5 Essential Tips for Choosing the Perfect Smartphone

Smartphones are meant to simplify our lives. With the right device, you can manage emails, appointments, get directions, track workouts and meals, shop, share with friends, listen to music, and watch movies. So why does choosing the right one seem so confusing?

Many people feel overwhelmed when selecting a smartphone. Should you go with Android or iPhone? How do you score the best deal when not all carriers support every model? How do you avoid paying for unused minutes or data plans? How can you prevent extra charges? Which features are unnecessary, and which are essential? Do you really need a smartphone, or would a regular mobile phone suffice?

Smartphones can be pricey, and so are the plans that often come with them. Doing some research upfront to determine exactly what you need, want, and can live without is definitely worthwhile. We'll guide you through narrowing down your choices, finding the right phone, carrier, and plan, ensuring you walk away with the perfect smartphone — and maybe even some extra cash. With these five tips, you'll leave the store with confidence, feeling...well, smart.

5: Ensure You Really Need a Smartphone

It might sound obvious, but the first thing you should do before picking a smartphone is to confirm you actually need one. Smartphones are costly, and the coverage plans they come with can be just as expensive. It's easy to exceed your data limit and rack up costly overage fees. Even if you don't go over, you might still be stuck paying for a data plan that you hardly use.

How do you know if a smartphone is right for you? Start by considering how you currently use your phone. If you mainly use it for calls and the occasional text, and you already have a GPS device and MP3 player, you might not need a smartphone. A regular phone could suffice if you don't need music or directions. You may not even want email access on your phone. With a smartphone, you'll likely get constant access to work emails, social media, and the web, and not everyone desires that level of connectivity.

On the other hand, think about how you'd like to use your phone. If you don't want to miss out on the latest tweets, friends' updates, and breaking news, a smartphone might be exactly what you need. If your job requires you to stay connected at all times and respond quickly to emails and questions, a smartphone makes sense. Even if you have a GPS and MP3 player, having these functions in one device can simplify your life. Additionally, if you have a long commute or often find yourself with downtime in public places, a smartphone can help you pass the time.

4: Choose the Right Carrier

Choosing a cell phone provider can be just as complicated as choosing a phone. Each carrier offers different plans, works with various phone brands, and provides varying levels of service and coverage. You'll also need to decide whether to go for a pay-as-you-go option or sign a contract. A contract might save you money, but it locks you into that provider for years. If you select the wrong carrier or plan and sign a contract, you're stuck.

To find the best carrier, start by looking at which one offers the best coverage in your area. There's no point in having a top-tier smartphone if you can't get a reliable connection or constantly drop calls. Check the coverage maps on cell phone carriers' websites. Besides confirming coverage in your area, ensure that the network you want is available. Smartphones work best on fast 3G and 4G networks, so if your area only offers slower connections, you may need to find another provider to fully optimize your phone. Don't forget to check coverage in the places you frequently travel to as well.

Be sure to look at consumer reviews of the network coverage provided by different carriers in your area. A provider might claim to offer good coverage, but it's the actual users who can tell you how reliable the signal is and whether calls tend to drop. If a carrier promises great coverage but users report otherwise, it might be best to explore other options. Don't forget to compare the prices and plans available to you. Finding the best value for both price and plan is essential for the next tip. Keep reading to find out more.

3: Determine Your Budget

When choosing how much to spend on a smartphone, there are two key expenses: the phone's price and the cost of the plan. The phone's price is a one-time charge, but cell phone companies often offer various promotions and discounts, making the phone more affordable than you might expect. In some cases, you might even get the phone for free by signing up for a specific plan. Before committing to a particular phone, ensure its price aligns with your budget.

In most cases, the cost of your smartphone plan will end up being more than the phone itself. For example, if you buy a phone for $600 without any discounts, your plan could cost you over $100 per month for two years. In the end, you might end up paying four times more for the plan than the phone itself.

Before committing to a pricey monthly bill, think about how you plan to use your phone. If you're primarily using it for calls and texts, with occasional email or web browsing, see if you can find a plan with lower data limits. On the other hand, if you're online all the time and plan to download apps, games, and movies, you'll want a plan with more data. Additionally, check if unused data, minutes, and texts roll over to the next month, and be aware of penalties for breaking your contract. For instance, if you move out of the coverage area, you don't want to be stuck paying hefty cancellation fees.

2: Choose the Right Operating System

For many people, the key to selecting the ideal smartphone comes down to choosing the right operating system. This is the software that powers your device and enables it to run applications. While all systems will allow you to access the web, check emails, make calls, and send texts, each one offers distinct advantages and limitations.

The four most common operating systems for smartphones today are Apple's iOS, which is used on iPhones, Google's Android, Microsoft's Windows Mobile, and Research in Motion's Blackberry OS. If you're not a tech expert, you may not notice major differences in how each of these systems works. However, one key difference is the availability of apps across these platforms.

If you plan on using many apps, you might want to steer clear of a Blackberry. The Blackberry OS is excellent for email and web browsing, but it lacks the extensive app selection offered by other platforms. For a wide variety of apps, an iPhone is your best choice, as the Apple App Store is the largest in the world. The downside of iOS is that it is exclusive to iPhones. Android phones are closing the gap, offering more apps, and the Android operating system is available on a wide range of devices, giving you more options. If you're looking to do more work on your phone, a Windows mobile device might suit you. Since it runs a mobile version of Windows, it allows you to easily view and work on documents and spreadsheets directly from your phone.

1: Experiment with Different Options

Once you've established your budget, chosen your operating system, selected your carrier, and picked a plan, there's just one more thing left to do: choose your phone. Take your time with this decision, as you'll likely have it for two years, carrying it everywhere, and using it more than any other device. It's essential that the phone you pick truly fits your life.

Browse all the phones offered by your chosen carrier that fall within your budget and feature the operating system you want. Think about how you'll use your phone, and test it out on the display models in the store. Check the keyboard’s comfort, and see how easy it is to navigate between apps. If the phone has a trackball or a touchscreen, ensure it’s user-friendly and not prone to accidental clicks. Also, verify that it fits comfortably in your hand, pocket, or purse, and make sure you like its appearance – after all, it will be a constant companion. Try holding the phone up to your ear and see if that feels right. If you know anyone who owns the phone you're considering, ask them about their experience. Additionally, read user reviews online to check for potential issues like overheating or durability problems.

Follow these steps and your next smartphone won’t just be smart – it’ll be a genius.