Quick guide to choosing the best smartphone
Mobile handsets have come a long way over the years and, right now, the smartphone is the ultimate in handheld gadgetry. A smartphone not only allows you to make phone calls, but you can use it as a PDA-style personal organiser, music player and camera along with carrying out numerous other day-to-chores that a traditional mobile would be pretty much useless for. Plus, smartphones are getting, erm, smarter, smaller and a whole lot better looking to boot. In fact, many of them are essentially pocket-sized computers that also make a style statement. The only trouble with the growing range out there in phone shops, or from online outlets, is that making a decision on which the the best smartphone to get is proving trickier by the day.
Feature-packed
There's a couple of key factors that'll help you decide on which device to plump for: how much you want to spend and what you expect it to do. It's pretty pointless spending heaps of cash on a smarthphone loaded with features you'll never use. Having said that, even the most basic models now offer a formidable range of features as standard. It's fair to say that to begin with your smartphone shortlist should contain all the features found on a normal mobile such as extensive call-making qualities, text and instant messaging tools, calendars and address books plus all the other diversions, like games, that we've come to expect from our mobile handsets. Once you've checked these off the next thing is to make an even longer shopping list of what you demand from your new device.
Connectivity
Having a smartphone that offers internet access goes without saying, so that you can browse the web and send and receive emails whatever the location. Be prepared to do your research on the various contract options though as some data usage terms and conditions are more generous than others. Be sure to check that the phone ideally has Wi-Fi capability and also 3G, which will allow you to send and receive data much faster. Some of the best phones and contracts will give you access to all manner of downloads, such as movies, music and also the ability for making video calls although it’s worth trialling the latter before you sign up to a contract so that you're sure it's up to the job. Similarly, a smartphone with Bluetooth has become something of an essential requirement simply because it allows the likes of headsets, keyboards and even printers to interact with your handheld device without the need for cables.
Camera
It's safe to say that even the most basic of mobile phones come complete with a camera these days, but a smartphone takes this to a whole new level. Lookout for plenty of pixel power, although remember that this isn't the be all and end all of getting a decent snap. There are a whole slew of contributing factors that result in your smartphone camera being either a star or a dud so, again, it's really worth trying a few in the shop before forming a final conclusion. Many smartphones also offer up a video recording option too, and this can be similarly impressive or massively disappointing depending on the make and model you go for. Be sure that the smartphone that takes your fancy has plenty of storage capacity, because the higher pixel settings on some phones can result in bulky images and video content fills up space even quicker than that.
Many smartphone devices have impressive storage space but you may want the option of upgrading that with an additional media card, which is handy for moving data onto other devices to ensure a safe backup from time to time.
Applications
Lookout too for a smartphone that comes packed with software, or, if it’s not included as standard then make sure the phone you’re interested in is capable of running it. You can get stripped down versions of popular Office-style applications such as word processing and spreadsheet programs that allows you to do most, if not all of the chores you'd normally carry out o a standard sized home computer.
Size matters (as does quality)
Make sure you select a smartphone with a decent screen size though, as scrolling around a limited work area can soon wear very thin indeed.
Screen quality is another factor that can make lengthy periods of work seem like an arduous task. Similarly, there are many different incarnations of the touchscreen smartphone available now but some work better than others. Again, the secret here is to try one for yourself in order to ensure that it's responsive and isn’t littered with bugginess that could end up making a simple task like composing an email feel more like writing a biblical epic.
Battery life
What's more, keep an eye on the battery life of your preferred model too. This can make or break a device and if it’s in constant need of a recharge then you'll soon get frustrated with it. There's also nothing worse than wanting to carry out an essential task and the phone dies on you, so be sure to read up on the stats and, if possible, try one for size and put it through its paces using the most battery-intensive tasks you can think of. If the battery level bar starts going down swiftly then you should give the device a wide birth, as it'll soon turn into become very irritating indeed.
Operating system
After all that, or conversely, before you start any further investigations, it’s also crucial that you consider what kind of operating system you prefer and wish to have running on that new smartphone of yours. There are numerous routes to explore, including the likes of Windows Mobile, Linux, Symbian OS, Apple's iPhone OS, Google's Android, RIM's BlackBerry and the Palm WebOS.
Which is the best smartphone?
Needless to say, if you're parting with the pennies for a bells and whistles smartphone then you'll probably want something that’s as showy as possible. The Apple iPhone is certainly one of the priciest but it's not hard to see why. Fantastic functionality, an endless supply of downloadable program add-ons known as "apps" and a top quality design makes this understandly very popular. If you've got deep pockets you can get up to 32GB memory and, naturally, there's easy-peasy integration with the iTunes music service too. But, let's not forget, there are plenty of other rival smartphones vying for your attention.
Nokia, for example, has long been a favourite of phone users who demand ease of use and as a result they've got rather good at delivering it. Their current range offers up numerous models that deliver smartphone functionality in spades, but the 5800 Xpress Music device is one that has it all. Packed inside the elegant casing are a 3.2-inch touch screen, 3.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth capability and 8GB of memory. There's also plenty of scope for expanding that using microSD cards, while the Nokia 'Comes With Music' service offers a refreshing alternative to that of iTunes. Best of all, it's a smartphone that's wonderfully easy to use.
Samsung continue to develop new smartphones and their Omnia II offers a stonking feature set, including pacey data-transfer speeds of up to 7.2Mbps using HSDPA technology. You'll also marvel at the sumptuous colour screen, which utilises the latest AMOLED touch screen technology. A five-megapixel camera adds to the fun and it looks pretty good to boot. However, Samsung also deliver the goods with the likes of the Jet (a sort of semi-smartphone) and the new H1, with its similar set of features plus integration with the Vodafone 360 online service that points to the way forward for integrating phones and web services.
HTC is a relatively new brand that has exploded onto the smartphone scene with an array of models to suit all budgets and requirements. The new HTC HD2, for example, will reel you in with its delicious 4.3-inch touchscreen, slimline feel and ballsy 1GHz processor power. But the HTC Hero or any of their other models prove well worthy of further investigation. Meanwhile, a rejuvenated Palm and their acclaimed Pre device has finally hit these shores and with its lozenge style shape and gorgeous onscreen graphics promises plenty. You control this beauty using the multi-touch screen, there's a slide out full-on QWERTY keyboard and a Palm webOS driving the phone and ensuring that essential contacts and calendars are always kept bang up to date.
Sony Ericsson has always been able to turn heads with their products and the Experian X2 continues that theme. Being part Sony the camera specification is suitably rugged offering 8.1 megapixel power and lots of snapping tools such as geotagging and autofocus features. There's a QWERTY keyboard that feels great to the touch and the user-interface is a blast to use. The Motorola Dext is another funky looking phone that boasts a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for folk who like pushing real keys, a five-megapixel camera and one-off Moto blur interface that comes highly recommended too. It's easy to use and makes networking, both socially and work-wise, a doddle.
Let's also not forget the range of BlackBerry devices as we stroll through some of the most popular smartphone brands. Often seen as the tool exclusively for business users', there are plenty of BlackBerry phones that will keep home consumers equally as happy too. There's a recently released Storm 2 touchscreen model that is a vast improvement on its predecessor if you want usability but without a standard style keypad. But a model like the Curve 8900 is hard to beat for that all-round practical smartphone that not only looks good but offers up Wi-Fi connectivity, a GPS feature and lots of battery life to boot.
Ultimately, different models will come and go, while some brands will be more future-proof than others, but the overall smartphone concept is most definitely here to stay. And, if you want a phone that 'does it all', then any of those mentioned here will most certainly get you off to a flying start.
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