How to make the best smartphone choices for purchase: Factors to consider

At some point, we all go through this herculean task of choosing what phone to buy considering the several factors in play. Ranging from the purpose of buying the phone, to the brand, to the performance of the phone. 

 

The list goes on and on. And no matter how many times we go through this process, one can never really get used to it. The smartphone market is filled with s lot of choices and this makes it even more difficult to settle for one. In this article, we are going to address the factors to consider when making a smartphone choice. 

Here are tips and questions to ask on how to make the best choice of Smartphones:

1. What is my Budget for this Smartphone? 

One thing you want to consider first of all is the amount of money you are willing to dispense for the purchase of your phone. As the saying goes, "Cut your coat according to your cloth". This helps to reduce the range of choices you have to make from. 

 You do not want to have your eyes on a phone of $1000 with a budget of $200. Having considered the amount of money you have, then you can decide to consider features found in the smartphone within your price range. 

2. What operating system and version is best for me?

This also is one thing you do not want to neglect as the operating system affects the user experience of a Smartphone. In the world of smartphones there are 2 most widely recognized operating systems: Android OS(Google) and the iOS (Apple). 

Usually, most users prefer the Android OS as it dominates the smartphone world. It not only has a wider range in terms of compatibility, specifications and prices, they are also easier to customize and employ for multitasking. The OS version is also something to consider because every new version of an operating system comes with new features. 

In as much as most operating systems can be upgraded, not every phone can be upgraded to the latest available OS in the market. You do not want to go for a phone that cannot access the latest version of the Operating System while wanting the features on that same version. For more on Operating Systems, Click here.

3. What battery capacity is best suited for me?

This depends on why you are buying the phone and your location. In third world countries where there are series of electricity related issues, battery life and capacity will surely be worth considering before making a choice. 

Even those in First world countries, you do not want to be seen carrying a power bank everywhere you go, neither do you want always have your phone plugged in. You should consider selecting a phone that gives you enough standby time and talk time.

4. Is the Processor and Processing speed of the Smartphone good enough for me?

This is certainly one aspect that most people tend to neglect. Being carried away by other features, one could forget to check what the processor is like. 

 

It all depends nevertheless on what you want to use the phone for. Are you a heavy user who need to edit images/videos/documents online, play heavy games, stream videos or often use apps in split screen mode? Then Smartphones with Snapdragon 888 Plus Qualcomm or Snapdragon 820/821 should make multitasking smoother for you. Also, phones with as much as 4GB of RAM will be a great option for you.

5. Is the Camera quality good enough? 

With the increasing need to post nice pictures on social media, camera and pixel quality is one of the first things you want to check before settling for a Smartphone. 

In this regard, there are things to look out for like - number of Cameras, Aperture Size, number of megapixels, hybrid auto focus, optical stabilization, manual modes, special effects, unique selfie feature, and many more. Note that the number of megapixels does not guarantee a better camera. It is a well know fact that iPhones are known to have lesser pixels than their android counter parts but have way better picture quality. 

6. Does it have enough internal memory?

This is another one of the most important things to check when making a choice. Is the memory space big enough and is it expandable? Some phones come with as little as 32gb ROM with an expandable storage of up to 64gb. 

It all depends on what you intend doing with the phone. If you are a big fan and movies and mobile games, then you definitely want to start from 64gb of storage with an expandable memory of up to 128gb.

7. What is the screen size and resolution?

I am quite sure this is the next thing a gamer would consider after checking processor and battery life. The size and resolution of the display depends on what you use the phone for. 

Do you stream online video content via YouTube and Netflix? Do you edit photos and videos? Then a screen size ranging from 6 - 6.5 inches, full HD or QHD resolution should be good enough for you. But if you are just for social media and mails, something smaller will suffice. 

However, the larger the screen size, the more difficult it is to carry the phone around. It will be best going for moderate screen sizes so as to retain the smartphone portability.  

8.  Is it 3G, 4G or 5G wireless communication?

This choice is greatly affected by the area where you live, as not all network coverage are available in all the areas. Currently just a few phones come with the 5G network and it has fewer coverage areas when compared to the 4G. 

Even in some countries, the 4G network isn't entirely available in all areas as well as the 3G network. Although, Some 3G protocols can achieve 4G-like speeds. Keep in mind that 4G is definitely be faster than 3G only if they’re on the same carrier. Otherwise, you’ll need to gauge the way you plan to use the phone against service cost and availability.

There is no limit to what could influence a buyers choice of mobile phone no matter how minute or inconsequential it my look to you.

Here are a few other features that can be considered when making a choice of mobile phone:

1. Wireless charging feature
2. Security options. (Fingerprint and Face unlock)
3. Speaker 
4. Availability of component in case of repairs