What to Know Before Buying a New Smartphone

Smartphones have more distinguishing features than ever and these can make it hard to decide what handset is right for you, so choosing a new phone with the correct features is more important than ever with devices costing close to $2,000 for premium handsets.

Many factors will determine whether a handset is right for a specific person, such as processing power, memory, screen size, and operating system. However, many people don’t consider these factors adequately and end up with smartphones that don’t suit their needs. This issue can be especially frustrating if you bought your phone on contract, and now you’re stuck with an inadequate device for two or three years. The price point also often doesn’t adequately reflect the quality of the device, as with Apple machines, which typically have significantly worse specifications for higher prices. Let’s look at 10 things you should consider before choosing your next phone. (If you're thinking of buying a used smartphone, here are 15 questions you should ask before you do.)

Choosing the items for this list was mostly done with editorial discretion. We aimed to choose metrics by which smartphones could be ranked objectively. However, even within objective factors, how important they are to a person is subjective. This list is aimed at people who are newer to technology and looking to get their feet wet with a new phone. For people with experience with technology, most of these are no-brainers. We made sure to expand on what you should consider and why they’re important to better aid people who are learning. That way, they can use the knowledge from this list to extrapolate to other devices if necessary.

Most people are familiar with the top two phone operating systems, iOS and Android. What people don't know is that these aren't the only options for operating systems on your phone. Android is an open-source project. So, small developers can use the Android platform to develop their own distributions with unique features, similar to how Linux operates. For users willing to sideload their own operating system, options such as Arrow OS and Graphene OS can provide users with extra security, as well as remove some pesky front-loaded, unremovable apps they don't want.

However, the typical user has two options: Android or iOS. iOS features a simple and minimalistic operating system that's easy to use and integrates with other Apple products such as MacOS, iPadOS, and Apple Watches. Android provides users with greater customizability, better control over features and security, and a massive selection of smartphones from the highest-end Samsung models to the budget-friendly BLU and Motorola devices.

iOS tends to be the operating system of choice for people who struggle with technology, but its features come with a few notable drawbacks. Firstly, it's less secure than the Android. That means your data is at a greater risk. Secondly, its devices are very limited. You only have access to Apple devices. If you don't like or don't want an Apple device, there's no way to install iOS on a different device or buy a different device preloaded with iOS. Finally, iOS devices cost more across the board despite having fewer features and worse security than Android devices.

This topic is far too complicated and varied for a single heading. So, we'll do our best to explain the key contenders in choosing your hardware. Don't be fooled by simple price points. iOS devices are more expensive than Android ones with comparable hardware specifications. If you buy a phone that's the same price as an iOS device from an Android manufacturer, you will almost universally get a better phone in terms of hardware.

If you like to do anything that requires processing power, such as gaming, you'll want a smartphone with a powerful processor. We measure processing power in gigahertz, which represents how quickly a chipset can complete a large number of processing cycles. The more processing cycles a processor can complete per second, the more data it can move, analyze, and output. People performing processor-intensive tasks should also look for a phone with a high amount of random access memory (RAM). This storage is where the phone will store information from sessions that aren't saved to the permanent memory. When you swap between windows on your phone, the phone draws the information for each app from the RAM to redisplay the information without reprocessing.

Another crucial piece of hardware to consider is the smartphone's camera. Phone cameras are not all made equal and it's important to consider both hardware and software when choosing a phone camera. If you like taking pictures or enjoy video chatting, a phone camera can be a make-or-break feature. While the phone's raw megapixel output is important, you also want to consider what the phone's software is, as the processing software will ultimately determine what your photos and videos look like. Check example photos from the phone, preferably from users rather than the manufacturer as they will choose photos that look better than average.

This factor is highly subjective and we recommend doing your own hands-on research before choosing a phone based on it. The physical design of a phone can be very important for the user's experience in ways that people don't typically think of. For instance, all my small-hand homies out there might find that some of the larger phones out there, phablets, as they're sometimes referred to, are uncomfortable because there's no easy way to use them with one hand when you have small hands. Conversely, big-hand homies buying small phones often find themselves thinking, "What is this? A phone for ants?!" when they buy a model that's intentionally designed with a small form factor.

