How to choose the best smartphone with essential features

Are you looking for the best smartphone? It’s easy to find online reviews saying a particular model is all you need. However, you should know the essentials to see beyond flashy features. 

For example, you probably won’t need a foldable smartphone, but you would likely need one with a long battery life and fast charging. 

This article will discuss the most important mobile phone features so that you can choose the best smartphone from any brand.

The 5 most important smartphone features

1. Reliable battery life
2. Robust performance and storage
3. Crystal-clear display
4. High-quality camera
5. Strong security and regular software updates

1. Reliable battery life

Battery life is arguably the most important smartphone feature because it determines how long you can use your device’s features.

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Brands measure their product’s battery capacities in milliamp-hours or mAh. A higher mAh means a larger battery capacity, so look out for that when picking a new phone. 

Nowadays, smartphones typically have 4,000 mAh to 5,000 mAh, and some top-tier models can have around 6,000. Also, charging technology has significantly improved so you don’t spend an afternoon refilling your phone’s energy!

Modern fast charging tech ranges from 15W to 20W, but you should pick a phone that supports this feature. Moreover, your next device should have a sophisticated processor that manages power consumption effectively.

2. Robust performance and storage

The next features you should consider are the processor and internal storage. However, it can be confusing to choose the former because they consist of clock speed (GHz) and core number. 

For example, a phone may have eight cores that can handle 3.0GHz each while another could have four cores with 4.0 GHz each. Choosing the best smartphone will require distinguishing between core and clock speed.

Tech firm HP says a core is a component of the processor or central processing unit. On the other hand, the core speed determines how quickly the CPU can perform tasks.

Having more cores enables your phone to run multiple applications without lagging. Also, higher clock speeds let you run more demanding apps like online games. 

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If you tend to run multiple apps simultaneously, such as several social media platforms, more cores are ideal. On the other hand, you should focus on higher clock speed if you play games like Honkai: Star Rail or Wuthering Waves. 

Internal storage is also important so that you can install numerous apps and keep several photos and other files. Moreover, you may consider getting expandable storage that lets you insert an SD card for more space.

3. Crystal-clear display

A high-quality display does more than make your screen look pretty; it ensures your apps run smoothly. If it can’t keep up with your phone’s visuals, they will lag or look terrible.

That’s why you should watch out for resolution and display technology. The best smartphones have high-resolution displays like Full HD or higher to ensure crisp, clear images. 

Nowadays, the latest phones have OLED and AMOLED technology, so you should choose such devices. Also, your phone with an adequate screen size. It should be large enough for your viewing experience and small enough to fit in your hands. 

4. High-quality camera

Phone cameras aren’t just for selfies; they’re important for other applications. For example, journalists need high-quality cameras to capture important moments for news reports. 

It also helps modern security measures like facial recognition because it allows your phone to recognize you. Consequently, both front and rear cameras need to capture high-quality images. 

People measure camera image quality by megapixel (MP) count, and a higher number means higher resolution. Nowadays, the average smartphone can capture 12MP to 50MP, but some recent models can exceed that range. 

If you’re a photographer, you’d likely need more advanced features like quick autofocus and optical image stabilization. Fortunately, the right techniques can help anyone improve their smartphone photography with these tips from another Inquirer Tech article.

5. Strong security and regular software updates

People rely on smartphones for so many parts of daily life, from banking to shopping. Consequently, these devices hold so much sensitive information that may be harmful if it falls into the wrong hands. 

The best smartphone receives regular software updates to protect you against the latest online threats. Moreover, those updates fix bugs and may add new features. 

Your new mobile device should also have the latest security measures like biometric authentication. It lets you unlock your phone using your face and fingerprint, which is easier and safer than inputting a passcode.