Buying a smartphone is almost a must for everyone living in this generation. With so many brands and models available across the price range, choosing a phone can be a tedious task, especially finding one that works best for you.
Whether you want a phone for work, pictures or generally value a good quality hand gadget, keep the following tips in mind before purchasing a smartphone.
1. Focus on features you may want to use
Do the research. If you are into photos, then check on the quality of the phone camera. Compare prices online, read reviews from trusted sources and visit local stores for a hands-on experience if needed. Beware of huge sales and promotions, as they tend to be throw away prices for less quality products.
Buying a smartphone with 1 GB RAM and 16 GB storage and praying it will work for the next four to five years is not wise. Always future-proof yourself by paying a bit more for specifications that will last a few years.
2. Focus on features you may want to use
First, understand what features you need the most in a smartphone, as it can vary dramatically from person to person. Do you need a phone with lots of storage to save music and video files? Are you looking for long battery life in a smartphone? You may want a phone with a Snapdragon 845 processor and superior front-facing camera, there are others who can live with a regular selfie camera but want a powerful processor to play games.
Be logical, and do not get swayed by features and do not end up serving you.
3. Do not go after specifications
The spec sheet of a smartphone does not really matter. What really matters is the day to day performance. These days, most mid-range smartphones offer good performance. But if you are a power user who has power-intensive games and apps, a phone with a Snapdragon 845 with 8GB RAM would be better. However, 8 GB of RAM is not required for a smartphone at the moment as there are not enough apps to make use of this. A smartphone with 4 GB RAM will be more than enough to quickly open apps.
4. Android or iOS
The Operating System (OS) is what powers your smartphone. There are two main options; Android and iOS. Android is more popular because it is open and any manufacturer can customize it on its own and it is more affordable. Android also has more available hardware options.
If you already use Google’s core apps and services like Gmail and Maps, then Android is better for you. Additionally, Google Assistant is still by far the best virtual voice assistant. On the flipside, budget and mid-range Android smartphones tend to get a bit slow over time.
iOS is the mobile OS for iPhones, and is much simpler to use. iOS is also more secure and has apps which are quality checked before being released on the store. iPhones are a great choice for those experiential customers, but iPhones generally cost a lot more.
5. Always look for smartphones with large battery
Battery life is an essential feature for smartphones. How you use your phone has an effect on your battery. For instance, streaming from YouTube takes up a lot more battery than simple browsing. So does poor network. If you are planning to buy a smartphone, consider one with a large battery and fast charging. Brands like Oppo ship smartphones with the special chargers inside the box that can charge a battery to 50% in just a few minutes.
