How to Choose a Suitable Smartphone

CC Flickr.com/Phil Roeder

You’re sick of your old handset and your contract is nearly up, so what is the best way of choosing a new phone?

Well there are a number of things to consider when picking a new device and most of it depends on what you use the device for yourself. So have a think about your old phone, what you used it for mainly and what you wish to use a new one for. Then decide on your new phone from that information.

Phones come with any array of specs and electronic wizardry, so deciding on what sort of wizard you want to be is crucial.

Cameras

If you’re a keen photographer some phones have the capabilities to compete easily with compacts. The new Xperia Arc by Sony Ericsson has a wonderful Exmor R sensor that creates excellent images. The Nokia N8 is also a viable device to take over the compact, with its huge 12mp camera it’s hard beaten for shooting images. Most people use their phone’s camera indoors or in darkened environments and so if you are looking for a good camera phone it is a good idea to find one with an LED, or preferably Xenon, flash.

Video

If you’re more inclined towards the moving image it is not uncommon for many of the newer phones to have 1080p recording capabilities. This coupled with a HDMI port can offer wonderful chances for budding film makers to show off on the big television screen. The same principle of darkness applies here, and for the best video recording experience you should look for having a video light on any potential phone.

Music

Most phones now come with decent music support although there are still some phones that cater specifically to audiophiles. In particular, manufacturers like Sony Ericsson have a lot of experience in the portable entertainment industry and Sony Ericsson phones often offer little tweaks and additional features that push them above the norm.

Internet

For Internet junkies there are also an array of phones out there, especially from HTC, Apple and Samsung as well as others that have super fast browsers and coupled with large HD screens are excellent for watching YouTube clips as well as even for streaming films or TV series. For all internet activities the phones connections are of utmost importance. Wi-Fi will allow you to connect to your home network or public hotspots, and high speed 3G connections will allow you quick access to online services in other circumstances.

Screen Quality

Larger screens are also great for watching home shot movies and looking through photo albums, as well as for those with larger than average thumbs, especially if coupled with a sensitive capacitive touch screen. Phone screens vary in quality and vibrancy but many phone screens offer a fantastic picture quality for such small devices. Most phones either come with an LCD screen or an AMOLED screen. AMOLED can provide better contrast and picture quality while indoors, although LCD will perform much better when you are out enjoying the sun.

Professional Features

For business people the software on the phone as well as the ability to send encrypted email is a must. BlackBerry has been and still is the top of the pack here with its excellent QWERTY keyboard and messaging. Many Apple and Android smartphones are also ideal for business users with a range of professional apps available from the App Store and Android Market. Professional phone users may also benefit from sliding QWERTY keyboards as these can be easier to type emails and documents with than onscreen software keyboards.

Gaming

The apps stores can provide plenty of excuses to waste time with fun games. Although most phones since the late 1990s have come with some sort of games included mobile phone gaming is only just taking off as a niche in its own right. Microsoft have introduced Xbox LIVE support on all phones running Windows Phone 7, and Sony Ericsson have released their first PlayStation phone the Xperia Play, which offers a PSP style control pad for some true gaming action.

Choosing a phone that you like and suits you is a bit like choosing a girlfriend as you may be stuck with it for years. Working out what you want from a device can help you to single out a selection of phones that fit the bill. Most modern smartphones will perform well across the board, although some will cater more intensively to a particular niche. There are phones that cater to games, music, videos, photography and an enjoyable mobile web experience and so determining what type of phone owner you are can help to pick out a suitable handset. So follow the guide, decide on what you want and then just do a little research and choose the ideal phone for you.