Category Archives: iPhone

iPhone, Reviews

Which iPhone Smartphone Offers the Best Value?

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Which iPhone Offers the Best Value?

With so many smartphones and iPhones to choose, deciding which iPhone offers the best value isn’t always easy. Apart from specifications and features, you should also consider the iPhone’s age, price, and re-sell value to find the best value iPhone. To help you out, we have selected three iPhones that tower above the rest in terms of the value for money they provide.

Best Value iPhone: iPhone 8 Plus

Iphone 8 Plus Best value smartphoneOut of the three new iPhones Apple released in 2017, the iPhone 8 Plus offers the best value iPhone. Even though it’s $200 less expensive than the iPhone X, the two smartphones share basically the same internal components.  We found them on Amazon starting from $915.

But the iPhone 8 Plus has the same design?

Yes, the iPhone 8 Plus still sports the same tired design as the iPhone 7 Plus, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For example, if you currently own the iPhone 7 Plus, all your current accessories should work just fine with the iPhone 8 Plus, including cases and car mounts. Some people may even prefer to stick with the familiar design instead of learning the several new gestures that are required for navigating the iPhone X.

Thanks to the A11 Bionic chipset, the iPhone 8 Plus is considerably faster than all older iPhones, so you can rest assured knowing that your smartphone is going to remain breezy for a long time. The iPhone 8 Plus also features basically the same rear dual-lens camera module that is present in the iPhone X. This means that you can take 12 MP wide-angle pictures with one lens and then capture 12 MP closeups with the telephoto lens. You can also record 4K video at 60 frames per second or Full HD video at 240 frames per second.

What about screen quality on the iPhone 8 Plus?

The only major thing that the iPhone 8 Plus sacrifices in the name of value when compared to the iPhone X is screen quality. The iPhone X has a beautiful, edge-to-edge OLED screen with 2436 x 1125 pixels and support for HDR. The iPhone 8 Plus, on the other hand, has the same Full HD 5.5-inch IPS LCD as the iPhone 7 Plus.

But because there’s no real reason to go beyond the Full HD resolution on a 5.5-inch screen, apart from virtual reality, we stand behind our opinion that the iPhone 8 Plus offers the best value for people who want an all-around excellent iPhone and can live without the latest and greatest design.

Best Value Iphone Alternative: iPhone 7

Since the release of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, the second-hand Iphone 7 Best value Smartphonesmarket with the iPhone 7 has exploded. For a very attractive price, you can get this one generation old performer, which looks almost identical to the iPhone 8, but lacks some of the bells and whistles of its younger brother.

Most notably, the iPhone 7 has the A10 Fusion chipset, which is not nearly as impressive now as it was when it was first released. While the chipset still has more than enough power for just about anything that you can find in the App Store, you may notice that it occasionally has trouble keeping up with heavy multi-tasking or bloated web pages.

As such, you shouldn’t buy the iPhone 7 brand-new from Apple. The smartphone only really makes sense if you don’t intend to use it for more than two years—but ideally just one.  A refurbished version is available on Amazon for a fraction of the price.


The iPhone 7 also lacks wireless charging support, only has up to 128 GB of storage capacity, and has a lesser camera than newer iPhones. That said, we don’t think that the lack of support for wireless charging is something to worry about unless you now own a smartphone that has this feature and don’t remember the last time you’ve charged it with a cable.

Photography with the iPhone 7

The camera is then perhaps the biggest weakness of the iPhone 7 because it doesn’t support the special portrait mode nor any other newer features, such as Face ID. But make no mistake, the iPhone 7 still takes stunning pictures. It’s just that flagship smartphones have evolved since 2016, but the iPhone 7 stayed the same.

Apart from its reliable performance and attractive price, the iPhone 7 also offers very manageable size as well as nearly all of the strengths of the iPhone 7 Plus. If you don’t feel like splurging a large sum of money on a brand-new iPhone 8, and you don’t like larger smartphones, you should definitely consider getting a second-hand iPhone 7.

