Who would’ve thought twenty years ago that we could access any piece of information from the palm of our hands in an instant?! From keeping in touch with our friends on the other side of the world to monitoring stock fluctuations, everything has been made possible on our phones.
Buying a phone can be just as nerve-wrecking as it is exciting. We have become completely and utterly dependent on our phones which makes picking the right phone for ourselves all the more significant. Our phones carry all our personal information and make it easy for us to see through our days with ease, so it is crucial that we make the right choice.
When phone shopping there are many things one needs to consider such as its features and cameras, etc. but one must also keep in mind that buying a phone doesn’t always have to be an expensive affair. These days many people are noticing that phones last a lot longer than they used to and buying a used cell phone is a very attractive option due to this leap in longevity. Used cell phones are just as good as new ones as long as they’re functional and don’t have any obvious cosmetic damages.
A lot of us have multiple numbers or like to keep our work phones separate from our personal phones and so we may feel the need to get a second phone that serves the purpose. Therefore, looking to buy used phones is a great option! You can not only get it for a lot less than new, but can also sell it if you don’t enjoy the experience and the phone still retains value.
Now let’s talk about what you need to consider when buying a phone, whether it’s your first phone, a new phone, or just a supplemental one.
1. Battery Life – Battery life for a phone is one of the most important factors and can prove to be a decisive component when buying a phone. If you’re the type that uses your phone on social media, texting, or simply loves to binge shows on your phone then you need a device that’s at least going to last 6 to 8 hours on a single charge. A phone with a minimum of 5000 mAh battery life should serve the purpose here and then some. Some good examples of such phones are Xiaomi Poco M3, Realme 7, Samsung Galaxy M21 and M31s.
2. Processing Power – If you’re a diehard Apple fan then your choices are pretty clear. Any phone from their X series and above can run multiple hard-core apps at once. Their bionic chip processors not only allow for seamless online gaming but also other heavy duty tasks like music production and photo editing.
Among Androids, your best pick would ideally be a Google Pixel, the OnePlus 8 or the Samsung Galaxy S21 which runs on the powerful Snapdragon 888. Processing power also includes memory so you might want to keep a look out for the RAM on your phone as well. Anything beyond 6GB of RAM is perfectly fine for light gaming, browsing and streaming but if you juggle a lot of high-powered apps such as Asphalt 9, TikTok or Snapchat (which are notorious for draining your battery and hogging up your entire RAM) then stay on the safe side and get a phone with a higher RAM – 8GB or beyond. If your budget is not a problem then sky is the limit here.
3. Display – While there are various display types used in smartphones today like the LCD, OLED, AMOLED, Super AMOLED and a few others, ultimately the choice comes to what function your screen needs to serve and the size of the screen. The phone display size is a very personal choice and can depend on a lot of things.
If you use your phone for watching movies, gaming or for video calls, you should opt for a smartphone that is equipped with a display of more than 5.5 inches. Anything less than this will end up ruining the visual quality and user experience.
If you like smaller phones (which are gaining popularity these days) then you’re probably not too worried about the type of screen and are looking for ease of use. In such a case you can go for the iPhone SE with a 4.7 inch screen or the iPhone 12 Mini which is a mere 5.4 inch Super Retina XDR Display but has the same processing power as the other iPhones in the 12 series. In Androids the smallest that you will find is the Samsung Galaxy S10e which has a 5.8 inch OLED display or the Pixel 4a also at 5.8 inches. Picking a phone according to display size really depends on your preferences and functionality.
4. Camera – Last but not least, the camera. Your phone is the one thing you carry with you everywhere – capturing and creating memories. Having a decent camera on your phone is essential, unless you’re the one guy in your group that always carries his DSLR around. But if you’re not, picking a good camera phone is a major deciding factor when buying a phone.
There are many Android budget phones that harbour decent cameras such as the Samsung Galaxy M31s, Poco X3 or the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, for those that aren’t really camera savvy. On the other hand, there are phones like the Nord from OnePlus, the Google Pixel series phones or literally any recent iPhone such as the 11 Pro Max and the 12 Pro Max that render picture quality beyond expectations and have exceptional camera UI’s making these phones our top picks.
Buying a phone doesn’t have to be a herculean task. Before you go jumping from one online store to another trying to decide on the perfect phone, make sure you know what it is that you need from it. This’ll make your shopping process easier and ultimately help you pick the right one.
At SmartphonesPLUS.com we have a variety of used cell phones that have all been hand tested and certified by a technician. We offer the worry-free experience that you deserve. Every device comes with a 30-day warranty. And if you are not completely happy with your purchase – return it for free!