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Want to Buy a New Smartphone? With so many choices available, buying a smartphone is confusing. To help you with your purchase decision, we have come with this Smartphone Buying Guide. Top smartphone Brands are constantly introducing new features which make the task even more difficult for buyers.

It is so difficult to choose the right features for your next smartphone. Get an answer to all your queries and buy the best smartphone for your budget and preference. This year we are going to see some affordable 5G smartphones in the market. Also, the leading brands have announced mobile phones with rollable displays. Oppo and Xiaomi are among the brands to announce smartphones with rollable and foldable displays. 

Also Read: https://freekaamaal.com/mobile-offers/top-10-mobile-brands-in-india-2019

Introduction

You can classify smartphones based on their specialization such as camera, gaming phones, battery etc. First, choose the features and set a budget to find the right model. 

Each operating system comes with some proprietary features. The basic features such as email, browsing, and calling remain the same. 

Generally, iOS smartphones are more expensive than Android. iOS is created and developed by Apple. The OS powers mobile devices including the iPhone.  

Android is known for its customization. The smartphones running Android OS are typically available in a wider price range. 

The storage of smartphones decides the price so consider how much space you will likely need. In this guide to buying a smartphone, we look to answer all your queries to help you make the best choice.

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Impact of GST on Smartphone Price

In the 39th GST council meeting, the decision was made to hike the rate on mobile phones. Starting 1 April 2020, mobile phones attract 18% goods and service tax. The rate was 12% earlier. 

With the increase in the GST rate of mobile phones, the prices have also increased. Mobile phones of several brands have become costlier. Leading mobile phone brands have hiked prices after an increase in GST rates to 18% from 12 percent.

Some of the smartphones that witnessed a price hike include Poco X2 the price has gone by almost Rs. 2,000 on Flipkart. Redmi K20 has also received a price hike. 

Other smartphones to get a price hike include - Realme 6, Realme C3, and Realme 5i. 

Samsung Galaxy S20 was launched at Rs. 66,999 but the smartphone is now available for Rs. 70,500. Apple iPhone 11 now costs Rs. 68,300, it was earlier priced at Rs. 64,900. The prices have been increased to match the GST hike. 

Best smartphone buying guide 2021

With this buying guide, we will cover various things that you should consider while buying a new smartphone. We take a look at various things that come to mind while buying a new smartphone. Such as how much RAM do I need in my smartphone?

Which operating system is the best? What things do I need to consider while buying a gaming phone? What are the latest features in mobile phones? Should I consider buying a refurbished smartphone? Which are the brands to consider? 

All these questions are important in your selection. To know the answer to all these queries related to buying a new smartphone in India check out this buying guide. 

Types of smartphones 

Here we have categorized smartphones based on their price. Depending on budget smartphones can be categorized as budget, mid-range, and flagship smartphones. We have mentioned the features to expect for every budget as well as top picks available in the market at the present time for each category. So let us have a look at the different types of smartphones available in the market. 

a) Budget Smartphone 

In this category, we talk about smartphones that are priced under Rs. 10,000. Motorola, Xiaomi, Samsung, Realme, and Oppo all brands have a presence in the budget smartphone market. In most budget smartphones, you can expect a minimum of 3GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage. 

If you speak of a budget under Rs. 7,000, then you may have to be content with a 2GB/16GB combination. Some of the features that you should look for in a budget smartphone include a minimum of 4000mAh battery, quick charging, dual rear camera setup, a good selfie camera, a fingerprint sensor, and an FHD+ display. 

So let us start the smartphone selection guide with some of the top budget devices available in the market. 

1) Realme 5i - Rs 8,999

 

Realme 5i Has a 6.52-inch display with a waterdrop notch. It packs a 5000mAH battery. The smartphone is available in Aqua blue and forest green colour variants. It has a quad-camera setup at the back. The device is powered by Snapdragon 665 SoC. It comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The memory can be expanded up to 256GB.

• RAM - 4 GB RAM 

• Storage - 64 GB ROM

• Screen - 16.56 cm (6.52 inch) HD+ Display

• Rear Camera - 12MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP

• Front Camera - 8MP Front Camera

• Battery - 5000 mAh Battery with reverse charging

• Processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 2 GHz Processor

2) Redmi 8A Dual - Rs. 8,999

Redmi 8A dual comes with a 6.22-inch display. It has a resolution of 720x1520 pixels. The smartphone is powered by a 1.45GHZ octa-core SD 439 processor. It is powered by 5000mAh battery.