Best Value Older Iphone: the iPhone SE

Best older smartphone Iphone SEReleased in March 2016, the iPhone SE is old. But despite its advanced age, this wonderful little ode to the short-lived era of 4-inch smartphones still has plenty to offer to people who need a smartphone only for the most basic tasks, including taking pictures and making video calls.

The price of the iPhone SE is the winner here.

Perhaps the best thing about the iPhone SE, apart from its adorable size, is its very attractive price of just $349. That’s right, $349 for a new iPhone straight from Apple. It’s true that you can find newer iPhones, such as the aforementioned iPhone 7, for better prices on sites like eBay and Craigslist, but you need to be willing to get a second-hand iPhone to begin with, and not everyone is.  Personally id check out Apple on amazon for a great deal (see here)

We think that it’s perfectly reasonable to spend $349 on a new iPhone SE, knowing that it doesn’t come with the latest bells and whistles and doesn’t have as much processing power to spare as newer iPhones do.

What it does have is a sharp 4.0-inch IPS LCD with 640 x 1136 pixels, the A9 chipset, up to 128 GB of storage space, 2 GB of RAM, 12 MP rear camera that can record 2160p video at 30 frames per second or 720p video at up to 240 frames per second, 1.2 MP front-facing camera with face detection and FaceTime support, and front-mounted fingerprint reader with Touch ID support.

 

iPhone, Reviews

10 Best Wireless Charging Mats for iPhone X and iPhone 8

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Top 10 Best Wireless Charging Mats for iPhone X and iPhone 8

In September 2017, Apple introduced wireless charging on its iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus smartphones. Whereas Android users have been enjoying this feature for half a decade, with the 2012 LG Nexus 4 being the first Android device to support the technology, Apple is so late to the party that the bar has already closed and there are no untouched alcoholic beverages left to celebrate its arrival.

Knowing that there’s an established wireless charging market, Apple has made the wise decision to meet current industry standards, known as Qi standards. As such, iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus can be charged with any wireless charger that supports the same standards—and there’s no shortage of such chargers. We have selected 10 wireless charging mats that deliver an excellent charging performance at affordable prices.

1. Samsung Wireless Charge Pad  for iPhone x and 8 / Plus

Samsung Wireless charging pod for iphone x iphone 8 iphone 8 plus

It may feel strange to you to charge your iPhone with a wireless charging pad made by Samsung, but we can assure you that the two will get along great. This popular Qi-certified wireless charger from Samsung offers reliability and rock-solid charging performance while giving you a choice between five colors to match your home décor. The charger has a multi-colored LED that indicates the current charging status to let you know when your phone is fully charged and ready.

2. Belkin Wireless Charge Pad for iPhone x and 8 / Plus

Belkin wireless charging pad for iphone x iphone 8 iphone 8 plusBelkin is a well-known American manufacturer of smartphone accessories and consumer electronics. The company has been in the smartphone charging game long enough to know how to design a wireless charger that can deliver up to 1 A output while looking stylish and being affordable. Included with the charging pad is an AC adapter, but Belkin also sells the same pad without the adapter at a lower price.

3. RAVPower Wireless Charging Mat for iPhone x and 8 / Plus

RAVPower Wireless Charging Pad for iphone x iphone 8 iphone plus

If you want the maximum wireless charging performance achievable, this wireless charging pad from RAVPower is an excellent choice. When connected to the included Quick Charge 3.0 power adapter, the RAVPower Wireless Charging Pad can charge your iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus at up to 7.5 watts, provided you have the latest version of iOS. Compare this to standard wireless charging pads, which charge only at up to 5 watts, and it becomes obvious why it makes sense to pay extra for a fast wireless charger from RAVPower.

4. Seneo Wireless Charging Stand for iPhone x and 8 / Plus

Seneo Wireless Charging Stand for iphone x iphone 8 iphone plus

The biggest downside to wireless charging is the fact that it works only if your smartphone lays flat on the wireless charging pad. Once you get a notification and pick it up to look at the display, the charging interrupts. And if you’re someone who keeps getting notifications all the time, the charging progress might slow to a crawl. This wireless charging stand from Seneo has been designed specifically to solve this issue. It features a vertical charging coil that lets you keep your smartphone at such an angle that you don’t even need to pick it up to look at the display. Besides being convenient, the Seneo Wireless Charging Stand is also well made and works with all standard wall adapters.

