Choosing a phone used to be a ‘go and grab one with the highest specs under budget’ thing. But choosing one in 2023 involves a lot more than that. Before buying a smartphone, you must consider some crucial factors. Continue reading to know what you will need and what you will get for your dimes.
The sheer number of smartphone models and variations released monthly boils down to what you will benefit most from. Every feature adds a checkbox on the pricing list. Knowing what you need and what you don’t will reduce the total cost of ownership. And in this article, we’re all about that. We will try to find out what makes the best sense for you and what doesn’t.
6 Things to Look For on Smartphone Purchase
- Budget
- CPU & RAM
- Battery Life
- Screen Size & Type
- Camera Quality
- Storage Options
1. Budget
Budget is the most crucial factor in any smartphone purchase. A lot of options are out there, along with many brands. While some brands are exclusively premium in cost and features, some offer the best bang for the buck. On another note, you can manage well within your budget by cutting some features you don’t need.
For example, a smartphone model may boast a massive screen with an IPS display, which will cost less than an AMOLED screen. In contrast, another model can feature a smaller screen with an AMOLED display for a significantly lower price. By choosing either, you are losing on the other. It is wise to set a budget first and then set your perimeters.
In the market, three smartphone price ranges are available. The lowest range is under 30,000 BDT, the mid-range goes up to 80,000 BDT, and the high range is above that. The last one is expansive since flagship phones also fall into this range. Flagship smartphones offer the absolute best performance and style but cost an arm and a leg.
2. Performance
A smartphone’s performance depends on the processor and RAM. While the processor executes all the computational tasks, the RAM keeps the information ready. So, a good processor and enough system memory (RAM) are must-haves on the checklist for better performance.
Some famous mobile processor makers are Qualcomm's Snapdragon, Samsung’s Exynos, and Apple’s A15 Bionic. Besides these, Huawei’s Kirin and MediaTek’s Helio processors are also big players. Helio chips tend to serve lower-end mobile devices more. And many great smartphones use a combination of a powerful Snapdragon CPU for core tasks with a Helio chip handling graphics.
To understand your processor more, you should look at the clock speed and the number of CPU cores the phone has. The more cores and clock speed (GHz) your smartphone processor has, the better performance you will get. For users with high-performance demands, say for editing photos or mobile phone gaming - we recommend at least a 2.0 GHz CPU. Anything below 1.8 GHz will cost way less, which is great for normal users under budget.
The RAM in your mobile phone makes things easier for the processor. Larger RAM will allow more apps in the background, faster loading times, and a smooth transition between apps. Any amount above 3 GB RAM will serve just fine for average users. For intense smartphone users or gamers - around 6 to 8 GB RAM will work great. However, you can get 12 GB or even higher in flagship smartphones, but we’d say that is just overkill for anybody.
3. Battery Life
Your smartphone’s battery should cover a regular full day of operation. Battery size is expressed in mAh (Milliampere hours). Most smartphones of 2023 house a 3500 mAh battery, enough to run for a full day under normal use. For users with really long interactions with their phone, we’d say go over 4000 mAh. Getting at least 5000 mAh of battery is the best choice for gamers and vloggers.
With more power needed to run power-hungry apps, bright touchscreens, and beefy processors, charging technology has also evolved. Mobile phones of today offer Fast Charging. Fast Charging devices will benefit from a microcontroller that intelligently adjusts the power delivery (PD) via the USB port.
Fast-charging phones are not expensive, and almost all mid-budget smartphones have this feature. This feature comes with chargers like 20W, 33W, 65W, etc. Wireless charging is another relatively new feature. Choose this unique and futuristic feature if you fancy it. Fast charging is also available in wireless charging phones.
4. Display Size & Type
The size of your mobile phone’s display can dramatically alter the user experience. In 2023, most smartphones will be above 6 inches in size. A large display is more enjoyable, offers an immersive experience, and is easy to navigate. However, smaller screen sizes are equally famous for easy handling and pocketability.
The display type is another factor you must pay close attention to. The most prominent display types are IPS and AMOLED. IPS touchscreens are exclow-costow cost choices for high response rates. With these screens, you can run action games like FreeFire or PUBG.
