Smartphones have come a long way since the early days. Today’s Smartphones are faster, more useful, easier to use, and cheaper than yesterday’s Smartphones. However, the first thing you have to determine is your price range. A smart phone can be extremely cost effective or be exorbitantly priced. However, most users do not need any thing more expensive than an iPhone, as the iPhone is utility packed and has, for the most part, set the upward limit on reasonable smart phone prices. Expect to spend $300 on an iPhone, and about $200 on its closest competitors, such as the Palm Pre, Android G2, or Blackberry Storm.
The first and most important quality to look for in Smartphones is the intuitiveness of the user interface. The user interface is something that you will have to deal with each and every day. Most users who are happiest with their Smartphones made their decision almost solely based on their feeling toward their Smartphone’s user interface. While many users consider the iPhone’s interface to be king, many people in the business world actually prefer the Blackberry’s user interface, while those who are more computer savvy tend to prefer the Android. This largely comes down to personal preference, as today’s most competitive Smartphones all have fairly good user interfaces. Make sure you give every kind of Smartphone a whirl. If you can not use it for a few days, at least play for it for a few hours in the store.
The next quality is hardware. This includes the amount of storage, screen size and resolution, type of keyboard, processor and core speed, and quality of the camera. If you are planning on having your smart phone double as a music player, it is important you choose one with 16 gigabytes of hard drive storage or more. Most new Smartphones will either have this amount of storage, or much less. If you are uninterested in using your smart phone as a music player, then you want to focus on the processor and core speed and size and resolution of the screen. A large screen with a high resolution is great for being able to read emails clearly, reading eBooks, watching videos, using applications, and even playing video games. Most Smartphones have graphic acceleration, and there are a lot of video games being released that have superior graphics. The last hardware quality to watch out for is the keyboard. Some Smartphones have physical keyboards, while others have touchscreen keyboards. Many users greatly prefer the physical keyboard and can not stand to use a touch screen keyboard. Again, this comes down to your personal preference.
Finally, you should make sure your Smartphone’s carrier offers reasonable rates and service in your area. Most Smartphones are tied to a single carrier, some of which are more expensive than others and offer better quality. The quality of a provider’s service will vary city by city, so make sure you stay up on which cell phone service providers are offering the best, most affordable service in your city.
Author: DeMarcus Hill
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news