Tips for buying a mobile phone

You are buying a new phone and you don't know where to start, what to pay attention to, what is good and what is not…? Stay tuned to this article and find out all about it.

Introduction

I have been following the world of mobile phones for many years, from the appearance of the first Android until today. I follow the market, novelties, innovations, company actions, ups, and downs… When I buy a phone for myself, this process can take several months or even a year, and I will explain why.

This selection process consists of a few steps, but over time I shortened the process myself. In this article, I will write some tips that will (hopefully) help you choose the best phone for you.

I am writing this article so that it does not depend on time. I will definitely write what is current and good at the moment, but the principles for choosing a phone remain the same.

If you are planning to buy a used phone, I suggest you read this article as well: What should you check before buying a used phone?

Tip 1: Ask yourself what you need

First of all, you have to ask yourself:

1. what you want from the phone
2. what you will use it for the most
3. how long do you plan to use it

When you answer these three questions without thinking the rest of the search for the perfect phone for you is easy.

1) What do you want from the phone?

When it comes to smartphones, today's users basically have 2 options: Android and iPhone (iOS).

• Do you want a phone that you can adapt to your needs down to the smallest detail? Get Android.
• Do you want a phone that will simply work after a few simple settings? Get an iPhone.

Android and iOS are two completely different operating systems. Android is found on many devices and therefore you have more choices. iOS is only found in Apple products, in this case in iPhone phones, and you don't have many options there.

Each OS has its advantages and disadvantages:

Android is open and free, you have a bunch of options, and you can customize it, and do a lot of things… in short: the best value for money.

iOS is closed, there aren't many options, you can do some basic things, but it's well integrated into the iPhone and works fine.

If you have opted for Android - keep reading. If you have opted for iOS - you do not have many options and then you do not need this article.

2) What will you use the phone for the most?

Maybe for photography? Listening to music? Watching videos? Playing games? This is very important to know because you will find it hard to find a phone that can do just about anything.

If you decide to take photos then look for a phone with a good camera. If you want to listen to music, then look for a phone with a good sound chip and good speakers. And so on, you understand the point.

Now, how do you find all this? There is a tool that will help you a lot in searching for a phone according to the specification, but more on that later.

Here are some examples of current phones:

for music lovers:

• Galaxy S9+: has a headphone jack, and speakers according to the AKG standard, but no advanced DAC
• Razer Phone 2: has a 24-bit DAC, strong speakers on the front, but no headphone jack

for photography lovers:

• Galaxy Note 9: great sensor, stabilization, night photography, slow motion…
• Huawei P20 Pro: solid AI, solid hardware, nothing special.
• Google Pixel 3 (XL): software handles photos very well, but the sensor is not commendable

for game lovers:

• Asus ROG
• Razer Phone 2

for those who want "all in one":

• Galaxy Note 9
• Galaxy S9 +

Asus ROG Phone is ideal for gaming (image: Mashable)

3) How long do you plan to use it?

Your complete decision may depend on this. Why? If you want a phone that will last you a long time, then you will have to sacrifice something - mostly money.

I always advise people to buy Flagship phones (more about them) because they last the longest. These phones are designed and built to last a long time, ie not to break down after many years. Read some of my tips on how to make your phone last as long as possible.

In one article, I explained how some Chinese phones can have specifications like Flagship models, but be cheap. Pay attention to the item under ordinal number 5 because that is the essence-read.

That’s when it comes to hardware, and when it comes to software: they have the longest-running community support.

You see, Android is an open-source system and there is a huge community of developers (say XDA). That community is trying to keep phones "alive" for as long as possible. They do this by creating Custom ROMs for Flagship phones and after the official support for them expires.

Mobile phone manufacturers have been sending updates for the system for about 2 years, and after that, the phone is slowly becoming obsolete. Applications require newer and newer versions of the system, and the phone has no updates and becomes unusable. Well, the community continues to port (adapt, convert…) newer Android than newer phones so they can be installed in older ones.

