If you’re in the market for a new smartphone from Apple, it might be easy to believe all the myths your friends tell you. However, many common misconceptions about iPhones are untrue, and you should know about them before making your next purchase. Read on to learn more.

iPhones Cannot Receive Malware

A considerable myth many people love to pass along is that Apple products are impossible to infect with a virus or malware. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. While Apple is strict on which apps are suitable for their devices to avoid malware, iPhones are not immune to viruses.

Apple Is Tracking You Through the Phone

Just because your iPhone has tracking capabilities does not mean Apple is monitoring your interactions or selling them to the government. This myth stems from an update in 2011, when tech reporters found a hidden file. However, this file was for cellular tower and Wi-Fi hotspot data. You can rest assured that Apple does not care about tracking you, nor are they currently keeping tabs on your whereabouts.

Once You Use an iPhone, You Can Never Go Back

Avid iPhone users love to say that once you choose to use Apple products, you’ll never go back to Samsung or Android phones. While this statement might be true for some users who fall in love with the user interface of iPhones, others find no difference or prefer alternative products. It comes down to the individual and their preference on which smartphone brand to use.

More Specifications Mean a Better Phone

When a company lists many specifications on new models of phones, the public generally concludes that the phone is much better than other devices with fewer specs. However, more specs and new technology does not always equal a better device. Apple is not perfect—you will run into issues with your iPhone, depending on how you use it and what you download on it.

Apple Purposefully Slows Down Your Phone When a New Model Comes Out

One of the most popular and common misconceptions about iPhones is that Apple purposefully slows down your current smartphone every time they release a new version or model. Allegedly, this is meant to encourage you to purchase the new model.

In reality, your old phone could be slower either because you didn’t update the iOS system or the device is too old to support the newer updates. Apple has been working on making this aging process more gradual and stable for its customers.

There are a lot of myths about iPhones out there. Apple is a respectable company that creates high-quality products. Now that you know some of these lies, do you think an iPhone will be your next smartphone purchase? If so, you can purchase unlocked used iPhones from Wamatek at an affordable price. Check out our website today!

Your iPhone has much more functionality than just sending texts, making phone or video calls, and operating social media apps. There are so many more little-known iPhone functions and tricks that you need to learn! Once you start using some of these features, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to figure out. Check out some of our favorite features below.

Scan & Sign Documents

Before the creation of smartphones, you would need a specific device to scan documents for your computer. With new features, you can now scan a document to your phone, sign it with your finger, and email it to the appropriate individual. To do this, open a new note on the pre-downloaded app, tap the camera icon at the bottom of the screen, select “scan document,” hover your camera over the paper, let it scan the page, and tap “save” in the right corner. Now, you have an entire document on your phone that you can sign!

Silence Unknown Callers

Do not confuse this feature with blocking unknown callers. Your iPhone can send callers with odd numbers in your phone directly to voicemail without vibrating or ringing your device. Turn this one on by opening settings, selecting “phone,” and activating “silence unknown callers.” You will still receive the call, but your phone will silently alert you—if you know the caller, you can add them to your contact list.

Alter How You Take Screenshots

Another little-known iPhone trick is altering how you take screenshots with your phone. We’ve all accidentally taken a screenshot of our home screen when we squeeze the lock and volume buttons simultaneously. You can now take a screenshot by tapping the Apple icon on the back of your phone. Who knew? Navigate to your settings again, find “accessibility,” tap on “touch,” scroll to “back tap,” select “double tap,” and find “screenshot.” Simply double-tap the back of your phone to take a screenshot—or you could choose a different setting, like screen lock!

Use Swipe Text

A notable feature that works with accessibility is gliding your fingers across the keyboard to type. Try this trick if you detest chicken pecking at the individual keys to type a sentence. The setting should be a default mode. All you need to do is open a text and swipe your finger around the keypad in the directions that spell the word you’re trying to type; your phone will auto-populate the word you’re attempting to write.

Measure Anything

When you buy a used iPhone or purchase a new one, it will come with another pre-downloaded app called “Measure.” It’s miraculous how accurately the app can measure things inside your home. For example, if you’re installing a new refrigerator, you can use this tool on your phone to estimate the distance between cabinet spaces to determine which fridge will fit. You can also use this app as a leveler; place your phone on the surface of your project and let the device do the work for you!

Who knew your iPhone had so many unique features built into its interface? Take advantage of the device in your back pocket by using some of the features mentioned in this article. How else can you use this invaluable device?

