CategoriesBlog, General by

Should You Buy Refurbished or New?

Refurbished smartphones are a great option when you're looking to upgrade

The refurbished phone market has seen a lot of growth in recent years. More and more people are considering purchasing refurbished phones when shopping for a new device. If you’re someone on the fence between buying new or preowned, this article will help you make the best choice for you.

Price

When it comes to price, refurbished phones are usually way cheaper than their brand new counterparts. It’s the best way to get the latest and greatest phones without burning a hole in your pocket. For example, a brand new iPhone 13 Pro Max costs around $1099 now, but here at SmartphonesPLUS, the iPhone 13 Pro Max sells for anywhere between $200-$300 less. That’s a huge difference in price.

If price plays a large factor in swaying your decision on whether to buy refurbished or new, buying your smartphone from a resale store will always be the less expensive option.

Quality

Do you know the popular saying “If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is”? That’s probably what comes to most people’s minds when they see the price difference between new and refurbished phones. So, does the quality of a refurbished phone really compare to buying brand new?

Quality concerns are definitely warranted due to lots of shady and dishonest phone dealers. But that’s not the case with SmartphonesPLUS, and our reputation and reviews back that up. Every refurbished device in SmartphonesPLUS’s possession is rigorously tested to ensure everything from the vibration motor to the battery is in standard working order before being sold. So, with SmartphonesPLUS, you are guaranteed quality at a very affordable price. You can learn more about our certified refurbishing process and the devices available for purchase in our FAQ section.

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the areas where refurbished phones usually fall behind when compared with new phones. This is because most refurbished phone vendors can only promise a minimum guaranteed 80% battery capacity on refurbished phones. When, of course, new phones always come with 100% battery capacity because they’ve never been used before. When it comes to battery life, new phones beat out refurbished ones most of the time.

Warranty Period

Another area where most new phones beat out refurbished phones is the warranty period. New phones usually have warranty periods of a year or more, while the warranty period most refurbished device dealers offer is usually somewhere around 1-6 months. To try and combat this, SmartphonesPLUS has recently partnered with Upsie Warranties to bring our users an affordable and encompassing warranty option with no deductible for screen repairs. 

So if warranty is something you prioritize, then you’ll be better off with a brand-new phone.

Phone Box

Every brand-new smartphone ships in a box with some accessories inside. However, in-box accessories have become minimal in recent years. On the other hand, most refurbished phone vendors ship their devices with just protective wrapping and a sealed box. No phone box or accessories whatsoever. This is to help keep the cost of the refurbished device low. 

However, this is an opportunity for SmartphonesPLUS to stand out from other smartphone resale companies. When you purchase a used phone or device from SmartphonesPLUS, we always include a generic white box and a charging cable with your purchase.

Build/Cosmetics

Brand-new phones are always flawless in appearance; clean and free of scratches and other imperfections. Refurbished phones, on the other hand, are usually categorized into condition categories depending on how they look.

Most refurbished phone sellers use terms like “Grade A”, “pristine”, “excellent”, “good”, and so on. The higher the grade given to a used device, the better it looks. For example, refurbished phones categorized as excellent or grade A usually look as good as brand-new phones.

Shop SmartphonesPLUS for smartphones for your business

Here at SmartphonesPLUS, we have three device conditions when purchasing:

  1. Excellent – Contains almost no scuffs, scratches, or marks. Is in full working condition, with a battery life of at least 86%.
  2. Good – Shows slight signs of wear. May contain a few light scratches or marks. Is in full working condition.
  3. Fair – Contains moderate signs of wear, scratches, marks, or dents. Is in full working condition. Even with a device in “Fair” condition, there should be no cracks in the screen or pixel damage.

Allow us to reassure you that when shopping with SmartphonesPLUS, you will always get a 100% working device regardless of the cosmetic condition grade.

Value for money

Buying a brand new iPhone 13 Pro Max at $1099 is already good value for money, considering everything the iPhone 13 Pro Max packs. So, when you buy a refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max, good turns to superb value for money.

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How to Sell Your Used Smartwatch

Sell your used smartwatch to SmartphonesPLUS!

Need some quick cash? Or do you just have an old smartwatch laying around that you no longer have any need for? Well, whatever your reason is, SmartphonesPLUS is here to help you. In this article, we’ll show you the best way to sell your smartwatch. Not only that, we’ll tell you important things to do before you start the selling process.

First, You’ll Want to Confirm Your Device

The first thing you need to do before the actual selling process begins is confirm which Galaxy or Apple Watch you’re about to sell. Doing this will help both you as the seller, and the buyer of the Apple or Galaxy Watch avoid unnecessary confusion. For this, you don’t just need to know the name of the smartwatch you’re selling; you also need to know the model number. Here’s how to check:

  • Samsung Galaxy Watch (Wear OS):  Swipe up on the home screen. Go to the Settings menu> Scroll to “About This Watch.” Here, you should see the name and model number of your watch.
  • Apple Watch: To locate your Apple Watch’s name and model number, follow this simple guide from Apple. Just click here. 

