Buying a New Phone Online vs In-Store

Aug 18, 2022

When you’re looking to buy a new phone, there are a lot of decisions to make. Android or iOS? Large screen or pocket-sized? 5G Play More or 5G Do More? And, of course, buying a new phone online vs in-store?

To help you make your decision, here are the main advantages and disadvantages of buying a new phone online vs in-store.

Buying a new phone online

Advantages

• Since you have hundreds of online retailers to choose from, you’re not limited to your local stores. That means you can browse a much wider variety of makes, models, and colors.
• As you explore the available options, it’s easy to check specs, features, and user reviews for each phone. This information gives you a better idea of what each device is like so that you can find the right fit.
• High-street retailers generally only carry the most up-to-date phones on the market. But online, you can buy second hand or refurbished phones for much less than their recommended retail price.
• It’s much easier to take advantage of promotions and deals online because they’re easier for retailers to advertise. That means you can save money on your new purchase and perhaps even grab some free accessories.
• You can take as long as you need to research the right phone and add-ons for your usage habits with no pressure from sales staff.
• You benefit from fast deliveries and returns that match your schedule, and you can order from the comfort of your own home.

Disadvantages

• With access to so much information about specs, features, and user experiences, it takes significantly longer to make a choice. And if you don’t like your phone once you receive it, you might experience buyer’s remorse.
• While you have a wider range of choice when buying a new phone online, you might experience compatibility issues between devices and service providers. This doesn’t apply when shopping in-store, as brick-and-mortar retailers only stock compatible phones.
• You won’t receive personal guidance when setting up your phone, which can make it difficult to transfer data or learn how to use it. Instead, you’ll have to rely on online guides, which might not have the answers you’re looking for.

Final verdict

Buying a new phone online means you have much more choice and information. So you’re more likely to find a phone that suits your needs and you might even save a few dollars. But it can take a long time to carry out all that research, which doesn’t even end when your new phone arrives.

Buying a new phone in-store

Advantages

• Since retail staff have a detailed knowledge of their products, their advice makes it much easier and quicker to find the right phone for you.
• Once you’ve bought the one, staff can set up your phone for you to give you a great user experience right away.
• Because you don’t need to wait for delivery, you can start using your phone immediately.
• Verizon-authorized retailers like Russell Cellular only carry phones that are compatible with their specific service provider. That means there will be no compatibility issues that prevent you from enjoying your new phone.
•  If there’s a problem with your phone, store staff can offer easy post-sale support to fix the issue. You can speak directly to a real person rather than struggling through weeks of emails and online checks.
• With a physical phone, you can try before you buy rather than relying on images and testimonies that might not reveal the whole truth. That means you can check whether the size, weight, and features are right for you.

Disadvantages

• Stores only carry a limited selection of phones and might not have the model or color you want in stock. If you don’t like the available phones, it can take several days to order the right one in.
• Phones bought from a store are usually locked to that service carrier. This makes it very difficult to change carriers while keeping the same phone.
• Unless you’re willing to travel to another city, you’re limited to local stores. And if you live in a small town, you might have barely any choice at all.

Final verdict

Buying a new phone in-store is often quicker and easier than buying online. Store staff can offer advice on good models, they can set up your phone for you, and you can start using it that same day. On the other hand, you’re limited to local stores and the phones they stock, meaning there are fewer options to choose from.

So what’s the best way to buy a new phone?

Whether you decide to buy a new phone online or in-store depends on your priorities. If you’d prefer to carry out extensive research and find satisfaction with the perfect phone, go for an online purchase. But if you want a smooth, simple experience with straightforward expert advice, in-store might be the best place to buy your phones.