It supports fast charging as well. The dual-camera setup on the rear side includes a 13 MP primary shooter and 2 MP secondary camera. It has an 8MP selfie camera on the front. 

• Rear Camera - 13+2MP dual rear AI camera with PDAF 

• Front Camera - 8MP front camera

• Screen - 15.7988 centimeters (6.22-inch) HD+ Dot notch display

• Storage - 3GB | 32GB internal memory expandable up to 512GB 

• Operating System - Android Pie v9.0 

• Processor - 1.95GHz Snapdragon 439 octa core processor

• Battery - 5000mAH lithium-polymer battery

• Price - Rs. 6,999

3. Motorola One Macro - Rs. 9,378

The device is powered by octa-core MediaTek Helio P70 Chipset. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage which is expandable up to 512GB. 

The device runs Android 9 out of the box. The triple rear camera setup includes 13 MP primary sensor and a 2MP dedicated macro camera + a 2MP depth sensor. The device features a 6.2-inch Max Vision HD+ Display with 19:9 aspect ratio. It packs a 4000mAh battery. 

 

• RAM - 4 GB RAM

• Storage - 64 GB ROM with Expandable Upto 512 GB

• Screen - 15.75 cm (6.2 inch) HD+ Display

• Rear Camera - 13MP + 2MP + 2MP

• Front Camera - 8MP Front Camera

• Battery - 4000 mAh Battery

• Processor - MediaTek Helio P70 Processor

• Price  - Rs. 9,378

4. Vivo U10 - Rs. 9,490

Vivo U10 is an entry-level device. It has a 6.35-inch HD+ screen with a waterdrop notch. It is powered by a large 5000 mAh battery. It comes in 3GB & 4GB RAM variants with an internal storage of up to 64GB.

The device supports fast charging with an 18 W charger. Vivo U10 has triple rear camera setup which includes a 13 MP primary sensor and one 8 MP and 2 MP camera. There is an 8MP front camera for selfies. 

• Camera - 13MP+8MP+2MP AI triple rear camera

• Front Camera - 8MP selfie camera

• Screen - 16.15 centimeters (6.35-inch)

• RAM - 3GB RAM 

• Storage - 64GB internal memory expandable up to 256GB 

• Operating system - Android Pie v9.0

• Processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 665AIE octa-core processor

• Battery - 5000mAh lithium-ion battery with 18W fast charging

• Price - Rs. 9,490

 

Buy Now

 

b) Mid-range smartphones 

The smartphones that are priced around 15 - 20k. In a mid-range smartphone, you can expect a minimum of 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The latest devices in this price range come with a 64MP camera. The quad-camera setup is a common thing at the price point of around Rs. 20,000.

Buy a smartphone with the latest operating system. Most devices at this price are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor. A 4500mAH or 5000mAh battery is very common at this price. You can expect around 2-day battery backup. Another feature to consider in your next smartphone is support for fast charging. 

 

1) Realme 6 Pro - Rs. 18,999

The medium-range smartphone comes with a 6.4-inch IPS LCD display with a screen resolution of 1,080 x 2,340 pixels. It supports a bezel-less design and a punch-hole selfie camera. One of the main attraction is the 90Hz display. The device is powered by  Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G Chipset.

It comes in with 6GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. The quad-camera set on the rear includes 64MP + 12MP + 8MP + 2MP. It has a 16MP + 8MP dual front camera. The device is powered by 4300 mAh battery. 

• RAM - 8 GB RAM

• Storage - 128 GB ROM and Expandable Upto 256 GB

• Screen - 16.76 cm (6.6 inch) Full HD+ Display

• Rear Camera - 64MP + 12MP + 8MP + 2MP 

• Front Camera - 16MP + 8MP Dual Front Camera

• Battery - 4300 mAh Battery with 30 W Flash Charge

• Processor - Snapdragon 720G Processor

• Security - Side Fingerprint Sensor

• Price - Rs. 18,999

2) POCO X2 - Rs. 16,999

Poco X2 has a 6.67inch(16.94 inches) IPS LCD bezel-less display. It comes with an attractive glossy back panel. The outer body has Corning Gorilla Glass v5 protection. The quad-camera setup has a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and two 2MP cameras for depth sensing.