Additionally, you'll want to consider what materials your smartphone is made of. While glass and brushed metal tend to make a phone feel higher quality, they're also less durable than plastic. If you work in a situation where your phone will be exposed to the elements regularly, a more durable plastic model with a rugged case might suit you. However, it won't feel as good in your hand. It will also look a bit dated right out of the box, unlike a sleeker glass phone. Newer phones typically use IPX-rated Gorilla glass, which is more durable, shatter-resistant, and scratch-resistant than the usual glass of older phones. However, they're not unbreakable like the Nokia bricks of the olden days.

The physical design may or may not be important to you. Some people want a phone in a certain color or with a certain design that suits their aesthetic. Others just want a phone that works. Both mindsets are fine.

Another factor to consider when choosing a smartphone is your desired price point. Most people know how much they're willing to spend on a new phone, but some people don't think about that until they get to the store. It's better to determine what you're willing to spend on your new phone before you start researching instead of after. That way, you aren't disappointed when you see the perfect phone and then look at the price tag and realize it's twice as much as you were willing to spend.

Price points for phones typically depend on what kind of unique hardware and software the phone comes with. For instance, a foldable smartphone like the Galaxy Z Fold, Pixel Fold, or Motorola Razr has a unique screen construction. These phones aim to create a seamless screen even though it has a hinge in the middle of the screen. However, the Galaxy Z Flip is notably cheaper than the Fold, despite being a foldable smartphone, because the Flip is incompatible with digitized pens like the S Pen, which require a digitizer under the screen.

Budget phones typically have the least unique features and will come in between $100 to $499, the $500 to $899 range is the mid-range phone bracket and you'll see some common add-ons at this price. From $900 to $1,299, you'll get your entry-level premium phones that come with starter unique features. Above $1,300 is the premium bracket. Phones at this level can go up to around $2,000 for the most unique features.

As mentioned in the last section, premium features typically come at premium price points. However, what is considered a "premium feature" varies by manufacturer. Depending on what manufacturer your phone is from, you may be able to get a variant of a premium feature from a different phone for less money. For instance, Samsung typically ships only its most premium phones with digitized styluses. However, the Moto G Stylus can be an excellent budget phone with a unique stylus. It can be a great option if you're not sure the stylus will be useful enough to warrant the extra money spent on a premium Samsung phone.

If you don't need any premium features, you'll want to pick your phone primarily based on the operating system and hardware. However, we'll cover a few of the most notable premium features on the market and which phones feature them.

First of all, as we mentioned, there are stylus smartphones. If you want a stylus dock built into your phone, you'll need to get a Samsung S Ultra series phone or a Moto G Stylus, the S22, S23, and S24 Ultra phones all have unique styluses that dock inside the phone. However, if you don't need a dock inside the phone, the Samsung Z Fold features compatibility with a unique stylus designed for the phone.

If you're looking for a phone with a clamshell fold, you have a few options from different manufacturers. Samsung makes the Z Flip, which folds vertically, and the Z Fold, which folds horizontally. Google makes the Pixel Fold, which folds horizontally, and Motorola makes the Razr series which folds vertically.

Something else to consider is whether you want to trade your old phone in. By doing this you can get some cash or credit towards your new phone. Trading your old phone in typically requires you to buy the phone outright directly from the manufacturer. However, some carriers offer trade-in programs for updated phones. This type of program is most useful for people who like to get new phones often. People who only buy a new phone when their current one is nigh unusable will better benefit from carrier upgrade programs. These can give you a reduced rate to enter a contract for a more recent phone model bought directly from your cell service provider.

If you want to use a trade-in credit, we recommend shopping around with different manufacturers. This way you can see what the best price you can get for your current smartphone is. It's important to remember that trade-in credits are determined by the model of the phone you're trading in. So, if you have an older phone, it might not be worth sending it in. Some manufacturers may not even accept the phone if it's too old. So, if you're looking to trade in your phone, don't wait. Your phone will only depreciate as you wait. The sooner you trade in a phone, the more value you get out of it.

Taking advantage of a trade-in program can be an excellent way to get some extra value out of your old phone when you upgrade. You'll get a lot of value out of trade-ins if you upgrade your phone often. So, definitely consider whether you're willing to utilize one of these programs when buying a new phone.

Another excellent way to save money is to buy a refurbished phone. This tactic won't work for people looking to buy the newest smartphone models. After all, people have to buy them and turn them in before they can be refurbished. However, if you're not attached to the absolute newest phones, you can get a model from last year or the year before for pretty cheap by buying from refurbishing hubs. There are many benefits to buying your next phone from a refurbishing hub that people fail to recognize when they start their new phone journey. Let's examine those upsides.

