What to Look For When Buying a New Phone
Whether you’re looking to buy the latest iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, or an affordable phone, finding the right one can be a difficult challenge.
Before you buy a new phone, learning more about its specific features can help you narrow down the options. That’s where our handy guide comes in. We’ve gathered the essential phone features to consider before buying a new one.
What You Need Your Phone to Have
Before buying a new phone, you should first work out what functionalities it should have – this is key if you want your new phone to be a long-term investment.
Ask yourself, what do I want to use my new phone for? Do you like taking professional photos? Are you looking for a big screen to watch movies and tv shows on, or a small phone that will fit in your pocket? These questions will help you narrow down the right phone choice for you.
Android Or iOS
Phones come with different operating systems, including Android or iOS, which you might have used before. Functionally they’re very similar; however, they have different elements and displays.
Android Phones
Android phones offer superior personalisation. Created through Google, android devices allow you to customise your phone the way you want. They come with a wider variety of apps to choose from than iOS phones, including customisable themes, icons, fonts, keyboards and much more.
Many companies and providers use the android operating system, which makes these phones highly accessible and affordable.
iOS Phones
Unlike Android phones, which multiple manufacturers create, the iOS operating system is solely owned and used by Apple Inc. This operating system is used on all their iPhones for easy navigation and security.
iOS comes with all the default Apple apps and services, including their App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, and iCloud – so you can access all your music, games, and files easily. However, the iOS system might not be as customisable as the Android.
Type of Processor
Put simply, a processor is the heart of a phone that helps it perform and run properly.
If you like to multitask on your phone or want one with no lag, then this is a step you won’t want to skip.
Some of the best processing chips used in new phones include:
1. The Bionic Chip: The bionic chip is Apple-owned and used in its newer devices (iPhone 11 and onwards). It’s a lightning-fast chip with four highly efficient cores that help save battery life and two high-performing ones used for multitasking.
2. The Qualcomm Chip: Qualcomm chips are known for their secure processing speeds that use little battery. If you’re looking to buy a phone with a Qualcomm chip and want fast speeds, ensure the chip is series six or above.
3. Samsung’s Exynos Chip: Samsung phones have a leading mobile processor (Exynos) that’s high performing, easy to use and has quick speeds for efficiency.
4. The MediaTek Chip: MediaTek processing chips are designed to cope well when you multitask. If you’re buying a phone with a MediaTek chip, ensure it’s using the highest-powered options like Dimensity 1100 and Dimensity 1200 for efficiency.
Camera capabilities
Nowadays, lots of us use our phone as a camera too – if that’s you, you should consider the phone’s camera quality, storage, and battery capabilities.
Let’s start with camera quality. Generally, the newer the phone, the better the camera. All cameras have different megapixels, which refer to the camera’s resolution, but as long as the quality ranges between 2 to 20 megapixels, you’ll be able to create worthy photos and videos.
If you like taking lots of photos and videos, you should also ensure the phone has enough storage to hold all your files, as well as long battery life.
Screen Size
Although phones generally come in a rectangular shape, their screen sizes vary to suit different users.
Phones with a 6-inch screen or above like the Samsung Galaxy Pro Max or iPhone 13 Pro have fantastic, high-quality resolutions – perfect if you enjoy streaming movies, TV shows, videos or for gaming.
Whereas ‘mini’ phones have smaller screens better for simpler use, like making calls, texts or working. They also fit better in tight spaces like your pocket.
If you’re unsure what screen size will work functionally for you, consider how you interact with your phone. Do you generally use one hand to guide through your phone? Then you might like smaller screens. Whereas if you prefer to use two hands, you might want a bigger phone.
Tip: if you want a phone with a large screen but don’t want something too big, why not consider a foldable phone? They have a fantastic, large screen that’s foldable and just as functional as any other phone.
Design Features
Another essential element to consider when looking for a new phone is its design features. Tech companies like Samsung, Apple, Google etc., designed their phones completely different to stand out. Some have home buttons, whereas others have unique charging and headphone cables. The point is, they’re all designed differently, and some may not work for you, so ensure you consider them before you buy.
Storage
If you like taking photos but hate looking for a place to store them, then storage isn’t a feature you should skimp out on when buying a new phone.
These days, phones, especially smartphones, come with lots of free space and storage services such as Google Drive and iCloud. So, you can store all your photos and videos in one convenient space, hassle-free.
The easiest way to determine how much storage your new phone should have; is to check the amount of storage you’re currently using in your existing phone’s settings.
Battery Life
All phones have different battery capacities. Generally, the newer the phone, the better the battery; however, that also means the more expensive the price tag. But if you take your phone everywhere or use it almost constantly for work, gaming or taking pictures, a long battery life phone is a must.
The best way to work out if the phone’s battery life is adequate for you is to check the mAh value (milliampere-hour), which refers to the amount of electric charge the battery can hold. The more mAh values, the longer the phone can last (given the phone’s battery is in good condition), but you can also check the reviews to see what others say.
Should you buy a phone outright or on a plan?
This depends on the type of phone you’re buying as well as your budget. Phones can be costly to purchase upfront, especially if you’re buying the latest version. But a phone bought outright gives you peace of mind that it’s yours and saves money in the long run. So, if you can afford to buy your phone outright, it’s the best option.
However, if you’re on a tight budget but still want the latest phone, then a plan is for you. Many different plans are available for alternate phones. Usually, you’re contracted to these plans for either 24 or 36 months; however, you do end up paying more in the long run.
Phone Coverage
Along with buying a new phone comes finding the right coverage, whether that be 4G or 5G.
5G is the fastest network on the market that offers the best bandwidth, fastest downloads, and fewer lags. Its incredible wide coverage can reach underground car parks, stations and shopping centres. However, 4G provides good speeds and quality reception, so if you don’t need the quickest coverage, then 4G might be the better option.
Tip: Before choosing 5G, check if your phone supports it, as 5G is new and not available on all phone types yet.
Some of the best providers in Australia with overall solid signals are Telstra, Optus and Vodaphone.
How much Does a Smartphone Cost?
If you’re not buying your phone under a plan, a new phone can set you back almost 2,000 dollars depending on the model; however, you can buy refurbished options for less than $100. MyDeal has a range of excellent quality refurbished phones available online including iPhones, Samsung phones and much more.
The best time to buy a new phone is when the sales are on (e.g., during the major holidays, Black Friday, or boxing day sales). Like all retailed businesses, this is the time tech companies try to clear last year’s stock to make room for new.
Phone Accessories
Don’t forget to complete your new phone set up with some accessories. A phone case is a necessary purchase that can protect your phone and elevate its look. You could buy a wallet phone case, a waterproof one or even a charging case – there are plenty of options out there to choose from. You can also purchase new headphones, whether that be Bluetooth connected or with a cord, or even a smartwatch that links straight to your phone (e.g., Apple’s Watch).