5. SurgeDisk Bamboo Wireless Pad for iPhone x and 8 / Plus

SurgeDisk Bamboo Wireless Charging Mat for iphone x iphone 8 iphone plus

This ultra-slim wireless charge pad is made from bamboo, which gives it its own unique style that’s a welcome departure from the standard, and rather uninspired, design of most wireless charging pads. With all products that use their design as a selling point, there’s always the danger that their performance will leave something to be desired. Fortunately, the SurgeDisk Bamboo Wireless Pad is approved by FCC, RoHS, and CE, offering reliable wireless charging to all Qi-compatible devices.

6. TOZO Aviation Aluminum Wireless Charging Mat for iPhone x and 8 / Plus

TOZO Aviation Aluminium Wireless Charging Mat for iphone x iphone 8 iphone plus

If natural materials are not your thing, perhaps this aluminum wireless charge mat from TOZO will be more up your alley. At just 5 mm, it’s one of the thinnest wireless charging mats on the market, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t deliver the same or even better charging performance as mats that are twice as thick. The second you place your iPhone on the TOZO Aviation Aluminum Wireless Charging Mat, a soft LED light starts to breathe, letting you know when your device is fully charged.

7. Rioddas Wireless Charging Stand with a Built-In Fan for iPhone x and 8 / Plus

Rioddas Wireless Charging stand with built in fan for iphone x iphone 8 iphone plus

Wireless charging produces a lot of residual heat. This is usually not a problem, but it can become one if you charge your phone in a room without air conditioning. If you don’t want to risk overheating your expensive iPhone, you should consider buying this handy wireless charging stand from Rioddas, which has a built-in cooling fan. Apart from protecting your smartphone from damage, the cool air from the fan also makes wireless charging up to 1.2-times faster compared to traditional wireless charging stands.

8. iOttie Wireless Charging Car Mount for iPhone x and 8 / Plus iOttie Wireless Charging magnetic car mount for iphone x iphone 8 iphone plus

With the iOttie Wireless Charging Car Mount, you can enjoy the convenience of wireless charging even when driving your car. This charging car mount has a strong suction cup that allows you to easily install it on most windshields, and the telescopic arm with a ball joint at the end makes finding the right viewing angle effortless. The iOttie Wireless Charging Car Mount can fit all devices that are between 2.3 inches to 3.3 inches wide, which includes iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus.

9. Thiatoo Wireless Charging Magnetic Car Mount for iPhone x and 8 / Plus

Thiatoo Wireless Charging magnetic car mount for iphone x iphone 8 iphone plusThis charging car mount features a strong magnet that makes charging while driving much easier. To use this mount, you need to stick an inconspicuous metal ring on the back of your smartphone so that the magnet inside the mount has something to hold onto. With the metal ring installed, you can simply place your smartphone on the Thiatoo car mount, and instantly enjoy fast wireless charging. Because this wireless charging car mount uses a magnet instead of a spring-loaded clamp, it works with smartphones of all sizes.

10. Apple AirPower wireless charger for iPhone x and 8 / Plus

apple airpower iphone x iphone 8 iphone 8 Plus wireless chargerApple has recently unveiled their upcoming wireless charging mat for the latest iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Called AirPower, this elegant wireless charging mat can charge multiple devices simultaneously, and it works with all Qi-compatible devices. The AirPower is the only charging mat on this list that uses a Lightning cable, making it perfect for Apple fans, who most likely already have several Lighting cables and wall adapters laying around. Unfortunately, the AirPower is not yet available. It will launch in 2018, according to Apple, but we don’t know exactly when.

 

iPhone

iPhone video tips – How To Shoot Like A Pro

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iPhone video tips. How To Shoot iPhone Video Like A Pro

It appears that iPhones have replaced standalone video cameras. There is no doubt that smart phones are still quite far from the quality offered by DSLR videos & cameras.

