Push-button cell phones today have almost sunk into oblivion. Their place was taken by smartphones – compact portable devices that combine the functions of a tablet, laptop, organizer, camera, player, and much more. As a telephone – for communication – they, of course, are also used. We figure out how to find a gadget for personal needs and budget.
How to choose a smartphone: basic parameters
- Brand and price
A branded smartphone, such as Apple or Samsung, and similar in characteristics, but from a less well-known manufacturer, cost differently – the first is expensive, the second is much cheaper. Therefore, it is important at the decision-making stage to limit the amount and formulate requirements for the brand.
- Display
Today, different displays are being installed: from almost obsolete TN – dim, inaccurate colors, to modern – bright, with excellent color reproduction, perfect black and white colors, supporting refresh rates up to 120 Hz Super AMOLED.
- Dimensions and weight
Some prefer weightless, compact and thin devices, others like weighty gadgets. It is important to remember that devices with high-capacity batteries are almost always thick and heavy. The same can be said about smartphones that are resistant to mechanical stress.
For what purpose is the gadget purchased. For calls, rare Internet surfing and correspondence in instant messengers, an inexpensive smartphone is enough. If it is assumed that the device will periodically act as a portable computer, you should pay attention to the processor and other technical characteristics.
- Hardware filling
Smartphone chips are getting better every year. The latest models are high-performance, fast, installed on top-end devices. Although sometimes they go to gadgets of the middle price segment. Not as fast as the top ones, but energy efficient, they are intended for younger models and smartphones in the budget segment.
- Optical block
It is present in all smartphones without exception. The difference is in capabilities: resolution, photo and video processing, the presence / absence of artificial intelligence. If you like taking pictures or vlogging, always pay attention to the optical unit when choosing a smartphone.
- Protection level
A classic budget smartphone is afraid of water, dust and often fails if dropped on a hard surface. In contrast, manufacturers produce secure gadgets – IP54, IP67, IP68 or MIL-STD-810G.
- Autonomy
The average battery capacity of a smartphone is 4500 mAh. This is enough for about a day if you do not use the gadget constantly.
But here we will briefly discuss two of them.
Optical block
Top fresh models are distinguished by the main cameras with the highest resolution – 50 or 108 megapixels. The buyer often gets the feeling that the higher this indicator, the better – although it often turns out that a gadget with a lower resolution lens takes better pictures.
In fact, such an impressive number of pixels is the result of software cheating. Consider Apple. The iPhone 13 has two cameras – a wide-angle and an ultra-wide-angle, both 12 MP, but at the same time, the smartphone takes great photos.
Tip: Don’t be overwhelmed by the resolution numbers. Pay attention to the aperture – the ability of the objective lens to collect light. The lower its score, the better. Consider devices with an aperture of 2.2 and below.
Do not chase the number of cameras. Let there be one, but of high quality, especially if the budget is limited. Be sure to check out the hardware support. For good shots, optical or electronic stabilization is important, night mode and other chips will not interfere – each manufacturer has their own. Likewise, you can check HONOR Magic 5 Lite UK price.
Autonomy
The standard life of the device from one charge is a working day or 8-12 hours. The average battery capacity is 4000-4500 mAh. How long its charge will last depends on whether the manufacturer has selected the right components and optimized the hardware stuffing. It often happens that a gadget with a capacious battery is discharged quickly, and a device with an ordinary battery lives much longer without recharging.
There are models with super-capacity batteries of 10,000 mAh or more, such as Ulefone Armor 3T, Blackview BV9500, Oukitel K7. They are suitable for travelers. If you properly optimize the operation of such a device by disabling all unnecessary programs and using it as a cell phone, it can work on battery power for up to three to four days.
