Guides

How to Track Someones Phone – 3 Best Phone Tracking Apps

Last updated on June 26, 2019

How to Track Someones Phone – 3 Best Phone Tracking Apps

Are you looking for a solution of how to track someones phone when they’ve either lost it or you want to know their whereabouts? Here’s a complete guide on how you can do it on both Android, and iOS, and a list of phone tracking apps that help you always know where your friends and family are.

You may not be the biggest fan of how the current state of social media and instant messaging has taken over like a plague, but there is no denying the fact that smartphone technology has reshaped the way we stay connected to our loved ones all across the world. Whether you consider the ability to video call someone ten thousand miles away, or be able to enjoy high-definition entertainment anywhere at any time, mobile phones have been a blessing right from the start, and just continue to evolve into a piece of technology that is deeply personal.

What makes smartphones even more productive is the fact that they use location-based services to help you find places around you to visit, directions across cities, and even allow you to share your live location with other people to let them know where you are. But what about when you want to know how to track someones phone when they aren’t able to share their location, or are unable to do so because they’ve lost or misplaced their smartphone somewhere? The problem of losing your Android phone or iPhone isn’t a new one and can happen to the best of us, and fortunately, there is a safety net.

How to Track Someones Phone

If you’re worried about a loved one who isn’t responding to your messages and won’t answer your phone calls, or if you’ve misplaced your phone somewhere and worry that it might be stolen, tracking it is the first thing that should come to mind. Although you can expect the best results with the Wi-Fi, GPS, and Mobile Networks available when tracking a phone, there’s almost always a way to get a hold of the mobile phone’s location. By using not just the official services from manufacturers such as Find My Device by Google and Find My iPhone by Apple, but also a bunch of third-party mobile tracking apps available for users to download, you can always know where that loved one is.

Find an Android Phone with Google’s Find My Device

Back in 2016 at Google I/O, the company added an essential ability to Android OS in the form of the Find My Device service. This feature keeps all of your Android devices connected as long as the location services are enabled on the device. As a preventive measure, make sure that the service is enabled from the Settings – Security & lock screen – Device administrators – Find My Device.

Download the Find My Device app from the Google Play Store. You can also choose to access the Find My Device web service using your computer or tablet.
Open the Find My Device app or web service and sign into your Google account.
If you are trying to learn how to track someones phone and not yours, make sure that you sign in using their Google account.
Once you’ve signed in using the Google account, you should be able to see all of the devices that are synced to it.
By selecting the device that you want to find out the location of, you will be able to see where it was last detected on the map by Google.

Apart from being able to see the last seen location of the Android device, you will also be able to perform certain actions which can help you find it.

Play Sound – When you press this button from the side menu, the Find My Device service will trigger playing a sound on the device. This is quite helpful if you’ve misplaced the phone in your vicinity and need some audio assistance to find it. Once you trigger the Play Sound option, it will make the device ring for 5 minutes at a stretch even if the phone is on Silent mode. After you’ve found the device, you can stop making it ring by pressing the Power button.

Secure Device – The option comes in handy when you’ve lost your device and reckon that the phone or tablet and has been picked up by someone. Using the Secure Device option, you can put the device on a lockdown and prevent anyone from accessing it, while putting up a phone number and message on the screen for the finder to contact you on. Although the device will sign out of the Google account after this action, you will still be able to track it.

Erase Device – If you’ve come to the realization that your phone is either lost or stolen for good, the only form of damage control you can do is keep your data on the device away from the perpetrator. Using the Erase Device feature is essentially a kill switch, erasing your device of all the data, including the Google accounts that are synced to it. After you’ve performed this action, you will no longer be able to track the location of the phone or tablet.

Find an iOS Device with Apple’s Find My iPhone

Released with the cloud storage platform iCloud in the year 2011, the Find My iPhone service allows you to keep a lookout on all of your iOS and even Mac OS X computers. As long as your iDevices are well-within the range of a mobile network or a wireless network, you will be able to track the location of it from anywhere. Similar to Android, you use the service to understand how to track someones phone as long as you have access to their iCloud account. You will need to service enabled on the iOS device in the Settings – Apple ID – iCloud – Find My iPhone and make sure that the toggle switch next to it is enabled.

Access the Find My iPhone app from your iOS device or head over to iCloud from your web browser to access the Find My iPhone service online.
Using your Apple ID and password, log into your iCloud account. If you are tracking someone else’s iDevice, you will need to enter their iCloud user credentials to use the Find My iPhone service.
Open the Find iPhone app in the iCloud menu and select the All Devices tab you see at the top of the screen.
You will now be able to see the iDevice on the map and even zoom in to track the whereabouts even closely.

There will be three different modes available on the upper-right corner of the screen for you to perform additional actions:

Play Sound – Selecting this option will begin to play an audible ringtone on your iOS or Mac OS X device even if the device is set to vibrate or silent mode. This mode should help you locate the iDevice if you’ve only misplaced it around the house or in any indoor setting.

Lost Mode – By selecting this option, you get to display a short message on the iDevice’s screen and set it on lockdown with your phone number put up on the screen for the phone’s finder to contact you. A ringtone will also be played alongside for others to be able to notice your misplaced device.

Erase iPhone – The final resolution if you are unable to find your iPhone or iPad and want to keep your private contents of the phone away from others. By selecting this option, you will be erasing all of the content that is present on your iDevice and the iCloud Activation lock will also be activated, which will ensure that the phone becomes unusable.

3 Best Phone Tracking Apps

Although the ability locating a phone that Google and Apple offer are reliable, these tracking services are centered around a single user. If you want to try out how to track someones phone or tablet, you will need access to their Google or Apple ID, which is not always feasible. To solve this problem, third-party app developers have come up with a few nifty solutions through their tracking apps. By simply having any of these apps installed and set up on Android or iOS devices, you can stay connected and know where your loved ones are at all times.

1. Life360: Find Family & Friends

Staying connect to each other in this digital world can sometimes seem impossible, especially when we’re all living our separate lives and surrounded by social media to keep us distracted. This is the very reason Life360 brings you the Family Locator app, allowing you to be well within reach of the people who matter to you the most. Using the Life360 app, you can create your private groups and chat with them for free, while being notified of their real-time location. Smart features of this tracking app include the ability to receive alerts when a family Circle member arrives or leaves a specific destination, so you are always updated of their safe journey.

Download Life360: Find Family & Friends for iOS

Download Life360: Find Family & Friends for Android

2. Prey Anti Theft

Mobile theft certainly isn’t an anomaly, and you never know when you could fall prey to one of the perpetrators out there, which is exactly what this app here is designed to prevent. Prey Anti Theft allows you to track the whereabouts of your device from anywhere using multiple factors such as GPS coordinates and MAC Address as well, helping the federal authorities gather enough evidence to take action. You can set up Control Zones which alert you when your Android or iOS devices enters or leaves a certain area, GPS Geolocation helps in triangulating precise location of your device, Front and Back Camera take silent snaps of the perpetrator, and additional features like Security Alarm and Security Message Alert to stay on top of your anti-theft protection system at all times.

Download Prey Anti Theft for iOS

Download Prey Anti Theft for Android

3. Sygic Family Locator

One of the most popular brand in GPS navigation technology is now personalizing the service by offering you a way to stay connected with your loved ones. The Sygic Family Locator app for Android and iOS allows you to get real-time location of your friends and family members and share messages for free among the inner circle. Designed especially for parents, the Sygic Family Locator app will notify you when your child reaches the school and exits, allows you to set up safe zones, and even get alerted when they go off the grid. The app gives you a complete breakdown of up to 7 days of location history of your family members, along with the built-in features to track and lockdown your stolen or lost phone.

