Selecting a phone based on communication parameters. How to choose a phone - Main selection criteria. Smartphone selection options

Hello dear friends, today we will talk about how to choose a smartphone in 2018 and what characteristics you should pay attention to. If you look at the mobile phone market in 2017, approximately 97% of it consists of smartphones and their number is growing every year. If you do not want to read the information in full, you can watch the thematic video below in the article. For those who want to understand in detail the choice of the best smartphone, below we will talk about it in great detail.

For what purpose?

This is probably where you should start; some are inclined to believe that you can buy a regular push-button telephone and enjoy life. Yes, of course, for some residents of our country such a phone will be enough. The phone allows you to make calls and listen to music. All the minimum functions are presented in full, but a good smartphone also performs more complex tasks. It can become a real assistant in a variety of matters: how to choose a place to relax for the evening, find out reviews of a particular establishment, find the way to an unfamiliar place using a navigator, while away the time playing logical or entertaining games, take high-quality photos in any weather and much more.

Many people simply choose a smartphone based on price-quality ratio and don’t bother with the rest. Of course, this is a correct and competent approach; you don’t need to overpay for additional options if you won’t use them anyway. There are many categories of citizens, and each has its own specific type of smartphone. For some, the best smartphone is the one that allows you to run all existing toys; for others, it’s just a work assistant that allows you to exchange information with other people by mail or edit office files, or simply increase self-esteem or maintain your lifestyle .

Therefore, when purchasing, you definitely need to pay attention to this so as not to overpay for something that you don’t need at all!

Well, we’ve already sorted out the simplest part, now there will be a maximum of technical nuances, because every year smartphones become similar in characteristics to laptops and are already 8 nuclear processor The phone will not surprise anyone, nor will it have a 6-inch display, but we will talk about this in more detail.

From the very beginning, a very difficult question arises: which diagonal to choose? In 2018, fashion dictates the rules and now you can find a smartphone with 4 inch screen it is very difficult to meet, although this is the figure with which it started Apple company. Well, today the average display size is about 5-5.5 inches, which is enough for all modern needs. Only those people who use the phone one hundred percent can experience all the delights of a huge 5.7-6 inch screen.

Don’t forget about ergonomics, because a smartphone should not only be multifunctional, it should also fit comfortably in your hand!

A very important indicator - screen resolution. It can be very diverse. Of course, it is best to buy a model that has a high-definition display, that is, Full HD 1920*1080 pixels, or at least HD 1280*720, if you want to buy a smartphone larger than 5 inches, although of course there is already 4K resolution, just see the difference from Full HD to an ordinary person simply unreal!
Also, do not forget about the type of display (matrix). The quality of the picture, the presence of glare, contrast and viewing angle directly depend on this. A high-quality display allows you to view everything that is presented on the screen from any angle and always with a beautiful and rich color scheme. Currently, 3 types of matrix are used:

1. Super Amoled is the most common matrix of Samsung smartphones, which is famous for its black color and brightness.
2. IPS is the most popular matrix in the world, with over 70% installed.
3. Retina is installed only on Apple phones, and Samsung developed this technology together with LG and today it is the best matrix in the world.

Currently, smartphones are supplied to the market that can have three types of operating systems, namely: IOS, Windows, Android. There are, of course, others, but they are less widespread and therefore we will not dwell on them.
Android

Currently, more and more manufacturers are abandoning their own operating systems, giving preference to this one. This is due to the fact that a huge amount has been written for Android free applications, plus it is easy to use, and also allows you to optimize the interface for yourself and your smartphone will be unique.

iOS is an operating system that was created specifically for Apple smartphones; it is unique in its simplicity and optimization for all applications. Compared to its competitors, with lower specifications, this OS works better and faster, plus there are no viruses for it.

Of course, this OS ranks third in the world in terms of the number of users, since it appeared later than all others and the smartphones themselves with this OS are much smaller than those with the same Android. And all because it still needs to be polished and many different applications need to be made, but the potential is very great.

Since two processors with a clock frequency of 2 GHz seem to be the same, in reality one will be faster than the other, since the clock speed indicator is not always the key to success, my advice is to build on such indicators if you plan to use your smartphone to its full potential. Therefore, it is better to compare processors special program Antutu benchmark, or look at performance graphs.

The next important factor is the number of cores, here in principle everything is simple, the more the better, but there are some nuances:

A processor with 4, 8 and 10 cores consumes a large amount of energy, because of this it quickly discharges, although many manufacturers make a smart move and change the clock frequency down, and also disable some cores in those moments when this is permissible. And of course, they are turned on at full power as soon as a powerful application is launched.

Thus, they killed two birds with one stone, but my personal advice is that if you are not a gamer, then an 8-core mid-range processor will be enough for you! And if you need just such smartphones, then follow the link Here are the 10 best smartphones in terms of price-quality ratio.

The best processors in 2018

1. Samsung (Exynos 9810, 8895 and 7885)
2. Qualcomm Snapdragon (435, 625, 630, 660, 835, 845)
3. MTK (Helio x20, x30, P25, P30)

Video accelerator

A video accelerator or graphics processor is an auxiliary microprocessor for games that only handles graphics processing.

Memory

Memory is a very important parameter, but it’s quite easy to understand, you just need to know that there are two memories:

• For data storage (smartphone main memory)
• To accommodate command data for the processor to perform the necessary tasks (RAM or random access memory).

RAM

The more RAM, the faster and more applications and games you can run simultaneously. The maximum amount of RAM today is 8 GB, but for normal operation of a smartphone, 3-4 GB is enough for every day, but less should not be considered, since the operating system itself takes up memory and you will have very little left to use and you will have to constantly close applications to open the next one.

Main memory

Some expensive smartphones have only one memory, which is offered by the manufacturer itself from 16 to 256 GB, and it is impossible to change its indicator. But there is also powerful smartphones with an additional connector for flash drives (popularly called MicroSD flash drives) and with its help you can increase the memory up to 2 TB, you just need to ensure that there are no slowdowns in games or recording videos with high resolution. But there is a nuance here:

In most cases, downloaded programs are installed only on the main memory of the smartphone and it is not always possible to transfer them to a flash drive. For example, the well-known Navitel navigators with maps of Russia takes up about 1.5 GB, and in many budget smartphones The main memory is only 8 GB, plus the OS itself takes up about 2-3 GB, and you still have about 5 GB for downloading games and applications, which is extremely little!

Camera

The camera has become one of the most important parameters in choosing a smartphone not so long ago, but has already taken a leading position. And all because people increasingly began to use the camera with or without reason, as the quality of the pictures became better and better every year.

A pixel is a small dot that makes up an image, and for example, 6 Megapixels is 6,000,000 pixels, and the resolution is 3000x2000, which is enough for a high-quality photo, since a printed 10*15 photo has a preferred resolution of 1712x1200 (2 MP), draw your own conclusions.

Therefore, it is advisable to take a selfie camera from 8 MP. It will allow you to take not only good photos, but also shoot videos for streaming. Some modern models have the highest quality photos of 20 megapixels or more, and the record is so far 41 megapixels from the Nokia 1020. Of course, such a camera is very cool, but in order to make a camera super cool, megapixels alone are not enough; optical stabilization, automatic focus, camera sensor, ISO - light sensitivity and the best camera of 2018 is only 12 megapixels from the Samsung S9.

• Autofocus - makes your photos clear by helping the camera focus and select the right settings for a particular shot.
• ISO is an equally important parameter; the larger its operating range, the better the pictures will be in different conditions, be it twilight or very bright lighting, the pictures will always be super!
• Optical stabilization helps make the picture clearer when moving, improving significantly especially video recording.
• The quality of the optics and its size are purely individual and can rarely be boasted, but there are exceptions, as we already said Nokia 1020, this smartphone is included in our rating of the best camera phones.
• Well, the last thing is a flash, you can’t live without it, in almost all smartphones it is LED, of course there is dual and xenon.

Well, with video recording everything is simple, it is desirable that it be recorded in FullHD resolution and have optical stabilization so that the picture does not shake, and again, there is a flash, so if your phone has all the above parameters, then the recording will be at its best .

Battery

The battery has a very important role in the process of its life. In fact, everything is quite simple - the more powerful the device, the more energy it consumes. Battery capacity is measured in Amperes. This parameter should be the maximum possible, especially if we are talking about a gaming smartphone. The maximum battery size for today is 10000 mAh. Here, in principle, everything is simple, the more the better, my advice to you when choosing a price-quality smartphone is to try to buy one with a battery of 3000 mAh, but even here there is a catch:

Many manufacturers write beautiful numbers on the packaging, but you shouldn’t always trust this information, especially if you choose a Chinese smartphone!

Appearance

The appearance of the gadget also plays an important role. Of course, it can always be changed with the help of various accessories: covers and films with stickers. The phone itself must fit the person perfectly in order to fully highlight his style and, of course, fit comfortably in his hand. Here, as they say, there are no comrades for taste and color! Therefore, many manufacturers make a wide range of colors.

Which company is better to choose a smartphone?

When buying a smartphone, the primary task of any person who manages their money wisely is to choose a device specifically for their needs. Because any phone, even the most budget one, will bring you positive emotions if it meets your requirements and expectations.

We have prepared detailed instructions about how to choose a smartphone according to the parameters specifically for your tasks. Having studied it, you will be able to distinguish marketing nonsense, under the sauce of which they are trying to sell us the most expensive and, often, not necessary smartphones, and also learn to be guided by things that are really important when choosing. Let's begin.

Housing, materials

Design is a subjective thing, and there are not and cannot be any recommendations for choosing the appearance of a smartphone. However, you still need to know some information regarding the exterior of the device. Almost all smartphones currently produced have the following body types:

• metal;
• plastic;
• ceramic.

