You dropped your phone and cracked the screen, but you still intend to use it because you believe it is functional. You should reconsider. In addition to being unsightly, if you keep using the phone, you risk further internal harm to it and danger to yourself. Therefore, the answer is no. Continuing to use it is neither okay nor secure. Let’s examine some risks associated with using a cracked phone to understand better how a damaged screen can harm both your phone and you.

Cracks Spread 

Will a cracked screen get worse after I break my phone’s screen? It is probably the question you’re wondering. Unfortunately, we must inform you that things will get worse. Even if there is only a tiny crack in the corner of your screen, you should be aware that cracks often grow larger, and before you know it, your entire screen may resemble a web of spiders. 

Additionally, a phone with a cracked screen has a much higher chance of breaking when dropped accidentally than a phone without damage. Even a tiny crack could result in a broken screen or other devices, rendering your phone useless, even though it might not initially seem like a big deal.

Touchscreen Malfunction 

Even if your touchscreen continues to function as it has in the past, this will soon change. The touchscreen’s functionality will deteriorate first. When the display eventually malfunctions, your phone will take longer to respond to touch. Accessing apps or sending emails and messages will be challenging as a result. In the worst case, your phone will completely stop responding to touches! Additionally, you might encounter the annoying phenomenon known as “ghost touch”: due to the damage caused by the cracked screen, your phone might start functioning independently without you touching the screen.

Eyestrain

You can forget about the fantastic viewing experience smartphones typically offer because a cracked screen makes it more challenging to see what’s on your phone. Instead, you must strain your eyes while reading texts or emails, watching videos, or playing video games to get around the cracks. A cracked screen can be dangerously distracting when using a GPS app while driving and bad for your eyesight. You might lose focus while trying to read instructions on a cracked screen and put yourself and others in danger. 

Your Phone’sPhone’s Inner Parts are Visible 

All of your phone’s internal components are shielded by the screen. When your phone’s screen is cracked, tiny particles can easily enter the cracks and cause harm to the delicate and vital internal components. Dust, dirt, moisture, and water can all find their way inside your phone and eventually do a lot of harm. Additionally, if your phone is water-resistant, you should be aware that this feature is no longer available when your screen has cracks. Even wiping your cracked screen with a damp cloth is dangerous because even a few water droplets inside your phone can cause damage.

Broken Glass Can Hurt You 

Remember that your phone’s screen is made of glass or acrylic when it is cracked. When you swipe on a cracked screen, especially one with severe cracks, you risk cutting your fingers on the sharp edges of broken glass. Additionally, while your phone is in your pocket or purse, sharp glass fragments that could fall off the screen could cut your fingers. Moreover, tiny glass fragments could break off and lodge in your fingers. Also, if you rub your eyes while using a broken phone, glass shards could get into your eyes, which is something you don’t want to happen.

Fixing a Broken Phone Screen

You may have realized (or determined) by this point that you don’t require a new phone. But if the screen of your mobile phone cracked, how would you replace it?

Thanks to the internet, you can find a DIY fix for anything online. Another excellent source for repair tutorials is YouTube. Online retailers like eBay and AliExpress offer replacement screens. A DIY fix has the advantages of lowering repair costs and giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Does Phone Insurance Cover a Cracked Phone Screen?

The first step is to determine whether your phone insurance covers cracked phone screens and, if so, under what conditions.

If this is the case, arranging a repair should be simple. If your phone screen is broken, living without it for a few days is the main issue. 

The issues with cracked smartphone screens begin when you discover that you cannot obtain a replacement screen through your insurance. When this occurs, you must take control of the situation. 

Before buying a used phone, ensure the phone’s insurance includes coverage for a cracked phone screen. 

Put a Screen Protector on a Cracked Screen

Do you want to know if you can put a screen protector on a cracked screen? You certainly can, but only in certain circumstances.

A screen protector is unnecessary for displays with chips and shards of glass that are loose or missing. It will only be able to adhere properly if the glass is moving. As a result, you squandered money on a screen protector.

However, a screen protector over a cracked screen may help keep the glass from cracking further. It could help to prevent further spidering.

Final Thoughts 

To conclude, having a cracked phone screen is not enjoyable, and now you understand that it is never a good idea to ignore a cracked screen because doing so increases the likelihood that your phone will sustain additional damage, which could result in even more costly repairs and hurting you. Ensure your phone is protected before you break, drop, or inadvertently damage it to avoid such an unpleasant situation. Also, before buying a used phone, examine its screen to ensure it is not cracked or damaged. 

