As exciting as it can be to get your hands on a new mobile system, the abundance of choice can complicate the experience. With the tech world evolving so quickly, the flood of new components, abbreviations, and advertising means it’s difficult to keep up. The difference of just a few features can end up costing hundreds, and if it’s something you’ll never use, then you’re just throwing money down the drain. Of course, knowing exactly what you need means determining what you intend to use your system for. With that in mind, we want to look at a typical use-case scenario, to determine what difference the big features could mean for you.
The Target of Most Users
Though some mobile users push their mobiles to the max, most people will use their systems for basic browsing, interactivity, and video streaming. For an example of websites that encapsulate these concepts, consider how online slot games work. Titles on these websites like Big Fishing and Twistar are cutting-edge, but since they’re designed for mobiles, their requirements are low. The same is said for the website itself, and other sections of the service like live games, which stream video. On these services, the average users will experience everything they would in general mobile use, except for photos and videos. Speaking of…
Media Makers
If you’re a fan of taking simple movies and pictures, then any modern mobile will likely be good enough to deliver what you want. Phone cameras have come a long way in recent years, where high-megapixel snaps and detailed video are just another part of the game. That said, if you want to go above and beyond with ultra-high def or slow motion, then you’ll want to look at premium devices. If these concepts don’t matter to you, then you’ll be saving money.
Resolution and Video Output
Resolution for TVs and computer monitors is important, but it’s not a feature that’s quite as necessary on a small mobile screen. If you’re browsing, watching videos, or playing slots, there isn’t a major advantage to going over a 1080p resolution. While some phones can offer much higher resolutions, it’s difficult to notice this detail on a small screen, so it can be overlooked.
The same can be said for video output speed, measured in Hz. 60 Hz is the general standard at which movement and swiping become smooth, and while it can be possible to go over 100 Hz with some phones, most users won’t notice the difference. Factor in that most videos are 30 Hz, and going further than 60 is even less necessary.
Storage Space
Permanent storage on phones is separated into internal and removable methods. In general terms, it is much cheaper to buy a phone and add a huge removable memory card than it is to purchase a phone with a lot of internal memory space. The caveat here is that removable storage is less secure, and it sometimes can’t be used to install apps, so those who install many apps or keep private files will need to keep this in mind.
“This Generation’s Floppy Disks” (CC BY 2.0) by kaeru.my
Aside from these basic functions, performance is the final concern you’ll need to investigate. Though RAM and processor speed are important in this respect, these can still be complicated, to the point where tech reviews on systems and benchmarks can be the best way to ensure you get what you need. With all this in mind, you’ll be far better off finding a choice out there that makes you happy, whether watching YouTube, playing slots, or just chatting with friends.