They do all this mainly for flagship phones. Let’s say I now have Android 8.0 on my Galaxy S2 phone which in 2011 was a Flagship phone. If I bought, say, some Huawei or Xiaomi - I could forget about it.

And because of all that, I always suggest those phones instead of cheap ones, that is. budget. In the article on Flagship phones, which I linked above, you can learn how to recognize a Flagship phone.

If you want to go a little cheaper and have a phone that lasts longer, I suggest the LG "G" and "V" series phones. It will always have top specifications, they are high quality, and cheaper than Samsung's "S" and "Note" series.

Tip 2: Follow the market

You don't have to choose your phone right now (unless someone is forcing you for some reason). Even the cheapest smartphones cost too much for our standard. The average salary is 200 euros, and a cheaper Android phone costs that much. That is why you do not want to give at least the entire salary for something and then repent.

For example, I choose a phone for a few months to a few years. How to? I simply follow the market trend. I already know when Samsung will present an innovative and when a "polished" phone. I also know when Huawei will go on the offensive and try to overtake Samsung, and even raise prices. I know when prices will fall when they will jump…

Because of all that, I know when to buy the best phone for the least money that will last me the longest. By following the declining price trend of previous models, it is possible to predict the declining price of the following phones.

I'm currently calculating when will be the best time to buy a Samsung phone:

The 2017 Galaxy S8 had a pretty early price drop, after just a few days. However, that phone lost in price even more in July, followed by another landing in November. It was released for sale in April 2017.

The Galaxy S9 follows a similar trend. It appeared on the market in March 2018, and in April, May, and June, prices dropped significantly. Prices for "Black Friday" have fallen further.

The Galaxy Note9 appeared in August this year and has already had significant declines in October and November. This model follows the decline in prices of its predecessor Galaxy Note8. The model was released in September 2017, and its price dropped in October by some $ 100. Also, the price continued to fall in November, especially around "Black Friday".

We are already seeing a trend in terms of lower prices and we can conclude that the best time to buy a Galaxy Note9 phone will be sometime in May / August 2019.

Skip every other version of the phone. What exactly does that mean?

You see, the Galaxy S6 was a big improvement for the "S" line of phones, and was it just entering a new era. It was something new, and innovative, it had advanced features, a great camera… a real refreshment compared to the Galaxy S5.

The next model was the S7 and it is actually a "polished" version of the S6 model. If you remember the S7 got dual-pixel focus technology, it had the best camera then, a solid body, and a phenomenal screen - it was an all-in-one phone. So, it is a perfected version of the innovative phone - Galaxy S6.

After that came the Galaxy S8 which went through the world like a ghost. Samsung has again introduced something innovative - The infinity display - and something else, and that's where the story ends. Same situation as with the Galaxy S6 phone.

Then we got the Galaxy S9 which is a "polished" version of the S8 model. We now have 2 cameras, one of which has a variable aperture. In addition, a bunch of other innovations (super slow-mo, AR, Intelligent Scan…), are all well designed and packaged based on feedback from users of the S8 model.

And we already see a recurring pattern: one year we have an innovative phone that is not very perfect, and the next we get a "polished" version. Well, that "polished" version is the version you want.

At this point, it will be the Galaxy S20. If we take into account all the rumors about the Galaxy S10 phone (which will be introduced in early 2019), it will be innovative, but therefore not perfect. We have a lot of new and interesting technologies ahead of us, but I'm still skipping that model. The Galaxy S20 will be a "polished" version of the Galaxy S10, and it is a version that should be considered and purchased at the end of the summer of 2021.

As you can see, 3 years in advance, I planned which phone to buy just by following trends and patterns. If you’re wondering which phone I have now, the answer is the Galaxy S7. This means that for me the S20 will be the ideal solution, my S7 will then be 4 years old which is the right time to switch to a new phone.

