Cellphone technology has moved from a simple communications device to a small supercomputer that can help make your life easier. By the end of the year, over 1/3 of the world will be using a smartphone, and the obsession is growing.

Did you know that you can charge your smartphone using the USB port on the back of your TV? Or that you can monitor other mobile devices from your phone? For most things, some creativity and the right apps will do the trick!

Start with these genius smartphone hacks that will make your life a lot easier.

1. Use Your TV USB to Charge Your Phone

One of the great unknown cell phone hacks has got to be our first one. Let’s face it – the USB port in the back of your TV doesn’t get out much, right? It can be a lifesaver when you’ve forgotten your plug and are in a fix.

Simply pop your charger into the USB socket and your phone will start to charge through your TV. This is a great hack for when you’re traveling or have an impromptu sleepover without your charging plug.

2. Charge Your Phone Super-Fast

Need to go out but your phone’s flat? Many phones today have built-in fast charging, but there’s a way to boost your charging speed even further. All you need to do is turn airplane mode on.

Airplane mode shuts off your internet and cell connection. All downloads and background activity will stop, leaving your phone free to focus on charging.

3. Save Battery Juice With Low Power Mode

If you’re away from home without a charger, then our best mobile hack for you – save carrying a power pack – is low power mode.

Low power mode lowers the strain on your battery. It stops energy-saving background activity, and it turns off your display pretty much as soon as you stop using it.

4. Take Photos With Your Headphones

It’s common knowledge that you can take photos with the volume buttons on your phone. Did you know you can do the same thing with the volume button on your headphones?

Just point and click for those unforgettable candid shots that everyone will love.

5. Type Faster With a Swype Keyboard

This is one of those great android tricks, but thanks to releases in the iOS app store, it’s available to iPhone users as well.

Gone are the days of two-handed texting. Now, you can swipe across your keyboard with one finger. It takes a little getting used to, but you’ll be able to compose messages to your friends in record time.

6. Activate Your Night Vision

One major disadvantage with smartphones is that the camera is next to useless in the dark. The Night Eyes app changes that and turns your phone into a night-vision device.

This smartphone hack still requires a little light to work with, though, but the results are pretty mind-blowing. Nocturnal animals, night-time hazards, and lost children are all viewable with this handy app.

7. Check the Quality of Your Sleep

One of the most under-utilized mobile tricks is your smartphone’s ability to track your sleep quality. There are loads of apps that, using your phone’s capabilities and movement patterns, can tell you how many hours’ deep sleep and REM sleep you got.

The app will also give you hints and tips on how to improve your sleep quality. You’ll soon be slumbering with ease and be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next morning, ready to tackle the day.

8. Monitor Your Kids’ Smartphone Use

More and more kids have cell phones today, but there may be certain things you don’t want them to see, or apps you don’t want them to use. If they’re withdrawn, sad and you’re worried that something more sinister is going on, online bullying is a very real concern.

Apps like Shadow SPY can help you to monitor what your children are up to on their smartphones so you can make sure they stay safe online.

9. Go Incognito for Surprises

Have you ever tried to plan a surprise or buy a secret gift online for your spouse or partner only to get caught because they found your search history or saw ads related to your purchase?

Mobile phone browsers like Google and Safari give you the option of incognito or private windows. Use these windows to search in private, and avoid attracting ads related to your searches.

Incognito windows also make it more difficult to track your personal information. What if you have an embarrassing medical condition you want to Google? Incognito browser windows could be what you need.

10. Do an Image Search on Just About Anything

Are you traveling and have no idea what the weird and wonderful fruit on the tree outside your window is? Maybe you’re snorkeling and want to know exactly which fish are swimming in front of your goggles.

With Google Lens, take a snap of the object you want to know more about, and Google Lens will help you identify it. You can take pictures of anything from humans, animals, clothing, your surroundings, and even scraps of text and find out what they are.

The Google Lens platform is getting implemented on the Android camera of Google’s Pixel devices and other Android phones. With powerful AI visual search and recognition at your fingertips, the world is your oyster.

Smartphone Hacks That Will Make Life Easier

If you’d do anything for an easy life, then these 10 genius smartphone hacks are what you need. From a hack that’ll charge your phone in record time to finding people in the dark and sleeping better, you can do all that and more with a single smartphone.

Are you looking to update your cell phone but don’t have a ton of cash to splash? Check out these mid-range smartphones that will help make life a whole lot simpler.