Purchasing a smartphone is still regarded as a significant financial investment in many parts of the world, as many of us spend a significant portion of our earnings on it. As a result, we must get it right the first time because there are rarely any second chances. Choosing a phone may be a difficult undertaking with so many brands and models available across the price range.

Here are some tips to help you select the best smartphone for your needs while avoiding pushy salespeople and surfing comparison sites.

Smartphones Buying Guides

Do some homework

Do your homework first. If a phone fulfills your criteria and budget, compare pricing online, read reviews from reputable sources, and, if necessary, visit a local store for a hands-on experience. Don’t be deceived by flashy advertisements or special offers. It’s not a good idea to buy a smartphone with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage and hope it lasts for the next four to five years. As a result, always pay a little more for characteristics that will last a few years to future-proof yourself. Similarly, secondhand smartphone prices are quiet low which you might want consider. Also, smartphones prices differ country wise, smartphone price in Nepal is quiet higher compare to Chinese price. So you might want to ask a friend, family member residing there to buy it for you.

Determine features that you might want to use

Don’t hurry into buying a new smartphone. When purchasing a smartphone, there are numerous factors to consider. First and foremost, figure out which functions are most important to you in a smartphone, as this varies greatly from person to person. Do you require a phone with a large storage capacity for music and video files? Are you seeking a smartphone with long battery life? Some people prefer a phone with a Snapdragon 888 processor and a better front-facing camera, while others choose a phone with a standard selfie camera but a strong processor for gaming. Don’t be tempted by gimmicky features; you don’t want to end up paying for something you won’t use.

Screen Brightness is most than resolution

While having a smartphone with a Quad-HD (2K) resolution display may sound appealing, even Full HD is probably more than you need. Experts claim that a normal person will not notice the difference between 2K and FHD. As a result, purchasers should pay more attention to brightness and color quality. Make sure you get one that is bright enough to read outside and sharp enough so the lettering does not appear blurry.

You should also consider the size of the display. We recommend a smartphone with a nice screen size — popular sizes are between 5.8 and 6.5 inches — for watching movies and the least resolution FHD if you plan on spending hours looking at it. A smartphone with a 720p (HD) screen will suffice if you are an ordinary user with basic demands. AM OLED screens have higher contrast and darker blacks than LCD screens. AMOLED panels are available on a variety of smartphones; you can get an AMOLED panel even in lower midrange phones.

Ergonomics is equally important

With the increasing size of smartphones, we’ve witnessed sacrifices in terms of comfort and portability. Many individuals dislike using very large mobile phones since they can’t be used one-handed and are too cumbersome to carry in their pockets. Always choose a smartphone that allows you to type quickly and swipe quickly. Furthermore, all sections of the screen should be accessible with just one hand. Never compromise on comfort and usability; therefore, try out the phones on your shortlist in a physical store before making a purchase.

Don’t run for specifications

The Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate edition features a Snapdragon 888 CPU and a whopping 18GB of RAM. The question is, how much RAM does a phone truly require? Is the Snapdragon 888 a game-changer in terms of performance?

At the end of the day, a smartphone’s specifications are irrelevant. What matters most is how you perform daily. The Redmi Note 10 Pro, for example, is a fantastic example of a mid-range smartphone that performs well. However, if you are a power user who frequently plays graphics-intensive games, a phone with a Snapdragon 888 and 18GB RAM may be more appropriate. However, at the present, 8GB of RAM isn’t required for a smartphone because there aren’t many programs that can take advantage of it. To open apps quickly, a smartphone with 4GB of RAM will suffice.

However, unlike Android, which demands more RAM, iOS operates differently. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has 6GB of RAM, but it outperforms any Android flagship in terms of performance. The A14 Bionic CPU included in the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPhone 12 mini is the world’s fastest mobile chip.

Purchase a smartphone with at least 32GB of storage.

Ignore a decent offer on a smartphone with 16GB of storage if you see one. Instead, seek a phone with at least 32GB of internal storage, and preferably 64GB. While much depends on your needs, you should ideally keep games, images, films, and music on your phone. To expand your storage, an Android smartphone with a microSD card slot would be ideal. However, iPhones do not support microSD cards. 

