Smartphones: More Reasons Than Ever to Make Them Last

A broken screen, a battery losing autonomy, a sluggish phone: many reasons to replace your smartphone. However, 40% of these issues could be avoided with some simple habits: suitable protections, digital hygiene...

❗️According to Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition, the repair bonus will apply to broken screens starting from January 1, 2024.

In our increasingly connected world, our smartphones have become indispensable companions in our daily lives. However, did you know that most phone repairs primarily involve the screen, as revealed by ADEME (Agency for Ecological Transition)? To avoid these costly inconveniences and contribute to the sustainability of our devices, it is essential to take some simple precautions.

Protect Your Smartphone

70%

of repairs primarily involve the screen

Source: ADEME

To prevent damage, use a protective case, cover, and a film or glass protector to limit the risk of breakage. Also, avoid leaving your phone in places where it could fall (such as the edge of a table), and make sure to keep it out of reach of children.
Keep in mind that heat can damage your phone. Avoid exposing it to the sun or heat sources like a radiator.
After extended use (for example during a car trip), give your battery and processor time to cool down. This will contribute to preserving their long-term performance.

Preserve Your Battery

Your smartphone's battery is essential for its proper functioning, but it can wear out quickly if you don't take some precautions.

According to Apple, a normal battery retains about 80% of its original capacity after approximately 500 full charge cycles under normal usage conditions. If you recharge your battery every day, it could lose this capacity after only 1 year and 4 months. Here's how to preserve your battery:

Avoid leaving your phone plugged in all night. Disconnect the charger when the battery is full. Note that some chargers automatically cut off power once the battery is charged to 100%.
Maintain a charge level between 40% and 80%. Lithium batteries tolerate short and regular cycles better. So, avoid letting the battery completely discharge before recharging.
Limit your phone's power consumption:

Lower the screen brightness.
Prefer Wi-Fi over 4G or 5G.
Activate dark mode and choose a black wallpaper if your smartphone has an OLED screen (dark pixels consume less energy).
Use power-saving mode or "airplane" mode when not using certain features like Wi-Fi, 4G, or Bluetooth.

Disable unnecessary notifications that may prompt you to check your phone more frequently. Also, disable apps that update and locate in the background, as they can unnecessarily drain the battery.

This will help extend the battery life of your smartphone and reduce the frequency at which you'll need to replace it.

Use your phone (a little) less

To preserve your smartphone's battery, it's also essential to reduce its usage. You can break the cycle that leads you to spend too much time on your phone. Here are some simple tips:

Disable notifications and put your phone in airplane mode to avoid constant interruptions from pop-ups.
Switch your phone to black and white mode. This option is usually available in the "accessibility" menu of your phone. An effective way to make your phone less visually appealing.
Intentionally leave your phone behind or in another room to resist the constant temptation to check it.
Relegate social media apps (that encourage endless scrolling) to a secondary page on the home screen to be less tempted to use them.
Use non-digital alternatives for some tasks, such as checking the time with a watch, using a physical calculator, or having a paper agenda.

By implementing these tips, you can reduce the time you spend on your phone, which will not only save you time but also help save battery life and extend the life of your smartphone.

Clean and declutter your smartphone

If you want to avoid slowdowns on your smartphone, it's wise to keep it clean and efficient. Some applications (such as CCleaner) can help, but they are often bulky, filled with ads, and require potentially risky access permissions.

In practice, you can easily perform regular maintenance yourself by identifying apps that store unnecessary or cached data:

Identify storage-hungry apps:

On Android, go to "Settings," then "Apps."
On iOS, navigate to "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage."

Delete unnecessary data:

On Android, you can "clear the cache" of apps that take up too much space.
On iOS, you can "offload apps" that you no longer use.

Sometimes, your phone may no longer support updates provided by the manufacturer. This may be due to a lack of space, as these updates are often large, or because the new version is not compatible with an older model—an aspect of what is known as planned obsolescence. This design strategy is aimed at intentionally reducing the lifespan of a product, encouraging consumers to replace it more frequently.

Repair... when possible

14%

of French people only attempt to repair their phones.

Source: ADEME

However, depending on the repairability index of your device, repair may be a viable option.

If you feel comfortable, you can try to repair your phone yourself, especially at repair workshops. Initiatives such as Repair Cafés or Fablabs organize these workshops and will guide you through the process.

If you prefer to seek professional help, the after-sales service of your phone's brand can direct you to an authorized independent repairer who will provide you with a repair quote. This can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option.

Benefit from the Repair Bonus

This financial aid can represent up to 25% of the repair bill (up to a maximum of €25 for a smartphone) for "non-functional damage repairs." This amount, deducted directly from the bill, is funded by eco-organizations approved by the State, provided you use a repairer from the QualiRépar network.

Unfortunately, for now, this excludes screens broken by impact or battery replacement. However, Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition, announced that from January 1, 2024, this bonus should allow for the repair of broken screens.

Get a €25 discount on your out-of-warranty repair bill by using a QualiRepar repairer. Please note, certain repairs are not eligible for the Repair Bonus. These include repairs for non-functional damage (e.g. cracked back, resulting from misuse such as a screen broken by an external impact, oxidation due to prolonged exposure to moisture) or the replacement of a removable battery or charger... — Source: ecosystem.eco - repair bonus

By adopting these habits and simple tips, you can not only save money by avoiding costly repairs but also contribute to reducing the environmental impact of technology.

By preserving your phone and keeping it in good working condition, you extend its lifespan and reduce the amount of electronic waste.

Moreover, by considering repair as a viable option and benefiting from the Repair Bonus, you adopt a more sustainable and responsible approach.