A built-in iPhone feature allows you to reset the device to default mode. But why would you want to reset your phone and how do you do it? Get your questions answered with all you need to know about resetting your iPhone below.

Why Reset Your iPhone?

Someone might reset their iPhone because apps keep crashing, they can’t connect to the internet, or their software lags. Resetting your iPhone can revert your device to its default mode to clear any errors or problems you might be having.

What Does a Reset Do?

Utilizing this feature will reset all preferences, including the keyboard dictionary, privacy settings, location settings, network settings, and your Apple Wallet.

Please note that while your settings revert to default, none of your media or data will be touched in the reset. This means all your pictures, songs, texts, etc. should stay on your phone throughout the reset process.

What’s the Difference Between “Reset” & “Erase All Content and Settings”?

There are two reset options on your iPhone—“reset” and “erase all content and settings.” The “reset” option will do exactly what we mentioned above, but the “erase all content and settings” will completely wipe your device of all media, privacy information, and data. This is known as a factory reset.

Many people factory reset their phones because they’re selling their devices and do not want the new owner to have access to their information. Wamatek offers used iPhones for sale and uses the “erase all content and settings” feature to ensure the device is ready for new ownership. You can also reset the phone once it’s in your possession to guarantee that no other data or media is left behind.

How To Reset Your iPhone

Before resetting, you should back up your iPhone in case of an error. This will protect your media and settings from getting lost, as you can always restore your phone to its original state with a backup.

To reset your iPhone, navigate to Settings. Once there, scroll and click on General. Swipe to the bottom of the general settings page and tap on “Transfer or Reset iPhone.” Here, you can either reset your phone or erase all content and settings. Newer iPhones even have a feature that allows you to select what you want to reset after clicking the button, such as just the home screen layout or network settings.

After your device completes the resetting of your information, it will return to the default mode it displayed after you first took it out of the box. Now, you will need to reestablish your preferences. Alternatively, you could use the backup from before to ensure your home screen and settings appear as they did pre-reset.

Now that you know more about resetting your iPhone, you can confidently click on the button without the fear of losing your important information. Refer to this article whenever you need guidance with resetting your iPhone.

Before 5G came out, most smartphone users used the 4G LTE broadband network to download, upload, and transmit data. However, our world is swiftly moving into a digital landscape that could change the way we live, and 5G coverage is a major step in that direction. If you have yet to experience this network’s high speeds and technology, learn everything you need to know about 5G coverage right here.

What Is 5G?

5G is a new cellular network technology that developers first released in 2019. Previously, cellphone users were working on a 4G network. 5G transmits data faster than ever with a massive traffic capacity and ultra-low latency. However, because this network is new, cities around the nation need a larger number of small cells or short-range transmitters to create the same amount of coverage as 4G.

How Does 5G Work?

Like its 4G counterparts, 5G also uses the same orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) method. OFDM is a type of digital transmission that uses digital modulation for encoding digital data onto multiple carrier frequencies. 5G introduces a new interface called 5G NR (new radio) that can enhance the OFDM digital transmission for better scalability and flexibility.

What’s the Difference Between 5G and the Previous Generations?

The generations of mobile networks start with 1G and, over the years, have increased to 5G. The 1G network came out in 1980 and allowed users access to analog voice technology. Not much later, in the early 1990s, 2G came out with digital voice technology. In the early 2000s, 3G brought mobile data. Then, in the 2010s, 4G LTE brought a new era of mobile broadband that allowed users access to faster mobile data and internet speeds.

Building on the development of 1G through 4G, 5G was able to flourish and make its way to new users. The advancement of this broadband network is like none other we’ve seen before. It will change the game for smartphone users and expand and impact other industries, facilitating remote healthcare, safer transportation, precision agriculture, and so much more.

What Makes 5G Better?

First and foremost, 5G has a more unified design that allows the network more capabilities than any other networks it succeeded. This broadband network can also support all spectrum and band types, along with fresh ways to interconnect and various deployment models.

In conjunction with a more unified network, 5G is faster than the rest, with more traffic capacity, lower latency, and better spectrum use. This network delivers speeds of up to 20GB per second and data rates at over 100MB per second. With a 10-time decrease in latency and a 100-time increase in traffic capacity, 5G can handle a wide variety of spectrum paradigms and bands. All this considered, 5G is clearly more improved than the previous networks.

