In this digital era, smartphones have gained a significant position in daily life. Whether you are a boomer businessman or a Gen Z influencer, a smartphone is enough to deal with all of it. That said, buying a new smartphone is an exciting moment yet a daunting task. Buyers often get confused when choosing from an array of options, each offering unique elements.
For your convenience, here we have created a list of factors to consider when buying a smartphone that will help you in selecting an appropriate phone.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Smartphone
Whether you are buying a phone under $300 or opt for a premium one, there are a myriad of features offered by each. Although, it is difficult to get all the top-notch features in one phone, following are some basic things to consider before buying a smartphone in 2023.
Storage Capacity
Storage is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a smartphone in 2023. Storage or memory is one of the most important aspects to consider when buying a smartphone. Generally, smartphones have two kinds of memory- Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM).
RAM along with other components is responsible to ensure smooth phone functioning. Whereas, the ROM stores data like apps, videos and photos. That said, a phone’s storage capacity plays a major role in its functioning.
If you are an average user, 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM phone will be enough. However, if you have to use a phone for other purposes like live streaming or managing multiple social media accounts, opt for a phone with higher storage capacity.
Battery Life
Next position on our phone buying guide is held by battery life. Long-lasting battery is one thing that is commonly needed by every type of phone users. That said, charging phones back and forth can put your world to halt. Although modern phones do come with fast chargers, it still takes time to fully recharge the battery.
If you need your phone to run at least a day, opt for a 3500 mAh battery. For more, you can buy a phone with 5000 mAh that is commonly available, even in budget phones. That said, here is the list of best battery life phones that you can choose from.
Processor
Next on the list of things to consider when buying a smartphone is processor. A phone’s processor is the core element that significantly affects its performance. An old version of the processor results in sluggish performance and often does not support new apps. However, selecting an appropriate processor is a bit technical and can confuse buyers.
For this, the right hand thumb rule is to measure a processor’s performance in GigaHertz (GHz). the higher the GHz the better the performance. Any processor with more than 1 GHz will work fine for a normal smartphone.
Display
Smartphones in the present era serve as a mini-theatre for many. Whether it is a series on Netflix, or a funny video on YouTube, display can significantly affect user experience. Ideally, a phone with a 5.5 to 6.5-inch display works fine for all the video streaming. Make sure that display has high definition resolution for a better experience.
Using smartphones for more than 2 hours can affect your eyes and vision. Therefore, if you are a heavy phone user, opt for a phone with better display quality supported by high resolution to avoid stressing your eyes.
Security
As technology advances, digital crimes also progress. To cater to this, smartphones have transitioned from conventional password method to more modern security features. The modern security features include fingerprint sensor, face identification and iris scanners. In fact, fingerprint scanner has become a necessity feature in latest smartphones.
Aside from these, also consider cloud storage features that are necessary to secure data stored in cloud storage. Generally, phones have cloud security features like end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, secure containers and data transfer and data recovery.
Camera
Moving forward with our phone buying guide, the security is followed by camera. It is nearly impossible to imagine a smartphone without a camera. From professional photographers to regular users, cameras are a must have feature in the phone. That said, a quality of camera is measured in Megapixels (MP), and witnessing a phone with 50 MP is not uncommon.
When buying a new phone in 2023, look for features other than MP. Features including image stabilization, aperture, autofocus and pixel size differentiate normal phones from better camera quality phones. That said, if you are intersted in photography, here is how to use your phone for professional photography.
Operating System
In the Operating System (OS) market there are only two major players: iOS and Android. iOS is used in Apple phones; whereas, the rest relies on Android. Specifically discussing Android, there are different versions of it, and each version is smarter and more efficient than the previous one.
Smartphones released in 2023 are often equipped with Android 11, 12 or 13 versions. Remember that every manufacturer adds some additional elements in the OS, to enhance its performance. Therefore, when searching for a phone with better OS, also consider the additional features added by the brand.
Value to Money
The fast-paced technological advancements have blurred the line of features in smartphones. Either it is budgeted or a premium phone, the number of features will be more or less similar. However, the quality and efficiency of the features will differ significantly. Therefore, evaluating value for money is a key element to consider when buying a new smartphone.
Design and Built Quality
All the elements mentioned in the phone buying guide so far are internal and related to the performance. Design and built-quality is something that will be evident to everyone. When choosing design, opt for sleek or foldable ones that are trendy these days.
For the built quality, closely inspect the materials used and their fittings. For instance; in high quality phones you will not find any gap, scratches or creaks in between the components. Similarly, the screen will have high responsiveness with better color quality and pixels.
FAQs
What are the core factors to consider when buying a smartphone?
The main elements to look for in a phone when buying a new one are;
- Processor
- Memory
- Operating system
- Camera
- Battery
- Display
- Security
- Built quality
How much RAM is good for a normal phone?
For regular users, it should be between 3 to 4GB. However, it is recommended to choose phones with 6 or 8GB for better results.
What Android versions are available in phones released in 2023?
Phones released in 2023, generally have Android 11, 12 or 13. The Android 13 is the latest version available.
These were all the things to consider when buying a smartphone in 2023. Although buying a smartphone is not achieving a milestone in modern times, it is still an investment. That said, by considering the factors mentioned above, you will end up buying the best phone within your budget. Once you have bought your dream phone, please avoid habits that kills your phone to increase its lifespan.
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