When it comes to buying a new phone, each year we get cooler and cooler tech from all the top brands. While this trend means you can always look forward to the latest and best phone features, how do you know which phones are right for you? More importantly, how do you know which top smartphone features you want to prioritize when making your decision? Read on as we dive into the most important phone features according to Navi users themselves.
Battery life
Battery life is a huge consideration when shopping for a new phone. As your phone becomes more and more advanced, it will use more energy. For example, a higher resolution screen and regular video streaming take a lot of energy. The battery becomes crucial. So, when you are shopping, be sure to ask about the battery life. You will probably need at least eleven to twelve hours of power daily. Two phones on the market with the best batteries are the Moto G Power, which can run for roughly fourteen hours with its 5,000 mAH battery, and the Nubia RedMagic 6, which runs for thirteen-and-a-half hours.
OS
There are only two operating systems to choose from Android and iOS. If you choose to go with iOS, then, by default, you are going to end up with an Apple iPhone. Everyone else is running on Android. Each system has its fanbase and a healthy list of pros and cons. Consequently, make sure you research thoroughly the phones that you are considering before making the choice.
Processor
The terminology that flies around the processor and its abilities is enough to make your head spin if you are not sure what is being discussed. But here is the bottom line: processing speed is measured in GigaHertz—the higher the number, the higher the speed, the faster the processor. If you are going to use your phone for photo or video editing, online gaming, or streaming, you’ll want to go with the fastest possible processor. Right now, the best processors on the market are the Apple A15 Bionic, which is available in the iPhone 13 series, and the Snapdragon 888 which is available in the Samsung Galaxy S21 series.
Screen Resolution
If gaming on your phone is your thing, you should be looking for a display that is at least 5.7 inches. Anything smaller and you’ll lose the luster. As far as displays go, there are two different types in Android: AMOLED and LCD. AMOLED offers sharper contrasts and more saturated colors, while LCD tends to be brighter displays that are not as affected by direct sunlight. For all but the most decerning connoisseur of screen res, the differences in the two technologies are almost unnoticeable. That said, Full-HD, QHD, or FullHD+ are all excellent technologies. If a larger screen is your thing, check out the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra-Large Screen phone with its 6.9-inch display, or the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max Large Screen iPhone with its 6.5-inch display.
Camera Quality
There is always a lot of noise in the marketplace concerning different phone companies trying to outdo each other’s cameras by offering more pixels. The truth is that more pixels do not necessarily mean a better camera. There are several other factors at play in taking quality photos with your phone: ISO levels, speed of autofocus, and aperture, among others. If photos are your thing, make sure you go with a camera with 12 or 16 MP, an aperture of f/2.0 or lower, and effective autofocus. For 2022, the best choices on the market are the iPhone 13 Pro Max, which has a main lens that is 12 MP and f/1.5, an ultrawide lens that is 12 MP and f/1.8, and a telephoto lens that is 12MP and f/2.5; and the Pixel 6 Pro, with its main lens boasting 50MP and f/1.85, its ultrawide at 12MP and f/2.2, and its telephoto at 48 MP and f/3.5.
Carriers and Available Plans
Who is the best carrier? What is the best plan? Honestly, the landscape is in constant motion. There are great things about plans from most carriers, and each has particulars to offer customers. When looking at a package, you will want to consider how much you will be using the different technologies available: data, calls, texts. If it turns out that a different provider can offer you a better plan, be certain that you are able to move over and take your phone number with you. That will help avoid the hassle of having to contact everyone you’ve ever met to let them know you’ve got a new number.
Memory and Storage
Memory comes in two flavors—Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM). The RAM determines the speed of the phone as well as its ease of operation. ROM is what is generally regarded as storage. The ROM is where the OS, photos, apps, and songs are stored. Higher RAM means faster speeds; higher ROM means more room to keep all that stuff that’s so important. An average user should be happy with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of ROM, but those numbers can vary depending on the way you plan to use your phone. You can always add more ROM with an SD card but note that apps that are stored on cards tend to slow down the operation of the phone.
Cost
Cost will always end up last on your list. Ideally, you have put this first, stepping up with a budget in place to get a better sense of where you should be looking. How much do you want to spend? Are you distracted by the features you will never use but bump the price into the realm of something out of your budget?
Make a list for yourself of everything you need from your phone—from app performance to memory, to the camera to resolution. Once you have your priorities set, as well as a budget in place, then it is time to go shopping. If you aren’t sure, then shopping for a phone can make your head spin. But by considering all these factors at the outset, you can find something powerful, effective, and within your budget.