What Can 5G Offer You?

Aside from what makes 5G better, this network can offer you so much more. Gain access to cloud services, shopping in augmented reality, multiplayer cloud gaming, and more. Areas of virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) will also see significant improvements in user experience. 5G is definitely the way of the future!

Where Can You Use 5G?

Although developers created and introduced 5G in 2019, they couldn’t roll out the network instantly due to regulations and testing. Therefore, this service isn’t yet available everywhere in the United States, but it’s getting there.

Generally, 5G is available in parts of dozens of major cities, such as Dallas, Chicago, Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. It could also depend on your carrier—so ensure you ask them if their phones are working on the 5G network. It might not be available in all locations, but 5G is here to stay, so you will eventually find it more accessible.

Can You Use Your Current Phone With 5G?

Now that it’s 2023, most newer smartphone models have the 5G network available to users. However, on older models, this might not be the case. In this situation, you will need to upgrade your phone to utilize the network. However, you can continue using 4G when the newer network isn’t available. This also means that if you purchase a used phone or a refurbished model, it must still be compatible with 5G for you to take advantage of it.

What Are the Downsides to 5G?

The major downside to the 5G network is the coverage it currently offers. As we said, it might not be available in your location right now, but the number of locations it has reached since its rollout has increased drastically.

Some experts also believe that while the speeds of 5G are incomparable to previous generations, the upload speed compared to 4G is lacking. However, researchers have proven that 5G home internet speeds are equivalent to what you can get on the average cable internet plan. This means a typical download speed of 250mbps and upload speed of 25mbps.

Lastly, many individuals worry that the newer technology 5G uses and the number of industries it’s expanding to make it easier for law enforcement to track your whereabouts. The same people are also worried about the advancement of facial recognition technology. While law enforcement could track your whereabouts under specific circumstances, they wouldn’t if you’re not under suspicion of breaking the law. Therefore, the benefits and advancements of 5G far outweigh the potential downsides.

What’s Next After 5G?

Although 6G doesn’t exist yet, experts believe it will be the next phase of wireless technology. This type of broadband network will use higher frequencies than 5G with an even greater capacity and lower latency. 6G will approach an enhancement in AI technologies and edge computing for an entirely new type of internet experience.

After learning everything you need to know about 5G coverage, you can see it is the way to our future. With many new opportunities and advancements, users of this network can accomplish so much more than they previously could.

If you’re looking for a new smartphone to experience 5G, consider purchasing your next device from Wamatek! With us, you can buy an unlocked used phone with 5G capabilities, so you can experience new technology at an affordable price. The digital landscape of our society is ever-changing, and it can only keep improving from here—get on board with Wamatek today!

Whether it happened to you, you heard it from a friend, or you read about it on social media, hackers and thieves can steal your information from your smartphone if you’re not careful enough. Luckily, your device has built-in features to help improve your privacy and security measures. The following security tips everyone should know can help thwart thieves and hackers—start securing your smartphone today!

Set Up Facial Recognition or Choose a PIN/Pattern

The best way to keep your device secure from everyone around you is to set up a specific way to unlock your phone. For example, you could choose a PIN, make a pattern on the screen, or use facial recognition to unlock your phone. If someone wanted to unlock your device, they would need to know your password or have their face in your phone. These options will depend on the device you’re using because some might have the pattern unlock available but won’t offer facial recognition.

Never Share Your PIN Number or Pattern

Going off the previous tip, never share your PIN or pattern with anyone you do not trust. In fact, don’t share it with anyone at all! Aside from this, never leave your smartphone unlocked when you’re in public, as that will make it easier for thieves and others to access your private information.

Set Up Automatic Backup

Most devices have a feature that automatically backs up the smartphone once every 24 hours. You never want to forget this setting because it saves all your photos, contacts, messages, and emails to a cloud service or your laptop. So, if anything happens to your phone, you can easily redownload all your previous data without losing anything. We recommend setting up this feature after you buy a refurbished phone or any new device to ensure it’s backing up regularly.

Use Multiple Passwords & Never Save Them

You can literally do anything on your device, from paying your credit card bill to scrolling through social media. However, this also means your device stores the multiple accounts, passwords, and usernames you need to access these apps. When creating passwords for your apps, never reuse the same password, and never save them on your phone. Using the same password for all accounts makes it easier for thieves to access your information.

