9 Factors To Consider When Buying A Smartphone

The process of making an ideal buying decision for smartphones usually requires research on the internet for hours, sometimes even for several days.

That’s because these gadgets are available at various price points from various brands and each model comes with a different array of features and specifications, which makes the selection task too daunting.

Here below in this article, we are going to unveil the critical factors that you should consider while buying a smartphone so that you can end up with a smart buying decision.

No matter whether you are intending to go for a low-range, high-range, or mid-range mobile phone, this guide would be handy in all cases.

Factors To Consider When Buying A Smartphone

1) Battery

Heavy usage of the internet, playing games, and excessively using video-streaming applications causes fast drainage of mobile battery. 

For an average or light user, a smartphone with a 3000 mAh battery is good to go. But if you are a heavy user, you will need a battery with a minimum of 3500 mAh to have your phone run for the entire day on one full charge.

2) RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) and Processor both affect the speed and smooth functioning of a smartphone. A phone with higher RAM would obviously operate faster. 

So it’s wise to choose one with at least 4 GB RAM if you think you are someone who is going to make heavy usage of the device. On the other hand, 2 GB RAM would also work for average or light users.

3) Storage

Storage is technically referred to as ROM (Read Only Memory). All your data including multimedia files (like photos, videos, songs, etc), various documents, mobile apps, and even the Operating System (OS) are stored in ROM (or Storage). 

Storage of 16 GB or 32 GB is sufficient for you if you are a light or average user. On the other hand, for heavy users who need to keep more apps and data in the storage of their phone, a device with 64 GB or 128 GB storage would be a perfect choice.

[Note: In case you buy a phone whose storage capacity is later found insufficient for your requirement, you can extend it by inserting a microSD memory card if your device supports it.]

4) Processor

If you are someone who plays online games, performs video or image editing tasks on the phone, and streams videos as well, you would need to have a device with a fast processor.

But while deciding on processors, technical names like MediaTek, Snapdragon, Quad-Core, Octa-Core, etc may confuse you.

It’s better to just look at the speed of the processor and decide accordingly as processing speed indicates how fast the processor will be. This speed is mentioned in GigaHertz (GHz).

5) Display

Next comes the Display which is also an important factor to be considered when buying a smartphone. Never choose a device with a display larger than 6-inch unless you want to have a bulky handset that is difficult to carry as well.

A smartphone with a 5-5.5 inch display with QHD or HD resolution is good enough if you need to use it mainly for browsing websites, social media, managing emails, etc.

On the other hand, for the ones who often need to watch movies, stream videos, and edit images or videos on their phone, it is recommended to choose one with a 5.5-6 inch display having QHD or HD resolution.

6) Camera

You must have seen brands creating hype around the cameras on their phones.

Most people get fooled by considering the pixel count (offered by the phones) as the only determining factor when it comes to the quality of the pictures. According to them, the higher the megapixel count, the better the picture quality.

But the fact is that all the factors including megapixels, aperture, ISO level, autofocus speed, etc collectively determine the quality level of the photos.

For a serious photographer, a smartphone with a 12-16 MP (Megapixel) camera having an aperture of f2.0 or even lower would be a good choice for the expected results.

On the other hand, if you are not too much serious about the camera and not going to make heavy use of it, a device with an 8-12 MP (Megapixel) camera having an aperture of f2.2 should also work for you.

7) Operating System (OS)

Android and iOS are the only 2 operating systems to choose from. All the smartphones out there except Apple iPhone come with Android OS. And, the Apple iPhone offers iOS.

Further, Android also comes in a variety of different names & versions with different features and performance levels. It’s better to try the device before making any final buying decision so that you can check whether the OS operates smoothly or not.

8) Build Quality

The build quality of a smartphone determines the physical durability of the device. There are three types of builds to choose from- metal build, plastic build, and glass-coated panels.

It’s advised to go for a plastic or metal build if you are prone to dropping your phone as a phone with a glass build is more likely to get damaged on drops.

9) Price

Last but not least is the price which is also one of the most important factors to consider when buying a smartphone. Smartphones are available at various price points. You need to select the one that suits your budget and meets your specific requirements as well.

Final Words

Smartphones are not only the means of communication these days. They are put into use for browsing the internet, shooting photos, saving documents, and many other crucial tasks as well.

Hence, it’s essential to make an informed decision while buying one for yourself. The factors mentioned above in this guide shouldn’t be ignored if you want to end up buying the phone that suits you the most.

Also Read:

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