Smartphone accessories offer users a variety of options to personalize and make their devices more functional. However, the prices and functionality of these accessories may not always be proportional. Some products, in particular, are simply marketing tactics that lead people to spend unnecessary money.
Smartphone accessories you should definitely not buy
Antimicrobial screen protectors are a popular accessory that claims to protect the smartphone screen from bacteria. However, these protectors are generally limited to the silver ion coatings used and do not ensure that the screen is completely free of germs.
In short, these protectors only slow down bacterial growth and do not protect the screen from germs. For users concerned about bacteria, wiping the screen regularly with disinfectant or a microfiber cloth may be a much more effective solution.
Anti-radiation labels and cases also stand out with a similarly large marketing effect. These products claim to block harmful radiation emitted from phones, but studies have shown that the radiation levels of smartphones do not pose a danger to human health.
Another type of accessory that puts more of a burden on your pocket is wallet cases. These cases, which promise to hold the phone and cards together, are usually large enough to be uncomfortable for users and have impractical designs.
Most users state that these wallet cases make it difficult to carry in a pocket and are uncomfortable when holding the phone. In addition, when these cases are lost, not only the phone but also ID cards, credit cards and cash are lost.
UV-C phone cleaners are another popular accessory that stands out in the world of technology with the sterilization effect they provide. However, the effectiveness of UV-C light is usually quite limited since it must be applied directly to the phone surface.
Dust or fingerprints on the phone can block the effectiveness of the light and bacteria cannot be cleaned this way. In addition, UV-C light does not clean dirt or fingerprints on your screen. The most effective method to clean the phone is to quickly wipe it with an alcohol-based disinfectant.
Third-party Bluetooth trackers are used to find lost items, but most of them encounter problems such as low signal, short battery life and weak connections. While reliable products like Apple’s AirTags and the Tile brand rely on a wider tracking network, many cheaper alternatives rely on your phone’s Bluetooth connection and become useless once your items are out of range.
Finally, “premium” screen cleaning kits also stand out as an unnecessary expense. These kits often include fancy packaging for cleaning solutions and microfiber cloths. But most of these products are actually simple solutions of soap and water or diluted alcohol.
As a result, smartphone owners need to be careful about what they spend on accessories. Often, these accessories are just an extra expense when there are cheaper and more practical alternatives available.
