Smartphone Buyers Guide

What Are Smartphones?
Who Needs A Smartphone?
Smartphone Operating Systems
Common Features To Look Out For In A Smartphone
Conclusion

What Are Smartphones?

Smartphones are a combination of traditional cell phones and personal computers.

Cell phones were originally designed and manufactured for making phone calls and sending short messages. Over time their basic functionalities have changed and becoming more sophisticated. From sending picture messages, to listening to music, taking pictures and movies, making video calls and now to installing apps and connecting to the world wide web.

There's no specific definition of a smartphone, but you'll usually find that they have these features in common:

• They connect to the internet via Wi-Fi and mobile broadband,

• They include a web browser and email application,

• They let you download a wide variety of software applications ("apps"),

• They come with music and video players,

• They run off operating systems,

• They can play games.

Some lower priced phones on the market do have the ability to connect to the internet, but they are rarely as functional as a smartphone. The latter are more like portable computers, which accounts for their high price tag.

Who Needs A Smartphone?

If you're wondering who could make use out of a smartphone, the answer is just about anyone!

A smartphone can help reduce the needs for extra gadgets in your life. For example, they work as MP3 players, as digital cameras, and as a way for you to keep track of your emails even when you're away from home and your internet connection.

Smartphones are very popular with casual users who want entertainment on the go. Many people even use them for gaming.

They're also hugely popular for business purposes, allowing people to stay productive while travelling, send data back and forth to the office, and more.

You may think that a smartphone isn't for you, but the many uses of a smartphone often don't become clear until after you've used the device for a while. Many smartphone users state that they come to rely on the functions of their phones:

• Maps may get them out of tricky situations when they don't know their way around,

• Web access may allow you to find contact details of a service or venue you need to keep in touch with,

• Email services can mean you can stay in the loop at work even when you're not there,

• And so on.

The main benefit of a smartphone will really depend on you, but it's almost certain there will be a number of different benefits!

Smartphone Operating Systems

One thing that sets smartphones apart from traditional cell phones is the fact that they run on an operating system. Just like a computer, the operating system manages the hardware and software, and puts it together in a format that makes it easy for you to access all of the functions of the device.

The operating system you choose for your smartphone will impact:

a) The general user interface and menus,

b) How much you can customize the device,

c) Certain features available,

d) The apps available to you to download.

iPhone iOS

Apple iOS is the operating system used solely on the iPhone. It's not available on any other smartphones, though you will find it on the iPad and iPod Touch, and may already be familiar with it from those devices.

The best thing about iOS is that it works very well, and is extremely easy to use. Even if you've never used a smartphone before, it probably won't take you long to pick it up.

In fact, iOS was the first smartphone operating system to arrange icons into rows on the screens, helping you to select which apps to use. You can customize the way they're laid out by rearranging the apps to different pages of the home screen, though customization options are far more limited on the iPhone than on rival system Android.

When you choose iOS, you'll also get access to the Apple App Store. This is currently the biggest smartphone app store in existence (though Android also has an excellent selection).

In short, iOS is useful for those who want something stylish and easy to use right off the bat.

It's not for you if you're looking for something highly customizable, available on a wide range of devices from different manufacturers, and open in terms of apps.

Google Android

Android is quickly becoming hugely popular in the world of smartphones. This operating system is designed by Google and, unlike iOS, it's available for a wide range of manufacturers to include in their devices. For this reason, there's a far greater choice of Android phones available than there is with iOS - in fact, it's the most common operating system you'll see.

The main benefit of Android is that it's customizable, and its app market is open (leaving more freedom for developers). Android is considered the preferable operating system for tech experts who want a lot more control over what they're doing, and it's not as simple to use as iOS.

Some of the things you have more control over on Android include:

• Backgrounds,

• Icons,

• Menu themes.

In reality, however, you'll often find that the phone manufacturers alter the Android interface to change the user experience. This often means that it's a lot more user-friendly, and just about as easy to pick up as Apple's iOS (which is good news for smartphone beginners).

The downside to the fact that manufacturers can alter the interface is that they do not always do this successfully, which is why it's important to read individual smartphone reviews before you buy.

The app store, Android Market, isn't as big as the app store for the iPhone, but it's big enough to have just about everything you could want. Most apps get developed for iPhone first, then Android second, but as Android grows, so too will the app store.

Windows 7

Most of us are already familiar with Windows on our computers. Now you can also get Windows 7 as an operating system designed for your smartphone.

Note - Windows 7 is separate to the older Windows Mobile operating system that you may have heard of.

Windows 7 is another user-friendly interface. For people new to smartphones, it's easy to pick up and use. It's generally easier to use than Android, although many manufacturers have put their own twist on Android to help enhance the user experience.

It also integrates very well with a number of Windows software programs, as you'd imagine. This makes it a good choice for businesses who rely on specific Windows features, such as Microsoft Office.

