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6 tips to reduce data usage and avoid overage charge

6 tips to reduce data usage and avoid overage charge

Exceeding the data limit can lead to unexpected and costly overage charges. Whether an internet service provider (ISP) charges for data overage directly or indirectly, the fact remains that going over the allotted data will result in additional costs. Many smartphone users have experienced this scenario, only to be surprised with an extra data charge on their bill. Here are some tips that can help reduce data usage and avoid these charges.

1. Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data
Using Wi-Fi instead of cellular data wherever possible helps save on data usage to a great extent. This holds true when at home or visiting friends who have a protected network. Using free Wi-Fi at eateries, coffee shops, and retail establishments could be acceptable if one’s browsing safely.

However, a public Wi-Fi connection can be unsafe for many users as they may have illicit activities. In such cases, users can opt for an unlimited plan or opt for a Verizon Safe Wi-Fi to safeguard private information while accessing public Wi-Fi. It uses a virtual private network (VPN) that establishes a secure connection using banking-grade encryption technology.

2. Choose an unlimited data plan
Consider an internet subscription that offers limitless data if one has a higher browsing requirement. One can be worry-free of exceeding the monthly data cap. Although these plans might be pricey, they may be worth every penny if one has a large number of users or devices in the household. Ask a chosen internet service provider if they offer unlimited data plans and what are the specifics of signing up for one.

The new Value Plus plan from AT&T might be the best option if one only needs one line. One can have unlimited access to voice, text, and data and 5G connectivity. If one chooses multiple lines, one can get various features like a hotspot with free data or a free streaming service subscription. The prices of the unlimited plans vary depending on the plan chosen.

3. Create usage alerts
Several ISPs provide the option of setting up consumption warnings or alerts for their users. This means that the user will receive a notification when they have reached the data allowance for the day or month. These notifications can help prevent excessive internet usage in the final days of the billing cycle, especially with internet service providers like US Cellular. One can configure the alerts to notify when one has used 50% and 75% of the data allotment.

4. Invest in affordable data plans
No matter which smartphone one uses, whether it be the latest Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, Apple iPhone, or any other, a good internet phone plan is essential to maximize the data usage. Below are some of the best internet plans available:

  • T-Mobile has recently changed the order of their plans. The Essential Savings plan, which is a limited-time offer, costs $50 per month for a single line and replaces the previous base necessities option.
  • One of the best online-only offers is the Sprint Unlimited Kickstart Plan. New Sprint customers can get unlimited minutes, messages, and data for just $35 per month by porting their existing number over or adding an additional line.

5. Check data plan for roaming
When downloading a video, it is important to check if the chosen data plan includes roaming options. Many people are used to having unlimited roaming on their voice plans, but they may be surprised when they first use their data plan. So, it is important to review the contract and data phone plan before downloading any video.

If one is traveling to a location where the provider does not offer data service, investing in a prepaid SIM card with a data plan is recommended. This is especially important when traveling abroad.

6. Disable background app refresh
To reduce data usage and save battery, it is recommended to disable the background app refresh feature for apps that are not required to update continuously. To do this, navigate to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn off the toggle switch for the apps that one doesn’t want running in the background. This will prevent apps from constantly updating and will save data usage. If one wants to disable this feature for all the apps, one can turn off the toggle switch at the top of the menu. By doing so, the apps won’t be able to download new posts or updates when running in the background, but it will help extend the battery life of the phone.

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Top 10 Black Friday 2023 Smartphone Offers to Watch For

Black Friday is the perfect time to buy new and popular models of smartphones for oneself and one's loved ones. Shoppers can score great discounts on models from different popular brands like Samsung, Google, Apple, and many others during this shopping season. As the deals for Black Friday 2023 are yet to be revealed, let’s take a look at the top 10 smartphone offers of 2022 and know what to expect. Samsung phones 1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus comes with a dynamic 6.6-inch display and strong specs. This high-end smartphone features the latest Snapdragon chipset, 8GB of RAM, three rear cameras, and a 4500 mAh battery. For Black Friday 2022, the smartphone was priced at $750 on Amazon (was $999). A similar discount can be expected this year. 2. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Originally priced at $1200, the latest and the most desirable Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was available for $975 on sale. This phone has a 6.8-inch AMOLED display that supports HDR10+ for a television-like experience. Combined with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, an 8K camera system, and a smart pen, this Samsung smartphone is one of the best phones available in the market. 3. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Originally priced at $1060, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 was on sale for $860. This foldable phone from Samsung is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor. Other features include a dual camera system - 12MP wide-angle and 12MP ultra-wide, and 8 GB of RAM. Consumers can expect a similar deal this time, and one must try to grab the offer before it runs out! Google phones 4. Google Pixel 7 Pro Amazon offered the Google Pixel 7 Pro for $749 during the prior Black Friday sale, giving one a savings of $150. This mobile phone comes with triple rear cameras, including a 50 MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 48 MP telephoto. The 6.7-inch display smartphone is powered by Google Tensor G2 and is paired with a Titan M2 security chip for better protection of one's personal information. 5. Google Pixel 7 The Google Pixel 7 has a fantastic 6.3-inch display with HDR 10+ support. This premium smartphone has the same processor as the Google Pixel 7 Pro. The Black Friday deal for the 128 GB variant was $500 (originally at $600). The dual rear camera setup includes a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. This phone can be expected to have a similar discount this year in 2023. 6. Google Pixel 6a For the Black Friday sale, the Google Pixel 6a was available at a discounted price of $299 (was $449). It uses the same Titan M2 chip as the Google Pixel 7 Pro and Google Pixel 7. The Pixel 6a has a 6.1-inch OLED display and features two cameras, including a 12.2 MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. This smartphone from Google comes with 128 GB storage and 6 GB of RAM. OnePlus phones 7. OnePlus 10 Pro Another Black Friday deal to watch out for in 2023 is the OnePlus 10 Pro. This mobile phone from OnePlus normally sells for $800 but was priced at $550 at Best Buy. The 6.7-inch screen comes with a refresh rate of 120Hz, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, and multiple cameras, including an 8MP telephoto. Apple phones 8. Apple iPhone SE With a powerful A15 Bionic chipset and 5G connectivity, the iPhone SE was available for $389 at Walmart (was $429). Despite its low price, its camera system includes a 12MP wide camera and a 7MP FaceTime HD camera. The 4.7-inch Retina HD display Apple iPhone SE is a great mid-range option. Apple fans can check for similar discounts on the device this year as well. 9. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Apple usually does not offer big discounts but there is a way where one can get the iPhone 14 Pro for free. This offer is only valid when one buys a Verizon select 5G unlimited plan and trade-in one's old phone. Plus, those who are switching from another carrier can save an additional $200. Motorola phones 10. Motorola Edge Plus The Motorola Edge Plus is a top-of-the-line phone that was available at a massively discounted price of $500 ($1000) at the Motorola store. The 6.7-inch OLED HDR+10 display model is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Edge Plus also features three rear camera systems, including a 50 MP main camera, a 50 MP ultra-wide, and a macro camera that houses a 2-MP depth sensor. The 60 MP selfie camera is capable enough to capture detailed images. Conclusion The upcoming 2023 Black Friday smartphone deals from retailers, brands, and wireless carriers are something one absolutely needs to watch out for. Tech enthusiasts can find some great discounts on the latest iPhones or Android phones in various price ranges.

