aggressively testing” a vapor chamber thermal system that can cool down the device when it gets warm due to heavy stress.
It seems to be a nice and necessary feature for the iPhone 14 Pro models as the high-end phone usually are equipped with more powerful hardware and more functions than the standard ones. But, is it ready in time for 2022? We’ll see . 

iPhone 14 Colors Color may not trigger too many discussions like other iPhone 14 features. But for some people (me included), the color could be the biggest thing to consider before pulling the trigger.
We know from leaks that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will come in black, white, white, blue, red, and purple. Also, one source indicates that we might see a green iPhone 14. On the other hand, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available in graphite, gold, silver, and purple.

How much is the iPhone 14?According to a recent rumor from East Asia, the iPhone 14 is expected to be priced at $799, the same entry price as last year’s iPhone 13. On the other hand, some predicted that this year would see a $100 price increase for the iPhone 14 due to increased production costs.
SummaryGenerally speaking, the overall body design of the iPhone 14 models is identical to the iPhone 13, such as a flat-frame body and a speaker grill. The significant difference could be the smaller display cutout on the Pro models. 
And it seems that Apple is trying hard to differentiate the pro and the non-pro iPhone 14 models.

We will find out which rumor turns out to be true and which goes wrong on September 13th. Hopefully, we get the correct iPhone 14 release date.

You’ve probably heard some old wives’ tales about smartphone charging , like only charging when the battery is completely empty or leaving your phone charging overnight.
While we can’t pinpoint how these myths and misconceptions about phone charging came to be, we’ve all heard of a few that we probably believed at some point in our lives.
We’re here to debunk a few phone charging myths, answer questions you may have, and help you to practice safe phone charging habits.

1. You Shouldn’t Charge Your Phone Overnight

There are no risks involved in charging your phone overnight. Your phone won’t overcharge, and the power won’t kill your battery, destroy your charger, or start a fire. (We’re assuming over here that you’re not using a defective charger and that your electrical wiring system is in a top-notch state.)
Modern smartphones have lithium-ion batteries with built-in devices to stop your phone from absorbing power once the battery is fully charged. This means that, even though your phone is full and plugged in, it’s technically not in use. However, you shouldn’t ‘t leave your phone plugged in throughout the night, every night.
If your model isn’t built to withstand consistent heat exchange, you can overheat your phone and cause real damage. To be safe, read the manual and reviews. For some, the jury is still out on whether to charge your phone overnight or not .

2. You Should Only Charge Your Phone When It’s Completely Dead

charging a phoneNot true. You can charge your phone as often as needed.
Here’s an essential piece of information: Lithium-ion batteries have limited charging cycles; for an iPhone, it’s typically around 500. A cycle is a full charge from 0 percent to 100 percent. So, if you only charge your phone when it’s completely dead , you’ll exhaust the charging cycle pretty quickly. But if you charge the phone from 90 percent to 100 percent, you would have only used 1/10 of the cycle.
This is why experts recommend keeping the charge between 40 percent to 80 percent so you can charge your phone multiple times a day, getting the most out of one cycle. This practice extends your battery life and increases performance.

3. You Shouldn’t Use Your Phone While It Charges

While there are legitimate fears behind this myth, it’s not true. You can use your phone while it charges, as long as you’re using a manufacturer-approved or off-brand charger and battery. Of course, you must also have confidence that there are no problems with your electrical wiring.

Real-life stories of a phone exploding while plugged in and subsequently electrocuting the user or starting a fire have contributed to this myth. And while these unfortunate situations have occurred, the authorities revealed that, in most cases, the victims used unapproved third-party or defective chargers. External factors also contributed to the explosion.

To reiterate, using your phone while plugged in is completely safe. Just make sure you’re nowhere near water and are not using a sketchy third-party charger.

