Buying a New Mobile Phone - Your Questions Answered

If you're in the process of getting a new mobile phone, then you might be a little confused. There are so many different phone models to choose from these days, with many different features, that choosing between them can be a little overwhelming. Today we're answering the most frequently asked questions about buying new mobile phones. So before you start shopping read on to get some answers...

How Much Should I Be Paying?

How much you're going to pay really depends on what kind of phone you're looking for. You can get a decent budget smart phone for less than a hundred and fifty pounds, whilst the average mobile is going to cost somewhere between two hundred and fifty and three hundred and fifty pounds. A top of the line new release will retail for over five hundred pounds.

What Kind of Specs Should I be Looking for?

Again, that depends on the kind of model that you want, but there are some basic guidelines that you should try to follow. A budget phone should have a screen no smaller than three inches, a processor of at least 800 MHz, minimum RAM of 512 MB, and no less than 2 GB of internal memory. On a mid-range phone you're looking at screen sizes of at least four inches, around 1 GHz (or 1000 MHz) of processing power, about 1 GB of RAM and between 8 and 16 GB of internal memory. Top end phones should have screens between four and a half and five inches, processors of 1.5 GHz or above, over 1 GB of RAM and at least 16 GB of internal memory.

What are 4g Phones?
4g phones are the latest revolution in mobile internet. The basic benefit of 4g phones is that you get a faster internet connection, with speeds being around ten times that of traditional 3g connections. This means faster web page opening, quicker downloading and the ability to stream video on your phone without buffering or lagging and playing high end online games. However, there is a down side. To take advantage of a phone's 4g capabilities, you'll need a specific 4g data plan. Not all operators offer such plans, and those that do don't yet have coverage for the entire country, so you'll need to check with your operator. And be warned, 4g data plans aren't cheap, they're going to cost you two to three times as much as a regular data plan.

Which Operating System Should I Choose?

Just like your home computer, your smart phone requires an operating system. There are four main systems found on the market: iOS, RIM, Windows and Android. If you're buying an iPhone, then it will automatically come with Apple's iOS, whilst Blackberrys always run RIM. Other than that, your choices are Windows or Android. There is no one operating system that's really better than the others, since they're all good at different things; it's really just a question of personal preference. Most people find that they're more comfortable with one operating system than the others. If you don't have a preference, it's worth going to a mobile operator's shop and playing with some of the display models until you find a system that you're comfortable with. More important than which operating system you choose is the version of the system that a phone runs. You'll want the most recent version of the system. For iOS both the iPhone 5 and 4S run the newest version, whilst the Blackberry Z10 runs the most recent version of RIM. The newest Windows version is Windows 8, though Windows 7.5 is fine. And finally, the most recent Android is 4.2, but anything from 4.0 up is acceptable.

What about Brand?

There are certainly plenty of manufacturers to choose from when it comes to mobile phones, and brand isn't necessarily all that important. It's far more important that you get a phone that meets your requirements for the right price. However, if you're looking for a budget phone then Huawei and Sony tend to be the best brands with the best prices, look at the Huawei Ascend range and the Sony Xperia range. For mid-level phones, Nokia, LG and Samsung are all good choices. The best-selling top end models right now are from Samsung (the Galaxy S4), Blackberry (the Z10), Nokia (the Lumia 925), Sony (the Xperia Z), and HTC (the HTC One).

Where Should I Buy?

There are several options when it comes to where to buy your new mobile from. You can buy direct from a mobile operator, though prices tend to be a little above average. The advantage of buying from an operator is that they tend to have a wide range of models available, and often receive new releases before retail stores do. Retail stores usually have slightly cheaper prices, but don't always offer the same kind of range as operators have. The cheapest way to buy is nearly always online. Online shoppers tend to get good discounts, simply because the overhead costs of online retail are so much cheaper that sellers can afford to offer lower prices. Plus, online shopping allows you to compare prices more easily so that you can be sure that you're getting the best deal on the model that you're looking for.

What about Accessories?

You might want to think about buying some extras to go with your new phone. At the very least you should consider a screen protector. The touch screen on a smart phone is extremely fragile, and scratches can lead to poor functionality. A screen protector is a transparent sheet of plastic that sticks to your phone's screen and protects it from damage. A case is also a pretty good idea, since that will protect the body of your phone from scratches. Also, do consider buying some insurance. Phones are easily lost and broken, and insurance will mean that you're financially covered should something happen to your expensive new device. Most operators sell phone insurance for cheap monthly rates.

Sam Jones loved nothing more than a great bargain, so when he found deals for 4G phones that looked affordable he did his homework. After searching the internet using price comparison sites like uSwitch, he found that the deal he was offered was the best on the market, so signed his contract right away.