Waterproofing was once reserved for beefy, rubber-sealed rugged phones designed for construction workers or downhill mountain bikers. Still, it’s now built – to varying degrees – into most mainstream phones, including the iPhone 13 Pro, Galaxy S22 Ultra, and the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Anyone who has spilled a pint of beer on a new phone understands the importance of water resistance: it can mean the difference between a quick wipe with a napkin and an expensive trip to the Apple store.

However, not all phones can withstand dunking; some should be kept entirely from water. If you’ve recently purchased a phone, you’ve probably come across terms like “water-resistant” and the now-common IP67, IP68, or IPX8 ratings. But what exactly do those ratings mean, and, more importantly, how waterproof is your expensive new phone?

Let’s decipher the message and find out.

What Exactly Do IPX8, IPX6, and IP67 Mean?

The International Electrotechnical Commission has established a standard known as IP, or ingress protection ratings (also known as international protection ratings). The organization claims that the codes serve as a “system for classifying the degrees of protection provided by the enclosures of electrical equipment.”

The first number in the rating code indicates the level of protection against the entry of solid foreign objects, such as dust or fingers. These protection levels range from 0 to 6, with six being the highest. With protection levels ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 8, the second number represents the degree of protection against the entry of moisture or liquid.

An IP rating will occasionally appear with an X in place of a number, for example, IPX8. In this case, an X is substituted for the rating number because the company still needs to provide information about the testing. So even though an IPX8-rated device can withstand being submerged in water, it hasn’t received any official dust protection ratings.

The iPhone 13 Pro has an IP68 rating, which means it is resistant to dust and can be submerged in water. The IP68 rating also applies to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. So, they’re both water-resistant, correct? No, it does not. That’s where things get complicated.

The IEC mandates that a device withstand being submerged in water for 30 minutes at a depth of at least 1 meter to receive an IP rating of 8. The maker is in charge after that. While Apple claims the iPhone 13 Pro is secure in up to 6 meters of water for up to 30 minutes, the S22 Ultra can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in up to 1.5 meters of water. It is crucial to read the fine print and understand what your phone offers, even though any phone with an IPX8 rating had to meet that 1 meter for 30 minutes minimum requirement.

Can I Swim while Using my iPhone?

Although the iPhone 13 Pro’s 6 meters of claimed water resistance might make it seem like you can tuck one into your swimsuit and hit the pool, you’d be better off keeping it out of the water. The IP rating is tested under controlled circumstances in still water. Moving your phone in the water will increase the water pressure, increasing the chance that water will get inside and cause permanent damage.

Since most swimming pools contain additional chemicals like chlorine, the IP tests are also conducted in freshwater, which may affect your phone’s resistance. Additionally, it would help if you never put your phone in the water: Aside from other problems, salt water could corrode the metal components in your charging port.

It’s best practice to treat the feature as a backup in emergencies, even if your phone has the highest IP68 resistance rating. Don’t try to use the camera on your phone to take pictures of starfish or anything else while snorkeling because it is not designed to do so. It would help if you didn’t attempt to record TikTok videos of yourself diving into the deep end from the high dive. It is available in case of mishaps like a spilled drink or emergencies like making a phone call in the pouring rain.

There isn’t an IP Rating for my Phone. Is It Waterproof?

A company must rigorously test its product to ensure it satisfies the requirements before claiming it has an IP rating. Some businesses don’t want to spend money on these tests because they can be time-consuming and expensive, especially regarding budget-focused models.

Without an official IP rating, some phones—including Motorola’s Moto G50—use terms like “water-repellent” or “water-resistant.” These handsets may use rubberized seals or water-repellent nano-coating to keep moisture at bay. Although these phones might survive an accidental splash, it’s best to avoid submerging them completely. However, it would help if you didn’t have to stress too much about answering calls while it’s raining.

It is best to assume that your phone is not water resistant if it does not mention it, and you should use the most significant amount of caution when near liquids.

Final Thoughts 

To conclude, although iPhones like 13 Pro have an IP68 rating which claims that it is water resistant, it is not recommended to take your iPhone to a swimming pool but rather use it as a backup in emergencies. If you are planning to buy a used phone, ensure that it has an IP rating and is water resistant.

To interact with our smartphones, play games, and text our loved ones, we use touchscreen displays, which are present in every smartphone today. The first touchscreen smartphone was not the first Apple iPhone, as is commonly believed. Before the release of the iPhone, other phones that advanced the technology had touchscreen displays that date back to 1994. With the success of the iPhone, Apple did indeed popularize touchscreen use, but many other phones had touchscreens before the iPhone. We selected the three most innovative touchscreen-equipped smartphones that debuted before the iPhone and helped create the foundation for contemporary smartphones.