4. An Off-Brand Charger Will Destroy Your Battery

micro usb chargerNot true. Off-brand chargers by legitimate retailers, such as Vinsic, RavPower, Powergen, Anker, KMS, and Belkin, are not only inexpensive but perfectly fine to use.
We can’t argue that off-brand chargers are as great as the manufacturer’s, but they are, at the very least, safer and better than cheap brand knockoffs. So, if that’s what you want, feel free to purchase an off-brand charger from a reputable retailer. It will not destroy your battery or melt into the power outlet.

However, it’s the brand knockoffs you should be careful about. Unfortunately, they are sometimes marketed and packaged as the real deal, even though they can barely get the job done. Thankfully, there are a few ways for you to check if your smartphone charger is safe to use.

5. It’s Okay to Leave Your Phone on 24/7, 365

No, it’s not okay.
Most of us are guilty of leaving our phones on all the time, only turning them off when there’s a problem. While it’s not the biggest problem in the world, it can affect the lifespan and performance of your battery over time. You don’t have to turn off your phone every night. Once a week is fine. Rebooting your phone every now and then can help improve the performance of your device.

6. It’s Not Safe to Leave Your Charger Plugged inapple phone charging

To leave your charger plugged in or not is a personal decision. While we believe there’s no right or wrong answer here, we should point out that safety rules recommend unplugging chargers right after use to prevent a fire outbreak. But if you live where such situations Rarely occur, you shouldn’t have a problem leaving your charger plugged in.

To help you determine the best course of action, consider the following rules of thumb. You should unplug your charger if:
Your charger heats up rather quickly and/or makes rattling noises whether or not it’s in use. In this case, we recommend that you buy  a new charger.You or your neighbors have water leaks.Animals roam freely in your houses. They could bite through the power cord or trip over it when it’s connected to a device.You have power fluctuations and surges, or you don’t have lightning protection.

7. As Long as It Can Charge Your Phone, You Can Use It

If the charger is from the phone’s manufacturer or a legitimate off-brand retailer, we don’t see why not.
As previously discussed, you should always use the original charger if you have the option to choose. There are many benefits of using the original phone charger, but the most important of them all is that they’re the safest.
An original phone charger rarely explodes, melts into the power outlet, causes rattling noises, or even destroys phones.

The Most Crucial Points to RememberModern technology is so advanced that you don’t have to worry about the various myths and misconceptions about charging phones . However, unplugging your charger overnight never does any harm, nor does it when you’re leaving the house for a period.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s the mistakes of users and poor environmental conditions that are more likely to damage your phone , not the charger itself.

If your Android phone isn’t charging when it’s plugged in, follow these tips to figure out why and get it working again.

You probably don’t think much about the process of charging your phone; just plug in the cable and walk away. That is, until the day your phone doesn’t charge when you plug it in, at which point you could find yourself tearing your hair out trying to make it work.
Fortunately, you don’t have to rush to a chance service center when your phone stops charging because there’s a good you can fix it yourself at home. A lot of the time, the solution is pretty simple. So if your Android phone won’ t charge, try out these tips and tricks to fix it.

1. Reboot Your PhoneTo start, try turning your phone off and on again. Often, the reason your phone won’t charge when it’s plugged in because there’s been a connection hiccup. To rule out a temporary glitch like this, you just need to reboot your device. After all, restarting a phone can fix all kinds of problems.
Restarting your phone will kill all background services and could solve your mobile charging problem. A restart also refreshes your phone’s core components in case one of them has crashed while performing a task.
To perform a reboot quickly, simply hold the power button and tap the Restart option. Depending on your phone, you may need to press the power and volume up buttons at the same time instead.
2. Try Putting Your Phone in Safe ModeIf your phone doesn’t charge after a reboot, the next step it to try booting your phone in safe mode. Essentially, safe mode is a sandbox environment that restricts your phone to just the software it originally shipped with. This means any third- party apps you’ve downloaded won’t run in safe mode.
To enter safe mode on most Android devices, tap and hold the Restart button when powering it off. You should see a prompt offering to reboot to safe mode. To exit safe mode, just restart your phone normally.

