Did you know that there are roughly 5.3 billion mobile users worldwide? Today, a   smartphone is the ultimate human companion. And much of the dependency on smartphones now a days comes from the plethora of utility based conveniences if offers us in our day to day lives. The invention of the mobile phone may have revolutionised the ease of constant connectivity with near and dear ones. However, the evolution of smartphone is driven by the demand for a seamless mobile solution to do just about anything using technology - be it placing a grocery order online or booking of flight tickets for your upcoming vacations. 

But if the boom in smartphone usage has accelerated convenience for the common people, it has also opened up multiple doors to worry-some controversies over around smartphones. This definitely creates a problem, but it is not a new one. Just like with any other tech product, there will always be a surrounding layer of criticism, controversies and rumours. Smartphones are no exception to these.

Here’s some of the prevalent myths surrounding smartphones and our attempt to justify or counter the argument with the sole purpose of putting an end to misinformation surrounding present-day smartphones.  

MYTH #1

Mobile phones can cause fire at petrol stations

Fact:

Almost in every gas / petrol station you visit, it carries a warning label that reads "Mobile Phones are Prohibited" or "Do Not Make Calls." The reason could be that petroleum gas is volatile and can be ignited by a spark. Theoretically speaking, a malfunctioning phone or battery may generate a spark that could be hazardous in a petrol pump. However, the chances of it happening (almost no evidence suggesting any practical danger) is extremely unlikely. The spark may most likely come from matches, lighters, or static electricity, but not your smartphone. 

MYTH #2

Myth: Mobile phones emit a lot of radiation:

Fact:

It is true that phones emit radiation, but the amount is very low. There has always been apprehension about keeping a mobile device to close to your body because of statements warning us of the harmful effects of radiation. However, any good phone from a reputable company must pass strict SAR (Specific Absorption Rating) tests before reaching the market. Meeting the specified requirements ensures that the phone does not produce enough radiation to impact our health. 

MYTH #3

The More Megapixels The Better The Camera 

FACT:

Perhaps one of the most-in-use marketing gimmicks to highlight a phone’s USP is the camera megapixel. So much so that it has us believe that higher the megapixel of your smartphone camera, better the quality of images; and vice-versa. But megapixels aren’t the only factor that makes a phone camera click good pictures!

Too many factors influence image quality, including sensors, apertures, lenses, software, image stabilisers, processing, and so on. There is a reason why professional camera devices have relatively less megapixels compared to a smartphone, but produces far better images. 

MYTH #4

Full Network Range Gives Best Call Quality & Internet

FACT:

Travelling is social media’s best driving force! While you enjoy the serene views of a remote destination in a hilltop, you may have wondered why is it that accessing your phone’s internet or call service is extremely difficult despite having a full network range.

You may have noticed that even when you have a strong network signal, your calls keep dropping. Well, this is because the quality of your connection is greatly influenced by the number of users connected to a single tower. If there are a lot of people using the signals, regardless of their intensity, the quality will be bad. Also, when travelling to remote destinations, you may face challenges in getting connected at all times due to lack of adequate network towers in your proximity. 

MYTH #5

Saving Your Phone by putting it in a box full of Rice!

FACT: Everyone
 

Most of us have faced moments where our cell phones were exposed to water in the form of rain, spillage or dropping it in a pool. Oops! And almost everyone may have heard from some tech genius that soaking your phone in a bag of rice will suck out the excess moisture and save your phone from malfunctioning. However, this phone-saving technique is a myth, and it is similar to simply letting your phone dry out on a table. Corrosion occurs instantly when liquid contacts a non-water resistant gadget. It doesn't matter if you leave your device on the side or bury it in rice.

MYTH #6

Going incognito - No one able to track you

FACT:

We know what going incognito means in today's world. To download cracked software, right? And we feel that our privacy will be safeguarded, and that no one will be able to monitor our moves behind those dark and deep routes. But it seems we were wrong. Most mobile phone browsers support a private or incognito mode, however this is merely a mode in which no tracking cookies or history are saved on the device. Unfortunately, going incognito will not hide your identity, location, action, or the websites you browse from your web service provider (Wi-Fi or Cellular), from authorities who may have access, or from the site's administrators. It also does not guard your device against malware.

MYTH #7
 
Charging your phone overnight is bad for it.
 
FACT:

Numerous reports emerged throughout the world claiming that phones got blasted in the middle of the night and that following an inquiry, it was discovered that the phone was on charge at the time of the blast. Another myth from the dark ages: ancient phones didn't detect when they were fully charged, so leaving them plugged in for long periods of time was a bad idea. You can safely tune out of this misinformation! Modern phones aren't called "smart" for nothing: they all discontinue drawing power once they reach 100% capacity. As for the phone blasting reports from the past, they were not caused due to overcharging. They were caused by defective chargers, batteries, or some other technical issue.

The Bottom Line

 These were some common Smartphone Myths that keep revolving around the smartphone market. However, even if we debunk those misconceptions, some folks will still believe them. Believing a myth is entirely normal until it interferes with people's minds and creates confusion in society.

 It’s safe to say that unless reputed brands put a lot of effort in making your smartphone safe for your daily usage. When in doubt, it’s best to put misconceptions to rest by doing a little research and if required, talking to a representative of your smartphone brand!