How to Buy Smartphones

A smartphone, a mobile phone that also acts as a hand-held computer, will provide you with nearly everything you may need throughout the day. It can be a social media mechanism, a business tool, a TV, or simply a cellphone. With these recent advances in technology, however, there is also an increasing number of smartphones to choose from. Whether you're looking for a new smartphone or just now getting with the times, you may be having some trouble deciding which phone to purchase. Luckily, we're here to facilitate the decision-making process for you. After reading this guide, decide which features are important to you, and then use our filters and side-by-side comparisons to weigh your options.

· Battery Life/Talk Time: Battery life or talk time is important for any smartphone user, as some batteries hold a charge longer than others. Read the information below to find out what factors can affect the talk time or battery life of your phone.

· Camera quality: Whether you’re a casual photo snapper or an Instagram addict, you’ll be happy to know that many smartphone cameras today rival the quality of digital cameras. If camera features are important to you, look for a smartphone with a flash and zoom. The best smartphone cameras approach 12 megapixels.

· Screen size: Although smartphones with large screens are easier to read, they tend to have a shorter battery life than those with smaller screens. See the Screen Size section below for more information.

· Keypad Type: Before you buy a new smartphone, consider which keypad type you would prefer. Some smartphones come with physical keypads while others have touchscreens, the merits of which are discussed below.

With 524 smartphones to choose from, we can help find the best one for you.

How to Find Smartphones

Smart Rating

The Smart Rating is a single rating that evaluates the smartphone's specifications and features as well as ratings from the following sources: CNET, PC Mag, Wired.com, and PC World. No rating indicates that the smartphone was not rated by any expert sources.

Range

Min	Average	Max

Fact: The best smartphone is the Samsung Galaxy S4, which has a Smart Rating of
CNET Rating: 4.5 out of 5
PC Magazine Rating: 4.5 out of 5
PC World Rating: 4 out of 5
Wired.com Rating: 7 out of 10

Talk Time

The length of time the phone can be used before its battery needs to be recharged. Keep in mind that the battery life may be drained quickly during heavy use like playing games, taking pictures, or browsing the web.

Facts:

8 hours is the average smartphone talktime. The smartphone with the longest talk time is the Samsung Galaxy Note II with a talk time of 35 hours.

Price (with contract)

The total price of the smartphone on activation or renewal of a mobile phone plan. Most network providers will subsidize part or all of your smartphone's cost if you are willing to commit to a two-year contract. You could receive upwards of $200 off the phone's MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) if you renew or sign a contract, but be careful--these contracts often have termination fees that range from $125-250, depending on the carrier. Also note that you will probably not be eligible for another subsidy for two years after signing an upgrade contract.

Facts:

Samsung Galaxy Note II priced at $299, with a contract, is the most expensive smartphone. The cheapest smartphone with a contract is the NOKIA Asha 300 with a price of $11.

Internal Storage

The smartphone’s internal memory, which is measured in megabytes (MB).The amount of internal storage can be a very important feature for all types of people, from the moms who want to show off videos of their kids, to the music lovers who store their music on their phones. Storage space on the average smartphone can range from 2048 MB (2 GB) to 32768 MB (32 GB). If you’re the type of person who is constantly storing data on your phone, make sure you get one that comes with enough storage. Many smartphones' storage can be expanded with memory cards, but if you choose to get one, check to see whether the smartphone has the necessary ports and slots.

Keypad Options

Some smartphones offer touchscreen capabilities, while others have a physical keyboard instead. There are even some smartphones out there that offer both. Touchscreen Keypads are available on most touchscreen-enabled smartphones, which may have few (if any) physical buttons. Thanks to the dynamic nature of a touchscreen keypad, some smartphones include predictive text technology, such as Swype, which allows the user to continuously slide a finger over a keyboard to type instead of pressing individual keys. Other smartphones are equipped with a physical half- or full-QWERTY keypad, which users can type on just as they would on a normal computer keyboard. Some smartphones even offer both physical and touchscreen keypad options. Choosing a keypad is a matter of personal preference, so it’s best to try out several styles before you choose which one to go with.

Keypad Options :
Full Qwerty Keypad, Half Qwerty Keypad, Numeric Keypad, Touch Screen Keypad

Price (without contract)

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the phone itself. This does not include additional carrier charges. The price without a contract is usually considerably higher than the subsidized, two-year contract price. However, purchasing a phone without a contract means that there will be no commitment to any one carrier or plan.

Facts:

The cheapest smartphone without a contract is the Sony Mix Walkman Phone priced at $65. The most expensive smartphone without a contract is the Samsung Epic 4G priced at $900.

Maximum Standby Time

A measurement of the phone’s battery life while it is on standby (when it is on but not in use).

