Before Purchasing a New Smartphone

Smartphones have become an indispensable component of our daily life. We use them for conversation, taking photos, uploading papers to the cloud, accessing the internet, and even charging other cell phones.

However, with many such cellphones on the market, deciding which one to buy is never easy. It’s never easy determining which one will best fit our needs.

Here’s a checklist of items to think about before you buy your next smartphone.

Build Quality

Its build determines the durability of a smartphone. The entire handset market is split into two types of construction: metal and plastic.

Some even have glass-coated panels, but they are few and far between. If you’re prone to dropping your phone, a metal or plastic-built handset is the way to choose.

Glass-based handsets will break if dropped from a distance of 2-3 feet.

Display

The display size and resolution are determined by how you use your smartphone. If you frequently stream videos, edit images or videos, or download and watch movies, a smartphone display with a full-HD or QHD resolution of 5.5-inch to 6.9-inch should suffice.

Anything with a display larger than 6 inches is not only bulky but also difficult to carry around. If you’re a frequent smartphone user who mostly uses it to read emails, chat, and browse social networking apps, anything with a 5-inch to 5.5-inch HD or full-HD display will suffice.

Processor

A smartphone’s processing capability varies based on numerous aspects such as the operating system version, the user interface, bloatware, and more.

Suppose you’re a power user who needs to edit photos/videos/documents online, play demanding games, stream films, or frequently uses apps in split-screen mode. In that case, smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 or Snapdragon 820/821 should make multitasking a breeze.

Handsets featuring MediaTek CPUs will satisfy light users.

Camera

Simply having a greater megapixel count does not imply that the smartphone camera is better. Aspects such as camera aperture, ISO settings, pixel size, autofocus, and others are also important. A 16MP back camera is not always superior to a 12MP camera. The front-facing camera follows the same logic.

When the number of pixels in an image increase, the image becomes larger and sharper when seen on a small screen. For rapid photographs, even in low light, a photographic enthusiast might prefer a camera with a 12 or 16MP sensor and an aperture of f/2.0 or lower. Even an 8MP or 12MP camera with an f/2.0-f/2.2 aperture will suffice for a casual shooter.

Battery

Battery usage varies from one user to the next, depending on how the smartphone is used. If you are a heavy user who works on apps, plays games, streams videos, and more, choose a smartphone with a battery capacity of at least 3500mAh or more. A handset with a 3000mAh battery would be sufficient for a full day of use if you are an average or light user.

The version of the operating system and user interface

When buying a smartphone, the user interface and OS version are also essential elements to consider. These are the interfaces that users will have to interact with every time they want to access something. Thus, they should be basic and easy to use.

Motorola handsets, Nexus/Pixel smartphones, and even Android One devices are available for the most minimal and pure Android experience. Different interfaces, such as ZenUI, Xperia UI, Samsung TouchWiz, EMUI, and others, provide more useful sorting apps and more options in styles that the vendor believes consumers would prefer.

On the other hand, OEM cellphones come with bloatware and some apps that you will almost certainly never use. As a result, we urge that you try out the phone before making a decision.

Storage Capacity

The OS and the apps that come pre-installed on the device take up a considerable portion of the smartphone’s storage.

A 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or larger storage device does not always have the exact capacity specified. If you prefer to keep fewer programs on your devices, 32GB storage is an option.

Users who want to store more programs should opt for the 64GB or 128GB models. A 16GB model with microSD card capability is also available.

Extra security/features

Most smartphones now include additional security measures such as fingerprint scanners or even iris scanners. These are used to lock and unlock a phone and as a password to gain access to specific files, documents, or apps.

While even a Rs 5,000 smartphone can include a fingerprint sensor, iris scanners are still uncommon. Because most of us have sensitive information on our phones these days, it’s best to acquire a smartphone with these added security measures.

Audio/speakers

For individuals that rely on heavy video streaming or video conferencing, speakers and the quality of audio coming out of them can be a critical component. If you enjoy on-the-go entertainment, look for a phone with front-facing speakers. Even when the smartphone is held in landscape mode, the music is evident.

An essential handset with bottom-firing speakers should suffice if you don’t do much video streaming or video conferencing. Those with speakers in the back are also acceptable.

Ports such as the headphone jack and USB port are also essential to consider. Although smartphones now include both micro-USB and USB Type-C ports, it is advisable to migrate to USB Type-C because it is easier to plug in and because it is future-proof.

A growing number of devices have begun to support the new standard. Few other manufacturers have begun to abandon the 3.5mm headphone jack. Still, it may be another two years before all OEMs have entirely migrated to USB Type-C-based headphones connectors.

Mobile service providers and low-cost plans

Are you in the market for a new smartphone? You’re essentially spoiled for choice. Before you pull out your credit card to make an online purchase, shop around for the finest cell phone deals available from several carriers. Each of Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile has something unique to offer customers, and they frequently provide full bundles that include data, calls, and SMS. Who knows, it might be the opportune time for you to switch providers…you can even keep your present phone number.

Here are several deals from the US’s top four networks:

• Verizon
• AT&T
• Sprint
• T-Mobile

Whenever it relates to pricing against performance

The price is last on our list, but it’s perhaps the essential element to consider if you’re on a tight budget. What are your plans for your future smartphone? Is it worth spending your entire paycheck, or is it better to set a budget and choose something less expensive but equally powerful and current? Your choice is yours, but keep in mind that specific devices are better than others in any price range.