Take Control of Customization
When you first boot up your new phone, you’ll be prompted to connect to WiFi and sign in with your accounts. Before you do, take some time to explore the customization options so you can personalize your device. Modern Android and iOS devices allow changing wallpaper, app layouts, icon styles, themes, and fonts so your phone represents your personal flair. Set a stylish wallpaper and arrange apps in an intuitive way for you.
Must-Have Apps to Install
Once signed into your accounts, head to the Play Store or App Store to start downloading apps. Think about your daily usage – which apps can enhance your productivity and entertainment? Essential apps fall into categories like music/podcasts, social media, shopping, navigation, messaging, email, documents, and voice assistants. Read reviews and explore top charts by category to build your arsenal. Resist going overboard – stick to the essentials for each of your needs.
Optimize Battery Usage
Battery life is key so your new toy doesn’t die midday. Out of the box, your phone’s settings are not optimized for battery efficiency. Here’s what you need to know – switch off Bluetooth and GPS when not in use, enable battery saver mode and adaptive brightness, force quit battery-draining apps, turn down screen timeout, disable unused backgrounds syncs, and consider dark mode. Also beware of fast charging daily as it strains your battery over time.
Lock It Down with Security
Now that your smartphone holds your personal data and access to accounts, it’s crucial to lock it down. Start with a strong password, PIN or biometrics so no one can access your phone. Enable find my device in case it gets lost or stolen. Install a trusted antivirus app and run regular scans. Never jailbreak your phone as it becomes susceptible to malware. Use a VPN for securing connections on public WiFi. Routinely check permissions of apps and update software when available to patch vulnerabilities.
Master Mobile Photography
The best camera is the one you have with you. Your smartphone likely has an impressive camera with 10 or more megapixels and advanced lenses and sensors. Avoid blurry shots by cleaning the lenses before snapping and holding the camera steady. Frame shots with the gridlines or rule of thirds. Get familiar with the settings like aspect ratios, HDR, flash, and night mode. Play around with portrait mode, panoramas, and macro capabilities. Shoot videos in highest quality format like 4K at 60fps. Learn to edit photos right on your device as well with built-in tools.
Max Out Productivity Potential
Beyond standard calling and texting, harness the power of your smartphone’s productivity potentials with note taking, reminders, calendars, cloud storage, and office tools. Voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant and Bixby make setting reminders, dictating notes and controlling your phone hands-free a breeze. Stay on track with everything in your busy life by syncing calendars and to-do lists across devices. Access and edit documents, slides and sheets on the go with suite tools. Back up your photos, videos and other media to the cloud instantly. And don’t forget to enable automatic backups so you never lose your precious data.
Enjoy Seamless Music & Podcasts
Setting up streaming apps for music and podcasts may be one of the very first things you do on your new smartphone. Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music and other subscriptions allow saving songs, albums and playlists to stream anywhere with cell service or WiFi. Download episodes of your favorite podcasts to listen offline when you’re on the go. Take advantage of enhanced audio hardware in newer smartphones to enjoy high fidelity lossless streaming quality. Set up Bluetooth pairing to wireless headphones or speakers for private listening whenever you please.
Boost Multimedia Experiences
Dive deeper into the entertainment capabilities of your smartphone by taking full advantage of the gorgeous, high-res displays and powerful processors packed inside. Subscribe to Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTubeTV and more to watch video in sharp quality wherever you want on that gorgeous screen. Download movies and shows to watch offline on flights or trips away from WiFi as well. Invest in mobile controller hardware to transform your smartphone into a versatile gaming machine. Level up your headphone’s capabilities by exploring spatial audio as well for a cinematic and immersive experience.
Connect & Share on Social
Last but not least in your smartphone journey will likely be connecting with friends, family and fans on social media. Skip connecting every single app, just start with one or two you use most like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat. Enable notifications only from people and topics most important. Share great photos from your awesome new phone camera. Just be sure to practice responsible screen time and not get sucked in for hours on end! Use built-in controls for setting daily limits.
You’re now set up for smartphone success to maximize productivity and fun. What tips do you have for new device setups? Share your expertise in the comments!