On the front, there is 20MP plus 2MP front camera setup embedded in the punch-hole display. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset. The 4500mAh battery supports 27W fast charging. It has 6GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage which can be expanded via MicroSD card. 

• RAM - 6 GB RAM

• Storage - 128 GB ROM & Expandable Upto 512 GB

• Screen - 16.94 cm (6.67 inch) Full HD+ Display

• Rear Camera - 64MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP 

• Front Camera - 20MP + 2MP Dual Front Camera

• Battery - 4500 mAh Lithium-ion Polymer Battery

• Processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G Processor

3. Realme X2 - Rs. 19,999

Realme X2 has a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 91.2% screen to body ratio. It has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection and an in-screen fingerprint sensor. Realme X2 is powered by Snapdragon 730G octa-core chipset with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage.

The quad-camera setup includes 64MP primary sensor paired with 8MP wide-angle camera, a 2 MP macro lens and a 2 MP depth sensor. It has a 32MP selfie camera on the front. The 4000mAh battery supports 30W VOOC fast charging. 

• RAM - 8 GB RAM 

• Internal Storage - 128 GB ROM |

• Screen - 16.26 cm (6.4 inch) Full HD+ Display

• Rear Camera - 64MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP 

• Front Camera - 32MP Front Camera

• Battery - 4000 mAh Battery with support for 30W VOOC 4.0 Fast Charger

• Processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G Processor

4. Samsung Galaxy M40 - Rs. 16,999

Samsung Galaxy M40 flaunts a 6.4-inch FHD Plus display with 1,080 x 2,340 pixels resolution. It comes with an Infinity O display. The device has a triple rear camera setup with 16MP + 8MP + 5MP sensor. There is a 25MP front sensor for selfies and video calls. 

The phone is available in midnight blue and seawater blue colours. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chip coupled with 4GB of RAM. The connectivity options include wi-fi, BlueTooth, NFC, and GPS. 

• Rear Camera - 32MP + 8MP + 5MP triple rear camera

• Front Camera - 16MP front facing camera

• Screen - 16.00 centimeters (6.3-inch) FHD+

• RAM - 6GB RAM 

• Storage - 128GB storage expandable up to 512GB with Hybrid slot

• Operating System - Android v9 Pie

• Processor - 2GHz, 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon SD 675 octa core processor

• Battery - 3500mAH lithium-ion battery

• Price - Rs. 16,999

5. Samsung Galaxy M31 - Rs. 15,999

Samsung Galaxy M31 features a 6.4-inch display with a waterdrop notch. It is equipped with Exynos 9611 SoC coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage. The device runs Samsung OneUI 2.0 on top of Android 10. The quad-camera setup includes a 64 MP primary shooter along with 8-Mp wide-angle camera, and 5-MP macro camera, and 5Mp depth sensor.

• Rear Camera - 64MP + 8MP + 5MP + 5MP

• Front Camera - 32MP front facing camera

• Screen - 16.21 centimeters (6.4-inch) FHD+ capacitive touchscreen

• RAM - 6GB RAM

• Storage - 128GB storage expandable up to 512GB 

• Operating System - Android v10.0 

• Processor - 2.3GHz + 1.7GHz Exynos 9611 Octa-core processor

• Battery - 6000mAH lithium-ion battery

• Price - Rs. 15,999

 

c) Selfie Smartphones

The urge to take selfies from time to time makes the front-facing camera an important aspect for your smartphone. There are plenty of options to choose at different price points. The improvement of cameras is one of the advancements in smartphones.

Recently, pop-up camera modules have also emerged. The combination of a wide-angle lens, night mode, AI, and beautification features make a good selfie camera. Although only the image quality is not the thing that matters. Most selfie smartphones come with powerful specifications as well. 

1. OPPO Reno3 Pro - 44MP+2MP dual punch hole front camera

Oppo Reno3 Pro is one of the best selfie smartphones. It comes with a 44MP + 2MP dual punch-hole front camera. There is a quad rear camera setup on the device which includes 64MP + 13MP + 8MP + 2MP sensors. The camera features include 10X digital zoom, ultra-dark mode, macro shot, ultra-wide angle, and dual-lens bokeh. 