Preparing to Sell Your Smartwatch

Now that you know exactly what smartwatch you have, it’s time to prep your device for sale. You’ll need to…

  • If you have an Apple or Samsung smartwatch that uses cellular data, deactivate carrier service and pay off any remaining balance on your account.
  • Back up any necessary files externally, then factory reset your device.
  • Remember to remove any SD or SIM cards from your device.
  • Clean your device and make it look as good as possible. The better your device looks, the more you can sell it for.

With SmartphonesPLUS, you can sell your used smartwatch quickly and easily.

The Selling Process

Now that you’ve reset your Apple or Samsung Galaxy smartwatch and have gotten it looking it’s best, it’s ready to be sold. There are two easy ways you can sell your Apple or Samsung smartwatch: Find an online store that buys them for refurbishing and resale, or sell on an online marketplace.

Finding an online store that buys

This is the easiest and fastest way to sell your used smartwatch. Search for a store that’ll give you the best price for your device, pay fast, and make the whole process as smooth and easy as possible for you. You can learn more about SmartphonesPLUS’ buying process in the link attached.

If you live in the United States, the best place to sell your Samsung Galaxy or Apple Watch is SmartphonesPLUS. We also recommend UpTrade as a legitimate source for selling your gently used device online. These stores put the customer first, so you can be sure of a good sales experience.

Once you find a store that seems promising,  your next move is to check its credibility and trustworthiness. You can do this by taking a look at their reviews online. If after reading the store review you find nothing alarming, then go ahead and make contact. If you do find some red flags and an overwhelming number of bad reviews, it’s best to just move on.

Request a Quote

A quote is simply a price tag for your device. That is how much the store is willing to pay to take your device off your hands. To do this, head over to their website and navigate your way to where you’ll be asked for your smartwatch details (like name, model, condition, etc.). Make sure you fill in the details of your device truthfully, so you won’t have issues with the store later on. Next, you should receive a quote (some online stores only give a price range).

If you’re okay with the store’s quote, click on “Sell” or whatever prompt to proceed comes up. Then follow the steps given to you by the store to get your device shipped to them for physical inspection.

Finding an Online Marketplace

Doing this shouldn’t be all that difficult, as you probably already know some online marketplaces for your Apple or Samsung Galaxy smartwatch, such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or eBay.

Search Google (or whatever search engine you use) for “online marketplace near me.” Once you find a few places you’re interested in, do some research about their selling process and take the necessary steps to create your sellers account and post your listing. Be weary of scammers, and do your research on what to look for to ensure your buyer is legitimate and the sale is safe. This method is usually slower than selling your device to a store, and you’ll have to do your due diligence to watch for scammers, but you do have the potential to get more money for your device using this method.

 

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Reasons to Buy the New S23 Ultra

The New S23 Ultra from Samsung

Samsung Galaxy recently released it’s new S23 Ultra and it has impressed both reviewers and consumers. With its staggering specs and features, it’s clear why it’s selling well. However, like with any big purchase, it’s important to consider all aspects before making a decision. In this article, we’ll explore the top five reasons why you should consider buying the new S23 Ultra. By the end, you should have a better understanding of whether the S23 Ultra is the right phone for you.

200MP Camera

With the S23 Ultra, Samsung introduced a new sensor to its Ultra phone for the first time in three years. Yes, the long-awaited 200MP main camera sensor is finally here, and it delivers on the hype. With this new sensor, you can take super high-resolution photos that retain an incredible amount of detail. Unlike when the 108 MP was first introduced with the S20 series, this new sensor has no apparent issues.

Performance Jump

One of the most compelling reasons to get the all-new S23 Ultra is the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Samsung processor. This new processor goes above the incremental performance increase we’re used to seeing. The 8 Gen 2 for Samsung Galaxy is leaps and bounds above the 8 Gen 1 and Exynos 2200 found in last year’s S flagship.

This new processor is over 40% more efficient, has nearly 50% faster GPU speed, and has around a 10% CPU increase. And the difference is very noticeable; in fact, it’s impossible not to notice. So if you’re a power user and you’re looking for an Android phone that can take all you throw at it, be it intense graphic games, Photoshop rendering, etc., then the S23 Ultra is for you

Snapdragon Everywhere

You get a Snapdragon, I get a Snapdragon, and everybody gets a Snapdragon. Yes, Samsung has finally put an end to its dual-processor flagship strategy. In other words, they’ve given up on their Exynos processor (at least for now). The reason for this is very clear: the Exynos processor has been lagging behind its Snapdragon counterpart for years now. Thereby, customers in regions that got Exynos had a subpar experience when they paid the same price as customers in other regions.

 So, if you live in a region where Samsung S flagship phones have always come with Exynos processors, getting a proper Snapdragon processor is a compelling reason to get the new Samsung phone.