It is often said that the best camera is the camera you have with you at the time.  Although there is often a real distinct difference in the quality between smart phone models and devices. Whilst the gap in quality is due to lenses and technology issues within iPhones, the biggest issues is often bad user habits.  In this article we hope to give you some tips to improve your videos with your iPhone or smart phone.

iPhone video Apps

One of the first tricks to shooting on your iPhone like a pro is not using the stock standard camera app from Apple. Apple’s camera app lacks important controls that are vital when shooting footage at a professional level. iPhone 7 limits the bit rate of a 4K video down to 47 Mbps.  This limitation will keep the file sizes low, but will also  impact the quality of your iPhone video.



Using a third party application is the way forward if you want to record higher quality of recording. These apps have the ability to turn your iPhone into a pocket DSLR video. Additional options like white focus control, custom pre-sets and control exposure.

Eliminating the white balance is another tip.  The white balance often makes the iPhone footage look amateur.  This is quite simple, to start with, change the settings on the white balance and exposure before you press play. Some of these apps may seem like pricey purchases, but they are worthwhile if you find yourself shooting a significant amount of video content.

Who wants shaky footage?

Unless you’re watching cloverfield, shaky camera work is a tell-tale sign that something has been filmed by a hand held device.  It’s also fairly easy to tell that the device was a phone. We understand not everyone wants to use Steadicam rigs or tripods, but without them your viewers might feel a sense of nausea.

You don’t need to splurge on expensive professional grade accessories, although the make things easier.  You can go for low cost alternatives, which if used well can offer similar results. The best DIY option, although simple, is leaning on an object.  This can cut the amount of camera shake while filming, and of course can limit your movement too and range to video. If you can afford a small investment.  Its worth putting some cash towards a iPhone tripod. Tripods can range from $7 upwards, a simple and small piece of equipment can not only hold your iPhone steady but make a huge difference to the overall quality of your video footage.

Even better again, a gimbal could also be a useful contraption for keeping your iPhone camera steady, it will reduce shakes and vibrations caused by movements.


Should you use the iPhone Zoom for videos?

A lot of iPhone users go wrong when they starting using the zoom whilst filming the videos. This ruins not only just the quality but the clarity of the video. If you start using the zoom your footage results will be grainy and stretched. Instead of using the zoom, try to move closer to the object.  Moving closer will retain the quality and give your footage of depth of field.  Lighting plays a very important role in your video quality, any good selfie taker will know this. Take care when choosing the location to film in, and how it is lit.

iPhone

Photography on the go – Essential iPhone Camera Accessories

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Photography on the go – iPhone accessories for great photos. 6 of the best must haves to get you amazing photos with your smart phone.

Photography with a macro lens

A macro lens works like a strong magnifying glass that can be snapped onto an iPhone to give a variety of amazing photography options.  A macro lens allows users to capture close up photos of small objects. This is the type of accessory that is very difficult to go without once you’ve started using it. You’ll find it easier to take photos of animals and nature.

These lenses can vary in magnification from 6x to 15x zoom, with some more high power lenses also on the market. Top manufacturers for iPhone macro lenses include ExoLens and Olloclip.
Click here for the latest ExoLens prices.
Click here for the latest Olloclip Prices.

Tripod, makes photography so easy

A tripod will save you your hands and improve the quality of your photos on those moments you need to hold your smart phone camera deadly still during photography so you can capture video or a slow shutter image. Tripods come in lots of different varieties but all of them have the same purpose and goal. The tripod means you don’t need rush photography and your footage will come out looking much more professional.

GorillaPod is one of the top brands for tripod and Lollipod’s selling feature is the ability to extend.
Click HERE for the latest price on GorillaPods.
Click HERE for the latest price on Lollipods.

A waterproof iPhone case, gives you more photography options

The ability to photograph underwater is the biggest selling point of waterproof iPhone casing. These type of cases are perfect for those regular adventurers and photography lovers or the accident prone types. There are several good brands for this accessory, the most popular being Watershot Pro.
Click HERE for the latest price on the Watershot Pro.

Hardened iPhone case

iPhone are fragile and many of us have learnt that the hard way. Many people have lost their technology to trips, drops, puddles and the laundry, this case will certainly give people a safety net.

