Deciding which smartphone suits your needs is a tough decision. Even choosing between an iPhone and an Android is a big choice because both types of phones offer competitive features. So what phone is right for you? Let’s check out the types of phones and what they offer.
Your Budget
First things first. Decide on a budget and stick to it. Phones range in costs from around $100 for a refurbished, older phone, to nearly $1000 for the latest and greatest. It’s never a bad idea to check online stores such as Amazon and others that offer phones for less. If seeing the phone up close and personal is important, then visit a local cell provider like T-Mobile, which carries a wide selection of smartphones.
Operating System
The next decision is picking which operating system you want. Android phones use an open-source operating system developed by Google. But iPhones run on the iOS system only available from Apple. The main difference between the two systems is whether you buy your apps from iTunes or Google Play. Some people swear by one system or another, but over 87 percent of phones today are Androids.
Picture Taking
Unless you’re a professional photographer, most people rely on their smartphones for taking pictures. Several factors can affect picture quality. First, the number of megapixels makes a significant difference. The more megapixels, the better the picture quality. Sensors also help determine picture quality, and today’s new smartphones generally come with a large enough sensor to meet your needs.
The final part of picture taking is aperture. Basically, aperture controls the quality of your picture under low lighting. The less aperture, the more light gets inside and the better the picture. If you find yourself in low-light situations often, buy a smartphone with an aperture of f/2.0 or less. Otherwise, any setting works just as well.
Storage Space
Today, many people use their smartphone for everything from talking to watching movies. If you use your phone constantly then, the more storage the better. Look for a phone with at least 64 GB of storage. That’s enough for downloading music, videos, documents, pictures, and apps. If you just use your phone to talk or text, a 32 GB phone will do the job. More storage adds to the price of the phone, so keep that in mind.
As an alternative to the storage issue, try a microSD card. If your phone has a microSD slot, then just buy a storage card to increase your space. This costs far less than an upgraded smartphone. Many phones are cloud compatible, so storing information on the cloud allows more storage on the phone itself. It’s a buyer’s choice.
Battery Life
There are several types of batteries, but the Lithium-ion Battery is the favorite among smartphone users. These batteries keep a charge longer, and they don’t suffer from Memory Effect. In the past, when some batteries were charged while still having remaining power, they never fully recharged again. But the newer smartphone batteries don’t suffer from Memory Effect.
Lithium Polymer batteries have longer power capabilities but are more expensive. Either of these batteries works in today’s phone. No matter what you decide, never choose a smartphone with less than a 3000 mAh battery, or the phone won’t last through the day.
Screen Size
Smartphones come with various screen sizes. Small screens were the recent standard. But today, bigger screens seem more popular. The problem with the larger screen is the phone does not fit well in pockets. So, both Apple and Android phones now offer a choice of screen sizes. If you watch a lot of movies or read e-books on your phone, the larger screen is more comfortable.
In the end, both Android and iPhones offer very similar features and both operating systems offer the same apps. So, next time you shop for a new smartphone, choose the one that fits your style and personal preferences.