Battery Life

One of the most prominent issues many people had with last year’s S22 Ultra was its underwhelming battery life. The S22’s battery performance fell behind its predecessor even though it had a huge 5000 mAh battery cell. But this year, that does not seem to be the case.  With the S23 Ultra, it’s safe to say that Samsung has taken their time to work on battery life, and the results are phenomenal. The new Ultra now lasts hours longer than its predecessor. and have even come close to matching the iPhone 14 Pro Max (which is currently considered the battery king) in battery life.

The Biggest Annual Upgrade We’ve Seen

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra represents the most significant incremental update to a flagship phone in years. Not just the S23 Ultra but the whole S23 series. Samsung has basically worked on every weakness their previous phones had, like battery life, social media optimization, and videography. For example, the S23s’ videography is greatly improved, and it’s not over stretching to say that the gap between both the iPhone 14 series and the S23 phones is only marginal now. Basically, if you had any issues with the S22, S21, or maybe as far back as the S20 series, Samsung has addressed it. 

 

 

 

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How to Increase Mobile Data Speed

speed test to check internet speed

The world has gone digital and many important things in our lives depend on this digital world. And one key way we access this new world is by using our mobile data. So when our connection doesn’t work well, especially when we are out in the world and need information on the fly, it can be very frustrating. SmartphonesPLUS wants to help, and we’ve compiled these tips on how to increase your mobile data speed to keep your connection running quickly and smoothly. If its actually your wi-fi speed that’s responsible for your lag, we’ve got a whole article dedicated to tips on increasing that as well. 

 1. Increase Mobile Data Speed By Closing Background Apps

Your mobile data may appear to be running slowly, but that may not actually be the case. Sometimes your mobile connection is fast and perfectly adequate, but some resource or data-hungry apps are using your cellular data in the background. As a result, your data connection will be slower when you’re trying to actively use it. To combat this, try closing all apps you aren’t currently using that may be running in the background. You should see a difference in your mobile data speed immediately.

2. Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off

Turning airplane mode on and off can help reset your mobile data connection

You’ve probably heard this one many times, but it’s popular because it works well. As you may know, when you put your phone on airplane mode, it disconnects from every kind of network or radio signal. And when you turn airplane mode off, everything reconnects.

Where the magic happens in this popular trick is when you take your device off of airplane mode. When you do this, your phone automatically connects to the strongest tower near you. Hence, you get a better connection and faster internet speeds.

3. Restart Your Phone

Sometimes, all you need to do to give your mobile data speed a boost is to hold your phone’s power button and hit restart or power off. Especially if you haven’t turned off your device in a while. This might seem like a cliché tip, but it works well.

4. Reset Your Phone’s Network Settings

Your phone’s network settings might be the root cause of all your mobile data speed issues. Who knows, you might have turned on something you weren’t supposed to by mistake, or an important setting might have been changed and that could be what’s affecting your data speed. So resetting your network settings is a good way to return everything to normal. Keep in mind that this solution is a drastic move, as it resets everything related to your network back to default. You’ll have to re-pair your Bluetooth devices, reconnect firmly saved Wi-Fi passwords, and so on.

 Here’s how to reset your network settings:

iPhone

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Android

Settings > System > Advanced > Reset Options > Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile, and Bluetooth.

 

*Note that the exact location of this menu may differ depending on individual phone brands.

5. Check Your Mobile Data Plan

Most data plans have an internet speed cap, even unlimited plans. If you’re on an unlimited data plan, once you hit the data usage threshold, your speed decreases. While on a regular plan, your internet speed is limited. So before complaining about slow mobile data speed, you should check the details of your data plan.

Other Options for Increasing Your Mobile Data Speed

Change Your APN

Your APN (access point name) gives your phone all the details it needs to connect to mobile data. So by changing your APN, you can get a better internet connection.

You can check online for different APN configuration settings. Try them out and see what works for you.

Change Your Location

Your cellular network connection is supplied by signal towers that blast out network signals in all directions. And sometimes those signals might have range issues and the data these signals carry decrease the further they go. So moving closer to the nearest network tower can get you a stronger signal, thereby improving your internet speed. Yes, it isn’t the most convenient thing to do, but if it’s urgent this is probably your best solution.

Switch Your Mobile Carrier

If slow data speeds have become unbearable to you and no tip or trick seems to be working, Then it’s best to just give up on improving your current provider’s speed, if your phone isn’t locked to the network.

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Fast Charging and How it Works

Charge your device on the go with a portable charger

6 years ago, if a smartphone could charge from 0% to 100% in under 2 hours, it was considered a fast charging device. That isn’t the case anymore. Nowadays, we have phones like the Redmi Note 12 that sport a whopping 210W of super fast charge speed. This device can go from 0% to 100% in just 10 minutes. It sounds insane, but it’s true.

When you take a step back from the initial excitement of this advancement, questions like “How can something this fast be good for my battery’s health?” Or if you’re a pessimistic person, you’d probably ask something like, “How long will it take for my phone to explode?”