Download Sygic Family Locator for iOS

Download Sygic Family Locator for Android

Final Words

Global Positioning System or GPS as we now call it in general, is a technology that has revolutionized the way we go around this world. Tech giants such as Google have privatized this highly resourceful technology in the form of Google Maps, which has now become the backbone of the industry, and your favorite services such as Lyft, Uber Eats, and many others would not exist without it. One such personalized use of GPS can be to learn to not only keep an eye on the whereabouts of your own devices, but also how to track someones phone and stay connected at all times.

Whether you choose to implement the Find My Device service for your Android phone or tablet, pick up the Find My iPhone app to have a closer look on where your iOS and Mac OS X devices are, or wish to go independent and choose one of the reliable phone tracking apps that we’ve mentioned above, you’re sure to stay connected with those who matter to you the most. If this guide helped you in finding a way to make phone tracking simpler and more convenient, be sure to let us know in the comments section down below.

How to Install 1Channel PrimeWire on Kodi – 1Channel Kodi Add-on

Last updated on June 20, 2019

Want to maximize your entertainment by installing the 1Channel Kodi add-on right now? Here’s a complete guide on how to install 1Channel PrimeWire on Kodi media player, and why you need a service such as ExpressVPN to make your viewing experience stellar. Kodi started out as a means to run media content over the internet and without the restriction of cables and cords. Allowing you to manage your offline content across multiple devices is what Kodi can do effortlessly, but there’s a lot more that you can do these days. As the media player software platform has grown in popularity, the ability to enjoy entertaining content with Kodi has evolved as well, especially due to the introduction of Kodi add-ons that are available for all sorts of uses. You could consider Kodi add-ons to be similar to the way third-party apps work for mobile devices, where you can install each one to impart abilities to the phone with each one of them. Allowing you to add new features to the Kodi media player, and enhancing the ones that already, is essentially what Kodi add-ons are meant to do. One such useful offering has been the 1Channel Kodi add-on, which is also popularly known as 1Channel PrimeWire, and here’s our guide on how you can install it right now. Reminder: You need to install Kodi on your Firestick, Fire TV or other device. We have some installation articles for you to follow to install Kodi.

ATTENTION:

ATTENTION: USE A VPN TO PROTECT YOUR VIEWING BEHAVIOR: ISPs and governments monitor their users’ online behavior. If the users are found streaming copyrighted content on your Fire TV device, you could potentially get into a trouble. Your IP is visible to everyone unless you use a solid VPN service. I strongly recommend you to get the best VPN for FireTV devices and mask your identity/IP so that your streaming and viewing experience isn’t tracked by your ISP. Using a VPN is perfectly legal and safe. I use ExpressVPN which is the fastest and most secure VPN in the industry. It is very easy to install on any device including Amazon Fire TV Stick. Also, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like their service, you can always ask for a refund. ExpressVPN also has a special deal where you can get 3 months free and save 49% on their annual plan.

About 1Channel PrimeWire Kodi Add-on

Ever since Kodi media player add-ons have brought the capability of streaming media content from websites, 1Channel PrimeWire has been a popular name among them. PrimeWire is an entertainment content platform which comes packed with hundreds and thousands of TV shows, movies, sports shows, documentaries, and so much more. The service is completely free to use, and although it does contain advertisements, you get to enjoy an ocean of premium content for free, so the tradeoff is worth it for most. What the 1Channel PrimeWire Kodi add-on does is that it brings the online entertainment platform directly to your Kodi media player. By adding the 1Channel PrimeWire repository to Kodi, you can easily view the updated catalog of media content, play movies and TV shows in Full-HD quality right from the Kodi media player itself. One of the oldest entertainment add-ons available for Kodi at the moment, 1Channel PrimeWire is reliable, offers decent streaming speed, and is available absolutely free of cost.

Use ExpressVPN With 1Channel Kodi Add-on

For those who have been huge fans of the PrimeWire service, you all must be aware that the original website has been taken down several times over the years. The sheer popularity of the service is what brings it back each time, but the strict copyright laws may bar you from enjoying the media content that the service has to offer. Fear not, since there’s an easy way to get past this restriction by using a VPN service such as ExpressVPN to make sure that there’s never a pause button when it comes to high-quality premium entertainment.

Bypassing Geo-restrictions – If you reside in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other regions where there the federal authorities have blockaded access to PrimeWire, you won’t be able to access the service through Kodi either. Whether the functionality of the add-on is censored in your region or the service is entirely unusable, ExpressVPN allows you push forward with hundreds of remote servers across the world for you to connect to.
Avoid ISP Logging – Even if the service is not explicitly banned in your region of residence, the ISP (internet service provider) can still keep tabs on your usage. The online activity that you perform when using Kodi media player can be logged, which poses not only a privacy threat, but the problem of the ISP fining you for unauthorized usage as well. With ExpressVPN and its military-grade encryption to secure your online activity, rest assured that your online browsing experience is 100% secure.
High-speed Streaming – Although you can find plenty of free and barely-secure VPN services out there that can help you connect with Kodi and make the most out of Kodi add-ons, most of them offer sub-par streaming quality. When using ExpressVPN for Kodi media player, you are automatically recommended servers which offer top upload and download streaming speeds, so you don’t ever have to sit in front of the screen, waiting for the buffering circle to load up.

How to Install 1Channel PrimeWire on Kodi

Now that you have a better understanding of how the 1Channel PrimeWire add-on for Kodi media player works, and why it should exclusively use with a VPN service such as ExpressVPN at all times, here’s what you need to do to begin the installation process:

Step 1: Enable Unknown Sources in Kodi

Open the Kodi media player app on your computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
On the main screen of Kodi, press the Gear icon that you see at the side of the screen (System).
In the System menu, go ahead and select the System Settings that is present on the right side of the screen.
On the side-menu, go ahead and find the Add-ons tab and select it.
Enable the Unknown Sources feature by toggling ON the switch that is situated right next to it.
Confirm your action to enable Unknown Sources in the Kodi media player by clicking Yes on the pop-up menu.

Step 2: Install 1Channel Kodi Add-on

Launch the Kodi media player app on your device.
Head back to the System menu by pressing the Gear icon on the screen.
Navigate to the File Manager tab and double-click on the Add Source
In the empty checkbox, type in the following URL for the 1Channel PrimeWire repository – http://cazwall.com/repo/
In the bottom box, go ahead and type in 1Channel as the Media Source and then press the OK
Now head back to the Home and select the Add-ons tab from the side menu.
Press the Installer icon that you see on the side menu and then choose the following option – “Install from ZIP File”.
Select the simplycaz-1.0.1.zip and wait for the “Add-on enabled” notification to appear on the screen.
Once you see the notification, select Install from repository button, search for the 1Channel PrimeWire media source.
Then browse through the Video Add-ons menu for “1Channel” and press the Install

Now that the 1Channel PrimeWire Kodi add-on has been successfully installed, you will be able to view it under the Video Add-ons tab in the Kodi app.

Final Words

The steps we have highlighted above should help you add the repository that includes 1Channel PrimeWire, and then successfully install it to your Kodi media player. If you are not using a VPN service such as ExpressVPN as we recommend, there are chances that the 1Channel Kodi add-on may not work optimally, or even stop working altogether. Whether it is the regional restriction that is causing the issue or the slow speeds of a free or cheaper VPN service, you could also experience buffering problems due to slow server response times. Are you among those who is excited to get a hold of one of the best Kodi entertainment add-ons that is currently available? Are you having any problems getting the 1Channel PrimeWire Kodi installed and need help getting it all set up? We’re here to help you out, so go ahead and reach out to us in the comments section right down below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Learn How to Type Faster in 10 Minutes

Last updated on June 19, 2019

Wanna learn how to type faster? You can do so in 10 minutes by reading this guide. However, do keep in mind that just knowing how to type isn’t enough to get faster. You’ll need hundreds of hours of practice to truly get good and become one with your keyboard.