Whatever you choose, you’ll find your ideal phone much more quickly if you decide what features are most important to you in advance. You might want:

• A high-definition camera to take lots of pictures
• Plenty of memory for storing files
• A large screen for watching videos, reading, or playing games
• A long battery life to ensure plenty of use
• A headphone jack so you can listen to music on the go

Buy online or in-store with Russell Cellular

Russell Cellular makes the question of buying a new phone online or in-store easy by offering both options. Our knowledgeable store staff are available to offer friendly guidance and help you through the setup process, as well as advise you on useful add-ons. Online, you’ll find device listing with plenty of useful information, easy access to amazing deals, and convenient guides such as:

• How to transfer data to your new iPhone
• How to trade in your phone at Verizon
• How to use mobile hotspot on your Verizon phone

Visit our website or drop into your local Russell Cellular store to find your perfect phone today.

How to Transfer Data to Your New iPhone

Jul 21, 2022

When you upgrade to a new iPhone, you can save a ton of time by transferring your existing data across during the initial setup. Below, you’ll find out how to transfer data to your new iPhone from iOS or Android, and what you need to do before you start.

Already finished the initial setup?

You can only transfer data to your new iPhone during the initial setup. If you’ve already finished, here’s how you can erase your content and settings to start again:

1. On the Home screen of your new iPhone, click Settings.
2. Click General.
3. Click Transfer or Reset [Device].
4. Enter your passcode or Apple ID password if prompted.
5. Wait for your device to finish erasing your content and settings. This can take a few minutes.

Once you’re done, you’re ready to transfer your data.

How to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone

Before you being, make sure that both of your devices:

• Are working properly
• Have been plugged in to charge
• Have Wi-Fi enabled
• Use the same iOS version

You should also check that you have plenty of storage space available in your Apple iCloud account.

1. On the Home screen of your old iPhone, click Settings.
2. Click your Apple profile at the top of the Settings menu.
3. Click iCloud and log into your account.
4. Make sure the apps you want to transfer data from (like Contacts and Messages) are switched on. Any app that’s switched off in this menu won’t get backed up, and any data already backed up on iCloud will be deleted.
5. Click either Keep on My iPhone or Delete from My iPhone.
6. Click iCloud Backup.
7. Make sure iCloud Backup is turned on.
8. Click Back Up Now and wait for the progress bar to fill.
9. Begin the initial setup on your new iPhone and click Restore from iCloud Backup when prompted.
10. Log in with your Apple ID and password.
11. You’ll receive a verification code on the device that’s currently using your Apple ID. Enter this code on your new iPhone.
12.  Read the Terms and Conditions and click Agree to continue.
13.  Select the backup file you want to use.
14. Click Continue to restore settings from your iCloud backup and follow the onscreen instructions. A progress bar will appear. Once the bar has filled, all content and settings from your old iPhone will have been transferred to your new iPhone.

How to transfer data from Android to iPhone

Before you begin, make sure that both of your devices:

• Are working properly
• Have been plugged in to charge
• Have Wi-Fi enabled

You should also check that your new iPhone has the storage space available to fit the data you want to keep. If you want to include your Chrome bookmarks in the transfer, update the Chrome app on your Android device to the latest version.

1. On your Android device, download the Move to iOS app from Google Play Store.
2. During the setup for your new iPhone, click Apps & Data.
3. Click Move Data from Android.
4. On your Android device, open the Move to iOS app.
5. On your iPhone, wait until the Move from Android screen appears and click Continue. A six- or 10-digit code will appear.
6. Enter the code on your Android device.
7. Your iPhone will create a temporary Wi-Fi network. When prompted on your Android device, click Connect. Wait until the Transfer Data screen appears.
8. On your Android device, select the content you want to transfer and click Continue.
9. A progress bar will appear on each device and begin to fill. Even if the progress bar on your Android device is full, wait for the progress bar on your new iPhone to fill completely as well.
10. Once both bars are full, click Done on your Android device and click Continue on your iPhone.
11. Finish your iPhone setup by following the onscreen instruction.

