Everything You Need to Know When Buying a New Smartphone

WORDS: Peter Minkoff PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

The smartphone market is one of the largest in the world, with over $450 billion of total value. It is also one of the most saturated markets, and it can feel overwhelming when choosing a new device. Smartphone manufacturers are implementing new features and innovations on a yearly basis. That is why what you had hoped to see in your new phone at the start of the year will be drastically different at the start of the next year. There are different features and specs to consider. So, here is a closer look at everything you need to know before buying a new smartphone. 

Operating system

One of the biggest factors that directly influences your immediate user experience is the choice of the operating system. This is the main software which runs all the operations and launches apps on your phone. There are two most notable systems to choose from. Android and iOS. These two leading operating systems share a lot of commonalities but also vary in certain specific terms. Firstly, there are the overall user interface (UI) differences. This mostly stems from the fact that iOS offers a more polished and streamlined design, with ease-of-use as its primary goal. On the other hand, Android is going to feature more variety, because of many custom user interfaces that come built-in depending on the phone’s brand. In addition to that, consider update policy. Apple’s iOS features frequent and fast updates, which makes it possible to integrate the device with all the other Apple products such as iPads and MacBooks. You can find amazing deals for Apple iPhones online and see for yourself. You can also expect full update support for up to six years, which is a great option if you want to get the most out of your device in the long-run. 

Camera

One of the greatest improvements to modern smartphones comes in the form of advanced camera systems. Modern phones can feature as many as five back-facing cameras. This is because they can capture images with different apertures, and even create a stereo image. However, determining which phone has a genuinely good camera quality is also by far the trickiest thing to do. This is because the count of megapixels on a phone doesn’t correlate with camera quality. The camera software is just as important. For instance, some iPhones feature a slightly lower megapixel count compared to other devices on the market, yet they manage to deliver the ultimate experience. Many photographers and videographers swear by the Apple’s device. In addition, make sure to consider what kind of environments and particular situations you would like to use the camera for. This is where the latest AI image capture and software optimization can greatly help you. 

Design

The most subjective part of buying a new phone is the design. Make sure to choose a phone that suits your style, but also pay attention to how it feels in your hand. The materials used will determine how easy it is to grip it. For instance, some options will come with a rubberized finish while other devices will feel more premium because of glass and metal finish. 

Display

The biggest surface of the phone is occupied by the screen. So, make sure to choose the right screen size and resolution for you. Most modern smartphones will come at 6 inches or 6,5 inches in size. This will also affect the choice of resolution, as you will want at least a fullHD display for anything over 6 inches. If you want to use your phone for gaming, you should consider the display’s refresh rate as well. Many devices will feature a standard 60Hz display, however you should look for 90Hz or even 120Hz options if you are a true mobile gamer who prefers smoother gameplay.  

CPU and RAM

If you prefer to use multiple apps at the same time, make sure to get plenty of RAM, which is going to be at least 8GB. In addition, consider what kind of CPU you are getting as well. Since this will directly affect the phones processing power and graphical rendering. Although, you cannot replace the phone’s CPU, you can expect that flagship phones will feature the latest CPUs such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. On the other hand, there are also budget options such as Qualcomm 600 and 700, as well as MediaTek’s Helio chips. 

Modern smartphone market has something to offer for just about anyone. That is why you should keep track of the latest features if you are looking to buy a new phone. Some of the most prominent things to consider include: the OS, camera, the overall design, display and the phone’s CPU and RAM.