How to choose the ‘Right Smartphone’

Mumbai: With a plethora of phones available out there, choosing the right handset for your daily communication needs can turn out to be quite a task. As usual, with my experience, most people, only after purchasing it, find out that they have either picked the wrong handset or could have picked a better one.

Well, you are not alone; I used to have a similar problem too. You are not to blame here since Murphy ’s law also points out that smartphone manufacturers always launch a new great-looking device just after you bought yours. Don’t be disappointed.  

Smartphones are meant to make your life easier rather than complicated. Previously, when planning a trip, you would have to tag around a music player, your cellphone, a camera, laptop and a few other gadgets. Now a smartphone can do almost everything—from basic calls and chat, to photos and videos, GPS tracking to even monitoring your health—everything in a simple device that fits your palm.

But many people hastily buy a smartphone without actually doing any research—did the phone you buy suit your needs? So how do you choose the ‘Right Smartphone’?

Well, we may not have the perfect answer to this question as it would differ from person to person. However, we could make is a little less complicated at least.

Smartphones today can do almost everything—don’t expect it to cook or babysit your little one. From basic calls, to texting, instant messaging to video chats, maps, internet surfing, emails, documentation, photos, videos, graphics editing, games, music, social networking,—the list can go on. To choose the right smartphone to be your personal companion, you need to filter out a few facts before opting for the right smartphone.

First, you need to ask yourself if you really do need a smartphone. Smartphones are not as cheap as you imagine. If you just make a few phone calls and do with an SMS now and then, a basic phone should suffice. Don’t just buy a smartphone because your friend or neighbour has a cool-looking one. You may not want emails on your phone as it would not want to be as connected. If you want immediate access to tweets, Facebook's status’, updates from friends, reply to emails immediately, news and weather, etc., then a smartphone makes sense. Having all these features on a single device can make your life easier.

Once you have decided that you need a smartphone, you need to set pick your budget—the maximum amount you are willing to spend on a smartphone. Since there are a lot of phones out there that look and function similarly in the same given budget, the task gets a bit more difficult. We understand. There are a few things you would have to consider here too. What is the size of the display you want, what processor speed you would need, the amount of storage and finally, the camera resolution.

If you are looking for a smartphone for videos, maps, documentation, and games, then a 5-inch or slightly larger display should be in the list. If only for emails, chat, social networking and basic functionality, check note down a 4-inch to 4.7-inch as sufficient.

If you are interested in gaming and would use heavy graphical applications, then opt for a faster processor (dual-core or quad-core) and a better graphics processor. Opt for a smartphone with an Adreno graphics chipset as they are known to better than others.

If you need good-quality  photos, opt for a camera with at least 8MP or higher. While there are quite a few smartphones boasting higher megapixels, their quality might not be as good. I have witnessed better quality photos on a branded phone with a lower MP camera than a cheap Chinese one with a higher camera resolution.

Next you need to check out the amount storage you would need in your smartphone. If you are a music and video buff or take a lot of photos, then make sure the phone you choose has either sufficient in-built storage or has an expansion slot for a micro SD card. If the phone is restricted to internal storage itself, you can check if it supports USB OTG where you could plug in a pen drive at will. An iPhone, the Motorola Moto G and Moto X, and a few other smartphones have limited storage. If you run out of storage, you would have to empty out some files to make space. While the iPhone does not have expandable storage (neither a card slot nor a USB OTG feature), other Android smartphones usually do support USB OTG.

Now that we have covered the topmost important areas of choosing a smartphone, it is time to heat to the next level—the operating system.

Smartphones today are available with four different operating system platforms. iOS from Apple, Android from Google, Blackberry from RIM and Windows Phone from Microsoft. If you are planning to use a lot of apps like games and social networking, etc., then avoid Blackberry since it is basically for work and emails. Android and iPhone are good for multi-tasking and lots of applications. Windows Phone can also be considered, but it is best suited for work since it runs on a user-friendly Windows operating system and is great for office documentation.  

So far, you now know if you need a smartphone, you know what type of smartphone OS you would need; you have picked your final budget, and you know the display, processor, storage and camera requirements. Next, hit the nearest store in your area where you can personally check out a good-looking  phone within your needs and budget. Furthermore, check out phones which are a bit higher than your budget—if you can afford to shell out a little extra for a better phone, it could be worth it. Try out all the phones in your range. Check the size of the display, the quality of the images and videos, the sensitivity, features of the user interface, etc. try the keyboard and see if it is comfortable to type with minimal errors. A large screen may be good for typing, but a sluggish operating system and a bad touchscreen can render than useless. Once satisfied, check out if the phone feels nice to hold. Check if it fits your palm, your purse or pocket. Too tiny can be difficult to handle; too large can be an issue to carry around. According to my own research, I find that a smartphone with a 4.3-inch to 4.7-inch display is an ideal size which is comfortable to hold and use with a single hand. An iPhone is the best in the category, and nothing beats that.

Once you have checked out all the phones and narrowed down the list, you should end up with at least two or three phones to make a final decision. However, don’t decide just as yet. If you know any friends having the same phone, check with them if they have found any issues with it. Check if the phone has a problem with network, call quality or signal reception, or if it heats up during a call or while surfing the net. Check if the battery drains too fast. Check if the OS is sluggish. Check out online reviews about the phone. Check the comments and forums for problems that users have faced with the same handset. Their opinions can help you narrow down your smartphone search even further. Lastly, look for the good-looking handset from the final list—after all it is going to be your constant accessory, and you don’t want to look bad in front of your friends.

There are a lot of other areas that need to also be addressed before opting for a smartphone. Check out the after sales of the brand you are opting for. Check out the frequency of updates the handset gets. Check if the phone is sturdy and prone to casual drops and scratches. Check if the accessories such as chargers and batteries are easily available. Doing a bit of research before opting for the right smartphone could save you a lot of money and give you peace of mind in the future.