Note: I took Samsung as an example because they have been on the market for a long time and have clearly defined phone lines. This makes it easier to follow the trend and set an example.

Which phone would I buy now?

If I had to buy a phone from the current offer now, I would buy a Galaxy S9 or Note9 (depending on how much I am willing to give money). Both phones now have a big price drop, and they are still current and have great hardware.

If I wanted to save a little, the Galaxy S8 wouldn't be in circulation because of that "skipping" model, and I already have the Galaxy S7. So I would have to opt for the  Samsung Galaxy A8+

Why Samsung Galaxy A8 + as a mid-range alternative?

• IP68 certified
• AMOLED screen
• Always-on display (nice to have)
• Exynos processor
• Memory: 64 GB, 6 GB RAM
• Camera: 16MP f / 1.7
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• GPS with GLONASS
• Fast charging
• No Notch

Negative sides:

• The fingerprint sensor is on the back (why is this a flaw?)
• No AptX
• Battery 3,500 mAh
• The camera is not for recording

There are a few flaws, but that doesn't mean it will bother you.

If you want something even cheaper, I suggest Pocofone F1. That phone is the so-called "Flagship killer", ie it was created with the goal of "destroying" Flagship phones. How exactly? By being cheap and having the best specifications on the market. Still, this phone has a notch so it's not in my optics, but if you don't mind - I recommend it.

Tip 3: See the specification, not the advertisement

Mobile phones are technical devices which means that they are defined by their specification. The phone is not a banana, so say "This one is yellow, so it's good", and the like. Companies will definitely try to sell you their phone at any price, most often using the "better version of you" method.

This method is very simple, and yet effective (at least for people who do not think for themselves): the product is not for sale, but a better version of you. Well-known examples: if you drink this drink you will get wings, if you drink these pills you will lose weight, if you use this phone you will be more productive…

Users eager for better versions of themselves fall for these marketing tricks and buy an impulsive phone without thinking. After a while, they come to their senses and realize that they were wrong.

Don't do that, buy a phone based on the specifications and experiences of other users. The specification is there, so it is, as it is, a pure fact about the phone without "pumping" (although there is that, negligible).

Here are a few paragraphs about phone specifications

1) Screen

This is an important item if you want to watch video content. OLED screens are the best option today, but also the most expensive. I always suggest OLED because they give the best contrast, color, and visibility outdoors under strong light. Once you use a phone with this screen, it will be difficult to return to IPS.

IPS is the second most popular type of screen and a much cheaper option. Today's IPS screens are quite advanced, so the distance between them and OLED is reduced, but it will never disappear. If it is important for you to save money, then watch the phone with an IPS panel.

I suggest you read my article "Differences between AMOLED, LCD, Infinity Display and Retina display".

With the screen, we also have the resolution as one of the factors for comparison, but today more or less everyone has a solid resolution, so I won't dwell on that much. I would just mention that Flagship phones usually have at least 1440p resolution, and those from the middle and lower class have 1080p.

The screen refresh rate is mostly 60Hz, and gaming phones - I mentioned them above - have up to 120Hz! Is there a difference? I have not personally experienced 120Hz with the phone, but those who have said that it is noticeable.

2) Processor

As far as processors are concerned, you will mostly come across 4 manufacturers:

• Exynos (Samsung)
• Snapdragon (Qualcomm)
• MediaTek
• HiSilicon (Huawei)

Exynos processors are manufactured by Samsung and you will find them mainly in Samsung phones intended for the European market. Snapdragon processors are manufactured by Qualcomm and you will mostly see them in versions for the USA and the global market. MediaTek is a company that makes cheaper processors mainly for Chinese phones and the Chinese market. HiSilicon is a company owned by Huawei and you will find their processors in Huawei phones of course.

Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but basically, I always suggest Exynos processors. They performed well in the day-to-day running of the phone, while the Snapdragon processors performed better in gaming.