Although not particularly necessary for great photography with your iPhone or smart phone, a  hardened case can lead to other possibilities like taking your phone out in the rain, on hikes or whilst skydiving. These types of cases can come in lots of different price points and colours.

We like the Lifeproof range of Hard cases, you can find the latest price for them HERE.

There are many other options and price points, you can find the latest styles and prices HERE.

Shutter release – for that perfect photo

A remote shutter releases can let iPhone users take up close photos from far away. This is perfect for holiday photography or taking photos where you want to capture images of a faraway location or if you’re looking for a new perspective. The widest available remote shutter release is a user friendly switch that comes on Apple earbuds, this doesn’t work on significant distance but will improve your images.

There are also a wide amount of Bluetooth products that offer a remote shutter option, these come with a range of features and in a variety of prices. Some of these shutters allow you take photos from as far away as 30 meters.

You can find the latest prices on Apple’s earbuds HERE.
You can find the latest prices on Bluetooth Remote Shutter Releases HERE.

Battery charger

One of the most frustrating things about smartphones is the battery. No matter how advanced the model of your phone or your photography accessories, the last thing you want to miss is the perfect photography opportunity, or extra photos if the battery is unlikely to last the day. We all need a battery charger than can recharge the phone throughout the day, no matter where you are.

There are a huge variety of portable battery chargers and power from basic $10 options to $100 models. Some last will charge a phone once, others up to six times.

 

iPhone

Using Apple iPhone – some hidden features you may not know

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Using Apple iPhone – some hidden features you may not know

Time and again there has been too much of a hullabaloo, created around iPhone and its list of exceptional features. The Apple brand smartphones is a prized possession of many, but not many can claim, that they have complete knowledge of all its functions. With the era of using digital cameras declining, the iPhone has become the new memory capturing device. There are many things which can be done to improve the picture quality, without the need to download an app. But, how to do that is a secret formula, which needs a little bit of research. Similarly, have you ever thought of what can be the shortcut of redialing in iPhones? The answer to all these and many more secret functions of the iPhone is listed below:

Switch on the burst mode

Often we encounter situations where the subject is in motion and the pictures being taken are turning out to be blurred. In conditions as such, suppress the shutter button for one second, the smartphone will trigger the burst mode and start off clicking pictures continuously, this will enable to get that one perfect click that you are looking for.

Redial mode

The iPhone app allows the redial option for the last number dialed on the phone. Just press the green call button and the smartphone will display the last dialed number. Here are the steps:

  1. Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
  2. Press the Keypad at the bottom.
  3. Press the green Call button once.
how to use Redial Mode on Iphone
2. Keypad at bottom
how to use Redial mode on Iphone
3. Press the green call button once

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. You will see the number you last dialed at the top of the interface, press the call button again to call the last number that will be shown on the screen.

Siri can also help you to dial the last number, just ask her to “Redial the last number”

Activate your camera mode without unlocking

There are times when you want to capture a picture instantly, but keying in the password and getting the iPhone activated will make you lose the moment. In order to directly get on camera mode, go to your lock screen and press the camera icon by your finger , the camera mode will be activated instantly and allow you to shoot photos.

Get your numbers correct with a swipe

The easy mode to rectify an error in the calculator is by swiping left or right on the display screen (just over the section where the displayed number is). The swiping allows deletion of single digit numbers when you type a wrong digit on the calculator.

Swift reply to iMessage or SMS

While you are working on any other app and you get a notification of an SMS, simply pull down the notification to answer back. This feature doesn’t require you to leave your present screen you were working on.

Free your iPhone space

The phone is often subjected to unnecessary data that affects the speed of your iPhone. To regain back the speed and clear the RAM, just press the power button , till the time power off mode gets displayed, then long press the home button till the time screen appears blank and the home screen gets displayed. The RAM will be cleaned.

Silent Selfie

The iPhone allows clicking pictures through the volume buttons. This feature is particularly helpful when one wants to click a selfie at a particular position. Moreover, at public places, one can even plug in the headphones and click selfies through the volume button without anybody knowing about it.  So simple – While in camera mode just click either volume button to take the photo.

Get the latest Price on the latest iPhones and Accessories here