Buying a new smartphone is one of the most important purchases you’ll make. We all live with our smartphones in our hands, so you want to make sure that you make the right choice. You want to choose a smartphone that you know you can rely on and meet your lifestyle needs. With the market full of dozens of different models for you to choose between, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the options available.
Tips to consider when buying a new smartphone?
Our guide takes you through the key points that you should consider when buying a new smartphone. You might decide to prioritize one of these features over the rest, such as camera quality, or try to find a smartphone that ticks all the boxes.
Price
The first thing you want to consider is your budget. The newest smartphone could set you back hundreds of dollars if you decide to buy it outright. It’s always cheaper to buy an older model, but this might restrict some of the features you can get. Brands like Apple will always charge a higher price-point, while mid-tier brands are a great way of getting a bargain.
If you’re working with a limited budget, you might want to consider looking for phone options from the second-hand market. Most phone stores offer the option of refurbished phones, letting you save a little money while still enjoying the benefits of a newer model. Once you have a budget, it’ll be easier for you to draw up a shortlist of smartphones to look at.
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Camera Quality
The camera quality is one thing that will set smartphones apart, even within the same brand. For casual smartphone users, it’s often the main difference they notice between newer and older smartphone models. The boom of social media and the rise of the selfie means that camera quality is obviously becoming one of the main selling points for smartphones. Many of them now contain a powerful camera that can take on the likes of a professional DSLR.
Sometimes we get caught up on the megapixels and features like optical stabilization and add-ons like filters. If the camera quality is something you’re going to prioritize, it’s worth trying to get hands-on with the phone to test-run the camera and compare it to your existing model.
Storage Options
One aspect that people often get caught out with is their storage options. While it’s always cheaper to buy the smallest storage option, it might cost you more in the long run. While you can use a cloud system for your documents and photos, you’ll be relying on your internal storage for apps and your smartphone’s general day-to-day running.
You want to consider what you’re currently using on your existing smartphone. If you’re someone who uses larger apps every day, it’s usually a good idea to choose a higher storage option.
When you’re considering your storage options, it’s worthwhile checking how much of your storage is used by pre-installed apps. Although the label of your smartphone may say it has 64GB, a chunk of this could be assigned to software and pre-installed apps.
Operating Systems
You want to consider the operating system of your smartphone. If you’re someone who exclusively uses Apple products, you might want to avoid shifting to an Android. One benefit of an iOS system is that you can sync your smartphone with your other devices, like iPads or Macbooks.
With an Android system, you can often customize your phone in a way that you can’t do with an iOS system. Android operating systems will differ from brand to brand, so it’s worth exploring the specific features for each android smartphone model. If you’re set on an android, there are different versions you could consider, such as the Google-powered options.
When you’re buying a smartphone, you want to look for one with the newest operating system. Although buying an older model may save you money, it often means you’re working on an outdated operating system. After a certain time, apps will no longer support this operating software.
Display and Screen Size
If you’re someone who watches videos on their smartphone, this feature might be the most important one for you. You’ll want to compare the different display qualities.
If you tend to stream videos on Netflix or are fans of social media, you’ll likely prefer a full-HD or 4K display. While the focus is usually on HD graphics, you don’t want to forget the screen size. On some smartphones, the display will stretch the full length of the screen, maximizing the space. On others, you’ll see that there is a bezel around the display. For general functionality, you want a display at least 5.7 inches for day-to-day use if you’re using games or high-functioning apps.
Conclusion
It’s almost always a personal preference to help you decide which smartphone to buy and narrow down your list. These five features are what you should look out for when you’re starting your search. They’re some of the most important aspects of your smartphone and will help you differentiate between the different models.
