If you feel a little lost on the subject of cell phones, you are in good company. There are so many choices, which makes picking the best phone difficult. Below, you will find some great tips to help you get started in the world of cell phones.

If you’re using a LTE or 4G signal, watch your video usage. Most phone plans often come with a limited allowance for data. Video can take away a lot of your data, and you might end up racking up a lot of charges. If you’re going over your allowance often, you’re on the wrong plan.

If you currently own a smartphone, then you likely make regular use of it in a normal day. Turn it off from time to time when you can. Smartphones are similar to computers. You will want it to get restarted once in a while. With just a simple restart, you can really see a difference in your cell phone.

Extended warranties can be tricky. Typically, these are really just additional cost with no real added value to you. If you get a defective cell phone, it is usually apparent during the first year in which the manufacturer’s warranty is still valid. Plus, a lot of people buy a new phone ever year, so the warranty that’s extended really isn’t worth it.

Take the time to compare cellphones in brick and mortar stores. Go there to touch a few different models and see what each can do. By doing this, you will probably find the best phone for you, much easier.

Don’t hesitate to give other brands a try even if you’ve always utilized a particular brand in the past. Although you might be used to using a particular screen layout or interface, be sure to have an open mind. Taking a look at other types of phones may open up a whole new world of functionality.

Avoid letting your battery run completely down before recharging it. Cell phone batteries were made to be recharged from time to time. Unfortunately, if you wait until it gets dead before recharging it, the battery will be less likely to hold a charge in the future. Thus, see if you can charge the battery much earlier in the process.

Cases usually aren’t necessary for many new phones. Designers of smartphones are using Kevlar, carbon and other hard materials to make the phones stronger. Cases add protection and make using the phone difficult. Think about the type of phone you are now using, consider your options, and make your decision.

You should buy a new phone every couple of years. As phones change, so do mobile sites, meaning you’ll get the most out of the sites you visit with updated technology. This means that you may have a hard time accessing them if your phone becomes outdated.

Play your games on your cell phone during the day for more excitement. The games can be quite entertaining and smartphones have fantastic graphics. However, loading too many games on your phone can negatively impact its memory.

Make sure you learn about all of the applications your phone comes with. A lot of phones that are out these days let you surf the Internet and check out music. There should be a calendar feature as well. Understanding how to work these programs will help you to get the most usage for your money.

Always protect your cell phone properly. Not taking care of it can mean quite the expensive fix or replacement. A screen protector should be one of the first things you purchase. You should also get a case for it so you can keep it safe.

Be sure to analyze the coverage map ahead of going away. You’re most likely aware of the signal where you work and where you live. You could be pleasantly surprised about the strength. However, if you live in an urban area and travel out of town, you might find your coverage is nonexistent between cities and even not available in different regions.

Make sure that your phone has a good case. Dropping an expensive phone on the ground could cost you a lot of money. You could look for extremely strong cases from Otterbox if you are truly concerned. One great model, in the top of its class, is the Defender.

Your cell phone’s zoom lens is not what it’s cracked up to be. You don’t get a true optical zoom that you would get in a normal camera. Digital zooming is something that cell phones use and it only makes the pixels bigger while making the image quality go down. If you want to best use your phone’s camera, as opposed to zooming, try moving closer.

If you wish to see a video on your cellphone, you should use Wi-Fi instead of data. Videos are heavy and use the allowance for your data. This is only advisable if you have an unlimited data plan.

You do not have to sign up for family plans with just those related to you. This is commonly misunderstood. You can sign up with anyone that you like and take advantage of the deal. The carrier won’t want to see ID to create the account.

If you don’t text, don’t include a texting plan in your phone plan. Text plans are very expensive, especially compared with the tiny amount of data being sent. There are apps that allow for texting, and with Apple phones, there is iMessage to use with other Apple users.

You may not know much about cell phones, which is not necessarily uncommon. As technology advances, you can become overwhelmed. Advancements are constant and you must learn about them. These tips will give you a great foundation to build on.