If you are a fan of OTT content or watch videos frequently, AMOLED screens can be a great choice. AMOLED display phones are unbeatable in contrast and brightness. These offer razor-sharp pictures and vibrant colors close to real life. Samsung offers some of the best AMOLED display mobile phones at meager prices.
5. Camera
In 2023, even the lowest-end smartphone will capture FHD video, featuring at least 8MP cameras. With higher ends, you can quickly get 4K videos and 8K in flagship models like Samsung Galaxy Z Flip/Fold and Galaxy S Stylus phones.
Most smartphones now pack at least two lenses on the rear. One is the primary camera, and the other works for optical zoom or wide-angle photos. To know how great a picture of a mobile is, the best practice is to check out the device at the phone shop physically. Alternatively, you can use the internet for photo samples of a specific mobile model. You can also ask a user community to send you some.
6. Storage Options
The standard for smartphone storage is around 64 GB now. Since every file type gets quality upgrades, more extensive storage is becoming common for mobile phones. Remember that any additional storage will always help, regardless of your use case. A little higher specced iPhones and Android phones will offer 128 GB, and 256 GB of space, while flagships can have 512 GB or even 1TB of storage.
Smartphones are also offered with variation in only the storage keeping other specs the same. For added storage, you have to pay more. If cloud storage is your thing, you might save here and spend that on a cloud subscription.
Other Features to Consider
Now that we have covered the absolute musts of buying a smartphone let’s look at some tips. These are essential for purchasing a mobile phone in 2023 and beyond. These points will bring more value for money on your next smartphone.
eSIM Supported Mobiles
eSIM supported phones are a must-have in Bangladesh. Since the country is rushing towards a smarter and digitized era, eSIMs will be the standard soon. If purchasing your next phone in Bangladesh, buy an eSIM supported mobile. With that, your purchase remains safe and secure. All the iPhones starting from iPhone 5 and the most recent Samsung mobiles with eSIM support, are available to purchase in 2023.
Operating Systems
When we speak of smartphone operating systems, the choices are straightforward. You have iOS and Android. Apple’s iOS is your best choice if you want a clean, easy-to-use interface. Looking at Android is THE MOST used Mobile OS around the globe, with virtually uncountable features.
If you love tweaking the look and feel of your smartphone, the Android operating system is your club. Smartphone brands implement their customized interface on top of the existing Android OS, some of which are amazing. OnePlus OneUI and Xiaomi’s MIUI are noteworthy for clean, fast load-ups. On android smartphones, you can tinker with almost everything you want.
Android Vs. iOS
The key difference between Android Mobile OS and iPhone OS is its customizability. Android is developed by google and is open source, which means you can customize it. iOS, on the other hand, is fully controlled by Apple, and users cannot break into its software. It means the security on iOS devices is virtually impossible to break.
In terms of collaborative interface, Android and iOS are equally mature. You can throw features and apps day to night, but it will come down to personal choice. Well, the iPhone OS will allow seamless transition on all Apple devices. It is great for those who already have Apple devices or an old iPhone and switching to a new one.
Connectivity
All smartphones except iPhones use a USB port for charging and connectivity. Your smartphone may feature a Micro USB or USB Type-C port. Type C is unimaginably faster than Micro USB. Type C ports also have versions named USB 2 and USB 3. The later version offers a more significant data transfer rate. OTG or On The Go USB ports will let you add external storage to the mobile phone. Look for OTG compatibility if you manage a lot of data from an external drive.
Top Smartphone Brands to Consider
As of 2023, many smartphone brands are bringing amazing mobile phones. It’s hard to rank them since everyone is excellent for different values. But here we are naming a few of our favorite brands, which are significant in terms of their phone prices.
Samsung smartphones are number one in terms of innovative design and functionality. Apple is great for its ecosystem as well as unbeatable performance. Xiaomi, Motorola & Realme are great for mid-range, feature-packed smartphones. While OnePlus is great for clean UI and lag-free operations.
Buy From an Official Store
Our last point in the guide for buying a smartphone is to buy your device from an official store. Doing so, you get the lowest possible price with perks like warranty and extended service. In Bangladesh, you can get all types of smartphones from Star Tech. The vendor is an official partner of over 25 world-renowned electronic companies for smartphones, PCs, laptops, TVs, AC, and many more.
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