When you buy gadgets or devices, you have to make considerations. Earlier this year, I covered the topic of laptop buying mistakes to avoid. I did so in two separate articles, which you can check out to learn more. That is a perfect example that demonstrates that you should not just blindly make purchases. Phones, particularly smartphones, are an integral part of our lives. In Zimbabwe, smartphone penetration is beyond 100 percent. This is due to the fact that most people have more than one phone. This article is about educating you on how to pick the right phone for you.
Relate Features To Overall Intended Use And The Environment
The first question to ask yourself is, objectively, what do you need the phone for? This question alone is the basis for why many people purchase more than one phone. Consider someone whose main vocation is doing construction work. It would be unwise for someone like that to have a high-end phone as their main phone. This is because it will be prone to damage by falling or impact with hard surfaces. Someone full-time in construction work can consider phone brands like CAT. I have a CAT S30; CAT phones are specially designed for use in rugged environments.
I recall a few years back that CAT S30 fell face down onto a rock whilst on a road trip in Matabeleland South. It suffered no damage at all; case in point. Let us consider someone like a vendor who operates in crowded and busy places. They would rather use a basic entry-level phone, which, even if they lose, will not be a huge loss. These dynamics indicate the importance of possibly having more than one phone. The idea will be to have dedicated uses for each phone tied to the patterns of use and the environment.
Consider The Ergonomic Characteristics
Ergonomics is the science of the design of equipment, especially so as to reduce operational fatigue, discomfort, and injury. When considering phones, you have to pay attention to this. Let me use my example: my main phone is an Infinix Note 7. With it, I can do almost anything, e.g. I can actually write an article on my phone on the move. One of the reasons why I chose it is its 6.95-inch display. It is big enough not to strain my eyes which would have been the case had it been smaller.
Though it is relatively big, it still fits perfectly in my hands. This means I can use it comfortably with either one hand or both. I can also ensure a firm grip to avoid dropping it. It also has an eye care setting that makes the display go easy on my eyes. These are ergonomic characteristics I consciously considered in choosing my Infinix Note 7. All this was because I normally use my phone a lot, so I needed something comfortable. That is what you should do when looking to get yourself a phone; consider the physical design in relation to your intended uses.
Consider The Battery Capacity And Charging Speed
When weighing your options, you need to consider the battery capacity. There are several aspects that make this of critical importance. Most Zimbabweans do not have electricity round the clock. You also need a phone whose power does not quickly dissipate. Essentially you need a phone that does not literally always have to be plugged in. The more the frequency of plugging it in, the faster the battery’s performance plummets. Ideally, you want a phone that can last you at least a full day on a full charge. The phone also must have features that help prolong battery charges.
Having battery saying modes and dark modes or themes are battery-saving features. The phone must also make it easy to clearly see the display even at 50 percent brightness or below. This is paramount because when it comes to battery charges, the major consumer is display brightness and time. In case you did not know, the display uses up the biggest chunk of your battery charges. If you use your phone a lot, you need a phone whose display brightness you can reduce by at least 50 percent. Yet, at the same time, you will still be able to comfortably and clearly view and read.
From my experience, I have seen that a phone with a battery capacity of at least 5000 mAh is longer lasting. My Infinix Note 7 is 5000 mAh and under my normal use, it lasts more than a full day. This brings us to another issue – battery charging speed. We are now in the age of fast charging technology. I would recommend that you get a phone with fast charging capability. Mine has (i.e. 18 Watts) and it can go from 0 to 80 percent in less than an hour. It is remarkable to think that there are even faster ones e.g. 33 Watts or higher. This fast charging technology does not damage batteries, as some might think. My phone is 18 months old and still functions as good as new.
Balancing Out The Features Matrix
There are core features that must be balanced out. These are speed, storage, camera quality, battery capacity, and OS version. Find a phone that strikes a healthy balance for these features. For a heavy user, you would need at least 4GB RAM, at least 64GB storage, at least 48MP main camera, at least 5000 mAh battery, and the latest applicable OS.
The price tag of a phone matters most when looking to buy one. It is one of the main reasons why most people settle for phones that do not match their needs. It is best to do your homework first and figure out the best phone for your needs. Then you save up for it if the money is not already there. This saves you from the bigger cost of buying below-par phones. This cost tends to compound because you usually buy several phones or pay to get them fixed. Strive to get the best on the market, in synch with your pocket and needs.
