The smartphone market gradually ceases to amaze us as it did before. Mobile phones improve from year to year, but there are no sensations, except for the fantastic prices of new flagship models. So, is it worth overpaying for a brand-new flagship smartphone, or should you settle for a budget model?
What do we really need from a phone, and how can we choose it correctly to avoid regretting the money spent later? What is genuinely important when choosing a smartphone, and what should not be paid attention to at all? AdmiGram.com offers the best guide to choosing smartphones, which will be relevant for all times. Check these theses in a couple of years, and you’ll see that we are right.
How to choose a smartphone and not regret it
A bit of theory for those experiencing the agony of choice
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Forget about the “perfect phone” – it simply will never exist on the market, as it would destroy the industry as a whole. It’s a dead end and a path to catastrophe, and all manufacturers, no matter how they deceive, understand this. Manufacturers benefit from maneuvering and finding the optimal combination of characteristics, understating some and overstating others, thus stimulating demand for their entire product line.
The good news is that today, considering the dynamics of the smartphone market’s growth, any phone from the mid-price segment is capable of fully satisfying all the needs of any user. Chasing an expensive novelty is worth it only if you don’t count your money or if buying such a smartphone is a matter of your image.
Today, high competition and changes in production standards have turned budget smartphones into powerful and reliable gadgets with an attractive design and all the necessary features for a modern person. Therefore, identify one or two of the most important characteristics for you, and focus on them when making your choice.
Start your selection with the display
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The screen diagonal of a smartphone is one of the most crucial parameters. It depends on what you need the phone for the most. For gaming or photography, choose a larger diagonal; for consuming internet content, a ‘standard’ diagonal will be suitable; if you just need a phone, consider compact sizes.
It’s essential for the phone to comfortably fit in your hand and not slip off when you interact with it for your primary purposes and tasks. Before buying, make sure to hold the phone in your hand and feel how comfortable it is. Check the brightness, color reproduction, and screen flickering in different modes.
Design
© Đức Trịnh / Unsplash
For most buyers, design is a significant criterion for choosing a mobile device. When it’s pleasant to hold the phone, or you get aesthetic pleasure from its appearance, it truly matters. Today, beautiful and elegant designs can be found not only in expensive smartphones, and that’s really cool.
The only thing to pay attention to in the model you like is the quality of the entire construction. It should not only be well-assembled but also not hinder the phone from fitting into a case and allow applying a protective glass to the screen. A plastic body can be as high quality as its metallic counterpart, the main thing is that it is durable and there is no play in it.
Processor and memory
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Today, even budget phones have sufficient processing power and memory capacity for most tasks. The only nuance is that it’s better if your phone has a memory expansion slot, allowing you to increase the built-in memory in the future if needed.
Before purchasing, try to work with the apps you plan to use most frequently on your smartphone for 5-10 minutes. How quickly do the apps open and respond? How does the ‘Camera’ app behave? How quickly are photos processed? If it works comfortably, this computational power will be sufficient.
Battery and battery life
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This is a characteristic that is also crucial for many when choosing a phone. The problem is that it’s impossible to accurately calculate how long your phone will last without charging. So, the thousands of milliampere-hours in the phone battery don’t really say anything. And these numbers are just for marketing.
If battery life is essential for you, it’s advisable to check thematic reviews and tests of the model you like on reputable websites. The manufacturer assumes that you always have an extra 60 minutes a day to charge your phone.
Camera and photos
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Today, the difference in photo quality between budget smartphones and good digital cameras is almost imperceptible, especially under ideal conditions (plenty of light, short distances to the subject). This is especially true if you add modern image processing algorithms and AI assistance.
So, just observe how your smartphone handles color reproduction: at least, the white color in photos should be truly white. It’s also important to understand that if you want to professionally engage in photography, you need to look for professional cameras, not smartphones.
Before purchasing
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Make sure that the phone manufacturer has a service center in your city. If there is no service center, find out how the warranty repair of your smartphone will be handled. Before buying a smartphone, try to study its specifications before going to the store. In the store, carefully check the device for dead pixels and glitches in operation.
Check all buttons, sensors, and connectors. There should be no play or squeaks when pressing on the phone. Use the phone’s voice recorder to check the microphone. The main thing is not to hesitate to ‘test’ the phone for an extra 5-10 minutes. Why bother with warranty service later?
image on top: freestocks / Unsplash