One downside of the Windows 7 operating system is that it is only available on a small number of smartphones, so there's less choice of hardware to choose from. However, since it's been upgraded to bring it more in line with the most popular smartphone operating systems, we could be seeing this OS on more and more devices from here on out.

Common Features To Look Out For In A Smartphone

Smartphones come with a huge variety of features. Sometimes it can be difficult to know what they all mean!

Note that a smartphone won't necessarily come with every single one of thee features, and the manufacturer may choose to excel in one area and not focus on others. The device you choose will be based on what you personally feel to be important elements of a smartphone.

Here is an explanation of the most common features you'll usually find in popular smartphone models, and what these features really mean for you.

Service Provider

Although not a feature of the smartphone itself, the service provider is probably the very first thing you should be looking at before you make your buying decision. Most smartphones are only available on one provider, which means your choice will be limited.

Why? Because there may only be a limited number of carriers that have a good reception in your area.

This is why it's first important to narrow down the providers you'd be willing to use, then to take a look at the specific smartphones they have on their service.

The most common smartphone service providers are:

• Verizon Wireless,

• AT&T,

• Sprint.

Battery Life

All smartphones run off a battery, due to their portable nature. There are a few main measurements you'll want to look at for battery life:

• Talk time using 3G (i.e. how long you can use the phone for in voice calls before it depletes the battery),

• Talk time using 2G,

• Standby time (when you're not using any of the smartphone's features).

It's important to note that a number of factors can influence the battery life of your smartphone, so you'll never experience the exact same times as the estimates provided by manufacturers.

Activities such as browsing the internet, sending emails, watching movies and gaming will deplete the battery faster than any given estimates.

The top smartphones of today usually have a battery life of 5-9 hours on 3G calls and 250 to 450 hours on standby.

Size And Weight

Smartphones are generally very small, and come in the "candy bar" design, so called because of the similarity between the shape of the phone and a bar of candy. The rectangular screen may or may not feature buttons above or below, and some phones come with slide out physical controls instead of a touchscreen, making them more bulky.

The candy bar label usually refers to phones with a physical keyboard below the main screen, whereas "slate" is now more commonly used to describe phones with minimal buttons around the screen (such as the Apple iPhone 4).

On average, smartphones are usually no bigger than 5 inches tall and 3 inches wide. They are rarely bigger than half an inch thick, making them easy to slip into your pocket or hide away in a pouch in your bag.

The average weight of a smartphone is around 5 ounces, making them very easy to hold when making calls or using any of their features.

Price

Smartphones are generally a lot more expensive than basic cell phones. Where the latter can cost as little as $20, the former can cost multiple hundreds (up to around $650).

There's good reason for this fact. With a smartphone, you're basically carrying around a portable computer in your pocket. This is why smartphones are more on a par with tablets and personal computers than cell phones in terms of price.

It's important to note that your choice of smartphone plan can dramatically alter the price you pay for your smartphone. Some phones come free with long monthly contracts. If not, you'll almost always receive a big discount on the upfront cost when you sign up to a contract for a fixed period of time (often 18 or 24 months).

Storage Space

Thanks to the fact that smartphones are much like portable computers, they come with a specified amount of storage space. You can use this space to store apps, music, videos and other files.

The average storage space you'll find on a smartphone is far less than you'd find in a personal desktop or laptop computer. Most smartphones come with at least 8GB storage. This is more than enough space for a selection of music and apps.

If you think you might want to expand the available storage space in future then look for a phone with an SD memory card slot. This will allow you to buy memory cards to expand the storage space, usually up to 32GB in total.

Screen

The screen size on the smartphone you choose will determine how easy it is to read, and how good videos and pictures look on the screen.

Most smartphones today come with a screen of around 4 inches in size. This keeps the phone small enough to fit in your pocket, but large enough to watch videos (as long as you're watching the screen close up).

An 800 by 480 pixel resolution is usually the lowest you'll find on any top smartphone.

Some smartphones also come with HDMI ports or docks that'll allow you to connect it up to a big screen. This is useful if you've downloaded movies or want to watch internet videos on your television.

Processor

All smartphones come with a processor to power them, just like a computer. And, as with a PC, the faster the processor, the faster the phone (in general). This is important for running apps, browsing the web, and playing games.

Most smartphones are on or around the 1GHz mark in terms of processing speed. Most of the top-selling phones are pretty much on a par in this area.

There are now even dual core processors available for smartphones - this means that they contain two separate processors in the one device, and are very good at multitasking.

However, for now, you'll still find that most smartphones only have a single processor.

Connections

Due to the fact that smartphones are extremely small devices, they don't usually come with many ports. The most common features you'll find on a smartphone are:

• A standard headphone jack (that'll also allow you to connect speakers),

• A micro-USB port,

• An HDMI output to allow you to connect to a bigger screen to view photos and videos,

• And a connector for charging.