Never Download Third-Party Apps

You should only download new apps onto your device from the app store that comes on the smartphone, like the Apple App Store or Google Play. Third-party sources could be malicious and phishing for your information after downloading their app. This phone security tip everyone needs might not sound critical, but you never know what you’re downloading if it’s not coming from a reputable source or official app store.

If you’re not securing your devices, you could find yourself in a sticky situation with internet hackers and thieves. Accidents happen, but you can help prevent security and privacy issues by being more mindful about how you’re using the phone. Along with the advice above, you may also want to update your operating system when it’s available and turn on remote tracking just in case you lose your phone. Our smartphones house vital information and data, so it’s highly essential that we secure them.

We wish that choosing a cell phone plan and carrier was as easy as picking one or the other, but unfortunately, there are many variables involved in your decision. Price and data coverage is often the driving factor for many individuals. When you’re on a budget, looking for the most affordable cell phone plans is a must—we made that more manageable with this article! Get the most bang for your buck with the options below.

Traditional Carriers

Traditional cell phone carriers are the ones that typically have regional stores near your location where you can walk into the store and purchase a phone or start a plan. This option is convenient because you can go to the store during normal business hours with any questions or concerns you might have. Let’s go over your options for traditional carriers first.

Verizon

Verizon is a popular cell phone network that many individuals choose, and they have a wide range of plans. A significant variable that factors into the price of these plans is whether you need unlimited data or if you can skate by with only a few gigabytes.

The most affordable plan Verizon currently offers in 2023 is the 15 GB plan starting at 45 dollars per month. However, we suggest enrolling in auto-pay because it can drop the price by 10 dollars—so instead of 45 dollars a month, you’ll be paying 35 dollars. If you use more monthly data, you might consider an unlimited plan at 60 dollars—50 dollars with the auto-pay.

This carrier has excellent speeds with its nationwide 5G coverage offered to all customers with monthly mobile or prepaid plans. Verizon has Apple, Google, Samsung, or Android phones available for customers. Plus, you can bring in your own device as long as it’s an unlocked smartphone and the hardware/software is compatible with Verizon’s network.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile is another popular traditional cell phone carrier many customers gravitate toward. With a low-cost T-Mobile Connect plan, you can save money and still use your smartphone as you usually would. Prepaid plans with talk, text, and high-speed data start at only 10 dollars per month.

If you rarely use your phone but need one in emergencies, the first plan is a great starting point. Starting at 10 dollars, you can receive 1,000 domestic talk minutes (or call minutes), 1,000 domestic texts, and 1GB of data. If you have a teenager or use your phone more frequently, you might choose the 15-dollar plan with unlimited talk, text, and 3GB of data.

However, the downfall to having a limit on your data is that you will need to forgo using it if you meet the gigabyte usage. Once you meet the limit, you must wait for the next billing cycle to renew the data. On average, a single person could use up to 4GB. So unlimited data doesn’t always need to be your first option; you could get by with 3GB a month. If you need more data through T-Mobile, choose the 25-dollar plan with 6GB of domestic data or the 35 dollars plan with 12GB of data.

AT&T

AT&T also gives other phone carriers a run for their money with prepaid phone plans. This is your year because this phone carrier doubled its monthly data allotment in 2023 while retaining the same price. That’s a major win for customers nationwide!

The best phone plan that AT&T offers is a 16GB plan starting at 25 dollars a month. However, this phone carrier can be sneaky because the price increases if you don’t invest in a full-year contract. For example, if you pay month to month, 5GB can cost you 30 dollars, so it’s worth investing in the longer contract to lock in the more affordable prices.

You receive a great amount of data for the price you’re paying, but consider how long you plan to use your contract. If you don’t plan on switching carriers, we suggest going with the long-term contract immediately to save money.

Non-Traditional Carriers

Non-traditional carriers offer low-cost plans, yet they work on traditional networks, or the networks above carry them. Typically, these stores are digital only, and you can use unlocked phones eligible on the specific network that the non-traditional phone carrier uses. Let’s take a look at the most affordable cell phone plans through these carriers.

Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile runs on the T-Mobile network, so you’re getting the same 5G network but at a more affordable price. Mint Mobile also has a family plan that offers the same discounted price per phone line you add to the plan.

