FAQ About Mobile Phone Purchasing

Looking for some answers to your questions about buying a new mobile phone? Then look no further. Today we're giving you answers to the most frequently asked questions about new mobiles. So if you're starting your shopping process, read on to make sure you're not making any mistakes...

Which Phones are the Best?

In all honesty, the best phone for you is the phone that best meets your needs and falls within your budget. However, if you're looking for the empirically best phone, then there are some great new releases that tick all the boxes and then more. The best iPhone on the market right now is the iPhone 5, though that will change come September when Apple traditionally announces the year's new iPhone. The best Blackberry around right now is the Blackberry Z10. For Windows, the best phone is going to be the Nokia Lumia 925, a new release. And for Android there are several front runners. The Samsung Galaxy S4, the HTC One and the Sony Xperia Z are all top of the range Android phones.

So Which Operating System is Best?

None of them. Every operating system has its pros and cons, and really it just comes down to which system you prefer using. Most people find that they feel more comfortable with one system over the others. More important than which system you choose is making sure that you've got an up to date version of that operating system, which will be faster and more stable as well as more compatible with new games, software and programmes. For Apple's iOS that's going to mean going with the iPhone 5 or the 4S, and for Blackberry's RIM that means the Blackberry Z10. If you're looking at Windows phones you're going to want either Window 7.5 or Windows 8. And for Android you're looking at a minimum of Android 4.0, though Android 4.2 is the most recent version.

Where Can I Find Cheap Mobile Phones?

If you're looking for deals, discounts and cheap mobile phones in general, the best place that you can shop is online. Firstly, this is because it's just easier to comparison shop online. You can go to any price comparison web site and enter the model that you're looking for to find out who's offering it for the cheapest price. But internet shopping is also the best way to get cheap mobile phones because many retailers give discounts to online buyers. Because overheads are lower on internet retail than for physical retail, sellers can afford to offer better prices. The disadvantage of online shopping is that you don't get to physically touch the phone you want before buying, so you might want to try the demo model in a mobile operator's store before coming home to buy it online.

What are the Most Important Specs on a Phone?

There are several specs that you'll want to look at when you're considering your purchase. The first is screen size. A bigger screen is always going to be better, and you don't want to go below three and a half inches, even on a budget phone model. Processing power is important, since this will determine how fast your phone is. Budget phones should have at least 800 MHz of power, whilst mid-range models should get around 1 GHz, and top end devices should get about 1.5 GHz. RAM is what makes your phone responsive, able to multi task, and stops it from lagging, freezing and crashing, and more is better. Don't let RAM fall below 512 MB, even for a budget phone, and the closer you can get to 1 GB the more likely you are to be satisfied with your phone. Finally, you'll also want to look at internal memory since this will determine how much data, music and how many photos you can keep on your device. With memory below 2 GB you're going to experience performance issues, and even mid-range phones tend to get between 8 GB and 16 GB of storage.

How Much Should I Expect to Pay?

For a budget smart phone you're looking at paying under a hundred and fifty pounds. A top of the line phone is going to go for well over five hundred pounds. The middle of the market is really where there's the most competition and the most variation in features, and you can pay anywhere from about two hundred pounds to three hundred and fifty pounds for a good mid-range phone.

What Other Features Should I Be Looking For?

You might want to look at camera specs too. Cameras are standard equipment on smart phones these days, but resolution does vary between models. The higher the resolution of the camera, the more fine detail it will capture and the better and clearer photographs will look. 8 MP is really the standard resolution for good photographs, though top end phones will usually get even more than this. Be aware that many phones have two cameras nowadays, in which case the rear camera will be higher resolution. Front facing cameras tend to average around 2 MP since they're used more for video calling than for picture taking. Another new feature that interests a lot of people is 4G capability. 4G offers faster mobile internet speeds, around ten times faster than 3G speeds. However, you will need a specific 4G data plan to take advantage of these speeds, or your phone will connect to 3G by default. 4G plans are expensive, and are not available through all operators, so you'll want to check with your provider. Also, not all areas of the UK have 4G coverage, so you'll also want to check that you can access a 4G network. The suffix LTE is usually used after the model name on a phone to indicate that it's 4G capable.