Smartphones have swept into every aspect of our lives. Nearly every task we do involves using our phones these days, and the ever-growing market of technology gives new options every day. Choosing the right device for you from these options could be a tricky task for some. So here are a few pointers to guide you along the way.
- Budget and Use
The first step is to set up a budget; these days, many phones come with top-tier features but are quite affordable. At the same time, we have a high end that might cost up to lakh rupees, deciding your requirements and setting up a budget will help a lot. Several models in the markets have poor battery life but amazing specs and features and vice versa. But if you’re someone who needs phones only for basic use, you might want to get a phone with a lot of battery life. Hence making the comparison and setting up a budget, and then deciding your usage of the phone is the first step.
- Operating System
This is the backbone of your phone, and it might probably be the most important decision while buying your phone. Presently there are two operating systems available in smartphones.
Android
Google commercially sponsors Android, a mobile operating system developed by the Open Handset Alliance. It is built on top of a modified Linux kernel and other open-source software. It’s primarily intended for touchscreen devices like smartphones and tablets, but it’s now available for other devices as well. With nearly 2.4 billion active users, Android has dominated the market for almost a decade. There are quite a few Android phone manufacturers, including Samsung, Oneplus, Huawei, Xiaomi, and even Google itself, which makes it simple to compare a variety of options. Android 11 is the company’s most recent operating system, which was released last summer.
IOS
iOS is Apple’s fast and secure mobile operating system that is only available for Apple devices. Originally known as the ‘iPhone OS,’ its name was later changed to iOS with the introduction of the iPad. Because of its strict ecosystem, iPhones have fewer issues with viruses and malware. It does, however, begin at a higher price point than Android phones. Icons and widgets are common components of the iOS home screen, with widgets displaying live or auto-updating content. If you prefer a powerful and simple operating system that receives regular software updates over a longer period, then iOS is your team.
- RAM
Random-access memory or RAM has the job of assisting the processor in multitasking. It is a small place where the device holds up the data while apps are running in the background. Most phones today come with 4-8GB RAM. However, several new devices have come up, which gives 16GB RAM. It makes the user’s experience on the phone seamless. You should get the device with the most RAM in your budget if you’re into gaming and heavy-duty processing like that.
- User Interface
The point of human-smartphone interaction and communication on a device or app is called the user interface. You should also keep in mind that the majority of smartphones come with their skin or user interface on top of Android. OPPO has Color OS, and Realme has Realme UI, both of which are becoming more similar to stock Android. OnePlus, like these smartphones, has an Oxygen OS with a clean skin that is also quite close to stock Android, and Samsung has One UI, which has upgraded fairly from the previous version. While Apple’s UI is quite different from that of Android, it is filled with only icons and live widgets. You should experiment with different UIs before purchasing a smartphone to see if it works for you.
We have now looked over some specifications that you should lookout for while buying a new smartphone. Obviously, there are many things to keep in mind, like the screen display or camera quality, but as far as the performance goes, these four specs are the foundation of a satisfying purchase, and this will surely curb your decision crisis.
Happy Shopping!