Features to look for in a good smartphone (2)
With Ozioma Ubabukoh
Battery life –How long can it last?
You can have the fastest automobile in the world. If it’s out of fuel, it can’t go anywhere-period! Likewise, poor battery truly defeats the purpose of having a flagship smartphone. Ideally, a phone should be able to last you a day of moderate use. When buying a smartphone, make sure it has at least a 2,000 mAh battery and 15 hours of talk time. Smartphones with such specs should last close or more than a full day of use.
Memory and processing power –How much power is enough for a good performance?
Your heart no doubt jolts with awe when you hear the stunning sound of a powerful engine throttling. Similarly, smartphone enthusiasts are mesmerised by the remarkable array of phones with good processing power and memory (RAM).
Each year, manufacturers stuff more and more memory and processing cores into their phones. Is it really necessary to have all of that power?-No, it is not. In fact, compared to most Android flagship phones, Apple’s latest phones have relatively mid-range specs. Yes, a lot of RAM and processing power is not a must for good performance.
Hot tip: If you are on a budget and want a phone that doesn’t lag, buy a mid-range phone. Buy a high-end device if you are a power-user.
Mid-range and high-end phones – What are they and what is the difference between them?
Techies throw these terms around like a rag doll. But they are two distinctive classes of devices. Just like luxury cars are fraught with power and all sorts of goodies, high-end devices have the latest specs and features. In contrast, mid-range devices can be compared to basic domestic cars – they have enough power and features for you to do the essentials – drive to work, visit friends and go to your favourite places. In a similar way, mid-range phones have enough power to not be sluggish and to provide a satisfying (sometimes fascinating) experience. Of course, from reading what’s above, you should have already assumed what a low-end device is.
2013 flagship phone specs:
2 – 3 GB RAM
Quad core snapdragon 600 or 800 processor
1920×1080 (1080p) HD Display
8+ megapixel camera
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean or higher (iOS 7 for Apple devices)
2013 mid-range phone specs:
1-2 GB RAM
Dual core snap s4 pro processor
1280×720 (720p) HD Display
8+ megapixel camera
Android 4.0 ice cream sandwich or higher
Key point: mid-range devices generally have the same specs as last year’s (2015) premium or flagship smartphones.
Mid-range device – key features:
Good for saving money
Provides a satisfactory experience (not sluggish)
Has enough features and power to do your essential tasks
High-end device – key features:
Packed with power and features
Provides outstanding experience
Ideal for power users
How to find a good mid-range phone – A quick guide
Check the specs for the current latest flagship smartphones (that is, Google search: “Galaxy S4 Specs”). Those phones usually have the best specs for their time. Doing this allows you know what the current high-end specs are.
Check the specs of last year’s flagship phones. Within a year, the specs of a flagship smartphone become mid-range, and the price is often reduced by half or more. For example, the Galaxy S3 is the predecessor of the Galaxy S4. Yet, the retail price for the Galaxy S4 is almost twice the amount of the Galaxy S3 despite the fact that the differences in specs are not mind blowing.
Find an affordable phone that you like with similar specs. However, mid-range devices are not necessarily a year old or used. Companies develop mid-range devices alongside their flagships (that is, Galaxy S4 Mini and iPad Mini). Nevertheless, you will get a good deal if you shop for a brand new (no cracked screens and scuffs) flagship phone that was released last year. Manufacturers tend not to add premium features on devices that were designed to be mid-range. By buying a flagship phone from last year, you’ll have many premium features with just slight reduction in specs.ý
Storage – Do you really need a lot of it?
As users neglect MP3 players, point-and-shoot cameras and portable video cameras, storage space is quickly becoming an imperative feature. What is more, the price changes significantly between different levels of storage. If you are on a budget, the version with the least amount of space is clearly the viable option.
Hot tip: Buy a phone with expandable storage and use cloud storage services to save space and money.