Well, in this article, we’re going to explore the development of fast charging and find out exactly how safe it is for your smartphone.

fast charging with a lightning cord

How Does Fast Charging Work?

Inside a smartphone’s battery, there is an electrolyte that divides the battery into two usually equal parts called an electrode. One electrode holds the positively charged ions, while the other holds the negatively charged ions. When you plug in your phone to charge, the positive ions flow to the negative electrode (becoming negatively charged), then the opposite happens when draining your battery. Fast charging simply works by pushing the ions from the positive electrode to the negative electrode faster.

Is it Safe?

So, will my phone explode?

Even before the invention of fast charging, smartphone batteries had always had one problem to deal with: heat. Heat is caused when the ions flow from the positive to the negative side. And heat leads to faster degradation of your smartphone’s battery. Fast charging adds to that problem. That is why it is recommended that you leave your phone when it’s charging.

From all we’ve said, you’ve probably deduced that heat is the main roadblock smartphone companies are facing with this new technology. So what have they done to get around this problem?

Charging blocks help make safe charging safer.

Solutions to Make it Safer

Move the Workload to the Brick 

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed how phones with super-fast charging speeds now have bigger bricks. The increase in the size of the brick charge isn’t just for show or a new way for companies to charge more for bricks. It’s actually the result of a smart strategy to reduce the effects of fast charging on smartphones.

This solution moves the bulk of the charging work from your phone (and thereby your battery) to the power brick. So all of the heat (or at least the majority of it) that should have been produced by your phone is now produced by your power brick. Then the power flows to your smartphone and charges it.

The only trade-off with this solution is that you get bigger charging bricks.

Parallel Charging

This solution splits the battery into two parts and then delivers power to them separately. This could be used to charge a smartphone with a 5000mAh battery and a 50W charging speed, for example. The 5000-mah battery will be split into two equal parts of 2500 mah with each battery having a 25-watt charging speed. So there’ll be less heat because it’s only 25 watts, and you’ll get shorter charging times.

Added Cooling System

Another way smartphone brands are getting around these drawbacks is by adding cooling solutions to their smartphones. Since heat is the main problem, adding materials like heat sinks that help phones manage heat will reduce the effects of super-fast charging.

 

 

 

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How to Make Your Device Last Longer

Easy ways to make your smartphone last longer

Most people use their smartphones for only two years before upgrading to a shinier new device. When you take a step back and look at it, it’s a really wasteful process. Not just because it contributes to the e-waste problem and isn’t the best choice economically, but also because most phones can work perfectly well even after 2 years of usage. SmartphonesPLUS is here to show you some things you can do to make your device last longer and keep it in the best possible condition.

1. Take Care of Your Device’s Battery

Battery life is one of the major reasons people switch or upgrade their smartphones. This is due to the fact that lithium-ion (the technology used to make smartphone batteries) degrades naturally over time, which leads to a decrease in battery life. 

So if you want to use your phone longer than most people, taking better care of your battery health is advisable. Here are a few things you can do to preserve your device’s battery life:

Use Original Chargers Only

Original chargers have lots of safety features that keep your phone and its battery healthy. Not just your phone, using a bad charger also poses a safety risk to you.

Don’t Fill and Don’t Kill

The way your battery charges is by pushing electrons inside it from the negative side to the positive side. So when one side holds too much ion because your battery is either filled up or dead, it stresses the battery thereby speeding up degradation. 

So, the best thing for you to do is, charge your phone up to only 80% and make sure to plug it in before it drops below 25%.

Change Your Battery

Changing your battery instead of replacing your phone when its battery health severely declines is a good way to help your smartphone last longer. The best thing to do is to change your battery every two years if you can afford it.

2. Use a Screen Protector

Screen protectors help your phone last longer

 

Another major reason people don’t keep their devices for too long is issues with their screens. A phone’s screen is arguably the most important yet delicate part of a phone. It’s also one of the most expensive parts to replace. So, if you want your phone to last longer, you’ll have to use a screen protector to avoid any form of damage to your screen. We recommend a tempered glass or liquid glass screen protector, available for purchase with free installation at SmartphonesPLUS.

3. Prevent Slow Downs

Sluggishness is another thing that drives many people to upgrade their phones. Here are some of the reasons your phone could slow and how to fix it.

Low Storage Space

If you are struggling with phone slowness due to low storage, there are apps out there that can help free up some space for you. For example, Remo is an app that identifies duplicate files and photos and deletes them for you in bulk. You can also free up storage space by clearing cache data. Lastly, you can move things like your photos, videos, and other media to the cloud.

Trade Your Newer App Versions

As apps add more features and get better they get more resource hungry. So your phone with an aged processor might have some trouble running newer versions of apps that take up more power. 

 What you can do to avoid this is

  • Move to lite apps and PWA
  • Delete apps you don’t use.
  • Identify resource-hungry apps and delete them.

Keep Your Phone Updated

Smartphone Software updates are sent out to not only protect your phone but also to help optimize your phone to keep it running as smoothly and as fast as possible. 