1. IBM Simon 

This gadget, widely regarded as the first smartphone ever, debuted in August 1994. It was commonly known as a PDA and was the first phone to use an LCD. In addition, Simon could send and receive faxes, cellular pages, and emails. Even its charging dock was included. The IBM Simon, however, did not fare well after slimmer flip phones became available.

2. Nokia 7710 

Launched sometime in 2004, this was the first Nokia smartphone to feature a TFT touchscreen. Even physical buttons for simple actions like accepting and declining calls were on the screen, which had a 2:1 aspect ratio. Even a directional pad and other buttons to access various menus were included. The touchscreen could also be used for the same purposes, but due to the phone’s quirky design, using it with one hand was challenging. The phone had a 128 MB Multimedia Card and 90 MB of internal memory. It was a prototype for the release of Google Maps on the iPhone in Italy and was sold alongside a satellite receiver and used for mobile satellite navigation.

3. LG Prada 

The capacitive touchscreen used in this phone, which Apple also used in the iPhone, was the first for mobile devices worldwide. Although it doesn’t operate like smartphones today, LG was already a step ahead of the competition before the iPhone was introduced. The phone went on sale a month before the iPhone. When it first began to appear in stores around the world, the latter device, however, stole the show. Although the LG Prada was marketed as a high-end smartphone, its construction was far inferior to that of the iPhone, which is made of metal and glass.

Some LG Prada Specs 

One of the surprising LG Prada aspects was that it supported Bluetooth, considering that Bluetooth has been a feature of commercially available products since 2001. It has Bluetooth 2.0, the most recent and significant at the time.

The LG Prada had some unique specs and features for a phone from 2006, including a microSD card slot, which was brand-new at the time. Additionally, the LG KE850 has a microSD card slot. Even though the technology was widely available in mobile phones in 2006, the microSD card format had only been authorized the year before. Up to 2GB microSD cards could be used with the LG Prada.

Last, the LG Prada’s camera outperforms the one that would eventually be found on the first iPhone. In addition to having the exact resolution (2MP at 1,6001,200), it also had a flash and the ability to record video, which the iPhone lacked.

The LG Prada’s lack of Wi-Fi capabilities is the most apparent oversight. This is mainly inexcusable given that the first Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones were released in 2004. Wi-Fi was still uncommon on most phones in 2006, but for a cutting-edge device like the Prada, it would have been reasonable to expect top-tier connectivity.

Another significant issue is Prada’s lack of internal storage. That’s not a typo: the Prada has only 8MB of internal storage. You can add up to 2GB more with a microSD card, but even the most basic iPhone has 4GB of storage.

Finally, while the battery is removable, its capacity of 800mAh is relatively low. At 1,400mAh, the iPhone had nearly twice the capacity. Although battery capacity isn’t everything, user reports from LG Prada owners indicate that the battery was subpar.

While the LG Prada’s specifications were somewhat disappointing, it left much to be desired. Once again, we must give it to the iPhone to deliver the most critical specifications. 

LG Prada Camera 

The LG Prada’s camera would have been top-of-the-line in 2006. With the Prada branding on the LG KE850, it should be no surprise that the phone’s camera is excellent (once again, for 2006). The rear camera module records stills, the video has a flash, and the software gives you great control over your shots.

There’s no selfie camera here, but LG has included a small mirror to the left of the camera lens. You can use this to see your face and determine whether or not you will be in the frame if you try to take a selfie. It’s a low-tech solution, but it does more than the iPhone.

You can do simple things like set a shutter timer, turn on or off the flash, and change the image resolution (320 x 240 at the low end, 1,600 x 1,200 at the high).

You can do more advanced things, such as choose the type of lighting, similar to a poor man’s white balance. You can focus manually rather than using autofocus, and you can even apply filters. You can even change the camera’s sound when you press the shutter button. 

Although video recording options are limited, you can still control key parameters such as resolution (which is limited to 400 x 240), digital zoom, and whether or not the flash remains on during recording. 

The LG Prada’s poor software ultimately prevented it from becoming a legendary device.

Final Thoughts 

Without a doubt, the iPhone fundamentally altered the smartphone market. However, it’s crucial to remember that the iPhone wasn’t the first touchscreen smartphone. Instead, that distinction belongs to the three phones mentioned in this article, especially LG Prada. 

If you want to update your device with a brand-new iPhone but your budget doesn’t allow you, a used phone is an excellent option to have a new iPhone and save money. 

One of the most thriving and prolific sectors of the video game market is the mobile gaming sector. More and more people can now play games on various smartphones thanks to accessible gaming.