Most of the plans you can choose from on the Mint Mobile website are on a three-month plan. Your prices could increase once this expires, but you can avoid this by locking into a year contract. The most affordable plan offers 4GB of data at 15 dollars per month, including unlimited talk and text. If you need more data, consider the 10GB plan at 20 dollars per month.

Tello

Another non-traditional carrier that T-Mobile offers on its network is Tello. When it comes to a brand-new cell phone plan, Tello is one of the most affordable options. You can even customize and build your plan to curate how many minutes, texts, and gigabytes of data you need.

The first plan provides 1GB of data for 10 dollars per month. While the data isn’t as high as you might like, this plan offers unlimited calls and texts, and there’s no contract that ties you in for a lengthy period of time. If you need more than 1GB of data, you can receive 5GB for 19 dollars per month or unlimited data for 29 dollars per month.

You can save money with the 10 dollars per month plan, but you won’t break the bank if you need more data. Consider Tello if you’re on a budget with your cell phone plans.

Cricket

Many individuals often overlook Cricket, yet it offers affordable phone plans. AT&T owns Cricket, so they use the same towers and network. If you don’t want to pay the AT&T plan, you can always use Cricket!

While AT&T used to cap the speeds on this carrier, you can now take advantage of the full benefits of AT&T’s network. Receive 10GB of data for 40 dollars per month or save 5 dollars every month by enrolling in auto-pay. Unlimited data will cost 55 dollars per month.

Unfortunately, this carrier might not have as many perks as the other options on this list. Ensure you’re looking through the stipulations in these plans to understand what your contract will entail.

Now that you have some options, don’t forget to consider data coverage with your price. While the price may drive your decision on which carrier to choose, you must also consider the data coverage in your area because not all networks will work in your location. For example, Tello might be the choice for you, but the T-Mobile network might not offer great coverage in your region. Take your time going over the plans to make the appropriate decision.

The devices we use on a daily basis hold important information, such as photos, essential documents, and passwords. While smartphones can benefit us, they can also be our downfall when we can’t seem to get our faces unglued from the screen. This is a problem many of us struggle with, but there are strategies you can use to cut down your screen time.

Set Aside a Portion of Your Day for “No Screen Time”

What specific time of the day do you spend the most on your phone or devices? Typically this is in the morning or right before bed, which is one of the worst things you can do. To avoid spending too much time on your electronics, set aside a portion of your day that is strictly for “no screen time.” This forces you to put the phone down and get some things done around the house that you might neglect.

Use an App To Track Your Time

It can be difficult to picture how much time you spend on your phone when you don’t see a physical number as evidence. You might be spending five hours on your phone without even realizing it! Download an app that tracks how much time you spend on the phone and which apps you click on the most. This can give you a better idea of how much screen time you need to minimize and which apps are the most distracting.

Stop Taking Your Phone to the Bathroom

We’ve all been guilty of taking our phone to the bathroom with us and spending more than enough time in there scrolling through social media. Reminding yourself to leave your phone at your desk or on the table might not decrease your screen time drastically, but it can help. If you need something to distract you in the bathroom, consider a magazine or a book instead.

Turn Off Notifications and Use Do Not Disturb

Your certified pre-owned device can hold countless apps that send you hundreds of notifications a day. You don’t need your phone going off that much, so consider turning off your notifications for non-essential apps to help reduce the number of times you pick up your phone throughout the day. You might also use “do not disturb” during the busy hours of your day to help limit your screen usage.

Make Your Bedroom Screen-Free

How many days can you remember scrolling through social media until the wee hours of the morning? The strategy for cutting down screen time by making your bedroom screen-free is foolproof—how could you spend that much time on a screen when you don’t bring your device in there? This might be a tough habit to break at first, but it can significantly reduce your screen time.

Don’t worry; we’ve all been down the road of endlessly scrolling through our phones and pushing the limit on our screen time. As long as you’re aware of what you’re doing, you can cut down on how much time you spend on your phone. Which one of these strategies are you going to try to implement first?

A lot of the time, our devices and smartphones hold very important information and data. This is where most of our pictures are stored and where we save music, contacts, documents, passwords, and more. Protecting and saving the data on your phone is essential so you don’t accidentally lose it.

