Selecting a new smartphone is harder now than it’s ever been. Nevertheless, when you’re studying this then you definately’ve doubtless made the primary choice – iPhone or Android – already. Congratulations.
Android smartphones are the very best they’ve ever been, serving up unbelievable screens, highly effective innards, class-leading cameras, swanky software program methods, and far more. There’s by no means been a greater time to nab your self a shiny new Google-powered handset, particularly since mid-range choices with very good specs and efficiency could be yours for lower than ever earlier than.
The draw back, nevertheless, is the truth that there are actually a whole lot of Android choices on the market, coming from a plethora of producers, all vying to your consideration.
That’s the place we are available. We’ve already rounded up an inventory of the best Android phones you should buy right this moment, which ought to make your remaining choice simpler. However earlier than you head on over along with your pockets in hand, let’s decelerate a bit. How do you employ your present telephone? What are you on the lookout for? What’s going to you be doing over the following few years?
We pose these inquiries to you as a result of all of us have totally different wants. A few of us love taking and sharing images, whereas others could favor whiling away hours flossing in Fortnite. Not solely that, however the world is a reasonably loopy place proper now, and we’re all spending extra time at residence. The large battery that will have as soon as topped your record of priorities could also be much less necessary right this moment, particularly whenever you throw ultra-fast charging into the combo. However we’re getting forward of ourselves.
Right here’s every thing you’ll want to take into consideration earlier than selecting the right Android telephone for you:
1. What’s your price range?
The sum of money you’re ready to drop on a smartphone is the primary factor you’ll want to resolve upon earlier than going any additional.
As with most issues in life, you get what you pay for. For instance, splurging out simply over a grand will web you a powerhouse such because the feature-packed Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It could win you over with its flagship specs, multi-cam setup, and the do-it-all S Pen for note-taking, productiveness and doodling, however do you really want all that performance?
In the event you’re a productiveness fiend and/or an artist then, sure, it could be well worth the money. However when you’re unlikely to ever make use of that S Pen stylus, then it doesn’t make sense to spend extra money than you’ll want to.
On the flipside, when you’re after a easy, dependable handset that may seize respectable footage, will see you thru a day and might deal with just about any process then it’s completely price contemplating a mid-range handset such because the OnePlus Nord, which comes near providing flagship efficiency at a really affordable value.
2. Are you a shutterbug?
Let’s get interactive. Seize your present smartphone, open up the gallery, and start scrolling. What do you see? Selfies? Cats? Meals? Buildings? Extra cats? Not a lot in any respect?
There’s no proper or unsuitable reply, however this is a wonderful solution to decide simply how a lot you employ your digicam, and the way necessary it’s to you. In the event you see a bunch of selfies and even group selfies, then perhaps front-facing cameras ought to command extra consideration whenever you’re selecting your subsequent telephone. Some even supply ultra-wide selfie cams so you may simply match giant teams into photographs.
In the event you take quite a lot of photographs at night time time, then you definately’ll need to hold a watch out for cameras with devoted night time modes and/or bigger sensors and stable low-light efficiency. Normally, the best-performing low-light smartphones are typically the most costly, because the taking pictures circumstances demand the very best lenses, sensors and algorithms.
For many who primarily seize photos within the daytime, your alternative is wider; just about any mid-range to flagship gadget you decide from a serious model will doubtless take wonderful photographs in vivid circumstances.
3. How a lot energy do you want?
There was a time when your telephone would sluggish to a crawl a yr or so after buy, struggling frequent crashes, reboots – with you uttering many a swear phrase because of this. Because of advances in processor expertise, coupled with a basic elevating of specs throughout the board, even most mid-range handsets right this moment will present greater than sufficient energy for most individuals.
In truth, we’d go so far as to say that except you’re an fanatic pining for the most recent and best specs, or a hardcore cell gamer who’s continuously operating super-demanding video games equivalent to Name of Obligation: Cellular, you gained’t want highly effective processors equivalent to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 5G.
Mid-range processors such because the Snapdragon 765 coupled with round 8GB of RAM will blitz via apps, media and multitasking with out problem. Except you’re particularly after a handset with which you’ll play heavy-duty video games or course of 8K video a la the Galaxy S20 vary, uncooked specs is one space the place mid-range Android telephones actually shine.
4. How a lot will you employ it?
On the time of writing, most of us aren’t travelling nor commuting to the diploma we had been pre-pandemic. Which brings us neatly to our subsequent consideration: battery life.