Upgrade to a new iPhone with Verizon

If there’s one thing better than upgrading to a new iPhone, it’s doing so with a Verizon contract from Russell Cellular. When you trade in your old phone or switch to Verizon, you get a ton of deals, savings, and extras that make your money go further. You can even grab a 5G phone worth $800 absolutely free, as well as save up to $1,080/year on entertainment subscriptions, home internet, and other bonuses!

Visit Russell Cellular online or in-store today to find the best offers on your favorite smartphones and other devices.

How to Use Mobile Hotspot on Your Verizon Phone

Jul 20, 2022

Unlike smartphones, devices like laptops aren’t able to connect to the internet without a Wi-Fi signal. But rather than risk using an unsecured network while you’re on the go, you can generate your own secure Wi-Fi by turning your phone into a mobile hotspot.

Every smartphone and basic phone from Verizon comes preinstalled with a mobile hotspot feature. Different devices use different names for this, such as:

• Personal Hotspot (iOS)
• Internet Sharing (Windows)
• Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot (Google Nexus devices)

Your mobile hotspot lets you share your network connection with up to 10 devices, which use your phone’s data plan to access the internet. This feature is available anywhere that has 4G LTE service, or anywhere in the US with 5G Ultra Wideband or 5G Nationwide. Your mobile hotspot even includes password protection to prevent strangers from joining your network and accessing your information.

How to use your mobile hotspot

1. Go to Settings or Manage Connections, and activate Verizon Wireless Mobile Hotspot.
2. Open the App Tray and click Mobile Hotspot.
3. Turn on Mobile Hotspot. An icon will appear in your notifications panel showing that your hotspot is available for connection.
4. On your other device, scan for available Wi-Fi networks and click the name of your mobile hotspot. You’ll need to enter your cell phone’s mobile hotspot password. To find this:

• Go to Settings.
• Click Wireless & Networks.
• Click Tethering & Portable Hotspot.
• Check the Show Password box to see your mobile hotspot password.

1. Enter the password, then click Join or Connect to start browsing the internet.

Mobile hotspot not working? Here’s how to fix it

1. Open Verizon’s Device Troubleshooting Assistant.
2. Click on your device.
3. Sign in with your My Verizon username and password for a personalized solution, or simply click Continue.
4. Hover over Data Internet and Connectivity.
5. Click the issue you need help with.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix your mobile hotspot issue.

Share unlimited data with a Verizon Unlimited Plan

When you turn your cell phone into a mobile hotspot, any device that connects to it uses your data to access the internet. If you use the feature often, or if you connect a lot of devices, it’s easy to accidentally run out of data.

But if you have a Verizon Unlimited Plan, you can use as much data as you want without ever running out or paying extra. That means you never need to worry about using your cell phone as a mobile hotspot.

Best Verizon Unlimited Plans

• 5G Get More: 50GB premium mobile hotspot data, then unlimited lower-speed data
• 5G Do More, and 5G Play More: 25GB premium mobile hotspot data, then unlimited lower-speed data

How to use your mobile hotspot without data

You’ll have the fastest and most stable mobile hotspot experience by using your data for an internet connection. But in a pinch, it’s actually possible to use your mobile hotspot without data through the Wi-Fi tethering feature.

Wi-Fi tethering lets your device behave as an internet router. Some devices need a physical connection through a USB cable, but most can simply use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Android

1) Go to Settings.

2) Click WiFi & Internet.

3) If you can’t see an option for Wi-Fi tethering, click More.

4) Turn on Tethering.

iOS

1) Go to Settings.

2) Click Personal Hotspot. (For some iOS devices, you might need to click General, then Network, then Personal Hotspot.)

3) Turn on Personal Hotspot.

Visit us in-store to find the perfect phone and plan

When you’re ready to upgrade your phone or data plan, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you find the perfect match for your usage needs and habits. They’ll even show you how to use the mobile hotspot and Wi-Fi tethering features on your new phone, so you can quickly set up a connection.

Find your local Russell Cellular store online, and drop in to see us today.