Smartphones are like digital Swiss army knives, but they are more versatile and functional than pocketknives in the twenty-first century. Chances are you know what your smartphone can do for you, but there are many capabilities that people don’t know about. Find out more below. 

QR Codes 

QR codes are electronic codes like barcodes; they allow cafes, restaurants, and venues to create a secure touch-free transaction for customers if they are ordering drinks or using tickets. QR codes became popular during the pandemic because of their convenient touch-free style. 

In the past, smartphone users had to download a special app for a QR code to work, but not anymore. Now, smartphones have the ability to read QR codes built into them. All you have to do is point your camera at the QR code and follow the link to the website and make an order.

Car Diagnostics 

Nowadays, cars are mostly electronic. If something goes wrong with a car and it needs to be taken to the garage, the first thing a mechanic will do is plug the vehicle into a diagnostics machine; this tells the mechanic what the problem is and allows them to order the parts. 

Why not bypass the need for a mechanic and run a diagnostic test yourself using a smartphone? Nowadays, you can download an app that comes with a diagnostic wire. Plug the wire into your car and your phone and run a test; you can then buy the parts you need.   

Light Control 

The world is becoming a smart place to live in; everything in the home is becoming interconnected in a process called the internet of things. Light control is one example, although many more technologies are likely to follow. But wifi-enabled lights and use Amazon Alexa. 

The Amazon Alexa app allows you to connect the lights in your home to the app on your smartphone; if you want to switch the lights on or off or dim them a little, you can perform the task easily from the convenience of your phone. Lights are the first of many home gadgets.  

Battery Tester 

Did you know that you can test the battery life of your remote control using your smartphone? It’s very easy to do! If you are unsure whether our remote control batteries are charged or not or whether you need to invest in new control, take out your smartphone and open the camera. 

Point the remote control at the camera and press any button; if the remote has charge left in the batteries, you should see this reflected in the camera screen; if not, it’s likely there is an electrical fault with the device. Either way, an iPhone is a convenient way to test a remote.

Doc Scanner 

Most people have an old printer or scanner in the house; for years, these were used along with desktop computers in home offices, but they were always bulky, expensive, and ran out of ink too quickly. Now you can simply download a scanner app onto your phone and scan docs easily.