If you want a mid-range phone, I suggest you watch the video in which Gary explained which CPU is best in that class. In short: The Snapdragon 710 is a winner, but you have more options.

3) Memory

There is not much to say here: if you need more memory - buy a phone with more memory. As for internal memory, 32GB is now standard, and 64GB is middle and upper class and goes up to 128GB. If you want to save money on memory, then I suggest you watch your phone have an SD card slot.

The SD card has its advantages and disadvantages, so I suggest you read the article about it: the advantages and disadvantages of a memory card in your phone.

And as for RAM: the more the better. RAM serves you for multi-tasking, and it's really good to have as much as possible. So, watch a phone with at least 4GB because that is the minimum today.

4) Camera

This is a very important item for many and I suggest you research the camera of the phone you want to buy. My advice is to watch the "blind test".

These are tests that require you to choose the number/letter of the image that looks best to you compared to the others. So you have several pictures, all from different situations (day, night, inside, outside, contrast ...) and you choose a number/letter from each situation. Finally, see which phone has which number/letter.

Only in this way will you be able to objectively assess the quality of the photo, and you may be (un) pleasantly surprised by the result.

Next, you have the Dxomark website, which lists the phones with the best cameras. They rate and rank the camera based on technical details, test results, and their own assessment, but many disagree with their ratings - as do I.

What is important to look at the camera:

1. Belt hole

This number is expressed in the format "f/x.x", say "f/1.7". The smaller the number, the larger the aperture, which means that more light can enter at one time. So, you see that the camera has as large an aperture as possible if you want clearer images even in the dark.

2. Stabilization

Today, it is almost obligatory for the phone to have image stabilization. Every Flagship phone has optical stabilization (OIS), and many have a combination with digital.

Somewhat cheaper phones only have digital stabilization, and my suggestion is to give more money and take a phone that has OIS.

Read more about image stabilization in your phone in the article "What is Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)?"

3. Number of pixels?

This is questionable because the number of pixels does not play a big role in today's cameras phones. However, more pixels mean more details, but those details are not worth it if they are not visible due to the small aperture. Therefore, do not take the number of pixels seriously, unless you are a fanatic of the team.

4. Other technologies

Here I would put all those different technologies that companies integrate into the camera to be unique, and better. For example, the Galaxy Note 9 has a variable blend opening on the camera - phenomenal! Some phones have laser auto-focus, such as dual-LED, dual-pixel focus, and artificial intelligence…

You can find out all these interesting and useful technologies related to the camera on the websites of the phone manufacturers. They mostly highlight all these additional features on the specific model page, but be careful not to get "caught" with professional details and beautiful images. That’s the part of marketing that I talked about at the beginning of the article. You can take a look, but don't decide on a phone just because of one feature that the camera has.

5. Multi-cam

Some weird trend now is to put as many cameras as possible on the phone. It's ugly for me and I wouldn't take a phone with more than one camera from the back and one from the front (although I don't even need the front). But if you think it will be useful to you - great.

Additional cameras are installed for several reasons:

• Wide-angle
• Better sense of depth
• Magnification without loss of quality
• More precise and faster focus

Again, don't buy a phone as soon as you see that it has, say, a wide camera in addition to this standard. Ask yourself: how often will you use it? The same goes for all those auxiliary cameras, how often will you use them? Imagine one day with that phone and that camera, but one day after a year of using that phone, do you see yourself continuing to use those extra cameras?

6. Video

If you want to use the camera primarily for recording, then see the specifications for it. For example, do you need a slow-motion recording? Do you need 4K? Shooting with multiple cameras at the same time?

The specification usually states the resolution at which the camera can record how many frames per second (FPS). If that matters to you, then watch as many FPS as possible in as high a resolution as possible.

Be sure to also check that the camera is capable of recording in, say, 4K with optical image stabilization and in HDR mode. I have given examples only, but it happens that the camera can record 4K, both in HDR and in 720 FPS, but it cannot be used together.