The first upside is obviously the discount. You can get upwards of $800 off many phone models by purchasing from a certified refurbisher. Most refurbishing hubs only allow high-quality refurbishing firms to sell devices on their platforms. The hub naturally doesn't want to tarnish its own name by supporting low-quality refurbishers. You can check platforms like BackMarket to get certified refurbished phones. Many hubs also offer device protection plans for one to three years depending on which platform you're looking at.

Another upside to buying a refurbished phone is reducing your carbon footprint and emitting less toxic waste into the ecosystem. Tech manufacturing produces a huge amount of toxic waste and most of it gets dumped into our already fragile ecosystem. By buying a refurbished phone, you can help reduce the amount of toxic waste created.

You'll also want to consider phone carrier compatibility when you buy a new phone, especially if you're not buying your phone directly from your carrier. Phones you buy from your carrier are locked. They can only be used with the carrier they were purchased from unless the carrier unlocks the phone for you. Typically, you can ask your carrier to unlock your phone and they will. However, if you bought your phone with a contract, they may require you to pay off the remainder of the contract before they unlock the phone. You can also buy phones that are unlocked from the get-go. If you want to buy an unlocked phone, you'll typically need to purchase it directly from the manufacturer. Thus, financing options for unlocked phones are limited to what the manufacturer has available.

Aside from carrier locks, you'll also want to consider whether or not a phone is compatible with your mobile network, especially if you're buying a phone from overseas. Different countries use different network bands. Thus, phones designed to work in one country may not be able to connect to a different country's carrier bands. This issue arises when they don't use the same bands in both countries. This difference is especially true with Japanese phones, which typically use different bands from American phones. Some companies, like Samsung, make "global" versions of their phones to sell overseas.

These global versions use bands more common to the countries they're going to be sold in. However, it's always good to check your smartphone for band compatibility if you're buying an international phone. With how expensive phones are nowadays, it would really stink to spend a ton of money and end up with a phone that's fundamentally incompatible with your country's carrier bands.

If you're someone who uses a lot of smart accessories that integrate with your phone, you'll want to ensure that those accessories are compatible with your new phone. People who use Apple accessories like Apple Watches will be locked into choosing an iPhone model to go with them. Other phones have limited, if any, compatibility with Apple products.

Additionally, as hardware gets older, manufacturers limit or discontinue support on newer devices. So, if you have older accessories, you may end up needing to buy a whole new suite of accessories when you upgrade your phone. Some accessories, especially accessories made by third-party brands, become unusable simply when you update your operating system. It's normal for devices and accessories to eventually become unusable and need replacing. However, when buying a new device, it's best to know if you need to buy any additional hardware. Knowing this information will give you a more well-rounded view of how much money you'll need to spend.

You can check accessory compatibility in the specifications of your smartphone and accessories. However, there is always a possibility of surprises. So, try not to be disappointed if you end up finding out your headphones won't connect to your phone.

You should also consider a device's life cycle when choosing a new device. Some people always need the newest tech while others cling to the simpler days of old. However, devices come and go. Devices eventually stop working after a long enough period of use. Still, even if the device itself is still functional, a manufacturer may discontinue it. If discontinued, they will stop updating the software. Additionally, eventually, newer software gets to the point where older devices are simply not powerful enough to run it. So, it's crucial to know what stage of life the device you plan to purchase is in.

Most manufacturers support devices for at least a few years. During this time, devices will receive regular updates including software updates, firmware updates, bug fixes, and security updates. However, as time goes on, manufacturers will shift their focus to newer devices. Eventually, the manufacturer will phase old devices out entirely. App developers will also stop supporting old devices after some time. So, the longer you hold onto a device without upgrading, the fewer options you'll have for apps and software. Additionally, since manufacturers eventually stop pushing security updates, your data will be more likely to be compromised.

It's pretty easy to check the life cycle of a device; look at the year it was released. Apple supports all of its devices for a minimum of six years. So, if the device is almost six years old, it's at the end of its life cycle. Different manufacturers support devices for different periods. So do your research regarding the device life cycle for your desired manufacturer and device. (It's not just phones – here are 25 modern inventions that are now obsolete.)