Accessory Advice

Accessories Rule

 So what are the most popular accessories?  To answer this question we got an inside track on accessory advice from one of the top cell phone accessory sites on the Internet – Discountcell.com.  They carry OEM and aftermarket accessories for all major brands.  As a result, they have access to accessories which have proven their value over time as well as the latest and greatest accessories to hit the market.  So what do they like?

Signal Solutions - Everyone wants to reduce the number of dropped or poor quality calls.  A lot of companies still sell the “antenna sticker” which in our experience provides no noticeable signal gain.  The least expensive option which really works currently involves an antenna adapter that connects to the phone and a high powered external antenna like the ARC Wireless antenna. 

Another solution is adding a 3 watt signal booster.  These provide the best possible signal increase but are not cheap.

Batteries – Li-ion batteries are the best option.  These batteries provide the most power with the least amount of weight.  Li-Ion batteries do not have memory problems so they don’t need to be fully discharged before recharging.  Batteries are one of the more popular items being counterfeited.  Counterfeit batteries have caused phones to catch on fire or melt in more than one instance.  As a result, batteries should be purchased from retailers with a good reputation.  Aftermarket batteries should only be purchased if the manufacturer or retailer guarantees to replace the phone if damaged by the battery.  A good quality battery will have at least a 1 year replacement warranty.

Chargers – Chargers online are a dime a dozen.  So is the OEM (made by the same company that manufactured the phone)  worth the extra cost?  Are the no name brand ones safe to use?

You can never go wrong with OEM chargers.  They not only are specifically designed to work with your phone by the company that made the phone, they also will not void the phones warranty if they damage it.  It used to be that OEM chargers were considerably more expensive than aftermarket ones.  In the last few years OEM ones have dropped in price and are now generally similar in price to the aftermarket chargers.

Aftermarket chargers can be a great deal as long as they are good quality.  This is another item that can damage your phone or battery if not well built.  Look for chargers with at least a 1 year warranty and preferably a lifetime warranty.  Buy only from companies that guarantee to replace your phone in the event the charger damages it.

Check back for the rest of the recommendations regarding Data Kits, Cases, Holsters and more.