Are the latest phones really worth the cost, or should you go for a cheaper option?
Despite some models costing a small fortune, mobile phones are worryingly disposable these days, with many users opting to upgrade their handsets annually in favour of the newest models. Some phones quickly become obsolete, lacking in essential features, while others may suffer from malfunctions. You may simply have the option of upgrading to a new handset via your carrier's contract and want to keep up to date. Whatever the reason for an upgrade, the mobile phone is one of the most disposable pieces of technology around, and the market is constantly changing, with new models replacing old mere months after launch.
This leads to a lot of pondering. What’s the best phone for you? Is that latest model really worth it? Would it be worth switching to a new OS? These are just a few of the questions people have when making the decision, and these can lead to buyer's remorse, which isn't good if you've just spent a few hundred pounds.
In an effort to help you avoid this, we're going to take a look at the considerations needed when buying a new mobile phone, as well as a brief run-down of some of the best phones in a range of budgets.
Contractually Obliged
Whether you're buying a brand new phone or you're on an existing contract, the first thing you need to ask yourself is what kind of deal you want and whether or not you want to stay on the same tariff. If you're choosing to upgrade your phone through your existing supplier, this decision will be made for you, as you'll need to remain with your current supplier for the most part, lest you break your contract and incur a fee. If you're looking for a new supplier, however, your possible options are varied.
At the most basic level you have three choices. You can opt for a contract, you can pick the non-committal pay-as-you-go route or you can go for a SIM-free plan, buying the phone outright so you can use your current SIM, should you be out of contract with your current provider. There's no best option here, and it all depends on your usage and budget.
Contract deals are arguably the most attractive, mainly because they come with a shiny new phone, often the latest models, and you have plenty of minutes and data to play with (although this varies depending on supplier and deal). The downside is the cost per month, which can be quite high if you opt for the best phones.
This seems to be good value at first, because you're getting a new phone for 'free', but when you look at the cost over the usual 24-month period, it actually works out to be less attractive. A £500 phone may end up costing you £720 over 24 months on a £30-per-month contact. That's quite the price hike, especially when you consider how quickly the value of the phone drops over that 24-month period.
Still, it's not all bad, and you have to take into account that you're also paying for your line rental and data, so that extra cost isn't all wasted, and you do often get the chance to upgrade your phone each year. Just be sure to check this doesn't lock you into another new contract.
Contract deals will always offer you more data and call minutes than other options, as well as a range of other benefits, such as free apps, movie tickets and other perks. Contracts vary, so be sure to shop around and make sure you also check shorter contracts too, because being locked into a 12-month deal is often better than 24, although the monthly cost will usually be higher. Lastly, don't just stick to the big names like Vodafone, EE and 02. Instead, consider the smaller guys, such as Tesco and GiffGaff. These will often have cheaper but still perfectly fine deals, and they can save you a lot of money.
Pay-as-you-go options are very attractive for those who simply don't want to sign up to a contract and don't want to be tied down. There's no lock-in contract, and you're totally in charge of your own destiny here. You top up when you want to, and there’s no control on your use and payments. The downside is the limitation of having to top up your minutes and data, so you can easily run out, and phones are also much more expensive, as you have to buy them outright. You can find special PAYG deals, but few will offer the latest handsets, and even older ones will still cost quite a bit. Many PAYG phone deals are also supplied with vendor-locked phones so, for example, an 02 PAYG deal will give you a phone that's locked to 02. Make note of this, and try to find an unlocked phone deal if you can.
SIM-free handsets are a kind of middle ground. Unlike PAYG phones, this option lets you continue with your current provider, so you keep your minutes and data, as well as your monthly payments, but you're not bound by a contract. You can use whatever phone you want but still enjoy the benefits of a contract, without the pressure. If you want to switch providers at any point, you can.
SIM-only deals will often feature unlocked phones, not bound to a specific vendor, so your choice is a lot more varied. However, like PAYG, phone costs will not be absorbed by a contract, so expect to pay the full price of the phone in one go.
Which OS?
There's a mammoth selection of mobile phones, making your choice quite difficult, but it can be narrowed down by picking what is arguably the most important aspect of your decision and that's the OS.
There are three main options to pick from here, and this decision will greatly affect your choice of phone. These are Android, iOS and Windows. The OS you go for can not only dictate your choice of phone but also your overall experience and how your phone works. It's a very important decision and one that you need to consider carefully.
Android is the most flexible and popular option, and is found on the largest amount of devices. Google's mobile OS has come on in leaps and bounds and now represents what a lot of users consider to be the best all-round choice. It has the largest number of apps and games, it's easy to use, and it's fast.