A hit of yesteryear that is still popular today, a metal case can be considered the best option. This case looks nice (allows the manufacturer to experiment with finishing options), it is durable, resists drops well, and thanks to its high thermal conductivity, it removes heat well from the internal filling of the smartphone, preventing it from overheating under load. Disadvantage - the body becomes covered with abrasions during use.

The latest trend is a ceramic case, which is often positioned as an image solution. Indeed, such phones look unusual, but you have to pay for beauty - the glass body is slippery and fragile, it is not particularly pleasant to hold in your hands, and the surface itself quickly becomes covered with scratches and loses its original appearance. This is definitely not a choice for lovers of practicality.

Smartphones in plastic case are now presented mainly in primary price category, these are often ultra-budget cars with poor characteristics and mediocre assembly, so there is not much choice here. A pleasant exception was the recently released ( full review see the link), you can also consider the LG K10. Plastic has no particular operational advantages or disadvantages, except that in the cold the phone is not so cold and it is more pleasant to put it to your ear when talking.

The vast majority of smartphones are produced in a monolithic case, which makes the assembly better (no backlash or gaps between individual parts) and allows the devices to be protected from dust and moisture. However, this imposes certain restrictions, for example, you will not be able to replace the smartphone battery yourself as it wears out; to do this, you will have to carry the gadget to the service center. Smartphones with detachable back cover and the battery is produced by LG, you can also look for them among ultra-budget devices from Chinese manufacturers (for example,)

Display

When choosing a display, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

• size;
• matrix type;
• permission.

Everyone has their own smartphone screen diagonal that is comfortable for use, so it makes sense to come to the nearest salon mobile communications and test different models to determine what fits more comfortably in your hands. Obviously, smartphones with large displays are better suited for watching videos and consuming a variety of media content, while compact devices are simply more convenient to use. They can be controlled with one hand, which is not applicable to phablets.

The standard screen diagonal today is considered to be 5-5.5 inches, while for particularly large phablets, such as , it reaches 6.44 inches. There are frankly few high-quality compact devices on the market; let’s highlight the iPhone SE (4’’), (4.7’’) and Sony Xperia X Compact (4.6’’).

Next, you should look at the display resolution. There are two options: HD (1280*720) or FHD (1920*720). HD resolution is optimal for displays up to 5 inches diagonal, while for larger diagonals it is desirable to have FHD. Anything less than HD gives a grainy, crumbly picture, more than FHD - 2K, 4K, is simple marketing for which you will have to overpay. The difference between FHD and 2K resolution on a small smartphone screen will be noticed by 1 out of 10 people; it is extremely insignificant.

Parameters such as color rendering, viewing angles and screen contrast depend on the type of matrix, of which there are currently three (main):

1. TN are the simplest and cheapest matrices that are used in ultra-budget smartphones; together with a resolution that does not even reach HD, they provide a low-contrast picture that is frankly unpleasant for the eyes, which is also inverted at the slightest change in viewing angles.
2. IPS is the “gold standard” of modern screen technology. Such displays have good viewing angles and brightness/contrast parameters. Expensive monitors for graphic designers and photographers are made on the basis of IPS, since this technology allows for the most accurate color reproduction. However, all this concerns high-quality IPS, since in cheap smartphones manufacturers often use frankly mediocre matrices.
3. AMOLED – such displays are a characteristic feature of Samsung smartphones. Features of these matrices are the deepest black color, rich colors(sometimes even excessively) and high contrast. AMOLED screens are also very energy efficient, since the pixels that display black color are simply turned off and do not consume energy at all.

The pitfalls of AMOLED matrices are PenTile (a technology for constructing a pixel network, due to which, even at high ppi, the picture can be loose), as well as uneven wear and burnout of individual pixels. However, now these problems are considered “childhood diseases” of AMOLED matrices, in modern smartphones they are kept to a minimum.

Which smartphones to choose is up to you. If possible, hold two smartphones with IPS and AMOLED screens in your hands and decide which picture you like best. In general, IPS can be considered the best choice - take it with confidence, you won’t go wrong, but TN screens should be avoided in 2017, even with a limited budget.

Memory

We will not delve into the jungle of characteristics and types of memory. It’s enough to know that any smartphone has 2 types of memory:

• operational - used to store executable code, in simple terms - to provide tasks performed by the processor and various intermediate data, directly affects the efficiency of the smartphone in multitasking mode;
• the main one is used as storage for all kinds of files (photos, videos, music, etc.).

The required minimum RAM for a smartphone today is 2, the optimal is 3 or 4 GB of RAM. The rule here is that the more, the better: with a large amount of RAM, the smartphone can keep a huge number of applications in the background, while if there is not enough of it, the applications will be unloaded and launched again the next time they are opened, and the interface and browser itself will work slowly, with noticeable glitches . There are already smartphones on the market with 6 and 8 GB of RAM; this amount is excessive, but it provides a certain foundation for the future, since the appetite for applications and the Android OS itself is constantly growing.

Regarding the main memory, it is worth looking first of all at the possibility of expanding it using memory cards. If the smartphone supports flash drives, then the volume of the built-in storage is not critical, since even if you buy a 16 GB version of the smartphone, you can use a flash drive of the required size.

However, if there is no MicroSD support, what many people like to “please” Chinese manufacturers in an attempt to sell a more expensive version of a smartphone, you will have to overpay for the required amount of memory, which everyone must determine based on their needs. There's no escape here.

16 GB is frankly not enough, even taking into account the fact that music and films can be received online without storing them on the device. The same photos and videos taken with the built-in camera will fill up 16 GB extremely quickly. Therefore, we recommend looking at 32, preferably 64 GB versions of smartphones without flash drives.

CPU

70% of all smartphones on the market come with Snapdragon and MediaTek processors. These are eternal competitors, in the rivalry between which Snapdragon has a noticeable advantage. Roughly speaking, these chipsets are used in all expensive smartphones, while budget devices are equipped with chips from MediaTek.

On paper, MediaTek may have an advantage in operating frequency, number of cores and other characteristics, but due to weak video accelerators, they lose to Dragons in 3D graphics processing. That is, in games, for which this most “powerful” processor is needed, since the average chipset from MediaTek can cope with any everyday tasks (net surfing, applications, video playback).

• We choose smartphones for games with Snapdragon processors;
• if games are not important, you can save money and buy a phone with any chip from MediaTek.

The top Dragon for today is the flagships of previous generations - 825, 821 and 820. On average price segment a good choice– Snapdragon 625, 650, 652. And budget chips 430 and 425, which do not claim to be “gaming”, will allow you to play even the heaviest games at medium-low graphics settings.

Camera

The first thing to remember is that the number of megapixels (resolution) of a camera has absolutely no bearing on how high-quality the pictures will be. The final result depends on a combination of the following factors:

1. Light sensitivity (maximum operating ISO) and optical aperture (from f/1.7 in flagships to f/2.2 in most smartphones) affect the quality of photographs taken in poor lighting.
2. The dynamic range of the sensor (mostly IMX sensors from Sony are used everywhere) - the wider it is, the less overexposure and loss of information in the bright areas of the image, and the more details are preserved in the shadows. In top smartphones (Huawei 8 Pro, Mate 9), the second camera is responsible for expanding the DD and this is perhaps the only useful way to use it, since all sorts of “portrait modes” (blurring the background) are nothing more than marketing that does not work well in practice.
3. Autofocus - can be contrast, phase, laser and combined (all 3 combined). The fastest and most accurate is laser autofocus; such smartphones usually cost more, but they allow you to instantly take photos in right moment, and not be left without a photo. Choose smartphones with laser or combined autofocus if the goal is to photograph restless small children, animals and any dynamic events.
4. Optical stabilization - when shooting photos allows you to take better pictures in low light or on the go, but it is most important for video. The OS makes the image smooth, without jerking or shaking. And since many modern smartphones can shoot video in 4K, the lack of an OS in them is unforgivable, in this case all the advantages of a high-quality picture are neutralized. By the way, stabilization can be not only optical, but also electronic - like Google Pixel, however the OS is often more efficient.

And the last, but one of the most important factors influencing the quality of a photo is software, or software processing algorithms. A clear example of this is the many Chinese flagships that take frankly lousy pictures despite the fact that they have top-end sensors, high-aperture optics and cool avofocus. On the other side of the scale is some Nexus 5x, released almost 3 years ago, but in terms of image quality it gives a head start to 90% of modern smartphones.

In general, a smartphone for high-quality photography should be chosen not by characteristics on paper, but by tests and example images. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with ours, which presents the best options for purchase, both among flagships and among budget devices.

Battery

The size of a smartphone's battery has a significant, but not final, impact on its autonomy. No less important is power consumption, which in turn depends on three factors: screen type (AMOLED displays are much more energy efficient than IPS counterparts), processor (the smaller the process used to make the chipset, the better) and software optimization of power consumption.

The record holder for battery capacity today is the Oukitel K10000 with a 10 thousand mAh battery, but this is far from the longest-living one on the market, since the Chinese, as often happens, did not support the hardware with properly optimized software, which is why the K10000 does not hold a charge during active use. much more than

Extremely useful is the fast charging function, which allows you to charge your smartphone in an hour instead of the standard 2-3 hours. Almost all top-end devices are equipped with it, but recently this technology has also appeared in inexpensive smartphones, for example, which costs less than 9 thousand rubles.

Ours will help anyone looking for a long-lasting smartphone. We recommend you read it.

Which manufacturer should you trust?

