Five of the most common ways to break your expensive smartphone (PROMOTED)

Losing your phone contacts is a nightmare, but about 33 percent of people lose or damage their cell phones, according to Plaxo. The information on your phone is worth a lot — if not priceless — but you can take measures to protect your cell phone. Insurance covers your investment against all kinds of damage, including cracked glass, buttons that stop working, or water damage. Discover five common ways to break your cell phone and why you should consider insurance protection for your mobile device.

Cracking the Glass

One false move and your expensive new cell phone’s screen shatters. Cracked glass is one of the most common forms of damage for broken cell phones. The glass can crack when you drop your phone, accidentally step on it, or crush it while leaning against an object. Manufacturers are trying to make cell phones sturdier as the devices become more advanced, but smartphone screens are still made of highly breakable glass.

Damaging the Charging Port

If you’re having trouble recharging your phone, you could have a problem with your charging port. You can damage the charging port by getting water or other debris inside it.

Signs of a charging port problem include the charging wire falling out, the phone not charging unless the wire fits correctly, or a loose feeling when you connect your phone to charge. Damaged charging ports are one problem you may face with older phones, but this issue doesn’t necessarily mean your phone is at the end of its life. A repair could correct the problem.

Dropping the Phone and Damaging Buttons

Buttons that don’t work or stick are problematic. Nonfunctioning buttons affect the ability to text, search the Internet, and dial the phone. Your buttons may stop working because you dropped the phone, exposed the circuits to moisture or heat, or broke the phone’s keypad membrane.

You may need to professionally clean the phone or replace parts, such as the rubber keypad. Even if you have a touchscreen phone, a few buttons on the phone, such as the home button, lock button, or volume buttons, might eventually wear out over time and need replacement.

Exposing the Phone to Water

Water damage is a common cell phone problem. Without a waterproof case, your phone could get wet in the rain or fall in a puddle. Inside, 16 percent of people damage their cell phones in the bathroom.

If water gets inside your cell phone, the liquid can corrode internal components. Removing the liquid from your phone is key: Put your cell phone in rice to remove surface moisture. To remove deeper moisture, use a professional services company.

Harming the Speakers

Speakers can stop working due to loose or corroded internal parts, damaged hardware from dropping the phone, or keeping the volume on a high setting for too long. If the speaker problem is not a factory defect, you’ll likely need to fix or replace the speaker parts yourself.

An expensive cell phone is an investment you should protect. Have you considered getting insurance for your phone? Insurance companies such as Assurant can help you replace your phone if you can’t repair a problem. The peace of mind that insurance brings can calm your fears when your cell phone breaks.