Smartphones nowadays are deeply integrated into our daily lives, connecting us to our loved ones, enabling us to work, and handling various tasks. That’s why we’re here to help you choose the perfect phone to suit your needs as your daily driver. In this article, we’ll list the key factors to consider when purchasing your smartphone.
Purpose For Your Smartphone
You need to think first what will be the purpose of your smartphone that you will be purchasing. Will you be playing a lot on your smartphone? Will you be a phone photographer with it? WIll you use it to watch your favorite online contents? And so on. With this, you will be able to have a rough idea on what phone you want to have and consider buying.
Here are some key features to consider based on how you plan to use your smartphone:
- Photography or videography: Camera and storage
- Playing games: Processor, storage, and 5G connectivity if you’ll be playing online games
- Productivity work like editing videos or pictures: Processor and storage
This is a rough guide to help you choose your next smartphone.
4G or 5G?
We always want to be connected to the internet so we can interact with others, enjoy online games or content, and browse the web. Therefore, you should check if the phone you’re considering has a 4G or 5G network.
A 5G network promises faster mobile data speeds compared to 4G, but coverage is still limited and expanding. Most new smartphones on the market already have 5G, except for entry-level budget phones, which typically only have 4G.
If you’re considering buying an older smartphone that might not be 5G capable, it’s still a viable option, especially if you can get a good deal on it.
The Cameras
Most smartphone brands always brag about their phone cameras, and this is particularly relevant for us Pinoys, who love to take a lot of pictures. The camera is like the processor of a smartphone: the more you spend, the better the camera you get. When you buy the latest flagship smartphone, you’ll get the absolute best camera on the market.
So, what should you look for in a smartphone camera? Here are some features to check if they are available on the smartphone you are considering:
- Ultrawide camera: Offers a wider field of view for taking pictures.
- Optical zoom: Provides better picture quality when zooming in, compared to digital zoom.
- Image stabilization: Look for electronic image stabilization (EIS) or, even better, optical image stabilization (OIS) for shake-free video footage.
- Night mode: Enhances picture quality in low-light conditions.
Not all phones have these features, so it’s important to check reviews to see if the phone you want includes them. Additionally, consider the quality of the photos it takes, as different brands have varying image processing techniques. Some brands may have high contrast or high saturation in their pictures.
Processor Performance
A mid-range smartphone is sufficient to handle your daily tasks, including editing videos or pictures and playing games from the Google Play Store. People spend more on high-end smartphones if they want to play games for extended periods, open apps quickly, switch between apps without slowing down, and more.
Nowadays, 8GB of RAM is the standard for a smooth multitasking experience. However, if you mainly use your phone for calls, texts, and browsing the internet, 4GB to 6GB of RAM is sufficient. If you plan on doing heavy tasks like video or photo editing and playing games extensively, consider opting for 12GB of RAM or more.
The Storage
Another spec you want to check is the storage capacity, as many phones no longer allow expansion via MicroSD cards. Some still offer this feature, but it’s not universal. That’s why it’s important to think ahead about how you’ll use your smartphone. Most phones come with 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, while mid-range to higher models offer 256GB or 512GB.
If you’re just browsing social media and watching online content, 64GB might be sufficient for your needs. However, having more storage is beneficial if you plan to take a lot of pictures or videos, install many games, or download movies and music. The current standard is 128GB, but it’s shifting toward 256GB as apps become larger.
What happens if you didn’t anticipate needing more storage? You can use cloud storage to offload photos, videos, and other files you don’t need to access constantly. Free cloud storage options, like Google Drive, offer 15GB for free, but if you need more space, you’ll need to subscribe to a higher storage plan.