And finally, let’s briefly talk about the manufacturers. All companies can be divided into the following categories:

1. A-brands – Samsung, Apple. If you have an unlimited budget and want to buy the best that is on the market (design, functionality, prestige), it makes sense to choose between Galaxy and iPhone - these are cool smartphones in all respects that can be sold on the secondary market without any problems.
2. “Pensioner” brands that are always well-known but do not claim to be market leaders are LG, Sony, HTC, Nokia, Asus, Lenovo (Motorola). These companies offer flagships and mid-range smartphones that are worth your attention and purchase, but budget models are often frankly overpriced. You will have to overpay “for the brand,” while for the same money you can get a much more sophisticated Chinese one.
3. Large Chinese brands - Huawei, ZTE, Xiaomi, Meizu, OnePlus. These companies are gradually taking over an increasing share of the market and often it is they who offer the best smartphones in terms of price/functionality/quality ratio. If you have a limited budget, we recommend looking at these manufacturers.
4. Small Chinese brands - Oukitel, UMI, Ulefone, Doogee, LeEco, Cubot. This list can be continued endlessly; it includes companies that, in conditions of fierce competition, are trying to attract buyers with an even more favorable price/functionality ratio, but the quality of their products is often lame. Hence the high percentage of defects, and since these smartphones are usually purchased directly from China, without any guarantee in Russia, you make such a purchase at your own peril and risk.

That's all. Now you know how to choose an inexpensive but good smartphone in 2017. Good luck!

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Mobile phones are a thing of the past. They have been replaced by smarter and more functional smartphones. A smartphone is a very useful and compact device, which, when used correctly, is very helpful in solving various creative and everyday problems.

For those who do not have time to read the entire article, I immediately give the recommended smartphone models with a brief explanation. Well, you can buy a smartphone on RBT.ru.

The most popular operating system for smartphones is Android. Therefore, I will recommend smartphones primarily on this operating system.

The best manufacturers of Android smartphones are Sony, HTC, Samsung and LG. Good models can be found among the brands Huawei and ASUS. As a budget option you can consider Lenovo smartphones and high-quality Chinese brands Meizu and Xiaomi, which have a very powerful filling at a low price.

A modern smartphone must have at least a 4-core processor, 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of built-in flash memory. For demanding games, these parameters should be twice as high - an 8-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal flash memory.

If you need a smartphone mainly to make calls, write SMS and use simple programs such as an organizer, calendar, calculator, etc., then, in principle, a smartphone with a 4″ screen diagonal is enough, which can be conveniently used with one hand.

But the fact is that the choice of smartphones with such a diagonal is already very limited; not all of them have enough memory and support for 2 SIM cards. Therefore, I would recommend paying attention to smartphones with a diagonal closer to 4.5″ (4.3-4.7″). It is still a comfortable size for one-handed use.
Lenovo Vibe B smartphone

If you want to feel all the comfort big screen, then pay attention to models with a diagonal of about 5″ (5-5.3″). On such a smartphone it will be convenient to surf the Internet, play and, in general, do everything else. The only drawback is that using a smartphone with one hand will no longer be so convenient, but most people can put up with it. Smartphones with a 5″ diagonal are today considered optimal in terms of compactness/comfort ratio.

For games, in addition to a fairly powerful hardware (8 cores, 2 GB of memory), you should give preference to a smartphone with a screen of 5.5″ or more. If you need powerful and inexpensive smartphone for games, then your choice is Lenovo, Meizu or Xiaomi with an 8-core processor and 2 GB of RAM. They are all about the same quality, so choose by design.

If you were thinking about purchasing a compact tablet with a 7″ diagonal because the screen size of your smartphone is not enough for you, then stop and think again. Two devices are not very comfortable to carry, perhaps it’s time to replace your smartphone with a new one with a diagonal of 6-7″.
Lenovo Phab Plus Smartphone

2. What a modern smartphone can do

A smartphone, in addition to making calls and SMS, can be used for planning various tasks, reminding about birthdays and other events, reading books and office documents, visiting websites, checking Email, How notebook, alarm clock, stopwatch, timer, voice recorder, translator, calculator, flashlight, flash drive, navigator, for calculations and managing bank accounts, for photo and video shooting, watching movies, music, games, communicating via Skype, weather forecast, checking and setting up network equipment and much more! In addition, using a smartphone is very easy and pleasant. Impressive? Then go ahead and choose the right smartphone!

3. Operating system

The bulk of modern smartphones have Android (from Google), iOS (from Apple) and Windows (from Microsoft) operating systems.

Smartphones with Android and iOS are more functional; many applications and games are available for them.

Microsoft missed the market at one time mobile devices. Windows smartphones have fewer settings, apps, and games. Due to their simplicity and larger interface elements, they are convenient to use as a phone and simple tasks such as a calendar, planner, etc. They are suitable for those who no longer need a phone.

You can still find smartphones with outdated or not very popular operating systems in some catalogs and flea markets. I will give them here for general development.

Symbian was developed by Nokia and is hopelessly outdated.

Bada was developed by Samsung as a competitor to the rising Android system, but did not become popular and is no longer being developed.

MeeGo is a Linux-based system, Nokia's attempt to compete with Android, but it failed.

Nokia X - system on Android based, featuring a proprietary shell that is very similar to the rectangular Metro interface of the Windows operating system.

BlackBerry is a client-server platform, popular in Western corporations, as it allows you to quickly and securely exchange messages between company employees and quickly manage business processes through a corporate server. Not popular in Russian-speaking countries.

Buy a smartphone with the latest version of the operating system. Today these are Android 5, Windows 8.1 and iOS 8.1. As for Android, manufacturers support updates to this operating system for only 6-12 months, after which you lose the opportunity to receive new functionality and software. iOS update is supported for much longer than 2-3 years, so you don’t have to worry too much about it. And just get a new one Windows version will not work, so it is advisable to focus on the latest version. Going forward, you will only receive security updates and bug fixes, not new functionality.

4. Software shell and proprietary applications

Software shell(Launcher - launcher) is a special add-on on top of the operating system, which is used to display the home screen, icons and other interface elements. Pure Android has its own built-in native shell and main applications. But many manufacturers, wanting to make the interface of their smartphone more original, more beautiful and more functional, are developing their own skin options and additional applications.

HTC Sens is one of the most beautiful, fast and functional shells. Last but not least, thanks to it, HTC smartphones are deservedly popular. HTC smartphones also have a set of beautiful and lightweight programs.

Sony uses its proprietary very well-developed shell with a large set of high-quality, useful and fast applications.

Samsung TouchWiz is not the most successful shell, especially in budget smartphones. It is not very beautiful, not very fast, but in principle it is convenient and functional. Samsung smartphones have the largest number of pre-installed applications, both useful and unnecessary. This makes them slower, and everyone can install the necessary programs themselves.

ASUS uses a slightly modified Android interface in its devices, which looks beautiful in principle, improves functionality and slows down the system less than TouchWiz. They also have two times fewer proprietary applications than Samsung.

Nokia - has a shell with large rectangular buttons in the Metro style of the Windows operating system, which is more suitable for owners of large fingers. Also develops its own navigation applications and others.

MIUI is a shell from Chinese developers, which is most different from pure Android. But it is high quality, colorful and functional. Installed on some Chinese smartphones. But enthusiasts can install it on other smartphone models of popular brands.

GoLauncher is the highest quality, beautiful and functional shell that can be very easily installed on any smartphone. This is probably why it is so loved by manufacturers of budget models who sell their smartphones with it, without particularly bothering with customization (revision).

In my opinion, it’s better to buy a smartphone either immediately with a good shell (HTC, Sony), or with bare Android and install GoLauncher yourself (it’s very simple). I can also say that in my HTC smartphone I quickly became unsatisfied with the Sens shell due to its lack of functionality and I installed GoLauncher, which I have been using for a long time with great pleasure, as it has become more convenient, does not slow anything down and looks very beautiful! In principle, this can be done on a Samsung, ASUS or any other smartphone, but you will still have to disable a bunch of unnecessary programs(this is also not a problem).

When choosing a smartphone, focus on the quality of the brand and the power of the hardware. If you don’t want to bother, then take a smartphone with a good shell. If you want to save money and get a faster device, then choose powerful hardware with maximum pure android and, if you want, install your own launcher (by the way, there are many of them).

Windows smartphones have their own Metro-style shell (rectangular buttons), which is more convenient for thumb control and is perfect for a collective farmer

Smartphones Apple iPhone have a beautiful, convenient and functional shell built into the iOS operating system.

5. Smartphone manufacturers

Smartphones are made by many manufacturers. I decided to divide them into groups, depending on popularity and quality. Within each group, manufacturers are ranked in descending order of preference.

5.1. Popular high-quality Android smartphones

Google does not manufacture smartphones itself, but orders them from famous manufacturers such as ASUS, Samsung, LG and HTC. These smartphones are sold under the Nexus brand and are of good quality and have a clean, stable operating system. Plus Android updates these devices will be supported much longer than all others. I recommend paying attention to them.

Sony is a Japanese brand that deserves respect for its consistently high quality and care for the user. They update software for their smartphones within 2-3 years, while other manufacturers limit themselves to 6-12 months. These smartphones have a beautiful interface and a set of excellent proprietary programs.

HTC stylish smartphones good quality, with a beautiful user-friendly interface, proprietary programs, but at a somewhat limited cost.

Samsung produces good quality smartphones. There will be no problems with the service. They have a proprietary, but not the most beautiful and fast TouchWiz shell and many preinstalled programs, which makes the smartphone ready to use for all occasions, but slows down its operation. This is an option for those who don’t want to deal with and bother with installing programs, but just pick it up and use it. Although with programs for Android everything is much simpler than with programs for a computer

LG is Samsung's eternal competitor. Smartphones from this manufacturer have good quality, warranty support and are a little cheaper. They can well be considered as a worthy alternative.

ASUS is a popular brand that produces good quality smartphones with large screens. But they also may not be stuffed with everything the necessary programs. The assortment includes interesting models, which with the help of a special docking station can turn into a tablet.