But how much space do you actually need? You actually don’t need a lot of it – a minimum of 8-gigabytes should be enough.That answer may sound appalling and silly to some users, since a phone constantly has to store information. However, with the prevalence of cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Microsoft Sky Drive and Drop Box, an average user can live off meagre 8-gigabytes of storage. Since those services offer a lot of storage for free, you can use them to save your photos and documents and keep phone storage clutter in check.
What kinds of phones provide the best storage options?
As already mentioned, pricing changes significantly between different storage variants of some phones (such as Apple iPhones). However, that usually occurs with the devices that do not offer external storage. Therefore, buying a phone with expandable storage is the best choice. Buying additional storage is relatively cheap. Many phones offer 32 GB or more of expandable storage. That is why a phone with a lot of internal storage is not really a necessity.
Design and build quality – Does it really matter?
From Samsung Galaxy’s Note III’s idiosyncratic leather back to the HTC One’s aluminium uni-body, it is clear that manufacturers are ostentatiously flaunting their phones’ design to consumers. But should design really matter to you? Perhaps, just perhaps it should. That may sound blunt and harsh, but a phone’s design is not necessary for many users. Why? To safeguard their highly cherished phones, many users buy elephantine cases for withstanding drops and impacts.
However, buying a big bulky case that covers most of the phone defeats the purpose of buying a phone with a phenomenal design – it really does. For instance, consumers awed at the appearance of the HTC’s flagship phones. But such beauty is completely veiled when it is chastised by a cumbersome case. Don’t even bother designing custom phones like the Moto X if you are going to cover it up with case. The same thing applies to switching the back cover of the phone to get a massive battery.
Availability – Can you use this phone with any carrier?
Bound by a two-year contract, many users are dismayed when they cannot get a phone that is only available to other carriers. Don’t bother relying on flashing and unlocking because doing such things is illegal. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to escape this problem. But you can take the right steps to ease it. Cellular communications rely on two main technologies: CDMA (used by Verizon and Sprint) and GSM (used by AT&T and T-Mobile). The biggest difference between them is this: the CDMA doesn’t use SIM cards (not to be confused with 4G SIM cards) and the GSM uses SIM cards. The CDMA stores your information on the phone, while the GSM stores it on the SIM card.
Hot tip: Buy an unlocked phone for more carrier flexibility and for travelling worldwide. If the phone is from Verizon or Sprint, make sure it has support for the GSM networks.
Therefore, if a GSM phone is unlocked, you can easily use it in any GSM carrier without having to go through the illegal hassle of unlocking.
Furthermore, the GSM is used in most countries. As a result, buying an unlocked GSM phones gives you more flexibility. Granted, newer CDMA phones do offer support for the GSM but the data may not work properly because of incompatible frequency signals. For example, you may not have access to 4G LTE. Again, those newer CDMA phones with the GSM support will only work on the GSM carriers of other countries if they are unlocked.
Accessories – Does it come with useful gadgets?
While not? The most impressive features of smartphones, accessories do have their place. For example, the S-Pen for the Galaxy Note series significantly extends functionality. In general, though, most phones come with the basics: USB charger, screen protector (sometimes) and ear phones. The main thing you have to take note of is the accessory support. In other words, how many accessories are available for it?
Flagship smartphones typically have much more support. As a result, they have a greater variety of cases, screen covers, stylus pens and other accessories – which is why it is advantageous to buy a premium or flagship phone from last year as a mid-range device if you want to save money and land on good accessories. You will find all kinds of covers, cases and design customisation for flagships.
Can you truly have the perfect smartphone?
With so many features to look for, almost any phone out there will fall short of at least one of them. The key is choosing a phone that has most features that you are interested in. To get a phone that you truly enjoy, you need to do some research before going on a buying spree.
Sources: Smartphones companies in Nigeria, Original Equipment Manufacturers, and Gadget Review
Read: Features to look for in a good smartphone (1)
