The smart guide to smartphone essentials
Bec Summer
STACK Writer
Smartphones are a vital part of our lives, and selecting one that best suits your needs means navigating an array of options and price points. To make it easy, we’ve compiled some key considerations to help you choose the phone that’s just right for you.
Set a budget
Smartphones can range in price from a few hundred dollars to more than a thousand. Set a price range and then peruse what’s available. The more advanced the phone, the higher the price. High-end and premium phones represent a good long-term investment to avoid upgrading every few years. They generally have brighter displays and higher screen resolution, faster processors, more internal storage, and longer battery life. Many premium features can also be found in mid-range models, so do your homework.
Features and functions
Perhaps the most important thing to consider after the cost is how you’ll use the phone. Itemise the key features and functions you’re likely to use on a regular basis, in order to avoid paying more for ones you may never utilise.
Operating system
Pick an OS that’s compatible with your other devices. If you’re an Apple user, choose iOS. Google’s Android is an open system that offers more freedom of choice when it comes to apps and customisation options. And a user interface that’s easy to navigate is another factor to consider.
Design
You carry a phone all day, so look for a sleek and lightweight one that fits comfortably in a pocket. The design of the phone ultimately comes down to personal choice. From the traditional rectangle, flip and foldable models, to fashionable and bold colours, there’s something to suit all tastes.
Display and resolution
The average phone has a screen size of 5.5–6.2 inches, which is good for general web browsing, apps and photography. But if you’re a gamer, binge-streamer, or content creator, you’ll want more screen real estate and a high-resolution display. The more pixels the screen can display, the higher the video and image resolution, so look for 1920 x 1080 (FHD) and above. The term ‘AMOLED display’ means a vibrant screen with lower battery consumption, while a phone’s Refresh Rate refers to how quickly a static image refreshes on the display – the faster it is, the smoother the experience. Phones generally have a refresh rate of 60Hz–120Hz.
Camera system
Most smartphones now feature multiple cameras/lenses, along with handy editing tools, a variety of shooting modes, and 4K video support. This should be more than sufficient if you’ll only use the camera in a general way to capture a moment or take a selfie, while more advanced features and specialised lenses will benefit photographers and content creators.
Internal storage
A phone’s internal memory will quickly fill up if you have a big photo and video album, an extensive music library, and a lot of apps onboard. Inbuilt storage capacity is available in several sizes – most phones offer 128GB and 256GB options, and up to 512GB on premium models. 128GB should suit general usage, but go bigger if you plan to save high quantities of the aforementioned content. Many phones also support memory expansion via a microSD card.
Battery life
This one’s a no-brainer – you’ll want the battery to last all day long, and then some. Phones with a surfeit of functions and a high-resolution display will consume more power, and a lot of streaming will quickly deplete it. How long it lasts depends entirely on personal use. Many phones feature energy saving modes to reduce background activity like app refreshing for a longer life.
Charging
Many phones now support fast charging. Check the product specifications for the number of watts (W) – the higher the number, the faster it will charge. Wireless charging is another convenient option, providing the phone supports the Qi wireless charging standard.
Durability
Phones are prone to accidental knocks and drops, and most can endure everyday wear and tear. An IPX rating indicates water resistance – the higher it is, the better the protection. A screen protector and case will add extra durability, and premium phones often have super-strong glass and tough aluminium frames.
Future-proofing
Buying a 5G smartphone not only future-proofs your device, but also provides the benefits of a faster network and higher transmission of data. 5G is backwards-compatible with the existing 3G and 4G networks.
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.