And the tablet, in turn, smoothly turns into a computer with additional connectors, keyboard and mouse

5.2. Unpopular high-quality Android smartphones

Nokia is a brand that has always strived to maintain its individuality. Now owned by Microsoft and produces smartphones with both Windows and Android (Nokia X). In principle, they have a powerful filling, good screens, cameras and sound. But they are not very popular now.

Motorola is a company that tends to surprise with unusual designs and creative solutions. It produces smartphones that are highly durable, dust- and water-resistant, and very thin. But they are not officially supplied to Russian-speaking countries, so problems with service are possible.

5.3. Popular budget Android smartphones

Acer produces good smartphones that are cheaper than more famous brands. But their design may not appeal to everyone, since many models have fancy rounded shapes with red or white inserts, which is closer to a sporty style. Although the lineup is gradually changing, there are no drinking buddies to suit the taste and color

Lenovo is a very popular manufacturer now, as their smartphones have a good price/performance ratio. But they have average quality and the largest number of calls to the service center.

Gigabyte is a reputable manufacturer of computer components, but its smartphones can be classified as more budget-friendly. Before buying a smartphone from this manufacturer, read reviews and testimonials, as there are models with problems, in particular low-quality sound.

Fly is a manufacturer of phones that were distinguished at one time by their original design, low price, but also rather mediocre quality. Now in its arsenal there are surprisingly successful inexpensive smartphones with quite powerful hardware and high-quality housing. But their screen resolution is usually lower and there are problems with overheating and glitches in some programs. Treat this trademark Be careful, read reviews and testimonials first.

5.4. Unpopular budget Android smartphones

Philips is a reputable manufacturer household appliances. Has in its arsenal a small number of smartphones with increased durability and energy saving mode. They are not particularly popular, but for some it may be important.

Archos is a French electronics development company. Its smartphones are of good quality and good design, but are not particularly popular.

Alcatel is a once popular mobile phone manufacturer. Today it produces smartphones of mediocre quality and is not particularly popular.

5.5. High-quality Chinese smartphones with Android

Meizu, OnePlus are overgrown Chinese brands that have grown in quality to unprecedented proportions, but the price has become on par with Godzilla... These smartphones are stylish appearance, thin durable body, powerful filling and good functionality. It makes sense to consider them only as an alternative to flagship models of famous brands.

Xiaomi is a new Chinese brand from the creators of the popular functional and beautiful MIUI shell, which takes all the best from Samsung TouchWiz and Apple iOS. They are distinguished by powerful hardware, large screens, bright colors and quite affordable pricing.

Huawei is also a developed Chinese brand. It has a wide range of smartphones in its arsenal, from budget to flagship. They can be considered as an alternative to more expensive brands.

ZOPO is a brand similar to Huawei, but with less model range. These smartphones look stylish and are of acceptable quality. You can buy a model with a large screen (5-6″) quite inexpensively.

Prestigio are budget smartphones that have a good appearance, low performance, but a fairly durable body. Can be considered as a gift for a schoolchild, he will like it. And if he loses it, you won’t be so offended, because this pleasure is inexpensive.

Please note that all Chinese brands may have certain difficulties in service. There are dozens more, but I recommend limiting yourself to those listed here.

5.6. Windows smartphone manufacturers

Smartphones with Windows are produced by much fewer companies with approximately the same high quality: Microsoft, Nokia, HTC, Samsung. As well as some budget brands like Prestigio.

5.7. Manufacturer of iOS smartphones

iOS smartphones are produced by Apple itself under the iPhone brand. They have an uncompromising combination of quality and style, but are priced accordingly.

5.8. Smartphone manufacturer BlackBerry

BlackBerry smartphones are produced by the Canadian company of the same name, but they have a very specific focus and are not suitable for Russian-speaking users.

6. Screen diagonal

The larger the screen diagonal, the more convenient it is to use the smartphone. The minimum acceptable screen diagonal for today is 4″. This smartphone can be used with one hand. A smartphone with a 4.5-5″ diagonal will be nicer in terms of image size on the screen and much more convenient in terms of control and typing, since it will be much easier to get your finger on the desired element or letter. But such a smartphone will have to be held with one hand and the other finger across the screen. A tablet-smartphone (phablet or lampshade) with a screen size of 5.5-6″ will be an excellent replacement for two devices at once.

If you often use your smartphone for calls and SMS and are not very interested in Internet surfing and games, then a smartphone with a screen size of 4-4.5″ that can be used with one hand will be more convenient.

For occasional Internet surfing and games, take a smartphone with a screen size of at least 5″. And if you want to have more or less full replacement tablet, then choose a lamp with a screen size of 5.5-6″.

Buy a smartphone with the largest screen size acceptable to you, it will be much more pleasant to use.

7. Smartphone or tablet

If you are thinking of purchasing a separate smartphone (or you already have one) and a separate small tablet (7-8″), then follow the following principle. If you plan to often carry a tablet with you along with a smartphone, then it is better to sacrifice a little screen size and buy a lamp with a 6″ diagonal, since it is inconvenient to use and carry two devices at the same time.

If you need a tablet at home, in the country, or on a business trip and you don’t plan to carry it with you every day, then take it separately. But in this case, I strongly advise you to take it, it will be more convenient. In this case, the smartphone can have a diagonal of 4.5-5″. If you already have a smartphone with a 4″ diagonal, then it may be more advisable to replace it with a lampshade.

8. Size and shape of the smartphone

The size of a smartphone is affected by the screen diagonal, the width of the frame around the screen and its thickness. Everything is clear with the diagonal, choose the largest possible, without focusing on the size of the smartphone. As for the frame around the screen, unlike a tablet, where it should be wide enough to hold it comfortably, on a smartphone, the narrower the frame, the better. Since the grip of a smartphone is not at all the same as that of a tablet. The tablet is held on top by the frame with the thumb, and the smartphone is held with the palm from below, four fingers on the right edge and the thumb on the left.

As for the width of the smartphone, narrower models are more comfortable to hold. Some smartphones have a shape closer to square and are not so comfortable to hold, since your fingers simply do not reach the side edges. But there are few such models.

The height of the smartphone does not really matter. It’s even better if the smartphone has a wide frame at the top and bottom of the screen, since it will be more convenient to hold it in a horizontal orientation by holding this frame with your thumb.

As for the thickness of the smartphone, do not go for very thin models (8-10 mm). It is most convenient to hold a smartphone with a thickness of about 12 mm. But I advise you not to bother with this parameter at all.

As for the shape, more rounded smartphones lie more pleasantly in the hand. And parallelepipeds with sharp edges are not so pleasant to the touch, but this can be solved by purchasing a cover or bumper

9. Screen resolution

Screen resolution is the number of dots (or pixels) in width and height. The higher the resolution, the clearer the image and the more information can fit on the screen. The cheapest smartphones have low screen resolutions and pixels are visible, making images blurry and fonts clumsy. Good smartphone with a 4-4.5″ screen must have a resolution of at least 800×480. For a smartphone with a 5-6″ screen, a resolution of 1280x720 or higher is desirable. More expensive smartphones may have a resolution of 1920x1080 (Full HD), but for their screen size this is too high and, in principle, unnecessary. In general, the higher the resolution, the better. But don’t chase ultra-high resolutions; you won’t notice much difference in image quality, but the cost of the smartphone will be much higher. The main thing is that the resolution is not lower than recommended.

All modern smartphones Apple iPad have fairly high-quality screens with high resolution. Some have even higher resolution screens, called Retina. But they cost much more, and not everyone will notice the difference in image quality.

10. Matrix type

The matrix is ​​the liquid crystal screen of a smartphone.

TN is a matrix with average color rendering quality, clarity and poor viewing angles. Installed in cheaper smartphones. These matrices can have varying quality from poor to quite acceptable. If you have chosen such a smartphone, I recommend looking at it in person in a store or reading reviews.

IPS, PLS – matrices with high quality color rendering, clarity and good viewing angles. There are already even more smartphones with such matrices than with cheaper TN ones. I recommend considering them first.

AMOLED, Super AMOLED, Super clear LCD – matrices from Samsung have darker, richer, but less natural colors and are used mainly in smartphones from the same manufacturer. Such screens have better quality than TN and lower power consumption than IPS and can also be recommended for purchase.

11. Processor and video card

Smartphone processors have from 1 to 8 cores and an integrated video card.

11.1. Smartphones with Android and Windows

Processors for smartphones are quite specific and they are manufactured various manufacturers. Each of them has both weaker and more powerful models, which differ in the numbers in the marking. But it makes no sense to consider them, since there are too many of them and the model range is changing quickly.

Therefore, I recommend focusing primarily on the number of cores and processor frequency. A modern smartphone must have at least 2 cores, but preferably 4 cores, since after installation different programs a smartphone with a 2-core processor starts to work slower.

As for the processor frequency, it should not be lower than 1 GHz, preferably 1.2-1.6 GHz. In any case, the more the better.

It is also necessary to understand that in cheap smartphone no one will supply a powerful processor, and more expensive models will have a better processor. Processors for smartphones are divided into generations according to core types Cortex-A5, A7, A9, A15, A17, A53/A57 (64bit). The most popular are smartphones with a Cortex-A7 core, below which it is highly not recommended to purchase them, since many modern programs will not work. If possible, buy a smartphone with a newer generation of processor.

The more powerful and modern the processor, the more powerful the video card. For a large-screen smartphone that you plan to use for gaming, look for reviews and performance tests online.

11.2. Apple smartphones

Apple processors also have different generations: A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 - the higher the number, the more powerful the processor. But that's it iPhone smartphones have the optimal processor for them, and all programs and games are optimized for them. So it doesn't really matter. But it is more advisable to purchase the most modern device available to you.