7. Front camera?

I don't know if the front camera is still popular, but if it's useful to you - ok. Here I recommend you look at the angle of shooting and shooting with this camera. I guess you use this camera for selfies, so you would definitely want as many people as possible to fit in the picture. Aperture, stabilization, and HDR are also valid here…

5) Functions and sensors

Well, this is an item in which many manufacturers compete. For example, it is useful if the phone has wireless charging, 3.5mm headphone jack, GPS with Glonass support, NFC… but it all depends on you, what you need.

The "Barometer" or "Heart Rate Monitor" option may look great on paper, but you need to think and ask yourself if you will use it. For example, I personally use a heart rate monitor and blood oxygen levels every day, so my Samsung phone is the right choice.

If you don’t need NFC, don’t consider that. If wireless charging is not important to you, then you can also consider phones with metal backing. Et cetera.

I would also include the water resistance of the phone here. It is not obligatory, but it is very good that your phone is resistant to water and dust. You never know when they will fall into your bathtub, bar, mud, get wet… Read the article in which I explained the IP certificates and general water-resistance of the phone.

6) Battery

The number of milliamperes doesn't have to mean anything. To know how good the battery in a phone is, I suggest you search the Internet for the SOT for your device. What is a SOT? Read this article.

I also suggest finding battery tests done by other users online. Almost always someone records a video comparing the latest Flagship phone with the rest.

Tool: search for the phone according to the specification

I have already written about the site where you can search the phone in the smallest detail according to the specifications. You can select the screen type, number, and format of SIM cards, Notch yes/no, NFC, Bluetooth… whatever possible - LINK.

Here are some of the specs I look for when looking for a phone:

• Camera: minimum f / 1.7, OIS
• Fingerprint: front or under the panel
• RAM: minimum 4GB
• Card slot: yes
• Screen: minimum QHD, AMOLED, no Notch
• Audio: 3.5mm Jack
• Sensors: Gyro, Heart Rate
• Communication: NFC, Bluetooth, GPS + Glonass

Tip 4: Bypass mobile operators

Did you know that if you do NOT take a mobile phone from a mobile operator under a contract, you can save over 20,000 dinars ?!

Last year, I did a little research, calculated a couple of numbers, and came up with the following results: The Galaxy S8+ cost about 23,000 dinars more than in the free sale. The same is the case every year with most mobile phones, especially the popular and more expensive ones.

My suggestion is that, if you already want postpaid, take the desired package without the device and thus get a discount on the subscription (usually halve the price). Get your mobile phone in cash over the counter, but at retailers that only sell mobile phones! This does not include those of our popular IT stores that also hold high prices.

Here is an example of the current Galaxy S9 64GB

I took as an example the average tariff of one package with a domestic operator, a contractual obligation for 2 years.

1. Operator price

• One-time price of the device: 69,000 RSD
• Monthly subscription: 2,000 RSD
• Price of the device after 2 years: 117,000 RSD

2. In free sale:

• One-time price of the device: 67,000 RSD
• Monthly subscription: RSD 1,100
• Price of the device after 2 years: 93,400 RSD

3. Savings: 23,600 RSD

For that money, you can buy another cheaper phone, or smart TV, or computer monitor …

If you are interested in more details about this, I suggest you read my article " Why not take a phone from a mobile operator ?! “

For the end

So, here are some 3 steps I follow when buying a new phone:

1. I ask myself what I need the phone for the most
2. I look at what is current and what will appear
3. I look at the specifications and compare a few models

When I decide what I will use the phone for primarily in the next 4 years, then I look at which phones will appear soon and what is currently on the market.

If there is something I would buy at the moment, then I choose several models and compare specifications and prices. If not, then I'm looking at what will appear, so I'm waiting to compare specifications and prices.

I hope this article helped you, if you have any questions or concerns, write below in the comments.