If you got a smartphone for Christmas you probably noticed by now that there is no explicit manual in the box and you probably have to learn everything yourself. You can learn a lot by testing the product yourself but there are a couple of general concepts that are not that obvious, which can take years to finally grasp. Here are the basics of using a smartphone.

1.       Manage the battery life

You must have been surprised when you saw that the shiny colors and the 4-inch screen depletes your battery in less than two days. We all have. It’s important to get the most out of your battery and for that reason you need to decrease the screen brightness to 50 percent. You won’t notice a difference anyway.

The next step is to disable the Bluetooth and to turn off automated mail retrieval. If you are operating an Android smartphone disable the animated wallpaper.

2.       Properly tap the screen

People don’t often realize how sensitive the touchscreen really is. Novices most always “stab” the screen or hold their fingers down for too long. You only need a gentle touch in order to start an app or to active a functionality. To illustrate how inefficient over-tapping really is think that on iPhone the icon start shaking whenever you hold your finger down for too long. You can press Power or Home to stop the icon from shaking.

3.       Know the difference between standby and off

When your phone is in off-mode you can’t make calls, receive calls, run apps or do anything else with your phone, much like when your computer is off. However, when your phone is on standby-mode only your screens shuts off, preventing unnecessary battery usage. Become used to put your phone on standby whenever you put it back in your bag or pocket or turn your phone completely when you don’t need it.

4.       Don’t spend too much on cases

It’s wise to buy a protective case for your device but don’t pay too much for it. After all, the case is there to take damage instead of your phone. You only need a simple protection and most manufacturers out there sell them for a small fortune. You can get them as low as $2 so don’t spend $100 for a case unless you absolutely need it.

5.       Use apps wisely

As soon as you get your smartphone don’t head out to the app store and start purchasing apps without thinking twice about what you are doing. There are many free applications on the market and even if the app sounds useful you have to check other similar applications before purchasing one.

There you have it. The most important tips every newbie should know when they get their hands on their first smartphone. And remember, if you still find operating your smartphone difficult you can always sell it to trade2save and buy a new one in return. You can sell used cell phones directly to Trade2Save.com!