Mobile phones with today’s technology are struggling to keep up with just how much we use them and therefore they can very quickly become of little use to us in our daily lives. So whether you’re on a contract or have a pay as you go phone, when it finally gives up, you need to get yourself a new one. But with some many out there, where do you start? Here’s a helpful guide for picking out your next mobile phone.

How Much Do You Want To Spend?

Firstly you need to decide on your budget and how much you are willing to spend. If it’s a sim card only deal then you’ll choose the amount you pay per month – depending on minutes, data, etc – but you then, have to buy the phone. And phones to buy outright nowadays aren’t cheap. For example, the latest in Apple iPhones to come out was the iPhone X which costs a whopping £1,200. So unless you have that money just lying around that you’re able to spend, you might want to think about what’s most affordable for your purse.

With contract offers, it again goes up or down depending on the requirements you have for the phone itself and what you want in terms of data, minutes and storage space. You want to consider what length of contract you want too. Most are usually 24 months, which spreads out the cost than compared to a 12 month one. If you keep on top of all the technological advancements with phones, you might not want to tie yourself down to a longer contract, although some networks may offer early upgrades for a fee.

One more thing to consider is the upfront cost when it comes to contract deals. The more you pay upfront, the lower your monthly rate will be, which is useful if you don’t want to be spending £50 to £60 a month.

What Do You Require From The Phone?

Everyone is different when it comes to their phone. Some use it for merely getting from A to B, some use it for business and work, while others just spend their time on social media and chatting to friends or family. You want to think about what you require from a phone before walking into a phone shop because they’ll recommend what they would choose based on your requirements.

Now that social media platforms are pretty much a feature on most people’s phones, messaging on your mobile network has become pretty much obsolete, and in some cases so too with calls. So you may think about getting a contract with more data and therefore a phone that has bigger storage to cater for all your apps. If you love taking photos, you’ll want a camera that takes great quality snaps so compare the cameras that come with the phones because some are much better than others.

There’s also quite a bit of competition between what operating systems phones use, and that could be something that’s important to you. iOS is used by iPhone and Android is used with Sony and Samsung. Windows is also another newer operating system for phones, although they aren’t as popular. Each one of them has different pros and cons, so consider these when picking your requirements.

• iOS – There are a lot more companies that provide apps for this operating software, and the interface is very easy to understand. It also will link up with any other Apple devices you have. The cons for the iOS are that the iPhones that use them can be pretty pricey. Apple also has a very quick turnover in models of the iPhone so you could find that in a year or two, your phone is 3 or 4 models behind the latest.

 

• Android – Again like the iOS, it’s easy to use and link up with Android devices. But it’s a little more restrictive on apps, particularly with newer brands opting to go with iOS. However, living under its competitors’ shadow, Google is trying very much to develop the Android system and the apps to become just as popular, if not more than Apple.

• Windows – It’s the less popular than the other two, but that makes the phones more affordable which is great if you’re on a budget. Sadly though, there are less apps, but the major ones like Google Maps and Facebook are on there.

 

Which Brand Is Better?

There are also so many brands to consider when it comes to picking out the phone. Some customers choose to stick with the same ones but upgrade the model, while others may go from one to another when each contract ends, or the phone doesn’t function anymore. At the end of the day, the requirements you need are more important than the brand, so unless you are someone who likes to be brand-heavy, be a little flexible when it comes to picking the brand.

Protecting Your Phone

Once you have your phone, you want to protect it physically as well as through insurance. Phone insurance may bump up the cost of your monthly outgoings but it’s certainly needed should you ever break or lose your phone. Having an uninsured phone is risky, and unless you have a nice disposable income, it’s not advised.

A phone case is also important to the phone to keep it secure and as safe as possible from accidental drops or knocks. There are plenty of cases that now exist that protect your phone but don’t turn your phone into a brick. Waterproof and shock resistance are two requirements you should look out for when picking a case.

Phones are essential to a lot of people and their lives, so pick one that’s right for you and your needs, not just because it’s the most popular one or because your best friend has it. Know how much you want to spend, do the research and then haggle to get the best deal possible.