The smartphone has a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED full-screen. It has 8GB of RAM coupled with 128GB internal storage which is expandable with a microSD card. The dice is powered by 2.2GHz MediaTek Helio P95 octa-core processor. 

Product Features

• Rear Camera - 64MP+13MP+8MP+2MP quad camera with 

• Camera Features - 20x digital zoom, ultra-dark mode, macro shot, ultra-wide angle, dual-lens bokeh

• Front Camera - 44MP+2MP dual punch hole 

• Screen - 16.3 centimetres (6.4-inch) Super AMOLED full-screen 

• RAM - 8GB 

• Storage - 128GB internal memory expandable up to 256GB 

• Operating System - Android v10 based on Color OS 7.0 

• Processor - 2.2GHz MediaTek Helio P95 octa-core processor

• Battery - 4025mAH lithium-polymer battery

• Price - Rs. 29,990

 

2. Honor 20 - 32MP Front camera

The selfie smartphone has a 32MP front camera. While the rear camera includes 48MP + 16MP + 2MP + 2MP sensors. It comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage. The device is powered by 2.6GHz Huawei Kirin 980 Octa-pore processor. Honor 20 has a 6.26-inch FHD+ all-view display. The device is run by a 3750mAh lithium-polymer battery. The selfie-centric smartphone is priced at Rs. 21,990.

Product Features

• Rear Camera - 48MP+16MP+2MP+2MP AI quad rear camera

• Additional Camera Features - wide-angle lens, depth assist lens and macro lens

• Front Camera - 32MP front camera

• Screen - 15.90 centimetres (6.26 inch) FHD+ all-view display, 

• RAM - 6GB 

• Storage - 128GB internal memory

• Operating System - Android v9+Magic 2.1.0

• Processor - 2.6GHz Huawei Kirin 980 octa core processor

• Battery - 3750mAH lithium-polymer battery

• Price - Rs. 21,990

 

3. Redmi K20 - 20MP Front Facing Camera 

It is the new flagship device of Xiaomi in India. It has a 20MP front-facing camera. The triple rear camera set-up includes 48MP + 13MP + 8MP sensors. Redmi K20 is powered by 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 Octa-core processor. The 6GB RAM and 64GB storage variant of Redmi K20 is priced at Rs. 19,999. Redmi K20 is run by a 4000mAh lithium-polymer battery. 

Product Features

• Rear Camera - 48+13+8MP triple primary camera setup

• Front Camera - 20MP front-facing camera

• Screen - 16.23 centimetres (6.39-inch) AMOLED capacitive touchscreen

• RAM - 6GB RAM

• Internal Storage - 64GB storage

• Operating System - Android v9 Pie operating system 

• Processor - 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 Octa-core processor

• Battery - 4000mAH lithium-polymer battery

• Price - Rs. 19,999

 

4. Asus 6Z - 48MP + 13MP Dual Front Camera 

Asus 6Z has a 48MP + 13MP dual flip front camera. The device is powered by Qualcomm SD 835 Processor. You get a 6.39-inch full HD+ display. It comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage. The storage is expandable up to 2TB. You get 5000mAh battery in this camera-centric smartphone of Asus. 

Product Features

• RAM - 6 GB RAM 

• Storage - 64 GB ROM with Expandable Upto 2 TB

• Screen - 16.23 cm (6.39 inch) Full HD+ Display

• Rear Camera - 48MP + 13MP 

• Front Camera - 48MP + 13MP Dual Flip Front Camera

• Battery - 5000 mAh Battery

• Processor - Qualcomm SD 855 Processor

• Price - Rs. 23,999

 

5. Vivo V17 Pro - 32MP+8MP front camera

Vivo V17pro comes with a dual 32MP + 8MP front camera. While the rear camera setup include 48MP + 13MP + 8MP + 2MP sensors. It comes with a 6.44-inch sAMOLED FHD+ display. It has 8GB of RAM coupled with 128GB internal storage. The 4100 mAh battery supports 18W dual engine fast charging. Vivo V17 Pro is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 675AIE octa-core processor. 