Now, I’m not the fastest typist alive. But, with an average speed of 90-100 WPM, I think I’m at least qualified to give a few typing tips. So, let’s get right into it!

1: Learn How to Type Faster With Touch Typing

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a professional or seasoned writer who needs to look at his keyboard. That’s because most of us are accustomed to at least one kind of touch typing.

The image that you see above is more or less the standard touch typing layout that your average typist uses. All you have to do is merely place your index fingers on the F and J button, the rest of your fingers side by side, and then type by only moving each finger up or down depending on the button that you need to press.

The only exceptions are your index and pinky fingers as they can move left or right to reach other keys. Everything else only goes up or down.

That being said, it’s not like you’re forced to rely on this layout. You can make your own modifications to fit your personal style and whatever feels best for you.

For example, I personally don’t like using my little fingers for pressing the 0 and 9. I prefer pretty much anything else that’s near them at that point. You can do anything similar.

If up till now you relied on your eyes to type, then it’s definitely going to take you a while to get used to blind typing. Not only because you need to memorize every key and have your fingers become one with your keyboard, but also because you need to develop a certain level of finger dexterity to move each individual finger freely. The smallest fingers can be particularly tough.

Still, once you get through this, I can guarantee you that your typing speed will start skyrocketing.

2: Learn How to Type Faster By Typing Slower

When you want to type fast, the logical approach of every newbie to typing is trying to type as fast as possible. And that sounds logical, right?

However, there is one huge issue with that approach. The average brain is rather weak and fragile. If you push it to 100% even for more than a few seconds you’ll start getting tired and losing focus. That leads to mistakes which have a tremendous impact on your typing speed.

Typing a bit slower than your maximum potential and being accurate will actually lead to you being faster than simply going as fast as you can. After all, hitting that backspace key is truly a speed killer.

Fan fact: Rally drivers are known for only operating at 90-95% of their full potential. That’s because a single mistake can kill them or at the very least end the race. So, they leave a little bit of room and go just a tad slower than they can just to minimize the risk of making a mistake and crashing. It’s more or less the same thing for typing. You’re fighting with accuracy and trying to avoid mistakes as much as you can.

3: Get a Good Keyboard

If you’re trying to learn how to type faster, lots of people will say that your keyboard has nothing to do with your ability. I assume that they’ve never managed to get past 60 WPM or they just have fingers that are made of iron or something.

A keyboard can make a huge difference in your typing speed. I personally can’t type over 60WPM on my Laptop’s membrane keyboard but I’ve managed to get up to 138WPM on my Desktop’s mechanical one.

Of course, I’m not saying that mechanical keyboards are better than membrane ones. It’s a matter of personal preference. And that brings us to the next point: finding something that fits your style and preference.

As mentioned above, you can primarily pick either a membrane or a mechanical keyboard. Both of them give of a very different feeling, have different features, endurance levels, price points, noise levels, etc.

Which type should you choose? Well, to put it in nutshell, membrane keyboards tend to feel a bit mushier and “heavy” on your fingers. However, they are also extremely silent and some people prefer that soft, mushy feeling.

Mechanical keyboards feel a little bit more like a typewriter and some of them offer the tactile feedback that so many people are after. However, they also tend to be very expensive, heavy, and loud. So, do your research and pick whatever fits you best.

If you’re into mechanical keyboards, make sure to check our best selections! I personally use the Corsair K70 Lux with red LEDs as my daily driver and it’s a wonder to work on. But, again, it’s a matter of personal preference.

4: Look Forward And Find Your Own Style

Once you truly learn how to type fast, you’ll soon notice that despite how fast you are, you can still read and think much faster than you can type. Unless you’ve got superhuman fingers or something; in which case, you clearly don’t belong in this guide or in this world for that matter.

So, take advantage of that fact to type faster. How? Simply think about what word is about to come after and proceed to place your fingers in the appropriate positions before you actually need to start typing that word.

This saves up a lot of time and speeds up your typing. If you want to learn how to type faster, then this skill is a must have. Especially after a certain point where you’re at least two times faster than your average typist.

It’s tough at first. But, if you practice enough it’ll become second nature to you and you won’t even have to think about it!

Best Power Supply To Get in 2019: VFM

Last updated on June 17, 2019

Making a new PC build and looking for the best power supply that you can get? You should! The PSU is the heart of your computer. It’s responsible for providing stable power to all your components at all times.

That being said, it goes without saying that this is the one component that you should never cheap out on! So, let’s take a look at the best power supplies that you can get right now, shall we?

1: Best Power Supply in The Budget Range: Corsair CX550

Lots of PC enthusiasts may tell you that the Corsair CX series should be avoided. But, the truth is that it has served thousands and thousands of people with little to no issues.

Add that to the fact that numerous reputable/experienced reviewers like Linus and JohnyGuru have said good words about it, and you can see why we picked this as the best power supply that you can get at the budget range.

The CX 550 is 80 Plus Bronze certified which means that it’s at least 82% efficient at 20% load, 85% efficient under 50% load, and 82% at 100% load. That being said, 550 watts is definitely more than you’ll ever need for a budget system. But, it’s better to have a bit more room for upgrading and for playing it safe as well.

Regarding the specifications, we’re looking at a full-wired setup, 5 SATA cables, 4 PATA connectors, 2 PCI-E connectors, and the standard stuff.

Now, the full-wired setup can be a bit of a pain for cable management. But, we’re talking about a decent budget PSU here. We can’t have everything at this price range.

The 2 PCI-E cables are definitely overkill and we wouldn’t recommend actually using 2 GPUs on this power supply. Corsair themselves are saying that this is not multi-GPU ready. So, not sure why they added 2 PCI-E connectors.

If you’re living in a rather hot room, do keep in mind that the maximum operating temperature is 40-celsius degrees.

2: Best PSU For Mid-Range Builds: EVGA Supernova G2 (650)

By moving on to mid-range builds, the power demands only get higher and so does the need for a more efficient and cooler, no pun intended, power supply. Thus, we’re moving from a 550-watt 80 Plus Bronze rated PSU to a 650-watt 80 Plus Gold rated one.

Speaking of 80 Plus ratings, the Gold rating of the EVGA Supernova G2 means that you’ll be getting at least 87% efficiency or 90% depending on where you live. Oh, yeah. According to Wikipedia, power supplies seem to be more efficient on 230V EU plugs. Not a big deal, though.

As mentioned before, this is a 650-watt power supply. This should be more than enough for a mid-range build which gives you room for upgrading towards the higher-end spectrum and maybe even use dual-GPU setups. After all, according to EVGA, this is SLI and Crossfire ready.

Moving towards the connectors, there are:

9 SATA ports divided into 3 cables
6 four-pin peripheral connectors split into 2 cables
And 4 GPU connectors split into two cables with one of them offering a couple of 6-pin connections and another one offering two 6+2 connections

The EPS and ATX cables are a given so we’re not even going to mention those… even though technically speaking we just did.

Last, but not least, this is fully modular and comes with Japanese capacitors on the inside with 7-years of warranty. To summarize:

Good cable management? Check
Good price? Check
Reliable and quiet? Check

Overall, we do definitely consider this as the best mid-range power supply that you can get – or at the very least one of the best!

3: Best High-End Power Supply: Corsair RM 650X

At about 60 dollars more than the EVGA Supernova, the Corsair RM650x offers high-end performance for not a whole lot of money. It’s still a bit expensive, but not so much compared to other high-end models.

“But, WTLS! This offers the same wattage as the previous choice and even the same efficiency level. Why should I pay more money for the same thing?” Good question, fellow reader!

While on paper, both power supplies look identical, the RM650x is often placed on a higher tier level by enthusiasts and pros and is often deemed as a bit more reliable choice. So, who are we to speak against them?

