We’ve all been there — the heart-stopping moment when your iPhone takes a plunge or the battery icon starts on its inevitable march to zero. In these panicked times, many of us turn to quick fixes and common knowledge, but what if I told you that the tried and true isn’t always the truth? Here we debunk two common myths surrounding iPhone care and usage that will undoubtedly affect how you handle your precious device in the future.
Drying Out Your Wet iPhone
The Myth: Into the Bag of Rice it Goes
Your iPhone’s taken a swim, either accidentally in the toilet or a beverage-related mishap. It’s a common belief that a bag of rice will draw out the moisture and save the day. But what Apple actually recommends might surprise you.
The Reality: Patience, Not Pantries
Rice may seem like a natural dehumidifier, but Apple advises against the popular fix. The better course of action is to gently shake off any excess liquid and find a dry spot with good air circulation. After a minimum of 30 minutes, see if your phone is ready to charge. If issues persist, it may take up to 24 hours to fully dry out. Remember, it’s not the rice but the air that does the trick.
Did you know that placing it in rice can be more harmful than helpful? The fine particles can find their way into crevices, potentially causing damage down the line. It’s the kind of counter-intuitive advice that could save not only your handset, but also a costly repair bill.
Low on Battery?
The Myth: Open Apps Drain the Battery
It’s a daily struggle — your iPhone battery is waning, and you frantically start swiping up to close all those open applications in the belief that it saves power. But does it?
The Reality: The Hidden Cost of Routine Closing
Prepare to be shocked: Closing apps willy-nilly doesn’t make your battery last longer. It can actually do the opposite. A tech guru from Gizmodo suggests that when you force close an app, you’re initiating a shutdown that requires energy, a process known as a ‘forced exit’.
When these same apps are idling in the background, your iPhone has them in a state of ‘suspended animation’, using minimal power until you call upon them again. The only time you really need to close your apps, is when they’re unresponsive.
The takeaway? Stop the app-exodus and just let them be.