Product Features

• Front Camera - 8+13+8+2MP quad rear camera 

• Front Camera - 32MP+8MP 

• Screen - 16.36 centimeters (6.44 inch) sAMOLED FHD+ display 

• RAM - 8GB RAM

• Storage - 128GB internal memory

• Operating System - Android v9 based on OS 9.1 

• Processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 675AIE octa core processor

• Battery - 4100mAH lithium-ion battery with support for 18W dual-engine fast charging

• Price - Rs. 25,990

 

d) Flagship smartphones

The flagship smartphones have high-quality OLED displays, wonderful build quality, and latest processors. They are also very expensive, especially targeted at users for which budget is not a constraint. The flagship smartphones are turning into virtual powerhouses. Flagship smartphones are a combination of best hardware, display, specs. and camera. 

1. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. It comes triple rear camera system with 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto sensors. On the front side, it has a 12MP true depth selfie camera. The device is powered by A13 Bionic chip with third-generation neural engine. The device is water and dust resistant as well. It comes with an IP68 rating. 

Product Features

• Display - 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display

• Water and dust resistant (4 meters for up to 30 minutes, IP68)

• Rear Camera - Triple-camera system with 12MP Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras; 

• Additional Camera features - Night mode, Portrait mode, and 4K video up to 60fps

• Front Camera - 12MP TrueDepth front Camera with Portrait Mode, 4K video, and Slo-Mo

• Security Features - Face ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay

• Processor - A13 Bionic chip with third-generation Neural Engine

• Charger - Fast charge with 18W adapter included

• Price - Rs. 1,09,900

2. Samsung Galaxy S20 +

• Quad rear camera - 64MP OIS F2.0 tele camera + 12MP F2.2 ultra wide + 12MP (2PD) OIS F1.8 wide + VGA depth camera

• Front Camera - 10MP (2PD) OIS F2.2 front punch hole camera | rear LED flash

• Display - 16.95 centimeters (6.7-inch) dynamic AMOLED display

• RAM - 8GB RAM 

• Storage - 128GB internal memory expandable up to 1TB

• Operating System - Android v10.0 operating system with 2.73GHz+2.5GHz+2GHz Exynos 990 octa core processor

• Battery - 4500mAH (non-removable) lithium-ion battery

• Security Features - Face-unlock & fingerprint sensor

• Price - Rs. 73,999

 

3. Apple iPhone 11

• Screen - 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD LCD

• Special Features - Water and dust resistant (2 meters for up to 30 minutes, IP68)

• Rear Camera - Dual-camera system with 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide cameras

• Special Features - Night mode, Portrait mode, and 4K video up to 60fps

• Rear Camera - 12MP TrueDepth front camera with Portrait mode, 4K video, and Slo-Mo

• Security Features - Face ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay

• Processor - A13 Bionic chip with third-generation Neural Engine

• Price - Rs. 64,900 

4. OnePlus 7T Pro

• Rear Camera 48+8+16MP triple rear camera with telephoto lens + ultra wide angle lens 

• Camera Features - Nightscape, portrait, pro mode, panorama, HDR, AI scene detection, RAW image

• Screen - 16.94 centimetres (6.67 inch) 90Hz fluid display

• Memory - 8GB RAM & 256GB internal memory

• Operating System - Oxygen OS based on Android v10 

• Processor - 2.96GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus AI Engine octa-core, 7nm processor, Adreno 640

• Battery - 4085mAH lithium-ion battery

• Price - Rs. 53,999

 

5. Huawei P30 Pro

• Screen - 16.43 Display

• Rear Camera - 40MP + 20MP + 8MP

• Battery - 4200mAh Battery

• RAM - 8GB

• Storage - 256GB ROM With expandable up to 256GB

• Processor - Kirin 980 Octa-Core processor

• Price - Rs. 58,900

Samsung S20 series is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 and 12GB RAM. It is available in 128GB to 512GB storage options. The S20 has three rear cameras, IP68 rating, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5. 

Gaming Phones 

The gaming phone market has emerged in the last few years. This category of smartphones come with a particular set of specs. Gaming smartphones can handle every game with ease. The display and battery life is also great.

They deliver better gaming experience than other phones. Some of the factors you should consider include chipset, RAM, Display, and battery.

To provide a superior experience, the top gaming smartphones also come with advanced cooling technology. Today, we even the most affordable come with support for top games such as PUBG, Call of Duty and Fortnite. However, if you are looking for specialized gaming smartphones then you can consider options such as Xiaomi Black Shark 2 and Asus ROG Phone 2. 