12. RAM

A smartphone with Android or Windows must have at least 1 GB of RAM, otherwise it may experience slowdowns. More expensive models may have 2 GB of RAM, which will not be superfluous. The most expensive models have 3-4 GB of RAM, which in principle is useless, but does not interfere.

Apple iPhone smartphones have from 512 MB to 1 GB of RAM, which is quite enough for them, since all applications for iOS take these features into account.

13. Memory card support

Most modern smartphones support the installation of memory cards. Usually this is MicroSD. If your smartphone does not support the installation of memory cards, then pay attention to the amount of internal memory.

14. Internal memory capacity

If the smartphone supports the installation of memory cards, then in principle 4 GB of internal memory is enough for it. But keep in mind that the operating system reserves a fairly large amount of internal memory for itself. In addition, when installing programs, some of the data still ends up in the internal memory automatically. It is very good if the smartphone has 8 GB of internal memory.

If your smartphone suddenly does not support the installation of memory cards, but for some reason you still want to purchase it, then it is advisable that it have at least 16 GB of internal memory. This volume is usually required if there are movies, music or games on the smartphone. But it may also be needed where you do not expect it at all. For example, for shooting videos or maps of navigation programs.

15. Cameras

There are rear and front cameras.

15.1. Rear camera

The rear camera is located on the back wall of the smartphone and is intended for photo and video shooting. Any modern smartphone should have a rear camera, it is very convenient. Cheap smartphones have cameras with a resolution of about 3 MP (megapixels), which have low quality, but they are enough for shooting documents and announcements. It is advisable that the camera resolution be at least 5 megapixels. More expensive smartphones have cameras of 8 megapixels or more.

It is desirable that the camera has autofocus and a flash, which can also be used as a flashlight, which is very convenient. If you buy a smartphone with a good camera for photography, then it’s good if the camera has optical stabilization, which eliminates hand shake (doesn’t work in the morning)

Apple iPhone smartphones have a very good camera, comparable in quality to cheap digital cameras.

15.2. Front-camera

The front camera is located on the front of the smartphone and is mainly intended for Skype calls. It is advisable to have it, this will allow you to communicate with loved ones or friends while on a business trip or on vacation, since Wi-Fi is available in any cafe. Cheap smartphones have very low quality cameras with a resolution of 0.3 megapixels (VGA). It is desirable that the front camera has a resolution of 1 MP (HD). The image quality will be significantly higher.

16. Sound

In cheap smartphones, the sound is quite quiet and of low quality. Smartphones that have stereo speakers and technologies that improve sound quality, such as Beats Audio, Dolby Sound, etc. sound much better. If this is important to you, then pay attention to it.

Apple iPhone smartphones have excellent sound quality, comparable to an expensive MP3 player from the same manufacturer. The sound from the headphones is very clear, detailed and natural.

17. Battery life

Battery life depends on the battery capacity and power consumption of the smartphone. It is advisable that the smartphone have a battery with a capacity of at least 2000 mAh. But such a battery will last for 1-2 days, depending on the intensity of use of the smartphone. A 4000 mAh battery will allow the smartphone to operate for 2-4 days without recharging. Therefore, the larger the battery capacity, the better. Check battery life in smartphone reviews on the Internet and user reviews.

18. Smartphone connectors

Micro USB is a connector that almost all modern smartphones have, through which they are charged and connected to a computer.

3.5 mm audio jack – allows you to connect a headset (headphones with a microphone) and should be on every smartphone.

HDMI or mini-HDMI is a connector with which a smartphone can be connected to any modern TV or monitor and used as a video player. Available on a limited number of smartphones and is not required.

MHL, SlimPort – connectors that combine Micro USB and HDMI into one connector. A special cable is used to connect to the TV. Available only on some smartphones.

Dock connector – some have flagship smartphones for which special accessories are produced. For example, a stand with speakers that turns into music Center when installing a smartphone into it.

Apple iPhone smartphones have their own proprietary (proprietary) Lightning connector, through which they are charged, connected to a computer and various accessories, as well as a 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting headphones.

19. Smartphone buttons

Most smartphones have a mechanical on/off button, which is also used to lock/unlock the screen. It is located on the side, top edge or front panel of the smartphone.

The volume rocker is usually located on the side of the smartphone. With it you can adjust the music volume without unlocking the screen. And when the screen is unlocked, it adjusts the ringer volume.

Some smartphones may have a separate mechanical button for taking photos, which is quite convenient if it has a good camera and you plan to take photos often.

Smartphones may have other branded buttons, which in principle are not required. For example, the Apple iPhone has a separate switch for silent mode.

20. Wireless technologies

GSM is a radio module for connecting to mobile operators, used for calls, SMS and slow but cheap 2G Internet (GPRS, EDGE).

Wi-Fi wireless adapter to connect to the Internet. Available in all smartphones and must support the 802.11ac or 802.11n standard.

3G (UMTS) – radio module for connecting to fast 3G Internet. Available in almost all modern smartphones, but not everywhere there are operators that support this standard.

CDMA (EV-DO) – radio module for connecting to fast 3G Internet. Available only in some smartphone models. You must decide in advance which operator you will connect to and what standard it supports.

4G (LTE) – radio module for connecting to a very fast 4G Internet. Not all smartphones have it, and operators that support this standard in Russian-speaking countries are still poorly developed and have limited coverage.

Bluetooth – used for sharing files between devices and connecting wireless headsets. Available in all smartphones. If you plan to use a wireless stereo headset for music, then the A2DP profile must be supported, which is responsible for transmitting stereo sound over the radio channel.

GPS is an American satellite navigation system that operates all over the world. Allows you to use map navigation programs and should be in any modern smartphone. If the smartphone supports more advanced A-GPS technology, the coordinates will be determined much faster and more accurately. This technology, in addition to satellites, uses base stations mobile operator, but requires an Internet connection.

GLONASS – Russian system satellite navigation, working all over the world, an analogue of GPS. In principle, there is not much difference between them and navigation programs support both standards.

NFC is a convenient thing that allows you to quickly and easily exchange files between devices. To do this, you just need to bring them closer to each other at a distance of less than 10 cm.

Wi-Fi Direct is a technology for fast data transfer between two devices via Wi-Fi, but both devices must support this technology.

DLNA – connection standard various devices in one digital network. Mainly used for viewing photos and videos on TV via Wi-Fi and is optional.

ANT+ is a wireless secure data transmission technology aimed at use in sports devices. Used for example in wristwatch on the Android system, which can measure pulse, blood pressure and transmit this data to a smartphone.

IrDA is an infrared communication adapter with which a smartphone can be used to control a TV, air conditioner, refrigerator, dry closet and other household appliances. This functionality is outdated, since smartphones in this segment have been replaced by remote controls

21. SIM card support

Many modern smartphones allow you to install 2 SIM cards mobile operators. This is very convenient and allows you to use your smartphone to connect several numbers from different operators to it. You can use both SIM cards for calls, or you can use one for calls and the other for the Internet.

Please note that most smartphones have one radio module, so when talking on one number, the second one will be busy. If your business requires two constantly active lines, then you will need mobile phone with two radio modules. But there are already very few such models, they are more expensive and have increased energy consumption. A classic of the genre in this case is the use of several mobile phones or smartphones.

Most modern smartphones support the installation of SIM cards from fast 3G Internet operators of the UMTS standard. And some models support 3G Internet standard EV-DO (CDMA). If you plan to connect to one of these operators, then decide in advance which standard you need. In this case, the smartphone can be used as a mobile phone Wi-Fi router, distributing the Internet to a laptop or tablet.

Some Chinese smartphones support 3-4 SIM cards, but their quality leaves much to be desired, so I do not recommend purchasing them.

As for the size of SIM cards, they come in standard size– Mini SIM, reduced – Micro SIM and the smallest – Nano SIM.

Modern smartphones increasingly use Micro SIM cards, and Apple iPhones use Nano SIM cards. This does not matter much, since you can replace or cut the SIM card at any mobile phone store. There are also adapters for installing small SIM cards into a standard-sized slot.

22. Sensors

A modern smartphone has many different sensors.

Light sensor – used for automatic adjustment screen brightness. Available in mid- and higher-priced smartphones. If you have it, you won’t have to adjust the brightness when going outside, entering a room or using public transport.

Accelerometer – used to measure acceleration. Can show the speed at which you are traveling in a car or bicycle. Not required, but found in most smartphones.

Gyroscope – determines the tilt of the smartphone, which is used, for example, to control games. Also optional, but found in many smartphones.

Compass – determines where south is, where north is and can be used in navigation programs. Available with GPS

Don’t worry too much about sensors; all smartphones have them and perform their functions. I told you about it just so you know what it is.

23. Additional functionality

FM tuner – allows you to listen to the radio. Usually it only works when headphones are connected, since their wire is used as an antenna. But some models have a built-in antenna, which allows you to listen to the radio without connecting headphones.

MP3 player - I don’t know why some catalogs still indicate this option for smartphones, since they all naturally support playing music.

A stylus is a long, thin stick that resembles a fountain pen. Used primarily for typing, clicking on small interface elements, and drawing. This is sometimes convenient, but is not necessary, since modern smartphone screens are well adapted to finger control. Ceiling lamps Samsung Galaxy Note has an advanced stylus that supports 256 degrees of pressure, allowing you to be creative

Wireless charging (Qi) – allows you to charge your smartphone by placing it on a special heating pad connected to an outlet. Some flagship smartphones are supported, but make sure that in your country you can purchase an additional outlandish accessory... And, do not leave the heating pad unattended

Highly sensitive touch screen– some expensive smartphones have the ability to operate them with gloves. But in my opinion, it’s better and cheaper to buy special gloves for touch screens...

24. Smartphone design

Monoblock is the main type of smartphone design, called brick on smartphone firmware forums.