If you’re using an Android phone you’ll most likely start receiving fewer updates over time, especially when compared to an iPhone. But do commit to constantly check for updates and install them as soon as they come out. This will help keep your smartphone using the latest and most efficient software, and make your device last longer altogether.

Resetting your device can help make it last longer

Reset Your Phone From Time To Time

Factory resetting your phone from time to time has a lot of benefits. For starters, it’ll make your phone feel as smooth as the day you unboxed it, and it’ll also help you clear out hidden junk files. Resetting your phone every new year should be good enough to keep it feeling smooth and fast.

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Comparing iPhone 14s: the Plus and the Pro Max

Comparing the iPhone 14 with iPhone 14 Pro Max

The iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max are two headliners of Apple’s 2022 release, with the iPhone 14 Plus as a brand new addition to the series. SmartphonesPLUS is here to provide a brief overview of both the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and help you decide which one will give you the best bang for your buck.

Specs

The spec sheet for the two iPhone 14s are both completely stacked, but the Pro Max beats out the Plus in most categories.

SpecsiPhone 14 PlusiPhone 14 Pro Max
Weight (grams)203240
Memory & Storage6GB

128GB, 256GB,

512GB

6GB

128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1024GB

Display6.7-inch OLED

60Hz

1284  x 2778 Pixels

6.7-inch

ProMotion XDR

OLED

1- 120Hz

1290 x 2796 Pixels

ProcessorsApple

A15

Bionic

w/5-core

GPU

Apple

A16

Bionic

hexa-core

Rear CameraMain:

12MP

Ultra-wide:

12MP

Main:

48MP

Ultra-wide:

12MP

3X Telephoto:

12MP

Front Camera12MP12MP
Charging Speed20W wired

15W Magsafe

7.5W Qi wireless charging 

27W wired

15W Magsafe

7.5W Qi wireless charging 

Battery Capacity4325mAh4323mAh
iPhone Released DateOctober 7th, 2022September 16th, 2022
Price$1200$900

Display Features

iPhone 14 Pro Max back camera

The display is one of the areas where the Pro Max completely outshines the Plus. For starters, the Pro Max has a way brighter display. Coming in at 1000 nits of peak brightness, 1600 nits of peak brightness for HDR, and an unbelievable 2000 nits of peak outdoor brightness–compared to the 800 nits peak brightness, 1200 nits peak outdoor and HDR brightness on the iPhone 14 Plus. What that means to you, is that you will have better screen vision outdoors on the Pro Max than you would with the Plus.

The Pro Max also has a high refresh rate display that can upscale and downscale between 1 Hz and 120 Hz depending on what you’re doing. Shamefully, and I repeat, shamefully, the $900 iPhone 14 Plus still sports a 60hz display, which is inexcusable for a $900 device. So the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s display is more battery efficient and smoother than that of the iPhone 14 Plus.

 The only similarity between the displays of the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the screen size, with both having a 6.7-inch panel.

If a high refresh rate and better peak brightness matter to you, then the clear choice for you is the Pro Max.

Build

The size of the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro Max

The build is a big area where we see a lot of differences between the Plus and the Pro Max. If you had both phones sitting in front of you, the first thing you would probably notice is that the materials used on the sides and back of the two phones is different. The iPhone 14 Plus comes with aluminum sides and a glossy back finish, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max uses stainless steel on the sides, which is more durable and has a matte finish on the back glass.

 The Pro Max is also heavier than the Plus, which come in at 240 grams and 203 grams, respectively. With that heaviness and stainless steal sides comes a more sturdier build. On the other hand, the iPhone 14 Plus has a lighter and easier-to-use build. 

Design

comparing back design of iPhone 14 plus and iPhone 14 Pro max

Design is another area where the Pro Max and the Plus vary greatly. Starting from the backside, the two have different rear camera designs. The iPhone 14 Plus has a dual-diagonal rear camera setup, while the Pro Max carries on with the same rear camera design as its last three predecessors, with an elegant triangular triple camera design.

 Moving over to the front design, the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Plus truly look like phones from different generations. The Pro Max packs Apple’s all-new pill-shaped cutout, called the “Dynamic Island”. It also marks Apple’s first departure from the notch. The Plus, on the other hand, still sticks with the smaller notch introduced on last year’s iPhone 13 series.

The frontal design change on the Pro Max isn’t just merely a new cutout for Face ID and the selfie camera. The pill-shaped cutout or the Dynamic Island on the Pro Max also brings some new functionalities to the iPhone 14 Pro Max that haven’t been seen on any other smartphone before. Dynamic Island uses UI elements and the new Live Activity Api on the Pro Max to display live activity on the island. It does this by changing the shape of the Island to show live activities like playing music, using Airdrop, etc. The downside is that the Dynamic Island is more intrusive than the notch because it’s lower on the screen than the notch was. 