Factors responsible for Smartphone performance

S.No.	Factors	Role
1	Processor	For higher performance
2	RAM	For running apps in memory
3	Storage	For storing games, apps, movies, etc

 

Classification of Smartphones based on Screen Size

S.No.	Aspect Ratio	Screen size	Type	Ideal for
1	16:9	5.5 inch	Small and light phones	For basic use
2	18:9	5.5 - 6.3 inch	Bezel-less/ Notch display	For playing games, watching movies, etc. The most common screen size.
3	19:9	6.3 inch & above	Bezel-less/ Notch display	Heavier and very expensive.

 

Smartphones Based on Screen Resolution

S.No.	Resolution	Advantage
1	HD	Basic 720x1280 pixels display. Doesn’t provide good viewing experience.
2	FullHD (FHD)	1080x1920 pixels. It provides a better screen experience.
3	QuadHD (QHD)	1440x2560 pixels. Best display For smartphones.

 

Smartphones Based on Camera Set-up

S.No.	Number of cameras	Details
1	Dual Camera	Different combinations of the lens are available.
2	Triple Camera	Zoom, wide-angle and black and white sensor for artistic pictures
3	Quad Camera	Zoom, ultrawide, and regular lens; the fourth camera is usually a depth sensor or macro-lens.

 

Smartphones Based on Charging Technology

Normal Charging	Fast Charging	Wireless Charging
Most common type of battery charging technique.  It takes around 3-4 hours to charge the battery.	Quickly charges the battery from 0-100%. It usually takes less than an hour.	Charging is slow. It is convenient. It is considered the future of smartphone charging technology.

Tips for Buying Refurbished Smartphones

If you are planning to buy a smartphone on a budget, then you may want to buy a refurbished smartphone instead of a new one. However, buying a refurbished smartphone is a bit tricky. You cannot just  go and make a random purchase without even checking the condition of the old phone thoroughly. 

You might get a used smartphone without any scratches on it, but you have no clue that maybe its internal hardware issues. That's why it's really important for you to avoid this kind of smartphone for your own good.

Most people think that used smartphones are not good enough. Well, the truth is, some of this type of smartphone still works just as great as a new one. So it's irrelevant anymore to say that the quality of second-hand smartphones will be that horrible.

Well, if you have made the final decision and are perfectly sure that this is the right time for you to buy your first ever used smartphone, then these are 15 useful tips that hopefully can be your first guidance every time you're planning to buy used smartphones in the future.

1. Run a Quick Scan on the Case Cover

The first thing to notice from a smartphone is definitely its case cover. Therefore, every time you meet some used smartphones on any store, make sure that you always run a thorough scan of the device. Try to see if the device has any physical defect or scratch around the body of that device. This must be done in order to know more about what that device has been through in the past when it was still used by the previous owners.

2. Make Sure that the Case Cover is Original

Used smartphones are usually plagued with the perception that their case covers will tell you the whole thing about their condition. Well, that is so wrong. You cannot judge the overall quality of used smartphones just by looking at how glossy its chassis or how flawless its screen. There is a huge possibility that the seller already covers them up with some new 3rd party case covers that obviously will make them look like new phones, right?

3. Test the Sound Quality of the Speaker

Making a phone call is the reason why the cell phone is invented in the first place. Without it, your phone shouldn't be called as a phone. That's why, if this feature doesn't work properly, then your used phone will be useless in the future. So it's also really important to always run the test of this feature by making a random call on other devices and hear if there is something wrong with its sound quality, signal or its loudspeaker.

4. Make Sure the Physical Buttons Work Perfectly

Physical buttons always become the fragile element on any smartphone that tends to be damaged easily if they have been pressed so many times by the owners. That's why, when checking out any used smartphone on the store, always make sure that all the physical buttons, remember, all of them, can work perfectly, without any hiccup. The best thing to do that is by pressing each physical button over and over again. If you see that there is any button that gives a weak or delay response (sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't) or even doesn't work at all when you press it, then the best

5. Check the Screen Sensitivity 

The next thing to check from a used smartphone is the screen surface and the sensitivity of its User Interface. In this process, always run a thorough scan if there is any scratch around the screen and make sure that the touch screen still works perfectly. Test the touch response from each corner of the screen until the middle area. Do some mixed and random gestures on the screen over and over again, from:

5. Check Colors Reproduction on the Screen

Besides its sensitivity, the other important thing to check on the screen is the display. Usually, used smartphones have been dropped for several times by the previous owners. Therefore, it's really important for you to see the whole area on the screen to check if there is any glitch or weird line on color reproduction around the screen. If you see any of these, then the screen is not fine.