In this article, we provide you with three ways to back up your Samsung phone data. Choose one or all to ensure your data is safe in case you need to restore your phone or transfer your info to a new device.

Back Up Your Samsung Phone Data Onto a Computer

To back up your data onto a PC, you will need to install an application called “Smart Switch.” You can find this in the Microsoft store, and it’s free to download. First, you must connect your Samsung smartphone to your PC via the charging cable. After the connection is made, a message will pop up on your phone. Tap “allow” to give your computer access to the data on your device.

After your phone is ready, you can navigate to the Smart Switch app and open it on your PC. Choose “Backup” to begin the process of saving the current information on your phone. You can also use Smart Switch to transfer data from one device onto a new one without using the computer. However, keeping a copy of your backup on the computer is wise just in case you lose your phone or damage it.

Back Up Your Samsung Phone Onto Google

When you use a Samsung phone, it’s also using a Google account to download apps and keep track of your information. You can back up your smartphone onto this Google account for safekeeping, and it’s very simple! First, you must ensure the account is signed in on your Samsung device.

Navigate to your settings and click on “Accounts and Backup.” From here, all you need to do is tap on “Back Up Data” and “Back Up Now” under the Google Drive option to save your photos, documents, contacts, songs, etc. If you purchase a preowned Samsung phone, you can easily sign into your Google account and restore your latest backup onto the used smartphone!

Back Up Your Samsung Phone Onto the Samsung Cloud

One of the smartest ways you can back up your Samsung phone data is using the Samsung Cloud because you can use a feature that saves these backups automatically. Like a Google account, you will need to sign into your Samsung Cloud account to save information and data.

To manually back up the data onto the Samsung Cloud, navigate back to your settings and “Accounts and Backup.” From here, click on “Samsung Cloud” and “Back Up Data.” After you select the items you want to save, choose “Back Up” and “Done” to complete the process.

To set up automatic backups, go back to “Samsung Cloud” under “Accounts and Backup.” Tap the three vertical dots and “Settings” in this new tab to bring up the option to “Sync and Auto Backup Settings.” You can choose which information will be saved once daily every 24 hours.

You have three solid options when you need to back up your Samsung phone. We recommend using at least two methods to ensure you always have a copy of your data in the event one of your other options fails. We highly suggest using the automatic backup as well so you don’t need to remember to save your data—the device will do it for you!

Did you ever experience the pit in your stomach after realizing you destroyed your iPhone and there isn’t a recent backup to restore your data? That’s the worst feeling, but it’s easy to avoid! Keeping your data backed up on your iPhone is quite simple. Let us teach you how to do it so that you don’t have to experience the dread of losing all of your photos, songs, contacts, and more.

What Is a Data Backup?

A data backup is when a user of an iPhone saves a copy of what is physically on the device, including apps, songs, contacts, pictures, etc. You can save a data backup of your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and any other Apple device that uses an operating system. After you save this copy, you can use it to restore your phone if something wipes out your data or transfer it to a new model.

What Backup Methods Are There?

You can use two different methods to save a data backup of your iPhone. One way involves using iCloud, and the other includes saving a copy to your computer. The one you choose is up to you, or you could save a copy of your device on both your computer and iCloud to cover all of your tracks, just in case.

What Is iCloud?

The iCloud service is a cloud network that Apple provides users with to save important information, such as photos, files, notes, passwords, and more. Any data you share across your Apple devices will save in the same iCloud account, and you can share it across all devices. Think of iCloud as a virtual junk drive to store whatever data you’d like.

Perks of iCloud Backup

You can store the backup you create on your iCloud account—which has 2TB of storage or 4TB if you pay for the Premiere Plan. When you save a data backup copy, iCloud will automatically encrypt the backup to keep it secure. You can also use and create any backup on Wi-Fi with this method.

Perks of Computer Backup

Regardless of whether you have a Mac computer or any other brand, you can save a backup of your iPhone directly onto your computer. How much storage you have on your PC or laptop will depend on the data you currently have on those devices. The computer won’t automatically encrypt the backup, but there is a setting you can turn on to do so. You can create and use these backups anytime from your computer.

How To Save a Data Backup to iCloud

When you turn on iCloud backup on your iPhone, your device will automatically update and save your data whenever your phone is charging, locked, or connected to Wi-Fi. However, you still have the option to manually back up your phone to iCloud whenever you please.