Now, of course, we’re not saying that the Supernova G2 is a bad choice for high-end builds. It’s actually still a great choice. But, if you’re making a brand new build, consider spending the extra money and getting something a bit more high-end like this one.

Again, as we mentioned above, the RM650x is very identical with the Supernova in terms of on-paper specifications:

Fully modular
Fanless operation in low power draws
80 Plus Gold rated
Full Japanese capacitors
10-year warranty (3 more years compared to EVGA)
Same number of connectors and multi-GPU ready

Overall, we’re looking at a high-quality PSU here that’s been approved by both thousands of users and pros. It’s hard to go wrong with it and we consider it the best power supply for high-end builds.

4: Best Power Supply For Enthusiasts: Seasonic Prime 1000 Titanium

So, this is obviously not targeted towards your average consumer. No “normal” gamer, professional, or any PC user who actually utilizes his computer like a normal person will need a thousand watts of power.

If you’re into mining or you got multiple power-hungry GPUs running at once? Sure. You can utilize it. For the rest of us, chances are that there’s no need to go anywhere near something like that. There’s a reason that we ranked this as an “enthusiast” PSU. Still the best power supply on this category or at least one of the best.

As the name suggests, this offers Titanium efficiency, meaning that you get at least 92-94% efficiency which wastes little to no energy in waste heat, and also up to 1000 watts of power. Obviously, all of this costs quite a lot. More than twice as much compared to our high-end recommendation.

Specification wise, you get all the goodies that our previous two recommendations offered along with even tighter load regulation. Fully modular setup, fanless mode up to 40% power draw, multiple connectors for GPUs, drives, and peripherals, etc.

Overall, it’s simply one of the best PSUs that you can get in the enthusiast range. And in the rare chance that even a thousand watts are not enough for you, there always choices like the Corsair AXi 1600 (stay away from the 1200i model – too many negative reviews).

That’s all for now! Hopefully, you managed to find your pair. If you’ve got any questions, let us know about them in the comments section down below!

What is Overclocking And When is it Bad?

Last updated on June 13, 2019

What is overclocking? Can it damage my components? Do I need to pay anything extra for it? All good questions that are commonly asked by those who are new to overclocking. Let’s find the answers, shall we?

What is Overclocking?

The cores of your processor and graphics card work in frequencies that we measure in Hz. 1GHz means that your CPU can make a billion calculations per second, 2GHz means that it can do two, you get the point.

So, the higher the frequency that your CPU or GPU offers, the more performance that you’ll get out of them. However, do keep in mind that this only applies when we’re talking about the same models.

You can’t compare two different CPUs and judge how fast they are solely by their frequency because they are built differently. Core VS Core, a Pentium 4 CPU at 3.5GHz will always be several times slower than a Core i5 at the same frequency or even at a much lower one.

But, if you get two identical i5 processors with one of them offering a higher clock/frequency, then that one is definitely going to be faster than its sibling which offers a lower frequency. Easy enough to understand, right?

That being said, processors ship with a specific range of core speeds that they can achieve out of the box without you touching anything. Some of them can be modified to reach higher speeds – and that’s when overclocking comes in.

Overclocking is when the user raises the CPU or GPU core frequencies in order to gain higher levels of performance. But, how can you do that? When? And is it safe?

Can I Overclock? How?

When it comes to processors, Intel and AMD are the only ones who can create them for traditional desktops or laptops. And when it comes to overclocking, the situation is a bit different for each team.

Those of you who own an AMD Ryzen processor can all overclock your processor – no strings attached. Intel users, however, need to own a K series processor and a Z motherboard. If you don’t, your CPU’s core clock will be locked and there’s nothing that you can do about it.

As for how to overclock your CPU, in most cases, you need to reboot into your BIOS settings, start raising the CPU frequency and/or voltage little by little, reboot, stress test, and stop when you see that the PC is crashing. NEVER raise the frequency by more than 50 or 100Hz at once and never raise the voltage abruptly. More on that later.

Now, for graphics cards, almost all GPUs can be overclocked by using something like MSI Afterburner. Thankfully, you don’t need to keep on rebooting for this one to work.

All you have to do is launch the app, start raising the core frequency little by little, benchmark, and keep on going with this process until your games/benchmarks start crashing. A GPU crash can differ from model to model. Some of them just throw you out of the game while others completely crash the whole system.

Can Overclocking Harm My Computer?

Every time that I’m asked, “What is overclocking?”, the next question that almost always comes after is if this is dangerous. The answer? Kinda. Mostly if you don’t know what you’re doing.

When it comes to overclocking, there are primarily three things that can kill your CPU, GPU, or even motherboard:

Heat
Voltage
Bad motherboard VRM

Heat

First of all, let’s start with heat. Making your components work faster, regardless of if you’re pushing more voltage into them or not, will make them heat up more than before.

So, while overclocking, always start with frequency only and move with small steps every single time to while monitoring temperatures to ensure that you’re fine. Most chips can go up to 95C before shutting down. But, the cooler that you can go, the better. I personally prefer staying under 70C at all time. Though technically speaking, anything up to 80-83C is generally considered “perfectly safe”.

Voltage and VRMs

After that comes voltage. And voltage can definitely shorten the lifespan of your components – depending on how much you’re pushing into them.

This is a highly controversial topic. But, most people agree that:

1.3V core voltage is the safe level for 24/7 operation
1.4V up to 1.45V is still relatively safe but may slightly degrade the lifespan of the CPU
And anything above that is getting dangerous and will definitely have an impact on the lifespan of the processor

Note: Do keep in mind that the safe levels differ from CPU to CPU.

Then you also have VRMs (Voltage Regulator Modules). Those are the tiny things that you see around the CPU on your motherboard and they are responsible for providing stable voltage to the processor. If those are crappy, then they may not be able to handle overclocking which can lead to crashes, slowdowns, or even motherboard/CPU failures.

That being said, AMD users may be the only ones who have to worry about it since their chips are overlocked regardless of which motherboard you use. While Intel, on the other hand, only allows you to overclock on specific motherboards that meet the requirements for overclocking.

Summary: If you know what you’re doing, then overclocking is relatively safe. But, it still poses a few dangers. While we’re on this subject, let us not forget to mention that overclocking is NOT recommended for professionals. You don’t want your PC crashing while you’re working on something and losing all progress.

Does Overclocking Cost Me Anything?

Technically speaking, overclocking is free performance. Practically speaking, it costs you so much that you may as well spend that money on a better CPU in the first place.

See, as mentioned above, one of the things that can damage your components while overclocking is heat. And in order to keep everything cool, you need to spend money on cooling solutions like:

A 3rd party CPU cooler
Good case fans
Maybe even a new case that’s focused on cooling

Not to mention that overclocking is a time-consuming process and you know what they say: “Time is money”. For all the time and money that you spend on overclocking, you may as well save your money, spend your time working, and get a Ryzen 7 instead of a Ryzen 5 which will deliver much better performance without you having to worry about damaging the chip.

So, if things are like that, then why is it that so many people love overclocking? Well, first of all, it’s situational. Maybe you already have your CPU for a few years now and you’re trying to squeeze every bit of performance out of it without buying a new chip or something.

Other than that, it’s also a hobby. Some people just love doing this stuff not so much for the performance that they are getting, but because it’s fun.

Questions that were answered today:

What is overclocking?
Is it harmful?
Does it cost me anything?

If you’ve got any more questions, then let us and everyone else know about them in the comments section down below! The WTLS team will try to get back to you as soon as possible along with the rest of our community.

Choosing the Best VPN Router – Buying Guide

Last updated on June 12, 2019

Choosing the Best VPN Router – Buying Guide

Out in the market for the best VPN router that money can buy, but can’t seem to decide on one? Here’s our guide explaining what a VPN router really is, why you would need it, and a selection of hand-picked VPN routers for you to choose from.