Reboot to safe mode pop up in AndroidIf you’re able to charge your phone in safe mode, you know for sure that the culprit is a third-party service. Once you’ve confirmed that this is the problem, look at any apps you’ve downloaded recently. One of those could be the cause of your charging issues. Try uninstalling recently installed or untrustworthy apps. Then reboot your phone normally and see if it charges.

3. Switch to a Different Cable, Adapter, or OutletIf you’re still stuck and wondering why your phone isn’t charging, then it’s time to take a look at your charging cable. Your cable might have a loose wire, the adapter could have malfunctioned, or the socket it’s plugged into could be malfunctioning. To rule out faulty hardware, attempt to charge your phone through a different cable, adapter, or power source.
The easy way to check whether the cable is to blame for your troubles is to connect your phone to a computer via USB. If your phone can charge via a PC, you can narrow the troubleshooting down to the adapter and socket.

In case an alternative cable did the trick, invest in a new one. The best charging cables are either first-party accessories or those from trusted third-party names like Anker—avoid junky knockoffs.
4. Make Sure It’s Not a Software BugIf your phone isn’t charging even though it says it is, or if your phone is charging but says it isn’t, then this could be a software bug. Installing the free Ampere app will tell you once and for all if any power is making it to your phone.

Ampere is a simple app that allows you to view how much current your phone is discharging or charging at any one time. It also tells you whether your phone’s battery is in good condition, gives you the available voltage, and shows the current temperature.

2 ImagesAmpere App ChargingAmpere app Not Charging screenshotWith the Ampere app installed, connect your phone to a power source, then fire up the app and see if it says your phone is charging. If your phone is charging but isn’t displaying a charging icon, then this is probably a software bug You can either update your Android OS or try a hard reset to fix it.
5.Clean the Charging PortIf the Ampere app shows no charge getting to your phone, then the culprit could be debris in your charging port. Dust particles can quickly accumulate in the charging inlet and hinder your phone’s connection to a power source.

Inspect your phone’s charging port and if you notice a buildup of dirt or other grime, clean it. You can do this easily by gently scrubbing the area with a dry cotton swab. Keep a light touch and don’t go ramming anything too far into your charging outlet.

To get a better look at what’s going on inside your port, use a flashlight to fully inspect the area. If you notice any foreign debris stuck inside, you can do heavy cleaning using a SIM ejector tool or a toothpick. Just be extra careful not to damage any of the charging pins, which could permanently brick your phone. After giving your port a good cleaning, try to charge your phone again.

6. Check Your Phone Isn’t Water DamagedWater pouring on a smartphone’s screenWater and electronics don’t mix, and even highly water-resistant phones need special care to keep them watertight. If your phone has gotten wet, and you’re now wondering why it won’t charge, then it’s likely that water is the culprit.

You’t charge your phone at all if there’s a possibility of water damage. First, you have to make sure your phone’s internals are completely dry. Ignore all the other advice online, the only safe way to do this is to leave your phone in a well ventilated area and wait a day or so. Don’t put it in a bowl of rice.

After 24 hours of drying off, try plugging your phone in and see what happens. Once the connections are dry you may find that it starts charging again.

7. Visit a Service CenterIf all else fails, and your phone still isn’t charging, it’s time to go to a service center and ask a professional for help. They may be able to find a fault that you’ve missed or diagnose a hardware failure. Hopefully, your phone is still in warranty, so you don’t have to pay anything for the repair. Otherwise, it may cost you to replace whatever component has broken.

The Nothing Phone 2 is a brilliant smartphone, and its importance to the US market, in particular, can’t be overstated.
While Nothing does seem to be having fun, which is great, I’m concerned the unexpected diversification of the Nothing brand may lead to negative repercussions on the one thing I love about it most.At its core, the Nothing Phone 2 is simply a good piece of mobile tech, but it’s also wrapped up in a body that stands out in the crowd and refreshingly goes in its own direction when it comes to the user interface and its design too.

