Five Vital Considerations To Make Before Buying a New Mobile Phone

There are few things in life more gratifying than buying yourself a brand new mobile phone, which is just as well at a time where the most advanced smartphones on the market are beginning to top $1,000 in retail value.

We’re never far from coming across the latest marketing campaign from a company boasting the latest multi-megapixel cameras or the world’s fastest processors, but how much attention should we be paying to these advertisements? And what’s best to look out for when purchasing a new handset?

This article aims to focus on the five vital consideration to make when you’re deciding on purchasing a brand new mobile phone.

How will you use it?

To make calls, presumably? But such a seemingly obvious question can actually require much deeper thought when it comes to deciding on the right handset for you.

The answer to this question may revolve around the network and tariffs that you’re aiming to use the device on. Different phones will affect your SIM card allowances in different ways. If, for example, you plan to use a Pay As You Go SIM, you may wish to purchase a reliable iPhone that’s capable of avoiding SMS text messaging charges through its handy and free-to-use iMessage function. Given that older iPhone models use less processing power than the seemingly omnipotent iPhone X, you can also enjoy efficient browsing without guzzling data on a high-end device.

Likewise, if you’re conscious that you will be purchasing a contract mobile phone to support your communications capabilities as a freelance worker, it’s vital to be in possession of a well-performing device that’s capable of coping well with relentless usage.

Storage space

Storage is an all-too-often overlooked part of the process of buying mobile phones. There was once a time where the commonly accepted entry level of 16gb of storage would’ve been more than enough to cope with holding our text messages and high scores on Snake – but times have changed and we’ve evolved into a world obsessed with apps.

The smartphone storage space of today typically starts at around 16/32/64gb and although many websites recommend users focus on buying at least a 64gb model to keep their handsets running smoothly, the question of ‘how much storage is enough’ can only truly be answered with some introspection.

If you’re something of a shutterbug, then you’ll find yourself using up a smartphone with relatively little storage space fairly quickly. Compulsive users of apps may also fall into the trap of purchasing a phone that’s a little too limited for their ambitions.

Battery life

Again, the importance of battery life may vary depending on how much you use your mobile phones each day, but as The Daily Telegraph recently reported that as a nation, Britain spends an average of one day on the internet each week, it’s becoming increasingly likely that we’re spending more and more time glued to our phones.

If you identify as a heavy user that constantly keeps apps open and streams YouTube then you should certainly keep on the lookout for a heftier amount of battery life. Gadgets Now recommend that more frequent mobile phone users keep on the lookout for handsets that have at least a 3500mAh battery and above, while less regular users could comfortably survive with the more modest 3000mAh batteries and still continue to use their device all day.

Assess your needs

The key to finding happiness in your new phone is through buying into the features that you enjoy most. If you enjoy taking photos, it’s best to look for a device with an impressive camera, if you would like to buy a handset that’s compatible with your iPad, take a look at available iPhones, and if you dislike using touch screen keypads, embrace a Blackberry.

You’ll find that different devices have excellent unsung features that could make them a whole lot more enjoyable for users. The new Apple iOS update has added a spirit level feature and an Augmented Reality measuring system that could be highly useful for DIY hobbyists. While Samsung Galaxy devices feature a highly intuitive dictaphone feature that might be a great help to journalists and writers.

Here, it pays to do your homework and keep open-minded about what’s important to you. If a feature jumps out at you then it’s worth weighing up. Be sure to check out mobile phone comparison sites like MoneySupermarket, SmartphoneChecker and uSwitch to ensure that you find your ideal match.

Appropriate security

Security is of the utmost importance in this day and age. So much of our lives and passwords are stored in our phones that it’s imperative they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Luckily, as mobile phones become more advanced, so too does the security that they have in place to keep information safe.

If you regularly work in a field that involves confidential information, it could be worth investing that little bit more in buying a phone that has biometric security measures. Fingerprint scanners on mobile devices are becoming increasingly common, but facial recognition is really beginning to kick off for high-end models – and could ultimately pay dividends if you’re eager to keep your data safe should the worst occur and your smartphone goes missing.