First factor to consider if you have a limited budget, it is definitely the price

Buying a smartphone: Things to consider

Smartphones these days have become an integral part of our lives. We use them for communication, taking pictures, saving documents on the cloud, internet browsing and even as a power bank to charge other smartphones.

But then, with the wide variety of smartphones available in the market it is never easy to decide which one to pick. It is always tough deciding the one that may suit our needs best.

Here's a list of things you should consider before you decide to buy your next smartphone.

Operating System: 

Before buying a new smartphone, so you should brush up on your history of Android - or at the very least examine the differences between the last two versions, Android 9 Pie and Android 10.

Besides these being great treats to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth, these names correspond to different versions of the Android operating system and each offers unique features and functions. The latest Android version available is Android 10, but unfortunately not all devices have the honor of showing it off. I advise you not to buy a smartphone with outdated versions of Nougat or Marshmellow and instead look for a smartphone with Android Pie at least (and if you are guaranteed an upgrade to the newest and latest Android version, that's even better).

iPhone runs on iOS ( Apple Operating System). iOS 11.0 or above is recommended. 

Processor and RAM: 

The processor and RAM is the hub of a device on which depends the overall performance. Sometimes, processor capability is what limits software updates. Light users will be happy with handsets that come with Qualcomm and MediaTek processors and 4GB of RAM.

The processing power of a smartphone varies from one device to another depending on several factors such as OS version, UI, bloatware and RAM.

If you are a heavy user who need to edit images/videos/documents online, play heavy games, stream videos or often use apps in split screen mode, then smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 or Snapdragon 820/821 and 8GB RAM should make multitasking easier

Build:

Build is all about durability of a smartphone. The entire handset market is largely divided in two types: metal and plastic.

There are some that even have glass-coated panels, but those are very limited. If you are one of those prone to dropping your smartphone, it's advisable to go for a metal or a plastic built handset.

These can sustain drops from 2-3 feet, while glass-based handset are sure to get broken soon.

Display: 

Get lost in the HD graphics of the latest Android games? you should really consider a smartphone that is equipped with a display of at least 5.7 inches. For those that use the smartphone mainly for WhatsApp or to read Facebook posts, a smaller screen will be more than sufficient.

As for the display technology, there are two main types in Android: LCD and AMOLED. The main difference between the two lies in the projection of light. In theory, LCD screens tend to be brighter and display content better when in direct sunlight, while the AMOLED display offers sharper contrast and more saturated colors. In practice, however, with the passage of time and the arrival of new technologies, the difference between the two is becoming less noticeable. That said, Full-HD, FullHD+, or QHD resolution for images are almost always impeccable..

Anything larger than a 6-inch display not just makes the handset extra bulky, but also difficult to carry around. If you are a regular user and largely use the smartphone for checking emails, chatting and browsing social media apps, then anything from 5-inch to 5.5-inch HD or full-HD display handsets is perfect.

Camera: 

Just having higher number of megapixels does not mean that the smartphone camera is better. Several specifications such as camera aperture, ISO levels, pixel size, autofocus and more are essential as well. A 16MP rear camera does not necessarily be better than a 12MP camera. Same theory goes for the front-facing camera.

Higher number of pixels mean that the size of the image is bigger, which becomes more sharper when seen on a small screen. A photographer enthusiast might want a camera with 12MP or 16MP sensor under f/2.0 or lower aperture for speedy shots even in low lights. A casual shooter can go by even with an 8MP or 12MP camera with f/2.0-f/2.2 aperture.

Battery: 

Battery life is one of the most important features to consider when choosing a new smartphone. Do not get confused: a higher number of mAh does not amount to more and more battery life, or to a longer battery life cycle. The factors that come into play are different and it's worth knowing them.

For example, you should consider that screens with a higher resolution consume more energy, while the latest processors optimize battery life. Then there's display refresh rates and quick charging technology to think about. Rather than just looking at tech specs, it's best to check out reviews and benchmark results to know how all these factors perform when combines in a single device. If you are a heavy user and work on apps, play games, stream videos and more At the moment, 4,000mAh seems to be the standard nowadays.

 

If you are an average or light user, a handset with 3300mAh battery would be good enough to run for a full day.

Storage: 

Are you using your smartphone as an external hard drive for your computer by saving movies, music, files and heavy apps? If the answer is no, you're probably OK with 64GB. A large part of the smartphone’s storage is taken away from the OS and the apps the device comes pre-installed with.

A 16GB/32GB/64GB/128GB or more don’t really come with exact mentioned space. If you like to keep less number of apps on your devices, you can go for 32GB storage.

Users who like to keep larger number of apps can go for 128GB or 256GB variants. You can also buy a 16GB model that supports microSD card as well.

Security: 

Most smartphones these days have started coming with extra security features such as fingerprint sensor or even iris sensors. These are not just to lock/unlock a handset but as a password to access certain files, documents or apps.

While a fingerprint sensor can be found in even a Rs 5,000 smartphone, devices with iris scanners are still few. It's preferable to buy a smartphone with these extra security features since most of us have personal information on our handsets these days.

Audio: 

Speakers and the quality of audio coming out of it can be an important parameter for those who rely on heavy video streaming or video conferences. If you like entertainment-on-the-go, buy a handset that has front-facing speakers. This gives clear sound even while holding the smartphone in landscape mode.

If you don’t indulge in video streaming or video conferencing much, then a regular handset with bottom-firing speakers should be just fine. Those with speakers placed at the back are also fine.

Last but note least,  probably the first factor to consider if you have a limited budget, it is definitely the price. What do you want to spend on your next smartphone? Is it worth it to use all your salary or is it perhaps appropriate to limit yourself and choose something cheaper but equally powerful and in step with the times? The choice is yours, but be aware that for any price range there are some devices better than others