Navigate to your settings app, click on your name at the very top of the screen, choose “iCloud,” then select “iCloud Backup.” Once you’ve reached this page, you can click on “Back Up Now” to manually save a backup of your iPhone. The bottom of the screen will show you the latest backup, the size, and when it happened.

How To Save a Data Backup to a Mac Computer

To begin a Mac computer data backup, you will need the cable you use to charge your iPhone and connect it to your computer. Once you have both devices joined, navigate to the Finder bar on your Mac and select your iPhone. It’s important to note that you need to use macOS 10.15 or later to save this data.

After you find yourself in your iPhone files on the Finder bar, click “general” at the top of the window. Once you’re here, choose “back up all data on your iPhone to this Mac.” You can encrypt the file with a password by selecting “encrypt local backup.” After you have the suitable settings, click “Back Up Now” to start saving this file to your Mac.

How To Save a Data Backup to a Windows Computer

Saving an iPhone backup to a computer other than Mac is slightly different because you use different settings. Again, you will need the charging cable to join the two devices together. After you connect both the computer and your phone, you can navigate to iTunes on the PC to save the backup.

Once you’re in the iTunes window, find the iPhone button in the top left corner of the window. Select “Summary” and click “Back Up Now.” Here, you can also choose to encrypt the file and save it with a password. You can find your backups by selecting “Edit,” “Preferences,” and then “Devices.”

Pro-Tip

You can connect your iPhone to your Mac or Windows PC wirelessly if you set up syncing over Wi-Fi on your phone. Now you won’t need the cable to connect the devices; you can use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi!

Can You Save Multiple Backups?

This is a tricky question because, in hindsight, you can save multiple backups, but it depends on which method you use. If you’re using iCloud, this storage service will continue to overwrite the backups onto the previous one—meaning there will be only one continuously updated file. However, as long as you have storage available on your computer, you can save multiple backup files.

What if the Device Was Preowned?

If you purchase a preowned iPhone from Wamatek, you will not see what the previous owner had on their phone or any of their backups. After you wipe the phone and enter your own Apple information, the phone will become a part of your Apple devices and connect to your iCloud account. You could choose to use a previous backup from an older phone you had or start over with the preowned device and start saving new backups.

What Isn’t in the Backups?

When you’re using iCloud for backups, any photos, notes, calendars, etc., that you’ve already stored in the iCloud will not back up again. Other settings that will not be in the save file include Face ID and Touch settings, Apply Pay information, Apple mail data, and iCloud music library. Any data, photos, or emails stored in another cloud service other than Apple’s will not back up either.

If you’re using the computer method to back up your iPhone, there are a few other things that will not save as well. Content from iTunes will not save, iCloud saved data will not sync, and anything synced with Apple’s media apps or imported will not save either. The same settings, such as Face ID, Apple Pay, and Apple mail, will also not back up. The computer won’t save any Activity, Health, or Keychain data unless you back up the file with encryption.

Keeping your data backed up on your iPhone is a straightforward process. If you turn the settings to save backups automatically, the process is mindless! It’s essential to back up your devices because you never know what could happen to them, and it’s always best to have an extra save. When was the last time you saved a backup of your iPhone?

Is your child begging you for a cell phone? If they haven’t yet, prepare yourself, because there will be a day when they come home from school and say, “My friend just got a smartphone. Can I have one?” But when is the right time to get your kids a phone? Don’t worry—use this guide to help determine when you should hand your tween the device.

Why Does Your Child Need a Phone?

The age at which a child would ask their parents for a cell phone is typically around middle-school age. However, take a step back and ask yourself, “Does my child really need a smartphone, or do they just want one?” When your child asks you for a phone, it is probably because their friends have one or they want to join social media.

If this is the case, there are a few other questions you can ask yourself to see if your child really needs a phone in their life. For example, do you frequently leave your kid at home alone? Or do they have a job such as babysitting where they might need to communicate with you? Do they use public transportation? These are all valid scenarios that warrant the need for a phone, so you can keep an eye on your child and stay in touch.

How To Tell if Your Child Is Ready for a Phone

Generally, your kiddo should show a sense of responsibility and maturity if they’re ready for a smartphone. Does your child demonstrate that they can handle and care for electronics? Plus, do they obey your rules when it comes to screen time or chores? When your kids demonstrate that you can trust them, do their chores, use good judgment, and agree to your rules, then they’re likely ready for a phone.