Which is better, Android or iOS?

Your smartphone’s operating system (OS) is what keeps it running. These days, there are two main choices: Android and iOS. Android is more popular because it is open source and can be customized by any manufacturer; it also provides more hardware possibilities.

Android is a superior choice if you currently use Google’s essential apps and services, such as Gmail and Maps. Furthermore, Google Assistant is still the best virtual voice assistant available today. One of the main reasons for Android’s popularity is its affordability. On the flip side, these low-cost and mid-range Android devices can become slow over time.

iOS is the iPhone’s mobile operating system, and it’s a lot easier to operate. Furthermore, iOS is more secure, with apps that are quality-checked before being released. Those who are already part of Apple’s ecosystem and utilize iPads and Apple Watches are more likely to purchase an iPhone. iPhones are a terrific choice for folks with a lot of experience, but they’re also a lot more expensive. 

Look for devices that have a huge battery.

We all want our phones to last all day, but we all know it isn’t possible. The way you use your smartphone, of course, has an impact on battery life. Streaming videos from YouTube, for example, uses a lot more energy than browsing. The same may be said about a bad network. Consider a smartphone with a huge battery and quick charging if you’re on the market for one. Smartphones from companies like Xiaomi, Vivo come with special chargers that can charge a battery to 50% in only a few minutes. 

Keep an eye on the camera’s aperture.

The camera on a smartphone is an important element that most consumers pay attention to. The cameras on more expensive phones, such as the iPhone 12 Pro Max, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, and Galaxy S21 Ultra, are superb. However, the issue arises when selecting budget and mid-range smartphones with poor cameras. Make sure to pay attention to features like aperture, twin lenses, and optical image stabilization rather than the megapixel count. If feasible, try out the smartphone camera in a nearby mobile store as soon as possible. This gives you an idea of the camera’s performance before you buy it. 

Updates and security patches

If you buy a new iPhone, you will almost certainly get the most recent version of iOS, but this is not the case with Android. It can take a long time for manufacturers to release the latest upgrades because they utilize their customized user interface on top of Android. Only a few smartphones, such as the Google Pixel series, are certain to receive Android updates regularly. Even now, manufacturers are releasing devices with Android 10, even though the most recent version is Android 11, which will shortly be superseded by Android 12. Only Android handsets with Android 11 out of the box are recommended. Check the brand’s track record when it comes to releasing OS updates. 

Keep an eye on the launch date

Because manufacturers release new phones every month, there is no set period to purchase a new smartphone. Keep a lookout for Samsung and Apple’s next flagships to be updated in August and September, respectively. If you’re clever, you can save a lot of money by purchasing a smartphone from the previous year.

Should you buy a new smartphone or a used one?

This is something you must assess for yourself. Purchasing a secondhand smartphone may be a terrifying experience due to the risk of the gadget being stolen, misused, and worn out, or all of the above. So, before you go out and buy a used smartphone, think carefully.

A secondhand smartphone may save you a few dollars, but it may also result in higher repair costs. Consider your requirements and why you require a used smartphone. It can make sense to go with a used smartphone if it’s being used as a secondary device. However, if you intend to use it as your primary device, you should probably avoid buying a used smartphone that is already too old. Logic dictates that you should only consider a used phone if it is still under warranty and in good working order.

During the sales negotiating process, a buyer should ask the seller the following questions: • Is there anything wrong with this cellphone?

• Can you tell me anything about this smartphone’s history?

• Do you have the manufacturer’s warranty card for this phone?

• Have you ever had to fix this smartphone?

To find out how much your old phone is worth, click on the exchange option on any online merchant and enter the IMEI number.

Hope, before your next purchase you will keep an eye on above mentioned points. The main point to be noted is figure out your requirement and what you expect the phone to be good at. Some might have better camera system while the other might present you better processor. Consider the ecosystem you can be comfortable with IOS or Android. And that’s all, you will end up buying a perfect smartphone according to your need.