Your smartphone app store has an application for just about anything and everything you do. These devices can limit our productivity, but downloading the appropriate apps can actually help boost your success in organizational and management skills. Utilize the four phone apps below to help improve your productivity to find more success in your life.

Todoist – Task Management

If you’re bad at writing everything down, consider doing it right on your smartphone! This phone is in our hands constantly throughout the day, and this app is perfect for reminding you exactly what needs to get done on that particular day. Todoist can group your tasks together—plus, you can collaborate with other users to share and delegate tasks for a more efficient home life.

Forest – Time Management

It’s a blessing and curse to have a smartphone constantly in our back pocket. A phone app like Forest can improve your productivity by helping with time management and reminding you to set aside your phone for a few hours to focus on more essential tasks and chores. This interactive app will ask you to “plant” a seed and grow a tree. This works because the user is supposed to leave the app on while they work through their tasks. If you were successful in your chores, the tree would grow, but if you exit the app to go on social media, your tree will die. It seems silly, but the interaction encourages managing your time better.

Evernote – Note Organization

Evernote is an excellent app when you loathe taking notes by hand. In fact, this application can help organize your notes, insert photos and diagrams, and filter through entries with tags. Having a notebook handy will ensure you don’t lose valuable information that you might need daily. It can also help you organize and produce projects.

Due – Schedule Management

Keeping a planner can improve your scheduling and time management skills, but what do you do if you don’t want to carry a notebook everywhere? This app allows you to enter important events and due dates into a calendar to remind you when appointments, meetings, birthdays, etc., are coming up in your schedule. Never forget a deadline again by staying organized with Due.

Smartphones are powerful devices that you can load with countless apps to help you be more successful in your everyday life. Wamatek offers unlocked used phones at an affordable cost, so you can start improving your productivity immediately. Don’t let the stress of your daily life weigh you down; download a few apps to make your life easier!

As our devices get older, the charging capacity and battery life will slowly decline. However, we can counteract this change by improving the battery life of our smartphones. If you notice your smartphone slowing down or dying quickly, consider the below advice for maximizing the battery life

Update the Software/Operating System

The two leading smartphone tech giants, Apple and Samsung, release a new update to their operating systems and software at least once a year, if not more. In these updates, the company might include patches that fix bugs affecting your phone’s battery life. Anytime there is an update available, take the time to install it onto your phone, as it could extend the device’s battery life. If you buy a pre-owned Samsung phone or any other brand, remember to update the system when you receive it so that you can enjoy the best battery life possible.

Delete Apps That Take a Lot of Battery Life

Are you playing a lot of games or watching a lot of videos on your device? These apps could take a lot from your battery—skip using them on your smartphone and try a tablet or laptop instead. Do not use apps like Adobe Photoshop or iMovie on your phone if you have a different option; these power-hungry apps cause a fast reduction in battery life.

Turn On Power-Saver Mode

Power-saver mode is a feature you can enable to preserve your battery life. This setting will turn off nonessential features and darken the display to conserve power until you plug the phone in. Go into your smartphone’s settings and turn this feature on to automatically save energy whenever your phone needs it.

Use the Proper Charging Methods

Did you know there is a proper way to charge your devices? To maximize each charge, you should avoid charging the phone to 100 percent every time—instead, plug it in and leave it there until it reaches 70–80 percent. Overcharging the phone and leaving it plugged into the wall for an extended period could harm the battery.

Dim Your Screen

The screen on your phone does not need to be at full brightness all the time. Keeping this brightness level below half could improve the smartphone’s battery life. If you don’t want to change this feature constantly, you can go enable settings that detect ambient light and alter the brightness on the phone accordingly.

Turn Off or Limit Location Services

Certain apps on your smartphone could be using your location, even in the background, when you’re not using the device. Turn this off in your settings or limit what apps use location services to extend the phone’s battery life.

Consider the above advice whenever you notice your phone’s battery life slowing down. While it’s inevitable that a device will slow down and lose battery percentage as it ages, there are ways to improve this issue. Try these battery-saving tips first before you consider purchasing a new phone.

When you’re ready to purchase your next cell phone, you should consider the reasons why financing the device is in your best interest rather than paying out of pocket. For many, paying upfront may not be the best option. Wamatek offers two payment plan options for our customers that are interest-free and low in cost. Explore the details of why you could benefit more from this finance option.

Credit Score

Depending on how you set up your finances through a payment plan, it could help you build a credit score. As for the options through Wamatek, our financing will not negatively impact your credit score whatsoever. This could benefit our customers if they do not want to damage or lessen their score.

