Some Practical Tips on Choosing a Smartphone

India is one of the prominent markets for mobile manufacturers. Numerous companies are not only selling their devices, but also targeting Indian customers with phones that suit their needs and pockets. As cost is one of the big issues here, companies come with several low-budget devices that enhance their mid-range and high-end smartphones range. Plenty of options are available in the market, leaving customers in a dilemma to choose the best one. The budget can vary from person to person, so keeping that in mind, we tell you about the key parameters to consider before choosing the right smartphone.

Operating System: Android and Windows are two popular operating systems. Where, Google’s Android is the most loved platform among the buyers as a wide range of mobiles available to choose from, while Windows OS is available with Nokia devices only and recently they have shaken hands with Micromax to produce Windows mobiles. Both offer an excellent user interface. You might be comfortable with Win OS as you use them on PCs but only few brands offer Win OS with their devices. Another important factor is the availability of apps. With Android you get access to a plethora of apps, while with Windows that recently surpassed 200,000 apps you may you won’t get what you can with Android OS.

Storage: All smartphones come with some storage space, in which the OS reserves specific amount of space for its usage. When you choose a device with 4 GB internal memory, then check the space available for the user. For instance, if the phone has 4 GB internal memory with Android Jelly Bean, out of 4 GB a user could get about 1 GB of space free (depending on pre-installed apps). But what if your app or game is more than the available space? While, considering the space, you must check whether it has microSD slot for memory expansion or not. If yes then go for it and if not then better look for other options, as there are devices with larger internal memory as well as expansion slot.

Display: IPS display smartphones are common nowadays, and few boast qHD as well. It will take some time and qHD will become a common display in the market. But, what else you can see about a display? Its resolution, viewing angles, brightness and size. Resolution can vary from 480 X 850 pixels to 540 X 960 pixels - the higher the resolution, the better the picture quality. Obviously, you will go with the better one, yet viewing angles can make a major difference. If a display doesn’t allow you to see the pictures or watch videos from every angle, then holding it in the ideal position is the solution, but would not make it worthy enough. Similarly, brightness matters when you are out and use your device in the sunlight. With a bright display, you would be able to use the phone even in direct sunlight. Display size is another factor to choose the right device, as a large screen mobile may not fit into your pocket while a smaller one won’t give you a good experience. Smartphones are available from 4-inch to 6.5-inch display sizes. A 4-inch size could be small while the 5.5-inch or more could be bulky to your pocket. If you love to play games, watch videos etc. then a bigger screen makes sense, could be your taste while for a decent experience around but if you want a screen size that’s neither too big, nor too small, then go for a smartphone with 4.5 inch screen size.

Performance: When you are looking for the best smartphone, you should never compromise on performance. Dual core and quad core processors are common with smartphones nowadays. Depending on the chipset and clock speed, it can perform well or disappoint you with multitasking. Here RAM also plays an important role to make the device a seamless performer. You need to understand that only a higher processor clock speed is not enough. You also need more RAM 512 MB RAM for instance, allows you to run the device smoothly, but multitasking, or running heavy games and apps can affect performance. 1 GB or higher RAM can support the processor up to an extent and make it a seamless performer.

Camera: Megapixels are not the only thing you need to look at. Sensor and image quality are more important. Sometimes, you hardly get to see a major difference between pictures clicked by a 5 MP and an 8 MP camera. Quality sensors allow you to capture bigger pixels and sharper looking photos. Camera features help to click best shot in all conditions. For instance, optical image stabilization helps reduce blur. Also, few mobile cameras even offer HD video recording, so check for the best.

Battery: No one wants to carry a charger all day long. A powerful battery can run your device for long, and when you think about battery, a balanced ratio between screen size and battery’s power does matter. Remember, a large display would drain the battery fast, so battery capacity should be higher, if the display is respectively large. And though there is no standard benchmark to check what suits the best, a 2500 to 3000 mAh battery can last a day long with 5-inch mobiles. Again, it depends on usage. If you are using 3G services and performing many other tasks, it will drain out the battery within 5-6 hours.

Play Around: Plenty of choices are available in the market. After considering the points mentioned above, you can play with the devices to choose the best one. Look for available options that suit your pocket and requirements and then use them for a while (if possible) to get the feel. It will help you make the right decision.