Battery Life and Charging

The iPhone 14 Plus has a bigger battery than the Pro Max, but with just a slight difference of 2 mAh, which honestly doesn’t make much difference.

iPhone 14 PlusiPhone 14 Pro Max
Battery Capacity4325mAh3=4323mAh
Charging Speed20W Lightning Charging23W Lightning Charging

Unfortunately, there’s really no data on the real-world difference in battery life between the two smartphones yet, but that doesn’t stop us from making educated guesses. Considering factors like features, display, processor size, efficiency, etc. We’d say the Plus would probably last longer than the Pro Max in day-to-day usage.

We say this because

  • The iPhone 14 Plus has fewer battery-eating features like Dynamic Island
  • Battery capacity has been increased slightly.
  • The slightly lower resolution and lower peak brightness on the iPhone 14 Plus
  • The fact that the iPhone 13 Pro Max has better battery life even with the older A15 Bionic

When it comes to charging speed, the iPhone 14 Pro Max should charge faster than the iPhone 14 Plus. This is due to the faster 27W charging speed on the iPhone 14 Pro Max compared to 20W on the Plus. According to tests, the iPhone 14 Pro Max takes a whopping 1 hour 50 minutes plus to go from 0-100%. So you can expect the iPhone 14 Plus to take around 2 hours or more to completely charge.

 

Camera

The first difference you’ll notice between the two cameras is the extra telephoto lens and lidar sensor that’s present on the Pro Max but absent on the Plus. The iPhone 14 Pro Max also features a 48MP high-resolution main camera, so you’ll get more details in your pictures. The selfie camera on both phones is the same. Apart from those, there isn’t any other major difference between the camera systems on the two.

 To summarize the camera differences:

  • No ProRes Raw or 12MP 2x Mode on the iPhone 14 Plus
  • There is a better quality zoom on the Pro Max than on the Plus, with a max zoom of 15x and 5x, respectively.
  • The Pro Max features portrait shots with the telephoto lens and can utilize the portrait shots feature at night.

 If cameras are a crucial aspect of your phone, then the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the best device for you.

Comparing Processors

There isn’t much to say here, because the difference between both processors isn’t noticeable in real-world usage.  There’s quite a difference in power between the two processors, but you aren’t going to notice that power difference unless you run power-hungry games and apps.

Benchmark (Higher Is better)A15 Bionic (iPhone 14 Plus)A16 Bionic (iPhone 14 Pro Max)
GeekbenchSingle-Core Score

1740

Multi-Core Score

4689

Single-Core Score

1882

Multi-Core Score

5333

Antutu 9854468972936

 

Summary

Everything you need to decide to help you decide between the two latest and greatest iPhones has been laid out for you. So now it’s up to you to decide if the iPhone 14 Pro Max, with all its bells and whistles, is worth the $200 extra you’re going to spend if you go for it instead of the iPhone 14 Plus. If you decide after further research that neither of these options fit you best, take a look at some of our best refurbished iPhones.

 

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Choose Refurbished Smartphones for Your Business

refurbished smartphones for your business

If you own a business that relies on smartphones or smart devices to operate on the day-to-day, you probably already know what an expense they can be, especially in these difficult economic times.

But did you know, you don’t have to face the high costs of brand-new smartphones or the risks that come with buying off-market used phones? Instead, you can buy refurbished smartphones and devices for your business, which are cheaper than their brand-new counter-parts, but not as risky as used phones.

Here’s why we think refurbished devices are worth considering for your business needs. 

Buying Refurbished Saves Money

This one is a no-brainer. One of the best benefits of choosing refurbished over new is how much money you save your business. To give you an idea of how much less expensive refurbished phones are, consider the following:

  • A brand new iPhone 12 (unlocked) currently sells for ~$ 600 on Apple.com* 
  • While shopping with SmartphonesPLUS, you can get an excellent refurbished iPhone 12 for just $500*

*prices listed are according to current pricing as of the publishing date

As we mentioned before, when you buy from a trusted seller like SmartphonesPLUS,  you save money while getting the same quality device. And we know that as a business, every dollar saved counts.

Note: Bulk/wholesale and/or B2B prices are usually cheaper than retail and B2C prices. Complete our Wholesale Registration form for more details on wholesale prices and other special offers from SmartphonesPLUS.

Get Better Devices For Your Budget

Another perk of going for refurbished for your business instead of buying brand new is that you can get better phones and devices for your employees and still be within your budget. 

To make this clearer, let’s use this scenario:

 Assume you’re a business owner with a $4,000 budget who wants to buy 10 iPhones for your company. That’s a maximum limit of $400 per phone. If you were to go for a brand new phone in that situation, the best you’d be able to get is a standard iPhone 11 at about $399 a piece. If you instead opt for a refurbished smartphone, you’d be able to afford an iPhone 12 or an iPhone 11 Pro Max. You stick to your budget while your business gives your employees the best.