No Cash Out of Pocket

You can pay for the phone right away with the cash you have on hand, but, for many, paying upfront is not the best option because it could be a lot of money you’re handing over at once. If you were to set up cell phone financing, you would keep the money in your pocket for more important instances while you slowly pay back payments over time. This can alleviate the stress on customers because they don’t need to scramble around for a large amount of money to purchase a new phone.

0% Interest Rates

A huge reason why individuals choose not to finance their next cell phone is that there may be an interest rate. Our company has no hidden interest fees, and payments will not generate interest over time. Payment plans are set up for convenience, making the device more affordable and attainable.

Choose Different Cell Phones

When you have a financing option available, this can allow you to choose different phones that you may not have considered if you had to pay out of pocket. If you were paying upfront, this might limit the type of phone you would purchase for yourself. However, with a payment plan, you could decide on a higher-quality phone because you don’t need to hand over a ton of money right away. You can instead make smaller payments over a set period of time.

Next time you’re in the market for a new cell phone, consider browsing through our selections at Wamatek. We also have two payment plans available to make the experience at our business more convenient for customers. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of your options to make the best decision for yourself and your finances.

When you ask most people what brand of smartphone they use, they usually say either Samsung or Apple. Fans of one or the other usually have strong opinions about the cellphone and don’t plan on switching brands anytime soon. Find which brand is right for you by examining the differences between Samsung and Apple.

Operating System/Software

Apple has a very well-known operating system called iOS that gives the iPhone a clean design with seamless transitions. This tech giant has more control over the customer experience, making the user interface extremely simple to learn. Apple takes protecting your data very seriously and will not collect or sell it unless you give them permission.

While Apple is dabbling into more customization with widgets on home screens, Samsung has been doing this for years and offers users a custom-made experience. You can change the layout of a Samsung smartphone by downloading themes, widgets, and icons. Unlike its counterparts, you can download alternative apps that are not from Samsung’s Play Store, allowing users more control over what they install on their phones. Still, the tech company does not offer data protection.

Battery Life

Samsung offers a noticeably faster-charging battery than Apple. If you plan on using your phone for gaming, Android phones are best because the battery will charge faster and maintain the charge longer. Apple smartphones’ batteries can last long if you take care of the device and use proper charging techniques, but it will take much longer for the phone to reach full battery percentage when you plug it in. Unfortunately, neither company includes a charging block with the purchase of a phone, but you will receive the cable.

Camera Capabilities

If you’re a professional photographer, Apple’s camera has a less obtuse processing system and creates video and images that are more natural looking. You can download photo editing apps or export these images to your laptop for editing.

Samsung is increasing its camera capabilities, with newer models allowing customers to attempt different styles of photos and videos through filters and lenses. If you don’t like editing the images yourself, these smartphones have a built-in auto-edit feature making your job much more straightforward.

Pricing and Value

If you were to glance at an Apple smartphone’s price, you may think it’s expensive and out of the average person’s price range. While this may be true, loyal customers overlook the price because of the iOS software and integration between all Apple products. If you have an iPhone, iPad, MacBook, or iWatch, you can easily transfer information and data seamlessly from one device to the next, making this brand highly sought after.

Samsung phones are the more affordable option and give you a better price for the features the smartphone can offer. While both companies have multiple models to choose from, Android phones have more variety at different price points. Remember, you do not need to buy these phones brand new; Wamatek offers unlocked used phones that work just as well at a better price.

Apple and Samsung have long been the most popular smartphones on the market. When deciding which brand is right for you, choose a phone that fits your lifestyle over popularity and trends.

Do you have an accumulation of old cell phones in your home? Don’t let them lie around; there are many solutions for what you should do with them. A big part of our inventory at Wamatek is buy-now-pay-later phones that we purchase from our clients. Understand your options for what you can do with your old device. Keep the following suggestions in mind the next time you upgrade your cell phone.

Donate or Giveaway

The first option is to donate the phone to an organization or give it away to a friend in need. If you have several old cell phones because you’ve been stockpiling, consider this option because it could help someone in need who can’t afford a phone themselves. You can donate them to domestic violence shelters, military charities, Goodwill, etc.

Trade-In With Your Provider

When you receive the new upgrade for your cell phone every year, you most likely still owe a small amount on the old phone. Many cell phone providers give the advantage of trading in your old device to help foot the bill on the new phone. Talk with your provider next time you consider an upgrade to see if they have a program like that.

Sell Online or in Person

If you want to make some quick cash, you could sell the phone on social media or choose a company like Wamatek that will buy your old phones from you. We suggest selling to a trustworthy business or through a well-known platform online to prevent yourself from getting scammed by someone. Doing this ensures you get the money for the phone.