In this modern age of computers, mobile phones, and smart devices that span across homes, online security is in focus. The need for setting up a virtual private network (VPN) has steadily increased over the years in personal and business setting as well, and plenty of services have sprung up to offer the best of it. Whether you’ve chosen to employee a VPN service to mask your online activity from the prying eyes of your ISP, or need one to keep the data that is going through your local network under the wraps, you are going to need a dependable VPN service to get the job done.

Traditionally, you would need to install the VPN service as an app on your computer or mobile device to allow filtering of the incoming and outgoing connection. While this is doable for domestic use around the house and even up to an extent for a small-scale business, how do you make sure that the internet connection on an enterprise level is being put through the protected servers of a VPN service provider? This is where the need for the best VPN router comes in handy, giving you a way to secure the internet connection right at the source, so you don’t need to manually set it up on devices one by one.

What is a VPN Router?

The wireless internet router that you choose to set up for your home or your business is the entry point for any incoming or outgoing online traffic. Generally speaking, we tend to focus on aspects such as bandwidth support and the extent of network connectivity when choosing a wireless router, but seldom do we consider whether it comes with VPN support. Regardless of what your thoughts are on the current state of federal-level web monitoring, it is essential for most workspaces to establish a VPN connection, especially if the business depends on the internet for remote connectivity and work done online.

This is where the need for the best VPN router comes into play, allowing you to bottleneck the incoming and outgoing network traffic. All of the internet traffic is filtered directly through the remote servers of the VPN, thus ensuring that each and every megabyte of data that is sent in and out of the wireless connection is concealed by the VPN service provider that you choose to set up the internet router with.

Why Choose ExpressVPN for your VPN Router?

While there are dozens of VPNs out there, ExpressVPN has managed to make a name for itself not just a preferred service provider, but one that works seamlessly with VPN routers. To sum up all of the advantages that ExpressVPN offers specifically for VPN routers, here’s everything that you need to know:

All-in-one Protection – Rather than grabbing every piece of tech that you have in your work space and home and installing the VPN service app on it, a wireless router with the ability to set up the ExpressVPN service on it directly, helps you streamline the process and save you the trouble of doing the installation process on a bunch of separate devices.

Tightened Security – There’s no point in bolstering the online security on the office computers, if you’re going to end up with employees using their mobile devices to connect to the internet in an unsecured way. An ExpressVPN-powered router makes sure that every bit of data that goes in and out is protected by the highest standards of internet security protocols that ExpressVPN has to offer.

Simplified Interface – While most VPN services do offer a well-designed app for users to download, set up, and start using, ExpressVPN makes it even simpler. Apart from a clean user interface that easily allows you to activate the VPN service and choose your preferred server locations, a feature called “Split Tunneling” allows you to add and remove devices that are included under the protection of ExpressVPN.

What’s the Best VPN Router? – Buying Guide

The dire need of control over the internet freedom and to secure the network connection for businesses and enterprises, VPN routers have become commonly available. We’ve sorted through the sea of options that are available in the market today and shortlisted the best ones, based on the area of service they are required for.

Best VPN Router for Home – Linksys WRT AC3200

The WRT series of wireless routers from Linksys have been a household name in the market for decades now, and the latest Linksys WRT AC3200 retains all of the qualities that users like about the brand. The open-source software design of this home router comes with the ability to flash the DD-WRT firmware for VPN compatibility. Packed with features such as Tri-Stream 160 technology along with ample of connectivity through 4x Gigabit ports, there’s plenty of firepower tucked away in the modest casing of the Linksys WRT AC3200.

Specs:

11ac: 3x 867 Mbps
11n: 600 Mbps
4x Gigabit Ethernet
1x USB 3.0
1 x ESATA/USB 2.0
8GHz dual core CPU

Get the Linksys WRT AC3200

Best VPN Router for Office – Cisco Systems Gigabit Dual WAN VPN Router

This router from Cisco Systems cuts out the fancy additions and adding some core features that corporate offices and enterprises need to fulfil their connectivity requirements. The Dual Gigabit Ethernet WAN ports that have been added to the wireless router by more than a dozen, allow you to hook up multiple devices and smoothly manage the network traffic. VPN capabilities have been advertised fairly on the Cisco Systems Gigabit Dual WAN VPN Router, with a simplified user interface, backed by SSL and IP security right out of the box.

Specs:

Dual-Band 802.11a/b/g/n
14x Ethernet
1 x ESATA/USB 2.0
Integrated VPN support

Get the Cisco Systems Gigabit Dual WAN VPN Router

Best VPN Router for Gaming – NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S AC2600

For those who don’t want to settle for anything less than the best for their gaming experience, while ensuring complete anonymity online, the NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S AC2600 is the beast to choose. Offering rapid-fire wireless speeds, support for Multi-User MIMO, and Dynamic QoS that prioritizes bandwidth for latency-sensitive services such as video streaming and gaming, you even get the smart integration of Amazon Alexa to control your home network using voice commands.

Specs:

AC2600 Wi-Fi – 800+1733 Mbps speeds
2x USB 3.0 and eSATA
4x High-gain external antennas
MU-MIMO and Quad Stream technology

Get the NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S AC2600

Best VPN Router for Portability – GL.iNet GL-AR750 Travel AC Router

Allowing you to set up your very own VPN service with the pre-installed WRT/LEDE firmware, GL.iNet GL-AR750 adds an element of portability to high-speed secure internet usage. Powered up by a simple USB connection right from your computer, this travel router comes with plenty of connectivity options not just through the Ethernet ports, but by the support of MicroSD card slot as well. Offering dual-bandwidth support, paired with a high-range antenna allows you to have a full-fledged internet experience no matter where you are.

Specs:

Dual-band 300MB/s(2.4 GHz)+433MB/s(5 GHz)
Qualcomm QCA9531 SoC,650MHz CPU
10/100 Ethernet port x 3
Supports MicroSD storage up to 128GB
80 – 100 meters Wi-Fi Range

Get the GL.iNet GL-AR750 Travel AC Router

Final Words

There is no denying the fact that the internet needs policing, especially due to the growing rate of cybercrime and other malicious online activities. But it doesn’t seem fair that the end-user pays for the sins of a few and being stripped of their internet freedom. The very reason behind the boost in the popularity of VPN services is to help unsuspecting users stay guarded against online threats, while enjoying anonymous access into the World Wide Web.

Integrating the VPN service right into the source of the internet makes your browsing experience more secure, while saving you the trouble of manually enabling and disabling the service each and every time. We’ve chosen to stick with ExpressVPN, since it offers a ability to set up a VPN router not just manually, but directly through the ExpressVPN app as well. Our collection of the best VPN router offerings out there has been curated to help you make the selection easily.

Are you also going to join ExpressVPN and pair it with a VPN-compatible router on the crusade for online freedom? If you do need any assistance in choosing a VPN router, or want to know more about it, just ask for help in the comments section and we’ll surely get back to you.

How to Access iCloud Photo Library – Guide to Manage iCloud Photos

Last updated on June 11, 2019

How to Access iCloud Photo Library – Guide to Manage iCloud Photos

Looking for a method on how to access iCloud Photo Library to view all of your backup up photos and videos? Here’s a complete guide on how you can get hold of all the media saved to your Apple iCloud account in more ways than one.

When the very first iPhone was released back in the year 2007, the smartphone came with 4GB storage space on the base version. For a phone that had just a 2MP camera on the rear and couldn’t even record videos natively, 4 gigabytes of storage space were ample enough. Generation after generation, the iPhone has evolved, bringing more storage space onboard, charging users a premium for the iDevices for the 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB variants. However, Apple soon realized that users need a cloud storage solution that helps them add virtual space to their iPhones and iPad, and used it as an opportunity for monetization.