Design is a big part of Nothing. The Nothing Ear 1 in-ear Bluetooth headphones’ unusual transparent casing set the tone for the brand, and its understanding of ergonomics and appreciation of simple beauty shone through in the Ear Stick headphones cool, twistable, cylindrical case. Whether it’s the fun yet useful lights on the back of the Nothing Phone 1 and Nothing Phone 2 or its quirky, retro dot-matrix style font, Nothing’s branding and product line have quickly become clear and instantly recognizable.

Until now, because Nothing’s next product isn’t tech-related at all. It’s clothing. Nothing Apparel will launch in the near future, and it’s described as a range of “wardrobe staples” consisting of coats, tracksuits, caps, backpacks, and more. Apparently inspired by its hardware, it supposedly brings Nothing’s design ethos to textiles, but there’s no mention of batteries, flashing lights, or tech at all. It appears to be some clothes.
Just before Nothing Apparel was announced, Nothing launched Nothing Beer. It doesn’t come in a Bluetooth-connected can, and it doesn’t have a QR code for an exclusive Nothing app that only works with Nothing phones; it’s simply a beer available in a pack of six. Or at least, it was, because the limited edition product sold out very quickly. While I’m sure it was a fun time working with the brewery, it really was an odd and entirely non-techy move.

I’ll say at this point that I’m not a curmudgeon. I’m not suggesting fun should be banned, and I am not complaining about these launches or saying they shouldn’t have happened at all. I may not care about the beer, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be in the queue for a Nothing cap. Swag (ultimately because, that’s what all this is, whether it’s free or not) is also important to build brand awareness, something OnePlus also did well with its range of excellent backpacks and bags, plus some fun t-shirts I still have today.
But all these products really need to have something to do with the brand’s core business, which until now, I assumed was technology. Beer and shirts with zips on just don’t seem to have anything to do with tech or Nothing, outside of some loose connection with design or throwing some work in the direction of Teenage Engineering, the design house it has worked with on other projects already.

Launches like this mean there’s a real risk of brand dilution rather than brand building. It’s fine for YouTubers to have their “merch,” which I’m sure helps supplement income, but I can’t pick up a Samsung hoodie when I buy my Galaxy S23 Ultra or sip an exclusive Apple artisan coffee while choosing my Apple Watch Series 9. Looked at this way, clothes and beer align Nothing more closely with YouTubers than they do with its genuine industry competition

What is Nothing, then? Is it a tech brand? A lifestyle brand?

A brand throwing many things against the wall to see what sticks? The fact I’m asking this question at all means its recent choices are somewhat unusual and that perhaps the fun it is having isn’t doing its carefully curated and shockingly effective brand — which it has impressively built in double-quick time — much good.
Don’t lose sight of what makes you special

Nothing can launch what it likes, but there are two things I don’t want to happen. The first is I don’t want the tech brand to disappear in the process of diversifying. I’m concerned it’s happening already, as I am less aware of its CMF by Nothing sub-brand — which makes cheap earbuds and smartwatches — than I am of its beer and clothing, despite it having a whole lot more to do with tech and Nothing’s quickly established brand than either of them.

The second is far more of a worry. Nothing is still a young company, and making smartphones is a very expensive, time-intensive process. Spending time, effort, and resources on fun side projects really must not impact the development of future mobile hardware or its Nothing OS software.

It’s the earbuds, phones, and software that give Nothing its appeal, and they need to be the company’s primary focus. It hasn’t happened yet, and Nothing has recently released version 2.5 of its phone software and a preview of what it’s doing with Android 14, so it’s not like the end times are near. It’s just an unexpected directional swerve so early in the firm’s life.

Nothing launched with a compelling mission statement, saying it was a tech company committed to making intuitive, flawlessly connected products with no confusing tech-speak or silly product names — and how it didn’t want to make things complicated. Beer and clothes are making things complicated and confusing, especially because they seem to be more than just casual marketing stunts.

We could be witnessing the evolution of the Nothing brand, something it may need to do in order to survive in such a difficult industry, but I just hope it doesn’t forget to make and support fantastic smartphones, headphones, and other tech products in any attempt to secure its future.