If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, you may have already discovered that shopping around for one can be an overwhelming experience. With so many different options available, how do you decide which one to buy?
Fortunately, help is at hand. Read on for a roundup of useful tips to help you choose the smartphone that’s right for your needs.
Questions to ask yourself
The first step in choosing a smartphone that will be the right fit for you is to ask yourself a few key questions.
How will you use your smartphone?: Spend some time thinking about how you plan to use your smartphone to ensure that you get the features that are important to you and don’t spend extra for those things that you don’t need. Are you going to use your device mainly for calls, text messages, and e-mail? Do you plan to take lots of photos or to shoot video? Are you going to be using your smartphone for work? Think about how you intend to use your new smartphone, and make sure you’re clear on what your priorities are.- What’s your budget?: Try to figure out what you’re prepared to spend on your new smartphone early on in your hunt. In general, the cost of your smartphone will be closely tied to how you plan to use it. Phones with a wide array of premium features will have a higher price tag, while more basic models typically cost less. Decide what features that you’re willing to pay more for and what you could do without in order to develop an approximate budget for your phone purchase.
- What other devices do you use or have you used?: One of the major choices you’ll need to make when purchasing a smartphone is which operating system you want to use. This is usually an Android vs. iOS debate. Before you decide, it’s important to consider the compatibility of your new smartphone with your other devices, software, or features. For example, if you have a Mac computer and you like using iTunes, it may not make much sense to choose an Android smartphone.
- What are your carrier options?: Find out what smartphones are available for use on your local network. It may come as a surprise to some that not all phones can be used on all networks. You can avoid this dilemma by checking with your carrier to find out what devices and models are not compatible with the service.
Features to consider
Regardless of the make, model, or price of the smartphone that you’re leaning toward buying, there are several key features common to all devices that you’ll want to check out carefully to ensure that they fit with your priorities. If possible, you should visit your local smartphone dealer to test out a few different options for yourself. Checking out a smartphone in person will provide you with a lot of information that online research can’t quite replace.
- Screen size: Today, smartphone screens range in size from approximately 4 inches to 5 inches and up. While this may not seem like a big difference, it can significantly affect how you handle and use your phone. If you prefer a phone that will fit comfortably in your pocket and that’s easy to use with just one hand, smaller screens are a better option. However, if you’re planning to watch a lot of video or read text-heavy documents, then a bigger screen will be easier on your eyes.
- Display: While a phone with a high-resolution screen is nice to have, it’s actually more important for it to have a bright display for better outdoor visibility and for the panel to be colorful. A bright and colorful display can provide a rich viewing experience even with a lower-resolution screen.
- Processor: In the early days of smartphones, the processor used to be a much greater consideration. Today, even mid-range processors provide enough speed and power to meet the needs of the average smartphone user. However, if you intend to use your device for gaming or other purposes that require plenty of power, you may need to look for a higher-end smartphone.
- Storage: What with photos, apps, and other features, the storage space on your smartphone could vanish faster than you think. Experts recommend that you choose a new smartphone with at least 32GB of storage space. Fortunately, this level of storage capacity is becoming standard even among mid-range phones.
- Battery life: Since insufficient battery life tends to be one of the biggest complaints from dissatisfied smartphone users, you should pay careful attention to the battery capacity of the device you’re considering. Avoid batteries with a capacity lower than 3,000 mAh. Batteries at or above this capacity will usually be able to provide you with at least a full day’s worth of use between charges.