Thus, with the release of iPhone 4S, Apple rolled out the iCloud online cloud storage service for Mac and iOS devices in the year 2011. Offering 5GB of online data storage for free to all users, Apple charges a subscription fee to users who can then choose to upgrade the available online storage to 50GB, 200GB, and even a whopping 1TB. With over 800 million users, there are plenty of users who might find the need to learn how to access iCloud Photo Library on their Windows, Mac, and iOS devices. Although being rebranded as “iCloud Photos” after the release of iOS 12, the features of the cloud storage service from Apple have remained the same.

How to Enable iCloud Sync

Before you can have all of your photos and videos synced to the iCloud Photo Library, you need to make sure that the feature is enabled in the first place. Once you have the iCloud backup enabled, the media on your iDevices will begin to sync, and you can then go ahead and learn how to access iCloud Photo Library from multiple platforms.

Enable iCloud Photo Library on iOS

On your iPhone or iPad home screen, head over to the Settings
Scroll down to find the Photos & Camera tab and tap on it.
Press the toggle switch you see next to the option iCloud Photo Library to enable it.
You can enable to options My Photo Stream to automatically upload photos and videos to your iCloud account.
Additionally, the iCloud Photo Sharing option, once enabled, will allow you to share your albums with other users.

Enable iCloud Photo Library on Mac

From the main screen of your Mac OS X computer, open the System Preferences menu and head over to the iCloud
You will be asked to sign in you using your Apple ID and password.
Using the pop-up window, select the iCloud Drive and Photos using the checkbox right next to the two options.
Press the Options button on the Photos tab and make sure that all three of the checkboxes are enabled (iCloud Photo Sharing, My Photo Stream, and iCloud Photo Sharing) before you press Done to confirm.

How to Access iCloud Photo Library

You may not be a big fan of the closed environment that Apple has created amongst the iOS and Mac OS X devices, but it surely is efficient. By bridging the gap between the storage spaces of your Apple devices using iCloud, you can ensure that every single image and video that you’ve ever shot or has been shared with you, is safe in the cloud.

Even if you don’t own a suite of Apple devices to seamlessly share media content amongst each other, the ability to have all of your cherished moments safe and sound is reassuring to say the least. Whether you end up losing your iPhone or iPad or breaking it beyond repair, you can always rely on iCloud Photo Library to safeguard the media automatically.

How to Access iCloud Photo Library on Windows

For those who tend to use iTunes to manage the content on their iPhone and iPad with a Windows PC, chances are that you have iCloud installed already. However, if you did not choose to install iCloud along with the iTunes bundle, you can start off by doing so now.

Download and install the iCloud app for Windows using the link given here – Download iCloud for Windows.
Once you open the iCloud app on your Windows computer, you will be asked to sign in using your Apple ID and password.
Next to the Photos icon, press the Options button and select iCloud Photo Library from the list of options.
You can then choose to the Download, Upload, and iCloud Photo Sharing folders on your Windows computer accordingly.
Using the File Explorer on your Windows PC, you will be able to access the iCloud Photos folder under the Favorites
Once synced, you will be able to see the photos and videos in your iCloud account through the three folders – Downloads, Uploads, and Shared

How to Access iCloud Photo Library using Web Browser

Apple has designed iCloud to be the true web-based data storage platform, which is why is available as a web-based service as well. Using a supported desktop browser such as Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or any other, you can sign into your iCloud account online and gain access to the entire Photos Library on the go.

Open a new browser tab and head over to the iCloud website using the following link – www.icloud.com.
You will then be asked to enter your Apple ID and password to access your iCloud Photos and other data through the web client.
The interface of iCloud is quite similar to that of iPhone or iPad, with app-shaped icons for you to open and view the contents.
Apart from the media in the Photos and iCloud Drive app, you will also be able to access the Mail, Contacts, Notes, Reminders, and a lot more through the web version of iCloud.
Finally, you can open the Photos app icon and understand how to access the iCloud Photo Library online from anywhere, at any time.

Final Words

Once you have enabled iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS X devices, you will be able to view, manage, and easily delete your images and videos from a centralized platform. Based on the storage plan that you have selected, you will be able to upload, download, and share media files directly through the iCloud app for Windows, or simply by using the web-based platform.

Were you able to figure out how to access iCloud Photo Library using a Windows computer or by just going online over to www.icloud.com to access all of your iPhone and iPad data remotely? Be sure to ask away any questions that you may have in the comments section listed down below, and we’ll get back to you at the earliest.

How Much Does it Cost To Build A Gaming PC?

Last updated on June 10, 2019

We’ve all heard the argument: “Why buy a gaming PC when you can get a console without spending nearly as much?”. And the truth is that building a gaming PC is expensive. Or is it? The price will greatly vary depending on what you’re aiming for. So, how much does it cost to build a gaming PC really? Well, let’s find out!

How Much Does it Cost To Build A Gaming PC? Entry Level

My choice of specs:

Motherboard: GIGABYTE B450 AORUS M= $74
Case: Thermaltake V200= $70
CPU: Ryzen 3 2200G= $87
GPU: Integrated
RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury 2666MHz (X2)= $58
Storage: Kingston 120GB A400 (SSD) and WD Blue 1TB= $64
PSU: Corsair CX 650= $70
Total: $423

This setup should deliver at least 30FPS in 1080P low/medium settings for pretty much all games that are out there right now. If it can play something like AC Origins, then it can definitely handle everything else. And it goes without saying that it can handle esports titles like CS: GO easily while delivering more than 100FPS (depending on settings and resolution).

More or less a console-like experience for a console-like price. For the money, this is an extremely good setup which gives you a lot of upgradability options. In fact, simply putting a good GPU in there could turn this into an awesome mid-range build. And if you’re up to the task, upgrading the CPU and RAM later will basically give you a high-end PC without having to buy everything again from scratch.

Now, you could probably save a hundred bucks or more by skimping a bit on the PSU, motherboard, case, or storage. However, I’d advise against it.

You see, if there is one thing that you don’t want to cheap out, then that’s the PSU – maybe also the case. A crappy PSU can destroy your whole computer and a cheap case leaves you with bad airflow and limited choices for upgradeability. So, yeah. And don’t get me started on faulty motherboards. They can be a pain in the butt.

Speaking about power supplies, this is definitely overkill for this build. But, it gives you more room for upgrading without having to get a new one.

How Much Does it Cost To Build A Gaming PC? Mid-Range Build

My choice of specs:

Motherboard: MSI X470 Gaming Plus= $137
Case: NZXT H500i= $90
CPU: Ryzen 5 2600= $145
GPU: GTX 1660 Ti= $280
RAM: HyperX Predator 8×2= $124
Storage: Kingston 120GB A400 (SSD) and WD Blue 1TB= $64
PSU: Corsair RM560x= $90
Total: $930

For a little bit less than a thousand dollars, this mid to high-end build allows you to run almost everything out there at 1080P, ultra, 60FPS. If you’re willing to drop down the settings you can move on to 1440P as well. You can even go up to 4K. But, you’ll have to accept lower framerates for that.

Compared to our cheaper build, we’ve now ditched the APU setup and we got ourselves a more powerful processor along with a dedicated graphics card. Since this setup uses more power, produces more heat, and gives the option of using much more powerful parts along with overclocking, we decided to go with a more reliable PSU. Hence the RM650x.

The case also gives you lots of cooling, room for drives, extra fans, and upgradeability options. RGB is included in numerous parts as well – if you’re into this sort of thing.

Last but not least, we also added more and faster RAM as AMD CPUs greatly benefit from this sort of thing. Overall, this is a very powerful build which will leave little to be desired.

