E-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart were all out with blockbuster sales on all the latest smartphones during this Deepavali festival sale. I almost bought it too, but took a step back and reflected before completing the transaction. My current phone broke, so I wasn’t considering a new phone, and I wasn’t getting any new experiences from it. I’m just tired of my current smartphone.
So I thought, how can I fall back in love with my current smartphone, which is one of my favorite recent technology purchases? Then I realized it was time to change my phone. I did.
Customization of smartphones in 2024 can be done in two ways: hardware customization and software customization.
Get a new look with custom skins or new cases
Smartphone skins can add a new dimension to your existing smartphone. (Image credit: Wrapcart)
Customizing your smartphone’s hardware includes applying custom skins and styling it with a new case. Again, depending on your smartphone model, your options will vary. In fact, if you have a flagship smartphone, you have more options, especially if it’s a brand like Apple or Samsung.
If you want to keep your phone smooth and thin, choose skins.
Smartphone skins have two main uses. It protects your smartphone from everyday scratches and also helps hide the color of your phone. Smartphone skins are easily available in the local market for around Rs 100 to Rs 200, but the price increases rapidly depending on the prints and materials used, as well as the fit and finish of the smartphone skin.
Most smartphone skins are easy to apply and remove. In fact, you can also consider putting a transparent case over your skin to protect your skin and your smartphone.
If you don’t have experience applying skins for your smartphone, it’s best to ask a professional to do it, as improper installation can make your smartphone look cheap or dull. Brands like WrapKart, Gadgetshieldz, Slickwraps, Caps India are some of the most popular brands to get smartphone skins from. Alternatively, you can go to your local cell phone accessories store and get a much better deal than buying online.
A good smartphone case protects your device in style
iPhone 16 Pro Max in an Apple case. The Daily Object case is on the left, and the Beats case is on the right. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
Some users like to show off their latest phone and its colors from day one, while others won’t even touch their device without a case. Most cases are large, bulky, and a bit heavy, but there are some options that really stand out, such as the Arc, which looks like jewelry for your smartphone. There are also smartphone cases known as NFC cases. – Ink display turns your regular smartphone into a dual screen smartphone.
Brands like Samsung and Apple also make great first-party smartphone cases, and Galaxy phones and iPhones also support great third-party cases, with several available from brands like Spigen, UAG, RingKe, and ESR. You can choose from either option.
Just customize the software from the icon to the OS
Minimal launcher helps reduce smartphone usage. (Image source: Pixabay)
Once the hardware customization is complete, let’s look at software level customization. The best place to start is the lock screen and home screen wallpaper. In fact, just changing the wallpaper can make your smartphone look new. Moreover, you can also enable or disable dark mode, giving your phone a new look.
The next set of customizations includes installing custom icon packs. This can be done on most Android smartphones. While that’s not entirely possible on iPhone, iOS 18 allows users to change the color tone of these icons to match the background. Similarly, custom launchers can also add another dimension to your smartphone. Launchers like Nova can further help you customize your home screen.
If you’re a geek, you can take smartphone customization to a whole new level, but this comes with a bit of risk, so do it only if you’re sure. You can customize your smartphone on a deeper level by installing a custom ROM. This includes changing to a custom OS, reducing space on your smartphone, and more. You can also upgrade some older smartphones to the latest version of Android OS available.
With these tricks, you can breathe new life into your existing smartphone and make it last longer.