Folding is an outdated design, but in Russian-speaking countries you can still find one such model, popularly called a folding bed

Slider, rotator – there is one model of each type of these designs

Phone-watch - but this design, originally used by the Japanese on TVs, is now becoming increasingly relevant in the smartphone segment, and I found as many as 7 such devices on the Internet. But do not confuse them with an additional accessory for Samsung smartphone Galaxy Mega Pad with 27″ screen diagonal

25. Keyboard type

On-screen – a touch keyboard that appears on the screen in the right places. It is optimal for modern smartphones, since in many applications it is simply not needed and the screen is used most efficiently.

QWERTY keyboard - a mechanical keyboard with all the letters, numbers and emoticons of the alphabet. An absolutely useless option for a smartphone, as it constantly takes up half of the front panel of the smartphone due to the smaller screen. But some models have a pull-out keyboard, probably for a secretary-typist who cannot live without work

Telephone keypad - there were also such transitional models for those who just can’t get used to Soviet times

26. Housing material

The most pleasant to use are smartphones made of matte (rubberized (soft-touch) or ribbed) plastic and metal. I recommend avoiding glossy plastic, as it easily scratches, peels and slips in your hands. But if you still plan to use the case, then this can be neglected. Do not forget that the most vulnerable point is the screen, which easily breaks when the smartphone is dropped.

27. Screen cover

Inexpensive smartphones have a plastic or regular glass coating. Plastic scratches more easily, but is more flexible, so it breaks less. Glass scratches less, but is more fragile and often breaks when dropped. It is very easy to protect the screen surface from scratches using a special film.

More expensive smartphones have a tempered glass screen cover (type Gorilla Glass). It is much more scratch resistant and a little stronger. But it is still fragile and not so difficult to break.

Some smartphone models have a protective mineral glass screen coating that is incredibly resistant to scratches and impacts. It is almost impossible to break it even on purpose. There are few such models; they usually have a screen up to 3.5″ and not very powerful hardware, but are indispensable for people leading an active lifestyle.

28. Dust and waterproof

Some smartphone models have a sealed case with rubber seals and plugs for connectors. Usually this does not mean that they can be put in swimming trunks and rowed 24 hours a day. But they will withstand an accidental fall into a cup of tea, standing on a laptop or into a toilet at a disco

Typically, smartphones positioned as secure have the corresponding prefix in their names. Below are some interesting examples.

Sony Xperia Active is a unique dust and waterproof smartphone with a mineral glass screen and a steel frame.

Motorola DEFY is a regular dust and waterproof smartphone with a Gorilla Glass screen in a plastic case.

29. Smartphone color

Black smartphones look more strict. A silver smartphone in a metal case will look more stylish, while a white one will look more aristocratic. If you want something more fun or original, then pay attention to models that have soft, pleasant shades of gray, blue, brown or pink. But if you use a case, then the color does not matter so much.

Deputies and prosecutors can emphasize their status using a smartphone in a gold case skillfully inlaid with diamonds, rubies and emeralds from Swarovski by the gentle hands of virgins with higher education

30. Purchase and warranty

I recommend purchasing a smartphone from a well-known store in your city or from a well-established online store. Do not look for the lowest possible prices and do not buy a smartphone from a little-known online store. Nowadays you can often find gray (non-official Chinese) smartphones, as well as refurbished used smartphones (refurbished). Check whether the smartphone has an official warranty and whether the service center will accept it. Or directly ask whether it is white or grey.

Refurbished smartphones are usually packaged in a different box, have a lower warranty, and must be marked with the letters "ref." But sometimes sellers forget to do this... If the warranty is from the seller (and not from the manufacturer) or is less than 12 months, then the smartphone is definitely gray or refurbished. I do not recommend purchasing such a smartphone. You will save pennies, but you will ruin your nerves and time!

31. Android or Apple

And finally, let’s dispel the last doubt that plagues many.

If you are a wealthy person, then take the Apple iPhone. This is an uncompromising combination of quality and style. In addition, your friends will probably use the same devices and you can easily exchange files and experiences with them.

If you don’t have extra money, most of your friends use Android devices, you want to easily exchange files and experiences with them and customize everything to your taste, then buy a smartphone with the Android operating system from one of the popular brands.

32. Setting up filters in an online store

Below is the procedure and list of parameters that need to be specified in the online store filters. In brackets are recommendations for an Android smartphone with the best price/quality ratio.

1. Go to the “Smartphones” section on the seller’s website.
2. Select recommended manufacturers
   (Sony, HTC, Samsung, LG, ASUS, Acer, Lenovo, Huawei).
3. Operating system (Android, iOS or Windows).
4. Screen diagonal (4.5-6″).
5. Number of cores and processor frequency (4 cores, from 1 GHz).
6. Amount of RAM (from 1 GB).
7. Internal flash memory capacity (from 4 GB).
8. Memory card support (desirable).
9. Rear camera (from 5 MP).
10. Front camera (from 1 MP).
11. Number of SIM cards (2).
12. Other parameters that are important to you.
13. View items starting with the cheapest ones.
14. Buy the design you like.

Do not overdo it with filters, as you can weed out successful models. Set only the most important parameters. Thus, you will receive the best price/quality ratio smartphone that meets your requirements at the lowest possible cost.

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X 16GB
Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X 32GB
Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 4X 16GB

Today, the mobile device market is developing so rapidly that instructions on choosing smartphones become outdated in just a month. We hope that this article will help you with choosing a smartphone at least until the end of this year.

Specifications

When choosing a smartphone, this is the main point. But here you should separate the main thing: what the phone’s operation directly depends on and the secondary thing, which is more suitable for bragging. For example, all these smart things from Samsung, a la scrolling with your eyes, can be classified as not the most important characteristics.

Screen

Today you almost never meet a person with a phone screen smaller than four inches. If you plan to use the device primarily as a dialer and sometimes install some applications, more compact models are suitable, which, as a rule, are cheaper. If you need to watch videos and play, we recommend so-called phablets, where the most famous representative is .

But even here you should be careful, because some smartphones offer a huge display, but a weak processor and low resolution, which makes the work very uncomfortable.

Today, phone resolutions can range from 800x480 to Quad HD. You can talk about the usefulness of the latter, but the most balanced and correct solution– this is Full HD.

The matrix plays a huge role. It is better to give preference to IPS or Super AMOLED from Samsung, as they provide excellent performance both in bright sun and in the dark. Conventional LCD screens, as a rule, do not shine with quality.

Hardware component

Manufacturers are actively involved in the race for the number of cores, which is not really an indicator of processor power. For example, the 2-core iPhone 6 is only slightly inferior to the 8-core one. Approach this question wisely and ask yourself the question: “Do I even need a powerful processor?” Yes, power is good, but it is only needed for resource-intensive games.

If your budget allows, it is better to buy some flagship with a top-end chipset from Samsung or Qualcomm. And if not, then you can take a closer look at devices running on Qualcomm Snapdragon 415 or 615. Their power will be quite enough for daily tasks and toys on medium graphics settings.

There is also a Chinese company MediaTek, which produces MTK processors. In principle, modern models can compete with leading players on the market, but still eight MediaTek cores cannot be compared with eight cores from the same Qualcomm.

As for memory, today smartphones can have 2-4 GB of RAM, which is enough for normal operation of the Android OS and user tasks. IN budget models usually 1 GB of RAM, but this is not enough.

Built-in memory can be from 2 to 128 GB. It’s better to look at 32 GB devices, as this is the golden mean: there will be enough memory for everything you need. Many Android devices support memory cards, but you still won’t fit all the applications there, so if you like to play games, then 16 GB may not be enough, let alone 2 or 4 GB.

Autonomous operation

A pressing issue these days is gadgets. Most smartphones have a battery from 1800 to 4000 mAh. Flagships last one and a half to two days, while devices from the cheap line can barely last one working day without recharging. This fact should be taken into account when choosing.

Smartpads like the Galaxy Note can work without a power outlet for quite a long time, but they cost accordingly. Currently the record holder for battery life is the Motorola Droid Turbo, which does not need to be charged for 3-4 days.

If you active user and use GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile data and often play, then the device must be with capacious battery. The best smartphones in this regard.

Camera

The camera resolution of modern devices reaches 23 megapixels. Here the situation is the same as with the number of cores: many megapixels do not mean good quality. It’s always better to hold the camera in your hands before buying and see how it shoots.

Normal manufacturers always do great with this parameter (with rare exceptions); even budget phones have 8-megapixel modules with a pretty good matrix that takes high-quality pictures. If you don’t need a camera that can shoot in all possible modes, then you shouldn’t overpay for it.

The resolution of the front camera has already reached 13 MP, which will clearly be appreciated by those who like to take selfies. But, if you only need to talk on Skype, then two megapixels will be enough. For those who like to take high-quality pictures of themselves, we advise you to pay attention to smartphones with front-facing modules starting from 5 MP. Best models you will find in our.

Wireless interfaces

Now smartphones are equipped with everything possible: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G, 4G. Devices offering 4G LTE are a little more expensive. If not supported in your country this standard or you don’t care about Internet speed via mobile network, then focusing on the presence of this module is pointless. But if you often use the Internet, for example, on public transport or traveling, then 4G support will be very necessary.

Protection

Recently, it has become fashionable to protect smartphones from dust or moisture. They also try to protect gadgets from impacts. In fact, for the average user, this is just pampering; protection according to the same IP67 standard does not bring any real benefit. This is more suitable for people who like to travel, climbers, and so on. So don't hesitate to buy good device only because it cannot be wet.

Market

The user is presented with a huge selection of different smartphones. You can buy a phone from a famous manufacturer, a Chinese fake, . Of course, it is recommended to always take only original products, because fakes are made carelessly and may not work at all - depending on your luck.