How Much Does it Cost To Build A Gaming PC? High-End/Very Powerful Build

My choice of specs:

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z390 Aorus= $230
Case: Corsair Crystal 570X= $160
CPU: Core i7-9700K= $400
GPU: RTX 2080Ti= $1,280
RAM: Ballistix Sport 16×2= $200
Storage: Samsung 970 Pro 1TB + WD Black 4TB= $497
PSU: Corsair RM 750i= $120
Total: $2,887

Flirting with a $3k price tag, this setup is the ultimate gaming machine. It can easily deliver 60FPS on 4K and well over 100FPS at 1080P max settings.

This time I decided to move over to Intel since it delivers better performance on the high-end spectrum. And though the 3rd generation of Ryzen 7 is right around the corner, we still haven’t seen any real-life usage from it (At the time of writing this article). A Core i9 is completely overkill for gaming so let’s leave that out of the way.

Apart from that, memory, storage, and the GPU are several steps ahead from our last build. In fact, only the GPU costs more than our mid-range build.

You can cut more than 400 bucks by taking it easy on the RAM and storage. But, if you’re going to make a high-end 4K build, you may as well go all out. At least that’s what I thought while making this setup.

The PSU and case aren’t a huge upgrade in any way. The only difference is that this power supply delivers 100 more watts and also offers power monitoring with software. Also fan control, if memory serves right. The case is just a bit fancier, but, other than that, more or less the same thing functionality wise.

Overall, this is one of the most powerful gaming computers that you can get – if not the most powerful. If you’re into enthusiast stuff, you can go even higher with a threadripper and dual or even quad GPU setups and a monster power supply. But, again, that’s more about having a hobby and bragging rather than owning a functional gaming machine.

Wrapping Up

So, how much does a gaming PC cost? As I showcased in great detail, the price can greatly vary depending on what you want and how much you’re willing to sacrifice for each build.

You can start from as low as 300-400 bucks (or lower if you’re looking into the used market) and go well over the $3K mark. It’s all about how much you are willing to spend and what you need.

For example, if you’ve got a 1080P/60Hz monitor sitting around your house, then getting a high-end build for it is silly. Chances are that you won’t notice the difference in performance between the two since you don’t get to see the extra FPS and you won’t be able to go into higher resolutions either. You get my point.

F.A.Q

Why is it that most of the builds are based on AMD and Nvidia? Are you a fanboy? – No. It’s just that AMD offers a better value on the CPU market and Nvidia dominates the mid to high-end GPU market. There’s no room for debate over that.
That case/motherboard is bad. Why not get X choice instead? – Nobody stops you from choosing something else. That’s the magic of PC building. If you don’t like a motherboard or case for any reason, you can go with another one. In most cases, no pun intended, cases and motherboards aren’t just “better” compared to each other. Just different.
Why not just go with the cheapest case? Doesn’t make a difference. – Airflow and room for upgradeability is a big deal. Both can royally screw you over down the line.
I’ve got a cheap PSU and it’s been working well for years. Why go with a premium choice? – Cheap power supplies have a much higher chance of ruining one of your components or even blowing up and destroying your whole build. Maybe the odds are 1 in a 100, 1,000, more, are you still gonna take the risk? You’re risking hundreds of dollars just to save 50 bucks or so.
Both Intel and the RTX 2080Ti are bad value. Why recommend them? – Because they offer the best performance that you can get right now. If you want the most powerful PC that you can build out of the enthusiast range, you don’t have any other options.
A 1TB SSD AND a 4TB HDD? Why? – Look at the previous answer. Same thing. Do you want the “almost reasonable” best? That’s probably it.

If you’ve noticed any mistakes, and I’m almost certain that there will be a couple, let me know about them. Reasonable recommendations are welcome as well.

Other interesting articles

Best Budget Gaming Mouse

Best Headphones for Gaming in 2019

Best PC Gamepad

How to buy Used iPhone 8: The Safe Method

Last updated on June 8, 2019

Buying used electronics can be a risky business. You often don’t have any warranty and you don’t even know if you’ll get something that’s working or that’s in good condition in the first place. So, how do you buy a used iPhone 8 while avoiding such things? Well, that’s what we’re here to find out today!

Why Go For A Used iPhone 8?

So, first things first, why go for a used iPhone 8? After all, as mentioned above, there are quite a few risks when buying a used device. Is there something that justifies those risks? Actually, there is!

Used phones are obviously much cheaper and you often get the option of choosing an unlocked model. So, not only you can get your phone for a lower price but you also get to use your phone with every carrier you want. Unlocking services usually cost money. So, this basically gives you two things for the price of one!

Speaking of carriers, a used phone means that you’re not tied to any contracts! This is useful if you don’t like the pricing options or the services of the specific carrier that you have chosen as you’ll be able to move away from them anytime you want.

Last, but not least, the used market is full of choices that are not officially available in stores. For example, finding a brand new iPhone is not just expensive, but also tough because availability is going down the drain every time that a new model comes out.

Also, let us not forget to mention that some sellers will include refurbished phones that are brand new. If you’re not familiar with it, refurbishing is a process of restoring a used product to a brand-new like state. So, you basically get a used phone that can’t be distinguished from a new one while paying only for a fraction of the full price.

Still interested in getting a used device? Let’s move on with the guide then!

Things To Look Out For When Searching For A Used iPhone 8

Again, buying used products can be a bit risky. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. And that’s especially true for electronics; be it a used iPhone 8 or whatever it is that may be looking for.

There are a few things to look out for and if you follow them you’re almost certain to get a good buy.

1: Only Shop From Reputable Re-sellers

When buying a brand new product, pretty much any retailer will get the job done. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with used phones as well.

See, there are numerous ways for the seller to screw you over. He may sell you something defective and claim that you broke it! He may lie about the device being unlocked while it’s actually locked, and more!

This is why you should only buy from sellers who are known to do their job well. Swappa and Amazon are two of the most popular choices when it comes to used electronics.

Swappa, in particular, is more or less entirely focused on selling used stuff. So, by taking both its popularity and standing into account, we’d say that it’s a very solid choice for buying a used iPhone 8 or any phone that’s available there, really.

Then there’s also Amazon and everyone knows who they are so you can’t go wrong with them, right? Well, not exactly. Amazon still relies a lot on 3rd party sellers and there have been numerous times where their products weren’t as described.

Don’t get me wrong. Amazon is still a much better choice than any unknown, random seller. But, websites that are specialized on selling used stuff like Swappa are often a more reliable choice for this sort of thing.

Get A Used or Refurbished Phone From Swappa

2: Condition

A common rookie mistake from beginners is that they focus so much on pricing that they forget about the condition of the device. Good or refurbished often means that the phone is close to brand-new in terms of quality.

Mint and below may mean that the device has visible marks of use but is still fully operatable. Things like marks, scratches, and stuff like that. Be especially wary of screen marks as that can actually affect your experience and can even make it easier for the display to break under a small fall or something.

Only for repairs means that the phone isn’t working normally and is only to be used for parts. For example, it may be that the device doesn’t boot but it still has a working screen. So, if you are looking for a new display to replace your broken one, then that’s what these phones are used for.

If possible, try to look for photos of evidence as well. Especially on websites like eBay that are almost fully based on how good their 3rd party sellers are.

3: Carrier Restrictions

This is another common trap that beginners fall into. You get your used iPhone 8, or whatever your choice is. But, to your shock, you get no signal. Only then do you realize that the phone was actually carrier locked and now you have to either return it or pay extra money for an unlocking service.

Websites like Swappa always mention the carrier of each device. So, do make sure to pay attention to it. If you already have a preference and feel alright with being bound to a single carrier, sure, nothing wrong with choosing a locked device.

However, if you don’t know which carrier to go with then a locked device is a big no. After all, once you get a locked device, there’s no going back. Unless, of course, you’re willing to pay that extra money for unlocking.