Recycle at an Electronic Waste Station or Shop

Lastly, if your cell phone is so old that it’s no longer usable, you should bring it to an electronic waste station or shop so that you can recycle it. Phones over 10 years old most likely don’t work well anymore. If you don’t want them lying around, don’t throw them in the trash. You need to dispose of electronics properly, so bring them to a place that will take old electronics.

All these options are feasible and excellent resources to declutter that cell phone collection you’ve been building over the years. If you don’t plan on using them again, you might as well let others get some use out of your old devices. Next time you purchase a new cell phone, consider what to do with your old one.

It’s inevitable that the longer you use your smartphone, the slower it will become. With new models constantly coming out, along with numerous software updates, you’ll start to notice the phone slow down quite a bit in functionality. Luckily, there are ways to extend the lifespan of your Samsung smartphone, and if you want to hold onto your phone and use it for a few years longer, then you must start implementing these strategies right away.

Whether you have a brand-new Samsung phone or want to buy a refurbished Samsung phone from Wamatek, use these tips to extend the phone’s life. Doing this will save you money in the future and allows you to get the most use from your smart device.

Power Down the Phone Regularly

First and foremost, your smart devices need to power down just as much as you do after a long day. Once a week, take a minute or two to power down the phone. Let the phone sit for a minute or two while it’s off to allow it to shut off and sleep before turning it back on.

Remove Unnecessary Apps

You could be cluttering your phone with unwanted apps and photos without realizing it. Take the time once a month or so to uninstall and delete any apps or pictures you no longer need. Otherwise, the apps you no longer use can still run in the phone’s background, slowing down the processor.

Use a Tempered Glass Screen Protector

The screen is the most delicate part of the smartphone, and it’s one of the most expensive parts to replace. Install a tempered glass screen protector immediately after purchasing the phone. Screen protectors will crack first if you drop the phone and protect the glass underneath. This way, you can install a new screen protector after the first one breaks, further protecting the actual screen.

Invest in a Sturdy Phone Case

Speaking of dropping your phone, invest in a sturdy phone case to protect the smart device. You never know when a case can come in handy, so look for cases that are stable enough to protect your phone from various elements.

Take Advantage of Cloud Storage

Older phones that may be slower need advancement in phone storage. With these advancements, you no longer have to save important documents or photos directly on your phone. Files and pictures can save on cloud storage, taking up less space on your actual smartphone.

Properly Store the Device

If you aren’t using the device for a period of time, store it in a safe space. Put it somewhere where children or pets can’t get to it and ruin it. Whenever you’re driving, sleeping, working out, etc., find a safe place to put your phone for the time being.

Extend the Battery Life

If you want to extend the lifespan of your Samsung smartphones, you’ll also want to find ways to boost your battery life. The battery is one of the faster parts of a smart device that dies, so keeping it in excellent condition is necessary. There are many ways to extend the battery life, but most importantly, keep the phone away from extreme heat or cold conditions, or the battery and the lifespan of your phone will fail drastically.

Reduce Display Brightness

Reducing the brightness of your display can help preserve the battery. High brightness and long-screen time out are all factors that eat away at the life of your battery. Luckily, turning down your display brightness can make a world of difference for the battery.

Turn Off Always-On Display (AOD)

The always-on display is an AMOLED screen that shows specific information when your screen is off. This function allows you to check the date and time without activating the display. Any notification or activity that constantly lights up the screen will drain pieces of your battery. Still, you can turn off AOD completely or schedule specific times to have it automatically turn off.

Use Power Saving Mode

Power saving mode is a setting on the phone that helps conserve battery power. Often, this is an option you use when your phone is running out of battery power. However, you can turn on power-saving mode as often as you like. You should use it when you need to save your phone’s energy, especially in emergencies.

Be Wary of Software Updates

While specific updates can speed up your device, some updates can slow down a phone using older hardware. If you have an older version, the updates serve a better purpose on newer models because their software is more compatible with the more recent hardware. If you update your phone and notice it slowed down the device, you can revert to the old settings.

Turn Off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS

If you aren’t using any Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS settings, turn them off from the main screen. Having these components running in the background can drain your battery. You can always turn these settings back on whenever you need them, but turning them off when you don’t need them will help expand your device’s lifespan.

Learn the Best Charging Practices

You may be charging your phone all wrong. You should never let your phone’s battery drop below 20 percent; if you let your phone die completely every time, you can minimize the number of full charges the phone can do. Generally, you want to plug in your phone periodically for a couple of minutes a day to get the best, full charges. To get the most powered charges, you want to plug the phone back in at around 75 percent.

