If you are looking to purchase a new smart phone, making the best choice can be a bit tricky. This is because, there are numerous components, various operating systems, a variety of connectivity options and the difficulty to choose the best quality. Some smart phones will require replacing after a few years making it important to learn how to choose durable smart phones. Although most people prefer buying the latest flagship or the latest i Phone, such a move is not always the best when it comes to finance. Here is a guide to help you make a choice between smart phones.
1. Think About Size
If you have owned a smart phone before, this could be an obvious choice. However, if you are new to smart phones, you will need to try some devices out. If you have large pockets or carry a purse, a phablet will work for you. This is a smart phone that has a screen size of over 5” diagonal. Such a phone will serve you in many ways including watching videos, browsing the web and playing games. Such a phone is much easy to read on, and a lot of information can easily fit the large screen.
However, big screens have some drawbacks; such screens tend to have bigger power demand as opposed to smaller screens with almost similar specifications. Consider checking the battery life of the device you are about to purchase before making your decision. Also, if you have small hands, having a smart phone that has a big screen display may not be the best idea. Smaller screens have their disadvantages and advantages too. Their battery life is much better than their bigger counterparts, and they are more portable. One major drawback of small screen displays is that some items might not fit on the screen as you browse.
2. The Processor
This acts as the brain of a smart phone. To ensure that you buy a smart phone with the best processor, consider checking out the clock speed and some cores. Most smart phones will have multiple cores and if you come across one without multiple cores, just know that it is a low-end device. Such devices tend to be cheaper and do not last long. Multiple cores reveal the number of processor parts that are in a position to run the listed clock speed. Clock speed shows how fast an individual core can finish processing information. Do not buy a smart phone with a clock speed listed in megahertz (MHz) because it is an old device. Instead, look for Smart phones with quality cores listed in gigahertz (GHz). However, the processing speed might be affected by background programs that take up the device’s processing power. Therefore, it is important to understand the interrelationship between the processor and background programs before settling to a particular device.
3. Understand the Memory Size
A smart phone memory also RAM, ROM, and internal memory play the role of storing information. The most crucial information is stored in ROM and is faster compared to RAM. On the other hand, RAM stores data on currently running programs. RAM is measured in gigabytes and the more the RAM, the better the device. If you are looking for a device that allows easy switching between applications, consider choosing a phone that has more RAM.
4. Consider Internal Storage versus External Storage
It is wise to think about the amount of storage you need your device to have and how you will use that space. Many smartphones provide some internal storage as well as a micro-SD card slot. This slot allows you to increase the storage space without high cost. Other smartphones do not have micro-SD slots. Deciding the route to take greatly depends on how you intend to use your device. If you want to have many apps and download many videos, music, and photos, the SD option will work best for you.
5. Network Connectivity Options
Do not make your choice based on software and hardware alone and forget about connectivity. Not every smartphone can smoothly operate on every network. Therefore, it is prudent to know the differences between GSM and CDMA or between WiMax and LTE. CDMA has a better call quality compared to GSM, although it is not able to support 3G connections and voice calls simultaneously. Also, it is common in the U.S. only. With GSM, it has a worldwide popularity and comes handy if you are looking at smartphones from foreign markets. Both LTE and WiMax support 4G, but WiMax connectivity tends to give you slower data speeds.
6. The Screen
The touch screen is one thing you will be gazing and touching all the time. Therefore, it is important to choose a smartphone that provides a great touch screen experience. Touch screens might be resistive, capacitive or multi-touch. Devices with capacitive touch screens tend to be cheaper than other screen types, but they have functionality problems. Such screens react to pressure, meaning that you will have to press on the screen, which might bring about some tear and wear. With resistive touch screens, they tend to react easily to conductive elements’ touch while multi-touch screens provide more ways to interact with your device.
Conclusion
Smartphones have become part of human life and therefore, choosing between them has become important. Your device is a companion that will help you stay connected to family and friends, receive social updates and emails, take and share videos and photos, play games and music and do many other things. Pay attention to the resolution, viewing angles, brightness and the color quality of the smartphone you are about to purchase. Ensure that your smartphone is bright enough to allow reading in direct sunlight when outdoors.
References:
1. https://www.glozine.com/technology/gadgets-technology/10-upcoming-smartphones-in-2015.html
2. http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-Between-Iphone-and-Android-Smartphones
Author Bio
Kathy Mitchell is a technology and gadget geek, writer & blogger by profession. She loves to write articles for many on-line communities, blogs, & websites related to gadgets & new technologies. She is the author of many active blogs including fusecrunch technology news. Connect with her on Google+, Facebook and Twitter.
