The unfortunate truth about technology is that it quickly becomes outdated; that smartphone you bought 18 months ago is probably already out of storage and struggling to cope with the latest apps.
If you are in the market for a new phone, there are many different options available depending on your budget – as such, it can often be overwhelming trying to make decisions! Here, Red White Mobile breaks it down for you, making it easier to select a phone that meets your needs.
System specifications.
Essentially the brain of the device, it’s important to understand what you are getting in terms of the processor. There are two things you need to take into account when assessing a processor: the number of cores and the clock speed.
Most of the better phones feature multiple cores; if the phone you are looking at only has one, it’s probably a cheaper, lower-end device. Go for multiple cores if your budget allows.
The clock speed relates to how quickly each core can process information. Look for a device that has the clock speed listed in GHz – if it’s listed in MHz, it’s probably an older device that will struggle to keep up with today’s standards.
To determine the maximum processing speed of the device, you can multiply the clock speed by the number of cores – this is the best way to compare processing systems across a number of devices.
RAM.
Random Access Memory (RAM) is where information is stored on your phone; in particular, it stores data on programs currently running or that the device thinks you will be using soon.
RAM is measured in GB – and generally it’s a case of the more RAM a device has, the better.
Camera.
Camera quality has come a long way in recent years – but at the end of the day it really only matters if you like to take a lot of pictures or don’t have another camera that you can use for special occasions.
There are two things you have to consider: megapixels (MP) and microns. The higher end smartphones generally have cameras that are close to 12MP, while 1.4 microns (size of the actual pixels) is the figure attached to the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – which is largely considered to be the best smartphone camera on the market.
If you want a great camera, the higher the MP and micron figures, the better!
Size and display.
Screen and device size really depends on what you use your phone for.
While we all prefer a smaller phone in our pocket, larger phones (and subsequently larger screens) are better for those who are using you phone to access the internet on a constant basis. Remember, larger screens (such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 7) generally drain batteries quicker – however small screens can be very frustrating to use if you are trying to compose emails and conduct online research!
If you are looking to buy a new phone, the most important thing is to find one that meets your needs. While it’s great to have a phone with all the latest bells and whistles, if you’re not going to use them then it’s not worth paying for them!