We’ve all been there. Your iPhone battery is under the fifty percent mark and you won’t be anywhere near an outlet for the next few hours. So what do you do? How can you ensure your iPhone won’t run out of juice in the meantime? Well, there are few settings you can adjust to add a few more hours to your battery life. Here are five that will do the trick.

Activate Low Power Mode

Perhaps the easiest way to save iPhone battery life, Low Power Mode can be activated with a single tap. When switched on, it automatically adjusts several settings to extend the life of your battery: it reduces the brightness of your screen and the amount of battery power your apps are using, disables the automatic fetching of new email, and it powers off the display more quickly.

To activate Low Power Mode, press Settings > Battery and then tap Low Power Mode so that the green light is on.

Lower the screen brightness

The brighter your iPhone screen, the more battery it drains. And really, there isn’t much of a need to have an excessively bright screen because in most instances (being outside in the sunshine excluded) you can easily see everything on the screen at a lower brightness level.

To adjust the brightness of your iPhone, there are two simple ways to go about it. First, flick the Control Center tab upward from the bottom of your screen. There you'll find a brightness adjuster that looks like a vertical bar with a sun icon on it. Simply slide the adjuster up or down to increase or decrease your display's brightness level.

Alternatively, you can adjust your iPhone’s brightness in Settings > Display & Brightness (it’s called Brightness & Wallpaper in iOS 7). You can also turn on Auto-Brightness to automatically adjust the brightness of your phone by going to Settings > General > Accessibility > Display Accommodations. When you turn this setting on, you’ll save energy because your screen will need to use less power in dark places.

Switch off Wi-Fi

As much as you love using the Wi-Fi on your phone, it is a proven battery life killer. The funny thing is, the degree it drains battery life varies by location. For instance, if you’re at home (where iPhone battery life is less of a problem to begin with), Wi-Fi will use less battery. But when you’re out and about, your phone is often searching for a Wi-Fi signal to connect to, and this drains battery. So if you can hold off on your mobile browsing and email till you get home, your phone will stay powered on quite a bit longer.

Switch off cellular data

Like Wi-Fi, cellular data can also eat up battery quickly – especially if you’re in an area where there’s no cellular coverage. When this happens, your phone begins to search non-stop for a signal, which is a huge battery drainer. So if you’re short on juice and don’t need to browse the internet, turn off your cellular data function. Doing this can easily provide an extra hour or two of additional battery life.

Activate Airplane mode

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and this is exactly when you need Airplane mode. If you’re down to 20ish percent battery life and need your phone to last for a few hours longer, Airplane mode may just be your savior. By switching it on, your phone will shut down all wireless activity, including cellular, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Doing this is obviously not ideal, but if you have little battery life and want your phone available in case of emergencies, this is your best option (next to switching it off). Once in Airplane mode, you can individually turn on certain wireless functions, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, while staying in Airplane mode.

To switch on Airplane mode, you can do so from the Control Center screen or by going to Settings and then clicking on Airplane mode.

Any other options?

If you must have your cake and eat it too, there’s an alternative choice that provides an extra battery bump with the ability to use Wi-Fi, keep your screen bright, and use your iPhone without adjusting any settings. The answer is to buy a power supply, also known as a power bank, which you’ve likely seen for sale at your local Best Buy or on Amazon. These delightful portable chargers are continually shrinking in size, with some even as small as lipstick, so it’s no longer a hassle to carry them around. You can simply slide it into your pocket and plug it in when needed.

If you’re looking for more ways to get the most out of your iPhone or are looking to service your Apple technology, feel free to shoot us a message. We’re happy to help in any way possible.

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The iPhone X may have the upper hand on paper, but picking it over the iPhone 8 Plus could mean paying for more features you’ll never use. This is why it’s important to know your priorities before buying a new phone. Which iPhone better suits your needs?

Price

Being the higher end model, the iPhone X is more expensive than the iPhone 8 Plus, with a price difference of at least $200. But that doesn’t mean the iPhone X is the all around better option. Most of the price difference can be attributed to the edge-to-edge display and overall design. Typically, iPhone users require several accessories for their phone, so you may end up needing that extra $200 later.

Design

While the iPhone 8 Plus has a smaller screen and thicker bezels, it’s actually bigger than the iPhone X. Although most people prefer the X's screen, the notch at the top can cause problems when displaying certain apps and videos. Put the two units side by side and you’ll see that the 8 Plus is wider and if you compare their weight you’ll notice the 8 Plus is also heavier.

The iPhone 8 Plus features a physical button that you can tap once for the home screen and twice for a list of recent apps. The iPhone X has no such button and relies on screen gestures for navigation. It also has a “Super Retina HD Display,” which means its screens have higher resolutions and pixel densities. If you think any of these factors will affect your experience dramatically, you know what to choose.

Camera

Both models have two rear cameras and are loaded with lighting tools. However, the iPhone X has a faster aperture and optical image stabilization capabilities on both lenses -- which translate to sharper, more detailed photos and videos. The X model also has a depth-sensing front-facing camera that can capture portraits and high-resolution selfies.
If you aren’t too fond of taking photos and videos, you should be perfectly fine with the iPhone 8 Plus as there isn’t much difference between the two in terms of image quality.

The iPhone X also ekes out small wins in a number of other issues, such as the inclusion of Face ID and a slightly better battery. If there is anything else you want to know about the latest Apple products, contact our team today.

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Choosing a mobile phone for your business is not as easy as it sounds. You no longer rely on it to make and receive calls with clients but also to access valuable apps for remote working. To help you decide between android and iPhone, our specialists gathered the primary aspects to consider.

Price Range

Apple is a luxury brand, and the only way budget-conscious businesses can afford an iPhone is if they consider secondhand market or rely on older models. But of course, you would rather get a new phone that hasn't been through previous repairs, carrying recurring problems, and one that isn’t outdated for app compatibility. Android is widely available for small-business rates and obviously triumphs in this category.

Winner: Android phone

Security

Surely, there is a reason why iPhones cost so much. Apple products in general are known for their exquisite form and finish, which definitely adds to the cost, but don’t forget that Apple also places much emphasis on security.

For instance, Apple is more strict about the apps it allows into the App Store when compared with Android. Nevertheless, both are still susceptible to malware, so try to be more cautious when downloading dodgy apps or programs.

Winner: iPhone

Customizability

Android has always been superior when it comes to personalization. You can easily change the theme of the phone, modify home screen layout, add shortcuts and widgets, and even alter the user interface using launchers.

With an iPhone, you may have the freedom to set backgrounds but there’s still restricted support for widgets. And as mentioned before, Android is more lax in allowing third-party installations for your default options. So if you think your company would benefit more from a personalized look, Android is the platform for you.

Winner: Android phone

Voice Assistants

Siri may have wowed the public when it was first introduced, but Google Assistant has stayed true to its name as it progressed. The former remained basic by simply answering questions while the latter introduced several features, including seamless integration with other apps to make your life more convenient.

For instance, if you have a meeting set in Google Calendar and Google Maps received a notification about the growing traffic in the area, Google Assistant will calculate the time it takes for you to get there and alert you beforehand.

Fortunately for iPhone users, this virtual helper is also available on the App Store. Guess we can conclude that it’s a win-win for both mobile OS, then.

Winner: Android and iPhone!

Ultimately, the perfect phone for your business depends on your particular requirements. Both Android and iPhone devices have their own set of benefits and drawbacks, which is why it all boils down to which of the aspects listed above would help boost your business.

But if you’re still confused between these two choices, just give one of our licensed technicians a call! We’ll conduct a free assessment of your IT framework to provide unbiased suggestions.

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