Since users play video games primarily on PCs, they are accustomed to a high-end PC’s flawless buttery-smooth visuals. Some users have never played games on their phones because they find them clumsy compared to the quick access of a keyboard and the agility of a gaming mouse.

But the iPhone 13 Pro changes everything.

Visuals 

Users have not seen these buttery smooth and clear visuals on a mobile device before. Although they have previously used Sony Xperia smartphones and Samsung Galaxy tablets to play video games, they have never been able to succumb to the allure of mobile gaming.

The iPhone 13 Pro can deliver stunning gameplay at 120 frames per second on the ProMotion display thanks to the A15 Bionic’s 5-core GPU. Even though the iPhone 13 Pro is promoted as a professional mobile device with stunning photography and videography capabilities, it holds its own exceptionally well in gaming.

For a lively and fluid experience, the 6.1″ OLED screen displays vibrant colors and lightning-fast refresh rates. Given that this is a flagship model, it is expected to perform well in its weight class. That’s not to say Apple has been slacking on delivering brilliant performance with the iPhone 13 Pro, but it does so inconspicuously well.

Controls/Screen 

The new iPhone 13 series, including the Pros, has a smaller screen notch, though it has little effect. There is no guarantee that the smaller notch will appease those irritated by the larger one. What good is a gaming experience if your inputs aren’t smoothly translated into game actions?

The iPhone 13 Pro consistently captures input without missing a single tap. Players can choose from various screen protectors, which may alter the touchscreen’s characteristics.

While the smaller bezels look nice and provide more screen real estate, your palms may accidentally activate presses at the screen’s edge.

Apple Arcade 

If the standard App Store selections don’t interest you, Apple has a subscription-based service that gives you access to over 200 games, with more added all the time. From puzzle games to action-adventure games, the Apple Arcade has a game for everyone and can satisfy the needs of any mobile gamer. Some standout games are Crossy Roads+, The Oregon Trail, LEGO Star Wars Battle, and SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit.

Additionally, you can play games on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV with just one subscription.

Battery Life 

With claims that the 13 Pro’s battery life can last up to 20 hours while streaming videos, Apple emphasized that it is one of their most enduring batteries ever made. However, if you plan to buy a used iPhone, check out the battery’s health before clicking the “buy.” 

After using the phone for a month, you can confidently say that it has never failed you during even the most demanding tasks, like all-day videography and photography or intense gaming sessions.

The phone charges up to 50% in 30 minutes with Apple’s 18W USB-C charger, which is available separately. Nevertheless, conventional charging is also supported.

Accessories 

You can pair a DualShock 4 controller and an Xbox Series X controller separately to the phone for a better gaming experience, making your Genshin impact grind easier on the hands. However, keep in mind that not all iPhone games accept controller inputs.

To put the iPhone 13 Pro through various tests, you must connect it to a set of third-generation AirPods. As anticipated, the pairing process goes very smoothly, and after linking the two earbuds, you can go on to Spotify.

The audio quality from the tiny earbuds is crisp, delivering clear highs and punchy bass as you listen to your favorite playlist, which is a mix of Destiny 2 soundtracks, pop, electronic, and rock. It is a powerful piece of equipment that is adaptable enough to carry various musical genres without sounding flat or monotonous.

Playing video games for extended periods is neither intrusive nor uncomfortable, though it might be nice to take the earbuds out occasionally. It is possible to wear the Airpods while you sleep, but it is not advised since you risk losing an earbud unless you are a complete log.

Although it is initially incredibly surreal, the new Spatial Audio feature is excellent. After some time, it will feel normal, but initially, it is undoubtedly strange. Its obvious seamless controls and perfect in-ear detection set it apart from other true wireless earbuds.

This could be an example of the alleged Apple magic. If you want to have that Apple magic but your budget is small, you can buy a used phone and have these excellent accessories. 

Final Thoughts 

One of the simplest recommendations to anyone looking for a one-stop shop for everything from smooth operation to power-hungry handling applications is the iPhone 13 Pro.

The performance will be the same as the iPhone 13, and you’ll gain access to a long-lasting battery. Additionally, while the 120Hz variable refresh rate screen is lovely, it shouldn’t be used as a performance differentiator between the iPhone 13 Pro and the standard iPhone 13.

The iPhone 13 Pro’s slightly improved cameras and additional zoom lens are a nice bonus. The iPhone 13 Pro is the most cost-effective choice if you take many photos and play games most of the time, or your battery life is a deciding factor. If you are a gamer but your budget doesn’t allow you to buy a brand-new iPhone 13 Pro, buying a used iPhone can be an excellent option to save money and have the best game device.