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A Look at the 5 Models of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Series

Around five years ago, Samsung launched its first foldable smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. Over time, the Fold Series has expanded to include four more devices, the latest being the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, launched earlier this year. These foldable phones have pushed the boundaries of technology and design and are considered the future of smartphones. Here's a quick look at the different Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Series models. 1. Galaxy Z Fold Launched in 2019, Samsung's first foldable phone was the tablet-sized Galaxy Fold. This device did not have an ideal beginning, as the initial batch sent to reviewers malfunctioned within days of use. Consequently, the brand recalled them, delaying the product's official launch. In September that year, the Galaxy Z Fold was finally launched for $1,980. The 7.3-inch inner AMOLED display of the Galaxy Fold can be folded in a book style. It features a 4.6-inch secondary display, Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 855 processor, three rear cameras (12 MP wide-angle, 12 MP telephoto, and 16 MP ultra-wide), and two front cameras (10 MP selfie and 8 MP depth). The Galaxy Z Fold has 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. 2. Galaxy Z Fold2 In September 2020, Samsung upgraded the series with the Galaxy Z Fold2, which was more robust and had a refined design. The device has a larger 7.6-inch foldable screen, a bezel-less 6.2-inch cover panel, a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, a new Snapdragon 865 processor, a 4400 mAh battery, and improved cameras compared to the original Fold. Flex Mode is a talking point of the Fold2, which provides better functionality and serves as a tripod for hands-free selfies or video calls. Samsung also adopted a UWB chip for the first time in this foldable smartphone. 3. Galaxy Z Fold3 The Galaxy Z Fold3 was unveiled in August 2021 as the third generation of Samsung's folding phones. The device returned with almost the same display measurements and dimensions as the Fold2 but was designed to be thinner and lighter. It has water resistance IPX8 rating and S Pen compatibility, the first in a foldable phone. An under-display 4 MP camera is also added on the main screen, hidden by pixels on top. The Fold3 is available in 256 GB and 512 GB storage options. 4. Galaxy Z Fold4 This model joined the series in August 2022 but hardly differed from the Galaxy Z Fold3. It has the same display size as the Fold2 and Fold3 but is eight grams lighter than the Fold3. Coming to the design, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 has aimed to create a sustainable foldable phone using components made from discarded fishing nets. Samsung has also used recycled parts inside the phone, while the outer body has aluminum frames and a Gorilla Glass Victus cover. The camera has a few upgrades: a 50 MP main sensor, a 12 MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10 MP telephoto lens. The front camera consists of a 10 MP sensor on the main display and a 4 MP camera on the interior screen. The Galaxy Z Fold4 costs around $1,119. 5. Galaxy Z Fold5 Released in July 2023, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is the latest model in the series. This phone-tablet hybrid boasts a more compact, lightweight design, a new zero-gap hinge, and the cutting-edge and super-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The Fold5 also features a broader variety of recycled materials than its predecessors. Though the screen size and camera modules remain the same, it has better image processing ability. Furthermore, the S Pen, an optional accessory, has been redesigned, making it slimmer than the previous version. These minor upgrades have improved the big screen experience and are a great example of how far these foldables have come. The Galaxy Z Fold5 starts at around $1,800. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series has come a long way, and each foldable model has demonstrated innovation and design excellence. So far, the Fold series has little competition on the global stage. However, other brands are steadily introducing foldable devices, too, with future-ready specs that offer exceptional versatility and multi-tasking capabilities. Therefore, those looking for a foldable smartphone should research and choose an option after considering their needs. After all, foldable devices are pricey, and one wouldn't want to be stuck with something they don't like.

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