8 Things You Must Consider Before Buying a Smartphone

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Smartphones have become an indispensable part of our lives. Whether you use it to connect with people, surf the Internet for the latest news, or even just pass the time with a game of Candy Crush, your phone is like an extension of yourself. And if you’re thinking of upgrading it, choose wisely from the new or existing options that are available with different features and at different prices. Here are eight things to consider before you buy your new smartphone.

  1. Your Budget

Before going phone shopping, it is always better to fix a budget. This helps you narrow your smartphone options to only include the ones that fit within the set limit. To get the best phones for your price, hunt for some good deals online or use a website that compares the latest smartphones and their prices.

  1. Design and Build

It’s important to consider your usage habits when pinning down a phone’s build and durability that’s best suited to you. If design is a priority, you should go for metal or glass panels. However, if you are prone to dropping your phone, then you should stay away from those brittle glass coated panels and opt for either metal or plastic devices. Whichever you choose, make sure they have either a shatterproof or Gorilla glass to protect the screen from short drops.

Shop for a phone with an IP68 water resistance that will shield it from damaged caused by liquids.

  1. Battery

Battery life is important. Even if you have the latest smartphone, you will not be able to use it if your battery is dead. A phone with a battery of at least 3000mAh is a must if you want to have a shot at keeping your phone powered up for a day.

  1. Processor and RAM

A good processor is a requisite for heavy users as it opens apps faster and lets you use them in split screen mode; it makes streaming videos and playing games smoother, and allows you to multitask with unsurpassed ease. If the above tasks are commonplace for you, make sure your smartphone has a Qualcomm or Snapdragon processor. A MediaTek processor will suffice for light users.

The RAM also determines how fast and smooth the phone functions. The higher the RAM the smoother the phone will run.

  1. Operating System

When picking a phone, check that you’re comfortable with its user interface and operating system (OS) because these are what you’re going to be interacting with. . At present, there are two popular OSs i.e. Android and iOS.

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Android makes it easy to customize your device. iOS is found only on Apple devices like iPhones. It is easier to use than Android and has a number of apps that are first released on its platform. Be sure to check that the phone you are buying has the latest OS to avoid waiting for the update. Also make sure that your phone is 4G compatible as you can enjoy blazing fast internet speeds.

  1. Storage

A huge part of the phone’s internal memory is gobbled up by the operating system and pre-installed apps. You can choose the storage based on the number of apps, games, movies, music, and other files you want to keep in your phone. Most phones offer expandable memory.

  1. Display

Make sure that the phone is bright enough for you to read outdoors in direct sunlight. You should also check how many colors the phone can support. If you want a compact phone that easily fits in your front pocket, opt for a 5-inch screen. For regular tasks like browsing, operating social media applications, e-mailing, calling, etc. a 5 to 5.5-inch display is perfect. If you watch or edit videos or play games often, a display ranging from 5.5 to 6 inches with an HD or Full HD resolution is the one for you. Anything larger than that will be too bulky.

  1. Camera

People have started using phone cameras to record memories. While checking the camera, check for specifications like camera aperture, ISO level, autofocus, pixel size, and other features in addition to the megapixels (MP). A higher MP does not necessarily mean that the camera is more superior. The other mentioned factors also play a huge role. If you are a casual clicker, an 8 or 12MP camera with an aperture of f/2.0 – f/2.2 will suffice. For serious shooters, a 12 or 16MP sensor clubbed with an aperture of f/2.0 or lower will offer good results.

Based on the above points, make a list of all the specific features you need in the order of their importance. Then, search for phones with features that best cater to the points on your list. After you have shortlisted a handful, you are ready to make a purchase that offers the best value for your money.