Having bought the original one, you will definitely be satisfied, but it is unlikely that it will be pleasant to use even the most expensive and accurate one. Chinese copy. If you don’t want to overpay money just for a brand, then it’s better to look at the “Chinese”. But, again, it is better to buy only models from more or less well-known brands (Lenovo, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, Fly, Meizu, Xiaomi).

Conclusion

It's up to you to decide which smartphone to buy. Analyze why you are buying it and what you need. If your budget allows, then it’s definitely worth taking a closer look at flagships like the Galaxy S6, LG G4, Xperia Z3+,

Today, there are a huge variety of different phone models, and when the question arises of how to choose a phone, many are simply lost.

Yes, in online stores you can select a gadget by parameters; there are even sites that take data from several stores and compare characteristics and prices.

But due to such an abundance of models, the average person simply cannot understand which mobile phone is better and experiences real agony of choice.

To reduce them, below we will look at the criteria by which phones are usually selected. After this, everyone will be able to understand what they need and make the right choice.

Criterion No. 1. Budget

Whatever one may say, it always comes down to the amount of money that we can spend on buying a mobile phone.

Tip #1: Even before purchasing a new gadget, you should determine how much money you are willing to spend. After this it will become clear what to expect.

In general, all phones can be divided into the following categories:

And if you need a phone specifically for this, then choose from models that cost up to 1000 rubles.

And the only characteristic that should take place when choosing a dialer is the quality of communication.

This refers to how clearly the interlocutor’s voice is conveyed. And here phones from Fly especially stand out.

An example of a good dialer is the Fly DS105C, which can be bought for 800 rubles. If you describe it in two words, they would be the words “affordable” and “simple”.

Indeed, it will be very difficult to find a mobile device that is easier to use.

It has a 900 mAh battery, which is enough for several days of operation without charging (276 hours in standby mode).

Its dimensions are only 110x45x14.6 mm - it fits very easily in your hand. There is a radio, an audio player and even a video player in mp4 and 3gp format.

In general, an ideal choice for those who have very little money in their pockets and who need the phone purely for calls.

But this is the 21st century, after all, and if you’re going to buy a phone, you can save up and buy something more interesting. Then you need to pay attention to all the criteria below.

Criterion No. 2. OS (operating system)

Every modern phone has an operating system.

The most popular of them are:

1. Symbian. This OS today belongs to Nokia company and, accordingly, is used only on devices of this company. Now it is not nearly as popular as it was 4-7 years ago. And it is being replaced by the following systems on our list.
2. Android. Majority modern phones They work specifically on Android. The OS is constantly updated and improved, but it is often buggy and does not work the way the user wants.
   At least this is evidenced by reviews on the Internet left even in 2016. On the other hand, this system is the most popular, it is used by Samsung, HTC, Motorola and all Chinese phones, which is why they talk about it the most.
3. Apple iOS. A system designed specifically for Apple phones. There is nothing to discuss here - buy an Apple phone, get iOS.
4. Blackberry OS. Like iOS, it is designed only for Blackberry phones. This system is the record holder on this list, as it was created back in 1999.
5. Windows Phone. The developers tried to make Windows analog 10 for computers with the same multi-colored icons of various shortcuts in the form of squares, only for smartphones. Very popular in the West.

Yes, there are many more different operating systems, for example, OS Bada, Palm OS, Open WebOS, Maemo and others. But it’s better to choose from these five.

And the reason for this is that they are simply supported in our area, that is, if a phone on the same Android breaks down, we will fix it, but with a phone on OS Bada it will be much more difficult to figure out.

You will need to look for a master who understands this issue, and this is very difficult.

So, the operating systems are defined. Now all that remains is to understand what OS you want for your cell phone.

You should select an operating system according to the following criteria:

1. The purpose of a smartphone. If it is needed by a business person who constantly works with documents and wants to customize the interface for himself, then it will suit him Windows Phone, and if for games and all sorts of gadgets, then definitely Android.
   If reliability is a priority, that is, a person does not care about games, but he wants to get a phone that nothing will happen to (for example, viruses will not attack), then this is Blackberry OS.
2. Budget. If you don’t have a lot of money in your pocket, but want to get a good gadget, then choose Symbian. This OS is aimed at the budget class. But if money is not a problem, then you can spend money on Apple with Apple iOS.
   Android phones are a kind of golden mean.

Tip #2: It's best to look awayAndroid, because today most applications are written specifically for this OS. In addition, phones withAndroidare cheaper thaniPhone, but have almost the same functionality. And, after all, this is the most popular OS in our area.

Criterion No. 3. Phone power

How powerful a phone is can be determined by the characteristics of the phone's processor and RAM.

CPU

This characteristic is related to the power of the mobile phone. The power of a processor is determined by its frequency. It is measured in Hertz (Hz). It is logical that the more there are, the better.

Today, the normal rate for phones is 1-2 GHz (GigaHertz).

In addition, the power of the processor depends on the number of cores, each of which has its own specific number of Hz.

Interestingly, even on the most powerful modern smartphones, the number of GHz frequencies rarely exceeds 2.5 GHz.

The only ones that stand out are the Chinese masters who manage to fit into regular phone up to 3.5 GHz. An example of such a phone is ZTE Nubia Z9.

Looking at the most expensive models and phones from the budget category, you can notice one interesting feature.

It lies in the fact that the processor power on budget smartphones is often greater than on the most expensive ones.

This is quite logical, because manufacturers simply do not yet know a way to make the processor more powerful.

Therefore, if it is important for you that the phone is powerful, you don’t have to overpay.

An example of a truly powerful device is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 with a 2 GHz processor. It costs about 230 dollars.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S7 costs about $830 and has a 2.3 GHz frequency. Xiaomi also has 32 GB of internal memory, GPS, GLONASS and many other useful functions.

The only drawbacks of the phone are the poor camera, dull display (we'll talk about this later) and non-removable battery– if it breaks, you cannot replace it on your own, and this is an additional inconvenience.

But Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 is one of the most powerful phones today due to the following characteristic - RAM.

RAM

Another characteristic that affects power.

Measured in Gigabytes (GB). The number of GB determines how quickly the system can respond to user actions and process various operations.

So, in Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 there are as many as 3 of these Gigabytes. In the same Samsung Galaxy S7 there are already 4 of them, but it also costs an order of magnitude more, as mentioned above.

There is no point in choosing a phone depending on the RAM, because with a powerful processor, no one will ever put little RAM into a phone, otherwise the device will not be able to work correctly.

The bigger, the better.

Clue: To understand how powerful a processor is, there is convenient program entitledAnTuTu Benchmark.

In this program, each phone is given a score based on its performance.

So, at the beginning of March 2016, a study was conducted that showed that the most powerful phones have a processor called Qualcomm Snapdragon 820.

In second place is the Apple A9 (for iPhone only), and in third place is Samsung Exynos 8890.

1. Huawei Kirin 950;
2. Samsung Exynos 7420;
3. Qualcomm Snapdragon 810;
4. Qualcomm Snapdragon 652;
5. Apple A8.

Based on this, we can formulate the following advice.

Tip #3: For a phone to be powerful, it must have one of the processors listed above.

But the problem is that such processors are not installed on budget smartphones.

Therefore, here is a tip for those who are looking towards budget devices: Qualcomm Snapdragon 615, Mediatek MT6795 (aka Helio X10) and Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 also perform well.

An example of a phone with the most powerful to date Qualcomm processor The Snapdragon 820 is the OnePlus 3 with 4GB RAM.

The cost of such pleasure is 500-600 dollars (the model has not yet been released).

Tip #4: When choosing a phone, look at how much it dials in the programAnTuTu Benchmark(this information can be easily found on the Internet). This will give you the opportunity to really see how powerful a particular model is.

Criterion No. 4. Working hours

How long a device can operate depends directly on the battery. Battery capacity is measured in milliamps. Of course, the more there are, the better.

Approximately, phones with 2 GB RAM and a 2 GHz processor frequency should have at least 3000 mAh.

This will give the device the ability to work for about two days with a small number of games, a lot of Internet use and work with documents.

If you continuously play some heavy games, for example, GTA or Nova 3, then a device with 3000 mAh will last about 6 hours.

But even at the most powerful phones It's rare to have more than 4000 mAh. Yes, there are some “unusual” models with 5000 mAh, but they don’t last long.

This is very clearly seen in the example of the Bravis Power phone. The phone has 4500 mAh, but there is practically no power and, judging by reviews on the Internet, the phone lasts about 4-5 months.

It costs $115. The combination of this price and this battery capacity raises many questions. And for good reason.

From the above, we can conclude the following: if the phone costs less than $150, and its battery capacity is more than 3000 mAh.

This is very strange and such a device is unlikely to work for more than a year.

On the other hand, manufacturers often try to save on this parameter and try to use the processor, RAM and other parameters.

Yes, budget phones allow around 2000mAh capacity. After all, all other elements there do not consume so much energy.

Therefore, we can derive a certain golden parameter.

Tip #5: The battery capacity should be from 2000 mAh to 4000 mAh.

Criterion No. 5. Built-in memory

This setting determines how much data will fit on the phone.

Typically, on budget phones, manufacturers try to put no more than 16 GB, in more expensive phones It can be either 32 GB or 64 GB.

But, looking at this parameter, you need to take into account only one condition - is it possible to use a memory card.

If additional card you can insert it, then a small amount of built-in memory is not a problem.

But it happens that this is not possible, and then it is the built-in memory that will play the main role.

True, there is still the possibility of using cloud storage, but then you will be tied to the Internet - if it is not there, then you will not see your files.

Therefore, it is ideal that the phone has about 8 GB of internal memory and the ability to insert a memory card.

There is one more thing worth saying about the memory card. Often manufacturers make the phone in such a way that it can accept SD cards of 200 GB - 1 TB.