Another common smartphone feature is the micro-SD card slot. This is where your memory card goes. Although smartphones do have internal memory, and a certain sized memory card installed as standard, the addition of a memory card slot means you can expand the storage size at a later date.

This is a useful feature to have. Memory cards are an inexpensive way to upgrade your phone if you find that you're running out of space in the future.

Computer Software

In order to transfer songs and movies, smartphones will need to connect up to your PC via USB to "sync" the files between the two devices.

Syncing is also useful for keeping everything on your smartphone backed up to your computer, should anything happen to it in the future.

Most smartphones will come with software to install on your PC before you can sync them. In many cases, this software is a requirement to even use the phone.

For example, to use the Apple iPhone 4, you're going to have to install iTunes on your home computer.

This software is usually available for both PC and Mac, but be sure to check the specifications of any smartphone software before you buy it.

Internet Access

One of the key features that all smartphones have in common is the ability to connect to the internet.

In fact, you wouldn't be able to take advantage of some of the best smartphone features, such as emailing and social networking, without an internet connection. A connection also means that you can download apps, music, watch videos and more.

Wi-Fi

You may already use this form of internet connection at home, and there are also a number of Wi-Fi hotspots available in coffee shops and public places. This kind of internet access doesn't cost you any money on your cell phone tariff, and is a feature included in just about every smartphone available.

Mobile Internet

Mobile internet connections will allow you to connect to the internet even if you aren't near a Wi-Fi hotspot. This is a lot more flexible and is available in most areas of the country. There are a few different types of mobile internet connections included in smartphones today (from slowest to fastest):

• GPRS

• Edge

• 3G

• HSDPA

• 4G

At present, most smartphones available to buy will have the ability to connect to HSDPA, which is faster than standard 3G and is sometimes known as 3.5G.

However, a growing number of models are now supporting 4G connections, letting you download files at multiple megabytes per second. If you sign up to a phone and service plan offering this service, you can expect 4G speeds to feel more like traditional home broadband. That said, 4G isn't available everywhere yet, so you must check coverage before you buy.

Music Players And Multimedia

Pretty much any smartphone on the market today is going to have an MP3 player built in. For the Apple iPhone 4 that means the iPod though there are different versions for every smartphone model.

You may or may not be bothered by this feature, but if you want to listen to music then take a look at the supported formats to make sure you'll be able to play your files.

Camera And Video Calls

Another feature you'll find on most smartphones is the ability to take photographs and record video.

Ironically, smartphones often have lower quality cameras than some of the less sophisticated camera phones, and they certainly can't match up to a dedicated digital camera.

That said, it's now common to find 5 - 8 megapixel cameras on smartphones, as well as extra photo features such as flash, face detection and so on. This means they can be used as a digital camera if you don't have a separate device.

Do check the specifics of the phone you're interested in. High quality cameras do not always come with the highest rated phones, for example the Apple iPhone (though the camera has improved with the iPhone 4).

When it comes to video, most phones are able to record in 720p HD quality. There's also usually a front-facing camera for use as a webcam. If you like to make video calls, it's essential to check this front camera is there.

Touchscreen And Other Controls

The Apple iPhone made it popular for smartphones to use touchscreens, and today you'll find that pretty much any smartphone uses a touchscreen in some form.

For the most advanced controls, look for capacitive touch screens.

If you've never used a touchscreen before, then this may put you off trying smartphones. Don't worry - most people do take a little time to get used to them, but find them easy to use after a little while.

Touchscreens let you input data by means of a virtual keyboard. That is, when you're using an app or function that requires typing, the keyboard buttons will appear on the screen. You simply press the ones you want to use to type. It's easy enough to use, if slightly less accurate than using a standard keypad.

That said, a number of phones do also come with a physical keyboard. The Blackberry is famous for this, and certain smartphone models will include a slide out keyboard as well as touch functions. This is less common than a touchscreen on its own, but a good option for those who wish to type quickly.

Some smartphones even have other controls, for example a gaming pad.

Applications

Just as we have applications on the computer, we also have them on our smartphones. These "apps" are what lets us do what we need to do with our phone, whether that means playing games, editing photos or typing in a document.

The operating system you choose for your smartphone will determine the apps available for you to download (see the operating systems chapter of this guide for more information). The Apple App Store is currently the biggest, with Android Market coming in a close second.

If you've heard of some specific apps you know you'd like to use on your smartphone, always do research in advance to ensure those apps are available to download on the particular operating system that the phone uses.

Conclusion

You may have noticed that smartphones have a huge range of different functions and features. Different smartphone manufacturers excel in different areas, so you won't usually find a smartphone that has the best processor, the best camera, the biggest storage size etc. all in one.

That said, the very best smartphones do usually perform quickly, include multiple internet connectivity options, let you run a range of apps, and include cameras. Although these smartphones cost more than their rivals, they are worth it for the use you'll get out of them.

And don't forget, your choice of service provider will have a huge impact on the price you pay for the phone!

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