6. Check Battery Condition

There is no doubt that battery is one of the most important elements in smartphones. Most touch screen phones, even the new iPhone, have weak battery life (with the exception of Samsung or Motorola flagships of course). Therefore, it's really crucial to always run a test on this sector every time you want to buy used smartphones. To name of few, you can do things like playing high-performance 3D games or watching movies/videos to make sure that the battery is still in pretty good condition, if not great. If the battery drains pretty quickly even when you just open the photos or listen to some songs (which are not really energy-consuming activities), then there is something wrong with the battery.

 

Top Smartphones Features 

 

 

How much RAM is Sufficient for a Smartphone?

In the early days, smartphones had 512MB or 1GB RAM. Nowadays, a minimum of 3GB to 4GB RAM is the minimum that people expect in a smartphone. RAM is an essential hardware component of your smartphone. More RAM has made smartphones perform better. 

Most basic smartphones with 2GB or 3GB RAM can easily handle apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or Amazon. For multitasking, you should look for a smartphone with around 6GB RAM. For extreme use, you can go for a smartphone with 8GB RAM. If you are not much of a heavy user, there is no point paying for extra RAM. 

How Much Storage Do I need?

Different users have varied kinds of requirements. There has been a tremendous evolution in the mobile phone industry. Smartphone brands are offering devices with 8GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB internal storage. The devices with 8GB internal storage are the most basic ones.

 In the mid-price segment, 32GB of storage is the norm. A part of the storage is also taken up by the OS and bloatware. If you are buying a smartphone with 32GB storage make sure it has expandable memory. You can expand the storage using a microSD card. Also, check the maximum expandable storage allowed in the smartphone

Typically a smartphone with 32GB storage can store

• 400 photos

• 20 minutes of video

• 400 music tracks

• 80 apps

• 5 movies

What is IP Rating in Smartphones?

IP stands for Ingress Protection rating. It is basically followed by one or two digits. There are generally two ratings IP67 and IP68. The standards are set by the International Electrotechnical Commission. The rating code represents the degree of protection against entry of solid objects such as dust. The second digit is for protection against entry of moisture. The first digit ranges from 0 to 6. While the second digit ranges from 0 to 8. 

 

Tips when Buying a New Smartphone

You should do research on the product and the brand. Make sure your smartphone is covered by a full manufacturer warranty. You can also check the company customer service page. Also check the delivery and return policy of the retailer. Try to find an email address and contact number of the customer support.

To check the quality of customer service Call or email the company in advance. You can try asking a question to check the responsive to customer queries. In addition to that you can search for reviews of the brand online, The customer review can often be quite revealing.

How Useful are the Mobile Phone Reviews?

There are various tech experts which post detailed smartphones reviews on YouTube. The reviews provide details about most features. You can easily have a general overview by watching the smartphone video reviews online. It is better to watch 2-3 reviews to develop an idea about the smartphone performance. In addition to that you can read customer reviews on sites such as Amazon and Flipkart. It is about gathering as much information as you can before spending your hard earned money.

 

 

Conclusion

Buying a smartphone is a very thoughtful decision. The buyer needs to consider every aspect from budget to screen to performance and storage. Each factor is very critical in your buying decision. It is also important to look at the available options for your budget and make your decision acordingly. You also need to coniser the upcoming smartphones that are coming to market in the near future. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Which phone should I buy in 2021?

Your selection of phone depends on your budget. And also you may need to decide whether you want an iOS or Android device. Huawei P30 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10+, and Apple iPhone 11 are some of the selling smartphones.

What is the maximum RAM available in smartphones?

Select smartphone models are available with up to 12GB RAM. The manufacturers are providing more and more RAM in smartphones. 

Which phone has the maximum RAM?

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, One Plus Pro, Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and Asus ROG Phone 2 are some of the devices available in the market with maximum RAM.

How much battery do I need for one Day?

It depends on your usage. Ideally, a 4000mAh battery is enough to last for a complete day even for a person with heavy usage. 

Which is the best phone under Rs. 15,000?

Redmi Note 9 Pro and Realme 6 pro are few of the best devices that are available under the budget of Rs. 15,000. 

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