The fact is that if the phone has too many files, about 100 GB, it will slow down and something will have to be deleted.

After all, even the most powerful processor and a large amount of RAM is not enough to process so much information.

Accordingly, there is simply no point in having memory cards that are too capacious.

Tip #6: Choose phones with the ability to insert a memory card up to 100 GB.

Criterion No. 6. Camera

It’s very easy to check how high-quality and clear a photo is on a particular phone.

To do this, you need to photograph something and enlarge some part of the picture as much as possible, that is, use the zoom function.

If the enlarged part of the picture is blurry and unclear, this means that the camera on the phone is not of very high quality.

But sometimes there is no way to pick up the phone and “taste it.”

Then you need to look at two characteristics - the number of megapixels and the aperture.

Today, almost all phone and camera manufacturers are trying to attract people with the number of megapixels.

This value reflects how many pixels form the image. But this characteristic is not the only one that affects the quality of the picture.

The size of the aperture or relative aperture also affects. The meaning of this value can be explained with an example.

Imagine that you are in the country, it is raining and you need to collect as much water as possible in some containers.

If you place an ordinary mug with a diameter of 15 cm, then not many drops will fall into it, and the water will collect slowly.

But if you place a large bowl with a diameter of 50 cm, more drops will fall into it and the container will fill much faster.

In the same way, the aperture reflects how much light enters the camera lens.

The aperture size is designated as “f/size”. In the figure you can see the sizes of different apertures.

It becomes clear that the smaller this number, the larger the aperture; accordingly, the more light it can capture and the better quality the pictures will be.

Megapixels + aperture

It’s interesting that now there’s a lot of writing on the Internet that nothing at all depends on the number of megapixels and that only the aperture affects the quality of pictures.

In fact, this is not entirely true, because there have been cases when developers, using this myth, put few megapixels on phones and made the aperture large, and as a result, the pictures were not of very high quality.

Therefore, it is better to choose phones with a minimum “f/” value and a maximum number of megapixels.

On the other hand, it is very rare to find a phone with a large number of megapixels and a large “f/” value; manufacturers combine these parameters.

According to these parameters, cameras from Samsung perform very well. In general, this company has many of its own technologies, one of which concerns cameras.

The favorite in this regard is the Samsung Galaxy S6 with a 16 MP main camera and a 5 MP front camera.

To visualize this, here's a shot of a night landscape taken with an iPhone 6.

And here is a photo of the same area taken on a Samsung Galaxy S6.

Agree that the photo taken on the Samsung Galaxy S6 is brighter and more saturated. After all, it has more resolution, which allows you to see the smallest details on the picture.

Tip #7: When choosing a camera on your phone, focus on the combination of megapixels and aperture.

At the same time, you should not pay attention to only one of these parameters, because often manufacturers, trying to deceive their customers, write only the number of megapixels or only the aperture (usually the first).

Criterion No. 7. Screen

Everyone wants the picture on their phone to be bright and rich. But what should you look for to choose such a phone? Brightness and saturation depend on four parameters:

• Diagonal.
• Permission.
• Pixel density.

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Diagonal

This characteristic reflects the distance from one corner of the screen to the opposite one. The figure below clearly shows this distance.

The screen diagonal should be chosen depending on why the phone is needed:

• for calls and basic functions – 3-4 inches;
• for Internet surfing and reading books - 4-5 inches;
• for games and watching movies - 5-6 inches.

Everything is very simple here.

Permission

Screen resolution is directly related to diagonal in the following ratio:

• for a diagonal of 3-4 inches, the resolution can be 480x800;
• for a 4-5 inch diagonal, the resolution can be 960x540;
• for everything else, the resolution can be 1280x720 (HD), 1920x1080 (FullHD) and 2560x1440 (QuadHD).

Of course, the higher the resolution, the clearer the picture will be.

Pixel Density

It is written as PPI (pixels per inch) and expresses how many pixels fit in one inch of the screen. It is clear that the higher this characteristic, the clearer the image should be.

Typically, manufacturers try to make the number of pixels per inch corresponding to the screen resolution.

So, on screens with a resolution of 1280x720 there can be up to 300 ppi. In principle, there is no point in choosing a phone depending on this characteristic.

You need to look at the previous two parameters - diagonal and resolution. In addition, the following parameter is very important.

Screen type

Today the most popular types of screens are the following:

• OLED;
• AMOLED and Super AMOLED;
• AFFS.

In our area you are unlikely to see phones with the last two types of screens, but in the West they are very popular.

It is very interesting that of the first three types, models with Super AMOLED screens perform best.

A phone with HD resolution and a Super AMOLED screen will look much better than a model with FullHD resolution and an IPS screen.

In particular, viewing angles will be much better.

This option means that you can look at the phone from almost a right angle and still be able to see what is happening on the screen.

In the figure you can clearly see a comparison of these two types.

Especially it concerns Samsung phones, where many of its unique technologies are applied, so Samsung with Super AMOLED is much better than any other phone with Super AMOLED.

However, other screens also look quite good, and you should pay attention to this characteristic only if you really care about the saturation and clarity of the screen.

Tip #8: If saturation and brightness are important to you, choose a phone withSuper AMOLEDscreen.

Here is another photo that confirms that it is best to choose Super AMOLED screens.

The leftmost phone here is Sony Xperia Z Ultra with a TRILUMINOS screen, the second is Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with Super AMOLED, then there is Sony Xperia Z1 with the same TRILUMINOS and the last one is Lg G2 with IPS.

It is clearly visible that Samsung looks better than the rest.

Criterion No. 8. Phone brand

As for which brand of phone to choose, the following points will help:

• If it is important to you that your phone can be repaired in our area, then these are Samsung, Lenovo, Fly, Prestigio, Asus, Philips, Sony, Lg. The fact is that in the CIS countries there are certified centers that carry out repairs.
  The rest of the phones will need to be sent for repair, most likely to China, which means you'll have to pay about $150 for shipping. It turns out that the guarantee makes no sense.
  You can, of course, find a local craftsman, but then no one is responsible for the quality.
• If performance is important, then Xiaomi, Meizu, ZTE, Sony and the vast majority of other Chinese brands. In principle, Samsung performs well, but it costs more.
• If important good camera, then Samsung, Sony, Apple, Lg, HTC, Lumia and some Lenovo models.
• If ease of use is important, then all phones operate on the Android operating system.
• If operating time is important, then DEXP, Fly, Philips, Highscreen, Lenovo and Samsung.
• If reliability is important (so that the phone does not break), then Sony, Samsung, Lg. Everything else most often fails after a year of use. Yes, if there are exceptions among the same Samsungs, but basically, all models work for at least 5 years.
• If you don’t want to spend a lot (“I want something inexpensive, but good”), then Xiaomi, Meizu and other Chinese brands.
• If you want to show that you have a lot of money, iPhone. The fact is that these phones do not have any special characteristics, but are expensive due to advertising. Therefore, you should buy an iPhone only in cases where you just want to spend money.

In general, when choosing a brand, you need to focus on what is important to each specific consumer.

Criterion No. 9. Protective characteristics

I really want the phone not to break, to withstand falling into water and other emergency situations.

Of course, you can cover the phone with cases, protective films, and generally wrap it in film and carry it in a velvet container, but you want the phone itself to be able to withstand at least a fall to the ground.

Find a smartphone with high degree security is very simple - usually the characteristics say “IP...”, for example, “IP67”. This means the level of protection.

By the way, the most secure phones have a protection rating of IP67. Therefore, if you plan to drop your gadget often, it must have “IP67” on it.

An example of such a device is the Samsung Galaxy xCover S5690, which can withstand being in water, being buried in the ground, and can even withstand being run over by a car!

Tip #9: If the durability of your phone is important to you, choose devices with IP67 protection level.

But even without this level of protection, a mobile phone can still be reliable if it has a special protective Gorilla Glass.

This glass has a high degree of resistance to scratches and impacts.

With such glass you will not need any additional protection.

Of course, if the phone is run over by a car, the screen will still crack, but it will withstand a fall on an asphalt road calmly.

But even if the phone does not initially have such protective glass, you can always buy additional glass.

But here it is important not to make a mistake and not buy ordinary film; you need to choose glass!

Tip #10: Choose a phone with Gorilla Glass protection, or buy additional glass along with the phone.

In addition, when choosing a reliable phone, it is important to look at the case material.

It is best, of course, to buy devices with a metal body. But good plastic in a high-quality protective case will also withstand a hit to the ground.

Results

If you want to hear an expert’s opinion on what phones you can buy this year, then experts agree that the most interesting models in terms of all characteristics will be the following:

• Samsung S7- 4 GB of RAM, 2.3 GHz processor frequency, 32 or 64 GB of internal memory, 12 MP camera and 3000/3600 mAh and, most importantly, a curved display.
  In principle, the popularity of the phone will be due to its unusual display. But all other characteristics are pleasing. This pleasure costs about $900.

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 And Samsung Galaxy J7. The undoubted leaders of phones in the budget category (up to $300). Both have a diagonal of 5.5 inches and 16 GB of internal memory. Samsung has a 13 megapixel camera, but it takes better pictures than Xiaomi.
  Random access memory Xiaomi has 2 GB, Samsung has 1.5 GB. In AnTuTu, the first one scores about 50,000 marks, and the second – 41,000. Samsung wins due to the better display. If performance is important to you, choose Xiaomi.

• Sony Xperia Z5. 5.1-5.9 inches screen (depending on version), 28 megapixel main camera, 4200 mAh and resistance to immersion in water - all in the best traditions of Sony. The cost is about 800 dollars.

You can learn about the most purchased smartphones as of the beginning of 2017 from the video below.

Top ten SMARTPHONES at the beginning of 2016

How to choose a phone - Main selection criteria