Android's expansive app collection via Google Play is a big draw, and its wide availability on phones makes it an obvious choice. However, Android can eventually succumb to bloat and become sluggish, and it's often tweaked and messed with by phone vendors who implement their own custom versions of the OS. This can often lead to an Android version that's inferior to others, to the point of being a major flaw. The app store, while packed full of content, is also home to a lot of poor-quality software, due to Google Play's lax quality control.
It's also common for many handsets to be left out in the cold in terms of future Android OS updates, with some phones being unable to update to later versions. Although this happens with other platforms too, it seems to happen more often with Android, so your new phone may become obsolete faster than you expect. This all depends on your phone manufacturer, though, and whether it takes steps to support older hardware.
Apple's iOS is a good operating system, and out of the main choices, this is the easiest and most reliable. It's responsive, highly polished and has arguably the best layout of all. The app store also has a huge amount of software, with a far greater level of quality control, so you're more likely to find decent software. Apple's OS also seems less prone to eventual sluggishness, and although not immune, it's often a lot longer before you need to take action to speed things up again. Apple constantly updates its OS too, and most updates will cater for all models of phone, even older ones.
Sadly, as good as iOS may be, it's also very limited in terms of phone choice. This consists of iPhones and that's it. Yes, Apple devices are the only option you have here, meaning you're going to go for a breed of iPhone and nothing else. The quality of these is good, as we'll explore later, but they're also among the most expensive, and this includes some of the most pricey contracts, meaning this is not an option for those on a tight budget.
The last option is Windows. This may prompt shudders among some who remember previous incarnations of Microsoft's mobile OS, but don't panic, things have got much better. Windows Mobile is now a very good OS and one that's a far cry from its dubious descendants. It's fast, powerful and has a standard, uniform GUI, unlike Android. It's also found on some excellent phones, and although Microsoft's app store pales in comparison to both Google's and Apple's marketplaces, it's growing, and support of software producers is getting better. Windows Mobile also has the benefit of being very well integrated with PC-based Windows and the Xbox, adding a great level of connectivity.
We should mention the fourth possible option and that's BlackBerry. Once a big player in the market, this business-focused platform is a shadow of its former self and, in truth, it's simply not a viable option for most these days. BlackBerry phones just can't keep up with the competition, and the OS just isn't as good as others. For total business use, there are still some application for the platform, and BlackBerry handsets do tend to have great battery life, but for the average user or someone who wants a powerful and flexible phone, it's best to go with another option.
Let's Get Physical
The actual model of phone you go for comes down to your personal preference, as well as what you find comfortable to use. Although mobiles phones started out like breeze blocks and eventually shrank to tiny proportions over the years, the trend of late is reversed. Phones are now getting bigger, mainly to facilitate larger touchscreens and more powerful hardware. The result is devices that come in many sizes. We'd also say shapes, but you'd be hard pushed to find one that isn't flat and rectangular, mostly with the same overall design. Because of this almost uniform appearance, the key selling points are screen size, quality and internal power.
Screen size and quality is important, as it can dictate how useful your phone is. If you struggle to type on a smaller screen or you plan to play a lot of games and watch movies, you'll be wanting a bigger screen. Even using the internet and reading a lot would make this a better option. More screen space means more information and a phone that's easier to use. It does mean it's more awkward to hold, though, with the bigger models being less than comfortable as actual phones. In fact, some of the larger phones, such as Samsung's Galaxy range, are more like mini tablets, so large are their screens.
A smaller phone would probably be best for those who use their phones more often as actual phones and don't spend as much time online or playing games. They're also better for kids, although the limited size usually means less power, and the smaller screen can make it harder to work with some software. Smaller does usually mean cheaper too, though, so you can also save money.
In terms of power, again it's all about everyday use. If you want to run a lot of games and apps, they'll demand more power, so you'll want a phone with a better CPU, more memory and more storage. Ideally, pick a phone that has optional SD card support, so you can easily augment your amount of storage. You'll need decent power, regardless, so if possible, spend a little extra, as this will make the phone easier to use, with less sluggishness.
3G phones are still popular, but ideally you want one that supports 4G. This should offer at least twice the average speed of 3G and, even if you don't currently have or plan to get a 4G supplier, you'll have the option should you change your mind. It's not essential by any means, but it's worth considering in your deliberations.
Finally, get a phone with a removable battery if you can. Some otherwise great phones don't have this, so it can be something to compromise on, but a phone with a removable battery is always going to be better in terms of possible breakdowns or battery failure. You can easily replace a faulty battery, but it's much harder and often inconvenient having to send your whole phone away to be repaired, not to mention more expensive. At the very least, should your phone lock up, popping out the battery to reset it can work wonders. Models without removable batteries have no such option.