Choosing A Smartphone

Introduction

The smartphone market overflows with options, from years-old handsets to gleaming new flagships.

• Consequently, picking the perfect one can quickly turn into a head-scratching ordeal.

Key Considerations

Price

• You should not sell a kidney for a mobile phone!
• While manufacturer are packing in better specifications for mid-range phones to compete with flagships, their prices are going up.
• If you are on a tight budget, focus on your essential needs and avoid unnecessary bells and whistles.

Processor speed

• Suggestion: Midrange or flagship for average users.
• While AnTuTu Benchmark can be a helpful tool for comparing raw processor power, it is crucial to remember that overheating is a major concern.
• A good thermal cooling system is absolutely key for maintaining performance, battery life, and the overall health of your phone.

Network support

• With 5G networks rapidly expanding, buying a 5G phone ensures you will be ready to enjoy faster download speeds, lower latency and improved network capacity for years to come.
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) offers significant improvements over Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), such as faster speeds, better performance in crowded networks, and improved energy efficiency.

Memory

• Suggestion: 8 GB RAM and above.
• Opts for slightly higher RAM and storage than your current needs is a smart strategy for future-proofing your phone.

Storage

• Suggestion: 256 GB ROM and above.
• With the removal of microSD, increasing application size and improved camera quality, 128 GB has become increasingly less sufficient for long-term phone storage.

Screen size

• I personally prefer 6.1-inch size for portability, 6.7-inch size is preferred by many for a more immersive viewing experience.

Camera quality

• Best to read user reviews and real-world comparisons, instead of looking at the specification sheets.
• Megapixel and sensor size are just pieces of the puzzle.
• The real magic lies in how each company utilizes artificial intelligence for photo tuning.

Battery life and charging speed

• Suggestion: 4000 mAh and above.
• Fast charging and wireless charging are the current hot trends.
• Nonetheless, some debate that fast charging can generate more heat and stress on the battery, leading to faster capacity loss over time.

Operating system support

• Although older generation phones can be significantly cheaper, but it comes at a cost of fewer years of software updates and security patches, especially Androids.

Availability of dual sim, micro-SD, headphone jacks and accessories.

The Next Thing in Smartphone World

Believing it or not, the hardware technology had advanced to a point where it is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve significant breakthroughs.

• As a result, researchers are increasingly turning their attention to artificial intelligence (AI) as a way to achieve further performance gains or provide unique features.

Summary

In fact, the 80/20 rule, or Pareto principle, can be surprisingly applicable to choosing a smartphone.

• You can actually achieve 80% of their amazing capabilities for a mere 20% of the cost.
• However, that remaining 20% of premium features comes at a steep price, demanding a significant jump in your budget.