Not too way back, heavy telephone customers with lengthy commutes would usually get caught out with their units issuing low battery warnings while having their after-work pint. Anxiousness over whether or not a smartphone will final the day is an actual problem, which is the explanation battery life is without doubt one of the most necessary attributes for most individuals.
When you may not be out in town as a lot now, you’re doubtless utilizing your telephone greater than ever, scrolling via your Insta feed or numbing your thoughts with TikTok cats in a bid to maintain these spreadsheets and PowerPoint paperwork at bay a short time longer.
Fortunately, fashionable smartphones are extra environment friendly at sipping energy, and battery capability has additionally improved. Past the truth that you’re extra more likely to be at residence with a charger handy, one of many greatest developments to look out for is the velocity at which a smartphone prices.
For instance, the OnePlus 8 Pro can attain 50% capability in simply half-hour because of its Warp Cost 30T charger, which is a powerful feat given its 4,510mAh battery. With corporations equivalent to Samsung and Xiaomi additionally providing their very own variations of quick charging, vary nervousness will quickly develop into a factor of the previous.
5. Display screen time
There are just a few options price mentioning that will maintain totally different ranges of significance to some folks, and the primary of those is the display screen. Past selecting one which’s a snug measurement to your fingers, additionally price contemplating are the show sort itself and the decision.
AMOLED shows are broadly regarded to supply the very best expertise, because of their true blacks, superb distinction, and wealthy, punchy colours. The perfect screens round additionally supply greater refresh charges, with 120Hz at present being the spec to beat.
In our opinion, a 120Hz display screen is a pleasant bonus. Nevertheless, in actuality you’re unlikely to have the ability to decide the distinction between that and a 90Hz – and even maybe 60Hz show – except you’re sporting your scrutinizing hat.
Be aware of the decision, too. In the event you’re an avid film watcher/videographer then you can go for a 4K-toting handset such because the Sony Xperia 1 II, however you’ll be paying additional for the privilege. QHD decision is the de facto for all flagships – but when we’re being utterly trustworthy, 1080p, or Full HD, is completely high quality for most individuals.
In the event you’re a money-no-object purchaser, then you have got the luxurious of probably deciding on a handset with a folding display screen. As an early adopter, you’ll be paying an enormous premium, however the seems of amazement of individuals’s faces whenever you unfold telephones such because the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 or Motorola Razr, will (probably) be nicely price it.
6. Hit the highway jack
A considerably controversial function (or lack, thereof) is the headphone jack. Most individuals at the moment are used to the truth that nearly each single new telephone now comes minus this function. However when you’re adventurous sufficient to traverse on-line to Android fanatic boards, you’ll uncover quite a lot of outraged posts about this courageous new jack-less world.
Their argument is, on this author’s opinion, a stable one. Headphone jacks supply probably the most flexibility for listening to music or watching movies, since you should utilize them with any of your present headphones. Not solely that, however you’re at all times ready when you come throughout audio system with AUX inputs.
Whereas Bluetooth headphones have come on a good distance, we nonetheless have occasional issues with audio lag and connection interference, to not point out they’re simply one other gadget you’ll want to bear in mind to cost. And whereas USB-C headphones exist, it means you may’t cost your telephone on the similar time.
We’d fairly headphone jacks remained with us – however, sadly, it seems their time is nigh. On the time of writing, the very best telephones that also carry headphone jacks embrace the Google Pixel 4a, the LG V60 and the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. So, when you’re an audiophile who’s seeking to proceed utilizing their trusty cans, it’s one thing to remember.
7. The velocity of 5G
Ridiculous corona conspiracy theories apart, the 5G community protection is rising, with each main provider providing the service in chosen places.
The advantages are, in fact, a lot quicker speeds. Nevertheless, you’ll solely be capable to take benefit if protection exists in your space – which, in the mean time, is fairly unlikely. Nonetheless, when you’re in a 5G space and prepared to pay a bit additional per thirty days for the privilege, then we gained’t discourage you – simply keep in mind that you simply’ll be paying a premium for a 5G handset.
In the event you’re unlikely to be in a 5G space fairly often then we’d advise that you simply maintain off; by the point you improve your telephone, the expertise and degree of protection can be extra mature. Having mentioned that, the vast majority of new flagships include 5G as commonplace, in order that’s some additional future-proofing to take into accounts.