*prices listed are according to current pricing as of the publishing date

A More Sustainable Option

A single brand-new smartphone requires a large number of resources (including rare earth elements such as Neodymium, Europium, and Terbium.) The average usage span of a new phone is 2 years. After that, many of them get trashed and end up in landfills, adding to the e-waste problem. Purchasing refurbished phones instead of new ones prevents smartphones from becoming trash by extending their life cycle. By buying refurbished instead of new for your business, you take a stand for the environment.

No Long-Term Contracts

When choosing to buy refurbished smartphones for your business through a reseller like SmartphonesPLUS,  you avoid the need to enter into long and expensive contracts that usually tie the purchased phones to a carrier. So you purchase the phones once and for all and save more cash in the long term.

Warranty

Refurbished smartphone vendors often offer warranties, unlike most off market used phone sellers. Here at SmartphonesPLUS, we offer a 30-day warranty on every device we sell. So you can purchase and use your device with peace of mind and protection for your business.

Shop SmartphonesPLUS for smartphones for your business

Consider SmartphonesPLUS!

SmartphonesPLUS is the best place to buy refurbished smartphones in bulk for your business. When you register for wholesale pricing from SmartphonesPLUS, you get 5% off your first order. Same-day shipping is available if payment is received before 3:00 p.m. CST, and free standard shipping, which includes USPS and FedEx, is also available. Those special offers are on top of already discounted wholesale pricing! There is no better place to buy refurbished smart devices for your business, including watches, tablets, smartphones, and laptops!

 

CategoriesBlog, General by

How to Increase Wi-Fi Speed

wifi internet on your smartphone

Are you constantly struggling with your Wi-Fi speed? Fed up with Netflix buffering just when you get to the best part? If you answered yes, then this article is for you. We’ll show you how to increase your Wi-Fi speed so media buffering will become a thing of the past.

How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Speed

1. Run a Speed Test.

Before we go into how to increase your WiFi speed, you’ll want to run a test to check your current Wi-Fi speed. It’s easy to do this, just Google “speed test” and hit “run a speed test.” or use Speedtest by Ookla. You want to do this so you’ll know your current network speed before you start applying the tips to boost it– so you can easily compare your internet speed before and after this article.

Ookla Speed Test

2. Check Your Current Internet Plan.

Before you start searching for ways to increase your Wi-Fi speed, it’s best to check out your internet plan. This is important for two reasons. First, so you’ll know what kind of internet speed you should expect to attain. And secondly, so you won’t waste your time in the case that your slow network speed is due to the lower speed plan you are paying for. 

3. Use 5GHz Frequency

Using the 5 GHz network has numerous advantages, with the only disadvantage being that it has a shorter reach than the more commonly used 2.4 GHz network. But it more than makes up for this with its network capacity. 5 GHz network can carry way more data than the standard 2.4 GHz, giving you faster Wi-Fi speeds.

Another relatively unknown advantage of 5 GHz is the fact that not many people use it, so there’s less competition from network connections. And less network competition means faster internet speeds for you.

4. Move to a Better Channel.

If you didn’t know, Wi-Fi has channels. A Wi-Fi channel is the frequency at which your router sends out information to your device. And the more congested a channel is, the slower it works. So moving your Wi-Fi router channel to an unused one or one with the lowest usage in your area may significantly increase your Wi-Fi speed.

Here’s how to move to a different Wi-Fi channel:

First, download a Wi-Fi Analyzer. This tool can show you all the Wi-Fi signals your computer can detect, and it’ll also show you what frequency and channel they’re on. Open this tool, then take note of the network channel(s) with the least usage. Make sure to check for both 5GHz and 2.4GHz networks.

All you have to do from there is:

  • Open a browser.
  • Type your router’s IP address in the search bar and hit Enter. This can be found on a sticker placed on your router. If you can’t find it, then follow the instructions here.
  •  Next, log in to your router. If you don’t know your router’s username and password, then check the router for a sticker containing said information or contact your service provider.
  •  Once you’ve logged in, navigate your way to Wireless Settings (note: the name may vary depending on your service provider).
  •  Now, you should be seeing the bands available to you (2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz). If there’s an Auto-Connect setting, switch it off.
  •  Then, click channels and change your Wi-Fi channel to the least crowded one.
  •  Click save or apply.

5. Use an Ethernet Connection

Even though Wi-Fi connectivity has greatly improved in recent years, using an ethernet cable for internet connection will still provide you with faster internet speeds. Using ethernet instead of Wi-Fi is more stable, reliable, and faster. Although it’s not as convenient as Wi-Fi, it’s definitely worth it if you want absolutely blazing internet speeds.

6. Change Your Domain Name Server (DNS)

DNS, or Domain Name System, is a system that translates domain names to IP addresses, allowing users to access websites using easy-to-remember names instead of numbers. It’s a distributed database maintained by servers across the internet. By default, you’ll be connected to your service provider’s DNS. And that isn’t always the fastest option. 

You can download a tool like DNS Benchmark to test your DNS performance. It also shows you other high-performing DNS server options you can connect to. Most devices that can connect to a WiFi network can have their DNS changed, but it’s best to only change the DNS of your router because the speed gains will affect the devices you connect to it.