How To Tell if Your Child Isn’t Ready for a Phone

On the flip side, you also need to consider signs your child might not be ready for a smartphone. Every kid is different in their behavior and maturity level; some might be more ready to handle a device than others. However, if they complain, don’t do their chores, talk back, don’t take accountability for their actions, lie, or handle conflicts poorly, they might not be ready to have a phone.

In General, What Is the Appropriate Age?

This is a tricky question because not all adults parent in the same manner, nor do all children behave the same. However, between the ages of 12 and 14 is a great time to consider purchasing a smartphone for your kid. This is typically the age range where tweens begin understanding adult concepts and can practice responsibility. However, if your child is at this current age and you don’t feel like they are ready for a device, then trust your instinct.

Guidelines To Set For Your Child

When you’re ready to take the leap of faith into handing your tween a smartphone, it’s always best to lay down a few guidelines and ground rules.

Save Passwords

First and foremost, until your kids are older, you should have a copy of all their passwords to ensure they’re being safe on the internet. Remind them that you are not doing this to invade their privacy, nor do you plan to—you just want to keep them safe.

Limit Screen Time

If you fail to establish this rule right away, your tween will likely live with their face glued to the screen. While it’s perfectly fine to scroll occasionally, it’s not healthy to do this all day, every day. So create specific times of the day to set aside the phone and spend time with family, do homework, and finish chores.

Use Parental Controls

Parental controls are your friend! Let’s say you don’t want your tween reading something on a website, signing up for a specific social media platform, or using chat rooms. Parental controls can help block these websites and apps to prevent your child from using them. While the internet is a marvelous place, it can also be extremely dangerous for children and younger adults, so parental screening can provide kids safety.

Make a Written Agreement

Lastly, consider creating a written agreement you and your child can follow. This might include the times of day they can be on their phone, how often they’ll contact you when out, and which apps and websites are approved. Write down any relevant information you think is essential to this agreement and stick to it until you feel your child is ready for more freedom.

Safety Is Key

Smartphones nowadays are minicomputers right in our back pockets. Incidents can occur if we do not use these devices appropriately. For example, the internet could potentially introduce your child to predators, stalkers, and cyberbullying. As your child ages, they could also text and drive, putting themselves and others at serious risk.

For these reasons, safety is paramount when your kid is using a smartphone. The parental controls we mentioned above come in handy for this. Additionally, you should sit down with your child and go over how to be safe on the internet, so they understand how to interact with it appropriately. Once they reach the age of driving, you can have another conversation about not texting and driving.

Which Type of Device Should I Give My Child?

Now that we covered the basics, we can give an overview of your options regarding the devices your child can use. If they’re younger than 12, you might want to consider a wearable watch to limit internet activity. However, you can still track and talk through this device.

As for a physical cell phone, you could purchase a kid’s phone that offers more parental control or, if you’re trusting enough, a true smartphone. You can always upgrade the device after your tween proves they can handle caring for an electronic.

Pro-tip: For your child’s first device, consider purchasing pre-owned electronics to avoid damaging or breaking a completely new model. Once your tween demonstrates they can handle the responsibility, you can consider a new iPhone or Android.

The right time to get your kids a phone is entirely up to the parents’ discretion. If you’re nervous about how your child will do once they have a smartphone, remember to lead by example. It’s also wise to keep open conversations about your kiddos’ lives, so you can be present in them and ensure they are safe on the internet. We know this can be a scary time for parents, but be confident that you raised your tween to be responsible with their newfound freedom. Plus, you can always take the device away if things get out of hand. Good luck!

Nothing is more exciting than purchasing a new phone and getting to accessorize it. Most of the items you can add to your phone are for protection, but some are for convenience as well! Take a look at our ultimate list of essential accessories you need to pick up for your new phone.

Phone Case

One of the most important phone accessories will be the case you place over the device. You can personalize your smartphone by choosing a case in your favorite color or designing one with your pictures.

Mainly, however, the case protects the phone from damage. We all drop our phones occasionally, and you’re far less likely to shatter the glass screen with a case on. Be sure to look for cases with a warranty, so if the case breaks protecting your phone, the brand will send you a replacement.

