There are a number of sensors in your phone that enable their optimum functionality. There might be obvious sensors in our smartphones that we have ever thought of but there are some that we wouldn’t even dream of. Some of these sensors include touch sensors, light sensors, GPS, Barometers, and even heart rate sensors. Different phones have different sensors, based on their sophistication and specification.
To find the kind of sensors your android phone has, open the android app then select the Sensors tab. This displays all available sensors on your android phone. It also displays the sensor values. It is useful information when you want to know whether a particular sensor is functioning properly or not.
For iPhones, scroll up and down the Sensor Kinetics screen to see the various motion sensors in your iPhone. The advanced settings show measurements from all of the sensors in your iPhone and/or iPad.
Here are some of the unique sensors that your smartphone has:
Magnetometer
This is a sensor found in smartphones and tablets to determine the position of your device in relation to the earth’s magnetic north. It is commonly recognized as a compass. Google Maps and Apple Maps use this sensor to point towards the direction in which you are headed. You can, therefore, use your phone as a compass.
Here are some of the best compass apps for your phone that use this sensor:
- Just a compass
- Compass Galaxy
- Smart Compass
- Compass 55
Proximity Sensor
This sensor is located near the top speaker and uses an infrared LED and Light Detector to work. The sensor emits a beam of light that is invisible to the human eye. Generally, a proximity sensor is used to detect the presence of a nearby object without getting into contact with the said object.
In phones, it is used to detect the proximity of your face to the phone. When you are making a call, this sensor helps in barring any touchscreen display to prevent any activity by your skin.
BarCode/QR Sensor
Your phone can read a barcode or QR code by detecting the light reflected through the code because of this sensor. The analog signal is usually converted to a digital signal and decoding it reveals the information on it. Your device camera can be used as a scanner.
You can do this by installing a barcode scanning app. The following apps are capable of doing so:
- NeoReader
- Bar-Code
- Quickscan
Ambient Light Sensor
This sensor is useful in detecting the level of light in the surroundings so that it adjusts the display screen accordingly. It can automatically adjust the brightness of the screen by either reducing or increasing the light on the display screen based on the environment.
In many smartphones, including the iPhone, it is found in the front-facing camera.
Thermometer
Each smartphone has an inbuilt thermometer that is used to detect the temperature of the device together with the battery. The main purpose of this is to shut down the system in case there is any overheating. This, in turn, helps to prevent any damage that may come as a result of too much heat.
There are some advanced thermometers found in select devices that can be used to measure room temperature from the surroundings.
These are some of the temperature measuring apps you can install and use on your phone:
- iThermonitor
- Smart Thermometer
- iCelsius
Having knowledge of the sensors in your phone helps in easy troubleshooting when it comes to matters that do not necessarily need you to visit a repair center near you. You can always reset your phone to fix minor issues whether it is an android phone or an iPhone. When the issue persists, then you can visit our repair center to have your device diagnosed and fixed.