Rear Camera Quality

The image resolution, which is measured in megapixels, of a smartphone's rear camera. If you plan on taking photos with the phone, pay close attention to the camera features like zoom and flash as well as the camera quality. A higher number of pixels means the camera’s light sensor has more receptors per given area, which results in higher-quality photos.

Fact: The smartphone with the best camera is the Nokia 808 Pureview, which has a 41 megapixel camera.

Features

The options and/or functions of a smartphone.

· DLNA, or the Digital Living Network Alliance, allows you to wirelessly connect your device to an HDTV or other DLNA-enabled display or device. This is ideal for sharing movies, videos, and pictures on your HDTV.

· FM Receiver gives a smartphone the ability to receive an FM signal.

· FM Transmitter allows a smartphone to broadcast an FM signal. This is great if you want to share music with someone in the car or house.

· GPS Navigation enables a smartphone to receive and transmit data via a satellite-based navigation system.

· HD Playback gives the smartphone high definition playback and enhanced video quality.

· Microphone allows for increased recording quality during videos or speakerphone use.

Features : 
Built-In Projector, DLNA, FM Receiver, FM Transmitter, GPS Navigation, Graphics Accelerator, HD Playback, Infrared Blaster, Microphone, Wireless Charging

Carrier

Compatible network providers for a given smartphone. If you’re still tied down to a contract, it’s important to know which phones are available to you as a customer of a particular carrier. If you buy a phone that is not supported by your carrier, you may not be able to use the phone or may have to pay a heavy fee to cancel your contract.

Carrier :
AT&T Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile USA, U.S. Cellular, Alltel Wireless, Boost Mobile, Centennial Wireless, Cricket, Liberty Wireless, MetroPCS, net10, nTelos Wireless, SouthernLINC, TracFone

Camera Options

These are the features that come with the smartphone’s camera.

Camera Options : 

· 3D Capture - Smartphone includes two cameras for capturing 3D video.

· Autofocus - A feature which automatically judges which subject in the frame of view to focus on. Some cameras include face detection that helps with taking pictures of people in groups.

· Burst Mode - A feature which takes a short, rapid fire burst of photos over a few seconds.

· Digital Zoom - A method of narrowing the angle of view of a video or still image by cropping an image down to a centered area with the same aspect ratio as the original.

· Dual Camera Record - The ability to use both cameras at once while recording video.

· Front Facing Camera - Smartphone includes a lower resolution front facing camera intended for video chat and other miscellaneous applications.

· Image Stabilization - A technique to reduce blurring associated with the motion of a camera during exposure.

· LED Flash - Smartphone includes a small, LED light that can be used as a flash while taking pictures.

· Panorama - A feature which stitches multiple images together to create a wide, panoramic image.

· Rear Facing Camera - Smartphone includes a rear facing camera for capturing images and/or video.

· Sound & Shot - The option to record five seconds of audio before you take a picture.

· Video Recording - Smartphone can capture video with its camera or cameras.

Display Features

These are the features of the smartphone's screen or display.

· Additional Display Support allows you to connect your smartphone to an external display.

· Ambient Light Sensor detects the amount of light around the user and automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen.

· Touchscreen means you must touch the actual screen to navigate the smartphone. Other smartphones use keyboards for input.

· Proximity Sensor senses when you hold the phone against your face and disables the touch screen so you don't accidentally hang up during your call.

· Scratch-Resistant Glass protects one of the most important parts of your smartphone.

Display Features : 
3D Capable, Additional Display Support, Ambient Light Sensor, Multi Touch, Proximity Sensor, Scratch Resistant Glass

Screen Size

The measurement of the smartphone’s display or screen area. For those who constantly check e-mail, surf the web, watch videos, or take pictures with their phone, a large screen with high resolution enhances the viewing experience. However, the downside of a large display is limited battery life. In general, phones with large displays use more energy in order to power the backlight. A phone with an LED or AMOLED screen tends to consume less power.

Fact: The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3, with a screen size of 6.3 inch, has the largest screen of any smartphone.

Wireless Connectivity

The types of network or technology a smartphone can use to make calls or data transfers.

Wireless Connectivity :
3G, 4G, Bluetooth, Infrared, Mobile Hotspot Tethering, NFC, WiFi

What to Watch for in Smartphones

· Don't buy a phone which will soon be outdated. The Galaxy S3 might look nice, but keep in mind that the new Samsung Galaxy S4 will be released in the coming months. It will be well worth the wait, either to grab the new S4, or to grab the S3 at a reduced price.

· Don't waste your money. Before spending the extra cash on a smartphone with 4G capabilities, make sure that you live in an area covered by your service provider. Many service providers offer 4G coverage in metropolitan areas only.

· Find the right plan. Some service providers will charge extra for text messaging and for data plans that provide smartphone users with access to the Internet. Compare your options to find the most reasonable plan for the amount of talking, texting, and Internet surfing you’ll be doing on your smartphone.

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