For this reason, you can consider getting an unlocked device. In theory, unlocked devices should work with every carrier out there. But, in reality, some of them may prevent you from getting access to their services simply because you own a device that is not theirs. So, do keep that in mind!

4. Import Fees And Taxes

This is something that applies to online shopping in general – not just used phones. See, when you get something that’s considered slightly expensive from outside of your country, you’re often required to pay extra import fees and taxes. So, do look out for that.

The price that you are going to pay and the price that is required to get into this process differs from country to country. So, you better make your own research on this one.

Europe generally asks for an order of at least 22 euros before you have to start paying fees. But, again, make your own research.

Phone Charging Slow Lately? Here’s How to Fix It

Last updated on June 6, 2019

Is your phone charging slow and there doesn’t seem to be anything that can help you get it up to speed? Here’s our complete guide on what you need to do to get your phone all charged up faster and understand the reason behind the extended charging time.

Back in the day when mobile devices were used for nothing more than phone calls and the most basic texting, battery capacity was not a concern. Early-age mobile phones such as the Nokia 3310 were legendary for the screen-on time that they offered, allowing users to go days on a single charge. There was nothing revolutionary about the quality of the battery that was offered in the older mobile phones, but rather the limitations that these devices posed when compared to the modern smartphone. Comparing the mobile phones from the 90s to the modern iPhone and Android phones, the two are incomparable.

The latest and great smartphones are capable of handling communication through video calling, stream high-quality content through Wi-Fi, play hours of music, and do so much more with thousands of apps that are out there. But all of this firepower comes at the cost of screen-on time, where even the meatiest smartphones such as the Galaxy S10 offer nothing more than one day of screen-on time. While the technology behind batteries has somewhat remained the same, the one area where mobile phones in general have evolved is the charging time required to juice up. From taking overnight to charge all the way up to 100%, to requiring just a few hours, fast charging has been a game changer.

Phone Charging Slow Lately? Here’s How to Fix It

Qualcomm has developed fast charging technology such as Quick Charge and brands such as OnePlus offering Warp Charge that goes from 0 to 50 in less than 30 minutes. These high-speed charging standards may cause you to expect nothing less than a couple of hours of charging time. However, there are aspects that can slow down the charging speed of your mobile phone, which sometimes may be obviously noticeable, and other times, it may not seem too obvious. There can be multiple factors behind the reason why the phone charging slow problem, and here’s how you can resolve each of them:

Issue #1 – Damaged Charging Cable

If you’ve had your mobile phone for a couple of years now, chances are that you’ve been using it with the same USB cable that came in the box. While most cables these days are built with good quality materials, thousands of cycles of plugging in and out can cause wear and tear over time. Even when the charging cable may seem fully-functional from the outside, broken pins at the either ends of the cable can affect the flow of charge from the adapter to the device.

The very first course of action should be replacing the USB cable with a newer, preferably the one that supports high-speed charging. Additionally, it doesn’t hurt to choose a USB cable that comes with a braided or thickened inner and outer layer, which will prevent the integrity of the charging cable to be hindered even after years of use. You can also test the charging cable with another device to confirm whether the issue lies with the USB cable or not.

Issue #2 – Inefficient Power Source

Apart from the USB cable that brings the power supply to your phone, it is equally important to consider if enough juice is being supplied to your phone in the first place. You can expect optimal charging speeds with the charging adapter that is included with the device. For instance, if you choose to charge your OnePlus device with another charging adapter, the Warp Charge technology will not work, thus causing the phone charging slow down significantly.

Using the USB port on your computer is not the most efficient way of charging your device either, since it offers less than 1A of energy output. You can try replacing the power adapter with a newer one, especially with a Qualcomm Quick Charge adapter (if your phone supports the fast charging standard). You can then expect to reduce the time that is required by your smartphone to charge all the way up to 100%.

Issue #3 – Battery Problems

Several users across the board have reported that the phone charging time seems to increase as the device gets older. Although this specific issue should not occur on newer mobile devices, but it wouldn’t be unheard of, if your new phone also begins to experience battery problems. While new phones can be serviced (for free in most cases), older devices will either need a battery replacement to fix the problem for good.

For those who still seem to own mobile devices that come with a rear panel that can simply be popped out (like the Galaxy S5, LG G5, and others), replacing the battery is fairly simple. However, for the newer generation of mobile phones can come with batteries coffined inside a glass or metal back panel, visiting a professional to have the battery replaced with a new one is the only way out of the slow charging issue. Or you can replace your battery yourself. For iPhone battery replacement or Samsung Battery replacement, read these articles.

Issue #4 – Usage Pattern

Although this should be a no-brainer, but the amount of time to keep that phone turned on significantly affects the time period required to charge the phone. The biggest power-hungry element of your smartphone is the screen, and with the latest crop offering Full-HD and Quad-HD displays, you can expect the juice to drain out significantly faster when you keep using the phone while its charging.

The processing power, combined with the display and even the speakers, can all come together to cause your phone charging slow down. In addition, if you have a weak power source or a damaged power cable that is feeding a reduced power supply to your device, you might even end up losing a couple of percent of battery charge even while it is continuously being charged.

Issue #5 – Background Processes

While everything on the surface may seem fine, there could be a collection of apps and services that may be wreaking havoc on the battery life of your phone in the background. If you have a high-graphic game running in the background, it can take up enough processing power to slow down the charging speed of your mobile phone, even when the screen is turned off and you’ve exited the app. To get a better understanding of what’s eating away at the battery life, you can check it out in the Settings app here:

From the home screen of your mobile phone, head over to the Settings
Through the Settings menu, scroll down to find the Battery tab and open it.
In the Battery menu, you will be able to see a list of apps, along with a percentage right next to them, which will highlight the amount of power it has consumed.

The list of apps can help you find the hidden culprit behind the battery draining and phone charging slow issue that the phone is experiencing. You can also ensure that all of the background apps and services have been closed while you leave the phone to charge.

Issue #6 – Faulty Charging Port

This may seem like a far-fetched possibility, but you’d be surprised how often the charging port of mobile phones can get damaged. The probability of you ending up with a wonky USB port increases significantly if your smartphone has a MicroUSB slot for charging. While the reversible USB Type-C makes the likelihood of USB port damage significantly less, there can still be issues regarding obstruction by debris and corrosion.

Carrying around the phone in your pocket can cause all sorts of dirt and grit to get lodged into the tiny USB port, which can, in some cases, affect the charging speed. Be it from the humid climate or moisture that may have made its way into the USB port, there’s always a chance of corrosion as well, which can also cause severe issues. Either way, we recommend that rather than taking up the job of fixing the problem yourself, you have the phone serviced by a professional.

Issue #7 – Software Problem

The way the mobile manufacturer designs the system software also generally affects the battery life of the smartphone. Although you usually expect a software update to improve the performance of your device, the manufacturer can “pull an oopsie” and roll out a software update that breaks more things than it fixes. There have been numerous where Apple and Android OEMs have released software updates that have caused charging issues with the devices.

If you recently updated your smartphone and have started to experience the phone charging slow lately, then the two could be connected. You can reach out to the software support team and expect the issue to be fixed by an upcoming update, or take matters in your own hand and perform a factory reset. Wiping clean the mobile phone would most likely do away with the broken elements of the system update that is messing with your phone’s charging capacity, so it’s a good idea to use the action as a last resort.

Final Words

Maybe the advent of fast charging technology has spoilt us a little, but not having your phone all juiced up within a few hours can be infuriating. As you can see from the list of possibilities above, the reason behind your phone charging slow is not tied down to a single factor. However, we’ve gathered the intel from users and community forums all over the internet to see what seemed to affect their phone’s charging time, and how they were able to fix it.

Are you among those who have been experiencing slow charging issues on their mobile phones lately? Have you uncovered a specific reason behind the problem that we might’ve overlooked? Be sure to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section right down below.