Different routers have different ways to change DNS settings. So here’s what to do:

Search the web by entering the make and model of your router and adding “change DNS”. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a clear set of instructions. Navigate to the desired setting and enter the primary and alternate DNS addresses for the service you chose. You may need to restart the router for the change to take effect.

7. Restricting App’s Background Data Usage Can Increase Your Phone’s Wi-Fi Speed

Many apps use your internet connection in the background. So, while you’re doing something else, an app like WhatsApp will be constantly using your data connection to stay connected to receive and deliver new messages. Things like this obviously strain your connection, making it slower. So limiting or stopping apps from using your connection in the background will increase your internet for the apps you are using.

Increase your wi-fi speed with these tips

With these tried and true tricks for increasing Wi-Fi speed, you should be smoothly surfing the web in no time. If you’ve tried these methods and are still having speed issues, it’s probably time to give your provider a call and get advice directly from the source.

 

CategoriesGeneral by

What to Consider When Buying Refurbished

Certified-Pre-Owned-Devices

Are you considering buying a refurbished smartphone or other device? Refurbished phones have become a very popular option in recent years, with more and more people opting to buy refurbished over a new or used smartphone. Before you jump the gun and hit “buy” on that refurbished device, there are things you need to consider. In this article, SmartphonesPLUS will tell you four important things you need to consider before you purchase a refurbished device.

Warranty and Return Policy

It’s very important to confirm warranty information from the dealer you plan on buying a refurbished device from to avoid any funny business after you’ve completed your purchase. Most refurbished phone stores offer at least a 30-day warranty period, with some sellers offering up to a year of warranty coverage and others promising as little as 7 days of coverage. So it’s best to confirm the details about your warranty coverages and also inquire about any incidents that can void your warranty.

Another important detail to confirm with your refurbished phone vendor is the return policy. This is in case of a device malfunction or you aren’t satisfied with your purchase later on. Most of the time, the return item window is usually shorter than the warranty period, and usually lasts about a week or two.

Ideally, a small booklet containing your warranty info should be shipped with your refurbished device. In cases where it isn’t, the best thing to do is to ask your seller.

When you buy from SmartphonePLUS, you get a 30-day warranty period and also a 30-day return window. So if anything comes up within the 30 days, just contact us and we’ll get everything done as fast as we can. We have also recently partnered with Upsie Warranties to offer you an extended device protection option at a low cost.

SmartphonesPLUS Cedar Rapids

Trustworthy Seller

Another thing to consider when buying refurbished smartphones is where you’re purchasing it from. Avoid buying from shady and questionable resale stores. Check the store’s online rating and read some of the reviews left by customers. If you notice too many bad reviews or red flags, it’s best to find a more trustworthy refurbished phone vendor.

By avoiding sketchy refurbished phone stores, you’ll eliminate the possibility of becoming the main character in a story where a customer buys stolen, faulty, or blacklisted phones, and is then denied a replacement or refund from the seller.

 

SmartphonesPLUS Coralvile

So, it’s best to buy your refurbished phone from a trustworthy seller like SmartphonesPLUS. They’ll sell you genuine refurbished phones at cheap prices and will be happy to help if you have any issues with your device in the future.

 The Refurbishing Process

The refurbishing process is another important thing to take note of when buying a refurbished device. It’s always better to buy from stores that are transparent and let consumers in on the restoration process. With info on the refurbishing process, you’ll be able to find out if genuine parts were used to fix faulty phones and how well devices are tested before going on store shelves as refurbished phones. Refurbishing process info is usually found in the FAQ section of the seller’s website.

At SmartphonesPLUS, every device we sell has been through a 30+ point inspection to test every component for functionality and cosmetic appearance. If a device passes inspection with a 100% score, it is SmartphonesPLUS Certified. We only sell certified devices so that you can be sure to receive a quality device.

The Condition of the Device

Refurbished devices are classified into different categories or grades depending on their cosmetic condition. Most refurbished phones use terms like “Grade A,” “Grade B,” “good,” “excellent,” etc. The higher the term used, the better looking the device. And the lower the grade, the less expensive the refurbished phone will be.

Note: lower cosmetic condition doesn’t mean the refurbished device is working worse than higher-graded devices.

So make sure to confirm which category the refurbished device you’re eyeing falls in. Optimally, it’s best to go for the best condition or grade.

 Here at SmartphonesPLUS, we have three device conditions when purchasing:

  • Excellent — virtually no scuffs, scratches, or marks.is in full working condition.
  • Good — Has minor signs of wear. May contain a few light scratches or marks. Is in full working condition.
  • Fair– It contains moderate signs of wear, scratches, marks, or dents. Is in full working condition.

 So, when you shop with us, you get a 100% working device regardless of the cosmetic condition. To learn more about refurbished devices, what exactly that means and what to consider when purchasing, check out our blog linked above!