Whether you are planning to buy a new Smartphone or upgrading the existing one, you can always use some expert advice.
With flagship Smartphones from Apple, Samsung, and Google along with some high-end devices being offered in the budget segment, choosing the right Smartphone was never this difficult. When you are out in the market you will be flooded with mobile offers that will tempt you to buy a phone that might be in your budget but not suitable as per your needs.
The aim of this guide is to cover everything you need to know before you buy a Smartphone. From the operating system to the price, you need to be aware of all the factors.
Let’s help you pick the right Smartphone for you within the budget.
Table of Contents
Choose the right OS
Android and iOS are the only valid options to choose from. While iOS is easier to use and a trademark of iPhones, almost every other brand is relying on Android that gives users more choices. If you want the hottest apps first and continued timeliest software updates, iOS is the right operating system for you. For more affordable options and hardware choices, go for Android.
Pick the right screen size
Don’t get lured by large screen sizes. If you have small hands or you use your phone with one hand, choose a screen size small than 5.5 inches. However, if you aim at using your phone for watching a lot of videos, playing games, or want to take advantage of the multiwindow mode in Android, you can get a bigger-screen phone. As phone manufacturers are making use of larger 18:9 aspect ratios, it is becoming possible to buy large screen phones like the 5.8” Galaxy S8 that fits in one hand comfortably.
Also, don’t fall for just resolution alone. In a phone’s display, color quality and brightness matter a lot. There is no need to spend huge for a 4K display as it’s an overkill for phones. Proper brightness will allow you to use your phone even in broad daylight. If you have to choose, AMOLED panels are better than LCD panels for brightness. HDR displays offer you more color range.
You can ignore camera megapixels
A camera is one of the most important features in a phone that buyers look for but unfortunately, most of us decide based on the camera MP range alone. Experts suggest ignoring the megapixels, instead focus on specs such as aperture, optical image stabilization, dual lenses, etc. Megapixels are not the right indication of the quality of a camera.
Be cautious but not choosy with processors
Today processors matter less than they used to. Even budget segment phones are powered by good-enough processors to keep them running flawlessly. Although if your aim is to use your phone for augmented reality and high-end games, then you need a Smartphone with a Snapdragon 835 processor or higher. For iPhones, go for the A11 Bionic processor which is the fastest chip to date.
10 hours of battery life, nothing less
Never buy a Smartphone that can’t offer you at least 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. You don’t have to spend a fortune on Smartphones that boast of long-lasting batteries. Now even the budget phones have batteries that can last up to 18 hours on a charge. When buying a Smartphone, consider how much battery intensive applications you will be spending time with. Depending on your need, choose a phone with an appropriate battery life.
Storage is important
Today 16GB storage Smartphones are a rip-off no matter how discounted they are. Your phone needs to have at least 32GB of storage but 64GB is the standard now in most flagship Smartphones. As you click more images, record videos, and download games and media, there is a need for more storage space. Consider buying Smartphones with microSD support.
Price: How Much Should You Pay?
It is hard to put a finger on how much you should pay for your next Smartphones. While Smartphones under Rs 10,000 are aplenty, they lack the high-end features, you will want in a 4G Smartphone to play games and click pictures. Your best bet is to choose a Smartphone between INR 20,000 to INR 50,000 for Android devices. Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Nokia offer some excellent Smartphones in this range. Apple phones continue to remain premium devices, but if budget allows, definitely go for them, they are a value for money Smartphones.
That being said, we strongly recommend buying your next Smartphone online to avoid huge discounts from banks and mobile wallets. Today, bank offers on mobile phones allow you to get up to 40% off with additional cashback. HDFC, Axis, ICICI, SBI, and many other banks offer you instant cashback offers for using credit and debit cards. If you have mobile wallets such as Paytm and PhonePe, you can save even more.