Screen Protectors

You can’t forget trusty screen protectors! These are vital in preventing the actual glass on the phone from cracking or getting scratched up. We recommend a glass screen protector because the protector will break before the glass on the device underneath.

Phone Car Mounts

Gone are the days when you needed a separate GPS to navigate the roads in your vehicle. Technology has advanced, and now we have maps on our phones to help give directions. Installing a phone car mount will provide a convenient place to rest your device while navigating the roads. However, using these car mounts for texting while driving is never okay.

Wall & Portable Chargers

Nothing is more frustrating than a dead phone—especially when you need the device to answer calls and emails. Generally, your phone will come with a wall charger, but it doesn’t hurt to have an extra one for traveling. It’s also wise to keep a portable charger handy, so you can still charge your device when a wall outlet isn’t available.

Headphones

Whether you listen to country, rock, or pop music, any avid music lover needs a pair of headphones to accompany their smartphone. This accessory to pick up for your new phone is essential for heading off to the gym, studying in the library, sitting at your work desk, or walking your dog. Choose headphones that connect with Bluetooth or directly plug into your phone—the choice is yours!

After purchasing your used electronics from Wamatek, don’t forget to dazzle them up with the accessories above! We use our devices and phones daily, so protecting them with cases and screen protectors is necessary to avoid costly repairs. Other items such as mounts, headphones, and portable chargers are not required but could make using the device more convenient and fun.

Samsung is a popular smartphone tech brand that many individuals use. And just like any other device, there are little-known functions of Samsung smartphones. Optimize how you use your phone by using the tips and tricks we offer below.

Use Optimizing Settings for Device Care

Android is a type of phone that Samsung carries, but so do other tech companies such as LG or Sony. However, when you purchase a Samsung Android phone, the device will come with a setting that optimizes your phone so it runs better. Navigate to your settings and click “Battery Care and Device Care.” This setting will help with the phone’s battery health, security, and system memory.

Tap the “Optimize Now” button under the same device care tab. The optimization setting will run through your phone, looking for larger or duplicate files, data taking up storage space, and battery-draining apps. Afterward, you can delete these files from your device to make it run smoother.

Run Two Apps Simultaneously

In some scenarios, you might want to have two apps open simultaneously. For example, maybe you’re planning a vacation, so you’re watching a travel tips video on YouTube while simultaneously taking notes. On a Samsung smartphone, you can split your screen vertically or horizontally to have two apps open at once—talk about multitasking!

Mute Alarms and Calls by Flipping the Phone Over

Picture this: it’s five in the morning, your room is pitch black, and your phone alarm is going off, reminding you to get ready for the day. In the past, you might have been fumbling around your nightstand, looking for the button to turn the pesky alarm off. On used Samsung phones and newer devices, you can turn on a setting that allows you to mute alarms and phone calls by simply flipping your screen over.

Head to your settings, click “Advanced Features,” and tap “Motions and Gestures.” Once you’re in this window, you can select “Mute With Gestures” to turn on this feature. Now you can quickly and easily turn off your alarms or mute unwanted phone calls during the workday. However, if you’re flipping over your phone to turn off the alarm, don’t fall back asleep; get out of bed!

Turn On Easy Mode

Who said smartphones weren’t for the older generations? With an easy mode, these devices can be much more straightforward for individuals who are not tech-savvy. Simplifying the interface makes navigating the device less complicated and more mindless for the person. This setting will create shortcuts to apps and settings and dial back on the number of apps or features that appear on the interface.

If this is a setting that could make your life easier, we’ll teach you how to turn it on. Go to your settings app and click “Home Screen Mode.” Toggle the “Easy Mode” on and hit the apply button to change the settings. Now, you can navigate the phone in a much simpler manner.

Use Your Palm To Take Screenshots

Did you know that it’s possible to take a screenshot on your Samsung device by swiping your palm across the screen? This is a little-known function of Samsung smartphones that can come in handy when you’re in a hurry and need to screenshot an email or text quickly. Change this in settings, under “Motion Menu,” and click “Palm Swipe Capture” to take screenshots by swiping the side of your palm across the screen.

Our smart devices can perform a lot of functions you might not know about. Utilize your phone to its full potential to get the most bang for your buck. Who knows—these tips and tricks could make your daily life easier!