Letting your phone die entirely will only allow 500 or so maximum charges. Plugging it in periodically around 75 percent can boost those maximum charges up to 2,000 times.

It’s safe to say that as long as you care for your devices and properly clean them, they can last you a while. Buying a brand-new model is exciting yet unnecessary in most cases. Newer models may have additional functions, but not many differences separate them from their older counterparts.

Always aim to keep your phone in pristine condition, and you will find that it lasts you much longer.

Buying an unlocked phone gives you the freedom to choose between what phone model you want, what carrier you want, and what type of plan you want to pay for. Starting a phone plan with an unlocked phone is actually relatively straightforward. Wamatek has unlocked phones that are not linked to a specific carrier and, therefore, can be used in multiple different ways.

How Does an Unlocked Phone Work?

When you purchase an unlocked phone, the phone itself is not tied to a specific network or carrier. In fact, all unlocked phones work on GSM networks, which are European, making all unlocked phones available for international travel. However, more universal unlocked phones can work on most major US networks and are simple to set up.

How Do You Start a Plan?

It is easy to start a plan with various carriers for an unlocked phone. You only need a new SIM card that works with whichever carrier you choose. While most phones work on most networks, pay attention to what phone you buy, and verify that it will work for your chosen carrier.

If you plan on sticking with the same carrier you were using before, you can simply remove your old SIM card and put it in the new phone. If you switch phones and carriers, you’ll need to purchase a SIM card from the new carrier to make the phone compatible with their network.

Are There Payment Plans?

If you were to purchase a new phone directly from the carrier, they would have plans available to you to make it more convenient to pay back the bill. At Wamatek, however, we have options for buy now, pay later phones with two different payment plans to choose from. We use Affirm and PayPal to offer low-cost, interest-free payment options that don’t impact your credit score.

Why Choose an Unlocked Phone?

There are various reasons why unlocked phones are better to purchase than going directly through the carrier. Unlocked phones are highly compatible with international travel; if you travel abroad a lot, you won’t have to add an international plan to your phone. Starting a phone plan with an unlocked phone also gives you the freedom to choose the latest phones that come out as often as you want.

Your options and opportunities are endless with unlocked phones. Next time you are in the market for a new phone, check out our products on Wamatek to meet your needs. You can never go wrong with an unlocked phone, and if you prefer freedom in purchasing a new phone, always go with an unlocked one.

Apple releases new phones every year, and they get bigger and better every time. Before you shop around, get to know the differences between the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 to decide which smartphone you want next. If you’re in the market for a new cell phone, Wamatek has used iPhones for sale so that you can buy a perfectly used phone that works just as if it were new.

Phone Design and Colors

There are a few differences between the designs of these iPhones. The back of the iPhone 13 Pro is made of textured matte glass, and the phone is encased in surgical stainless steel. It comes in the colors Sierra Blue, Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Alpine Green. The iPhone 13, on the other hand, has a glass back with an aluminum design, and it comes in Red, Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, and Green.

Display and Storage

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro share the same amount of gigabytes—128GB, 256GB, or 512GB—but the iPhone 13 Pro has the option of a whopping 1TB. Both also have 6.1-inch diagonal displays on Super Retina XDR OLED displays.

Cameras and Video Features

The biggest difference between the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 are the cameras and video settings. The iPhone 13 has two camera lenses on the back that can reach 800 nits of brightness under direct sunlight. More light can also enter the camera lens for better nighttime photography.

The iPhone 13 Pro has an impressive camera setup with three lenses. With wider apertures in the lenses, nighttime mode is even more heightened in this phone. The lens on the Pro has a macro mode that uses a telephoto lens that can zoom in for clear close-ups of objects. With up to 1,000 nits outdoors, the 4K video quality is incomparable to that of any other smartphone and makes for easier editing in postproduction.

Battery Life

Battery life is a significant deciding factor when you’re choosing a new smartphone. Both iPhones come with a fast-charging cable with a 50 percent charge in just 30 minutes. The iPhone 13 has up to 19 hours of battery life, while the Pro has a battery life of up to 22 hours.

Both iPhones have similar capabilities; however, if you plan to use your camera for making videos and shooting cinematic scenes, you definitely want the iPhone 13 Pro, with its impressive camera features. Otherwise, the standard iPhone 13 is just as remarkable and still gives most of the same features. Make a list of things you want and need in an iPhone, and you’ll quickly find the right match.