Mobile Phones Buying Guide
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What you need to know, from the kind of user you are to current technologies:
WHAT MOBILE PHONE SHOULD I BUY?
Whether you're a first time buyer or a hardened mobile phone enthusiast, going into a mobile phone shop or searching for a phone online can be a daunting prospect. There are so many phones to choose from, and looking at pictures or holding a plastic model doesn't gives you the best idea of how you'll feel about a phone once you've taken it home and started using it.
Before you get engulfed in specs and tariff deals, take time to read our reviews and find out more about the phones that interest you. Then make sure you get a live demo in a shop so you can see if you like the way the phones feel in your hand, and the way they operate. If you're opting for a monthly contract, you're probably going to have to keep your phone for at least a year, so don't rush your choice. Here are a few things you might want to consider before taking the plunge.
Looks | Features | Performance
Looks
LG's Chocolate phone is a stylish handset with an attractive heat- and touch-sensitive touchpad
When you're shopping for a phone, appearance is probably the first thing that will draw you to a certain model. Looks can be deceiving, though. Before you pick out a cute, stylish or glamorous phone, make sure you know what lies beneath its attractive casing, and how easy it is to use.
There are three main phone designs: simple candybar phones like the Nokia 6230; clamshell phones that fold in half like the Motorola Razr V3; and slider phones where the keypad is revealed by sliding the screen upwards, like the Samsung D600.
If you're going to be using your phone frequently, you'll want one that's comfortable to hold and easy to operate. Each phone feels different in the hand, so make sure you pick up each one and try holding it up to your ear to see if it's a comfortable fit. You should also consider the layout and size of the screen and keypad, because these will affect how easy it is to dial and text. If the keys are too small or awkward to press you'll soon get frustrated, and if the screen is tiny, viewing texts or photos will be difficult.
Features
The Sony Ericsson K800i not only features 3G connectivity with video calling, but it also has a 3.2-megapixel camera
Extras such as cameras, MP3 players, video calling or email, either can be very useful or a waste of space. The best way to decide what features you need is to think about how you would like to use your phone. If you're a music fan with a boring commute, you might want a phone with an MP3 player and a decent amount of internal memory or an expandable memory slot. If you use your phone for work, push email could be more important than a camera.
Alternatively, you might be a gadget head who wants every feature available, irrespective of your interests or job. Take a look at the Features to Consider section to find out what's on offer.
Performance
A mobile phone is ultimately for making and receiving calls, so make sure that before you look at features, you can hear people properly during calls. Don't be afraid to ask the shop assistant to let you make a test call with the phone you're considering.
When you call, ensure the phone has a good signal and call a landline to make sure the sound isn't affected by another mobile. When the other person is speaking, listen for muffling or any other sound distortion, then ask them if they can hear you clearly. If you send lots of text messages, you might also want to try the texting system. Check whether the keypad feels good to use and that the text input system is simple.
Mobile phone call quality and battery life are as important as looks or features
Battery life is also very important. There's nothing more annoying than being out and about and suddenly hearing the beep of a phone about to run out of power. You can do certain things to extend battery life, but it's worth checking how long the battery will last before you buy the phone. Phones with big colour screens and lots of extra features drain battery power pretty quickly. Most battery life quotes are optimistic and it will depend on usage as much as the battery itself. Around two days is realistic for most phones during heavy use; three days during medium use.
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