Buying a new phone these days can be as tough a decision as buying a new car. There are countless options to choose from within a wide price range, and if you’re not sure what to look for, it can be impossible to know if you’re getting a good deal. If that’s your situation, make sure you’re avoiding these attention-grabbing features that won’t be worth the price tag.
curved screens
If there’s one thing cell phone manufacturers are good at, it’s making product commercials that are so appealing, you know you’ve got to have whatever it is. Curved screens started showing up in the market recently, and the effect is pretty cool. After all, if we like watching movies on curved screens in the theater, why wouldn’t we also enjoy using a curved phone screen for scrolling social media or watching videos?
But there are lots of downsides to this cool new feature. First of all, it’s going to make your display a lot less user-friendly. Imagine trying to click a button that’s curved away from you, or trying to play a game where certain features are hidden on the sides of your screen? Second, your phone screen will be much less durable. Your phone will be easier to drop, and once it’s on the ground, its screen will crack a lot more easily. Of course, if you feel that the downsides are outweighed by how much you enjoy the feature, it’s up to you. But for most users, curved screens are a waste of money.
Rip Off Phone Plans
Once you’ve chosen a phone, your work isn’t done. Choosing a good phone plan is going to ensure that you’re set up for success. After all, what good is a phone without reliable data at a good price? Many first-time phone owners choose to go with prepaid mobile phones, which makes the process a lot simpler. If you’re buying a phone in person, it’s often a good idea to consult the store reps about the best plans to go with your phone model. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions and weigh different options.
High pixel count lens
When perusing the internet for a phone, you’ll probably see many brands boasting about their high pixel-count lenses. You might not know exactly what that means, but you get the general idea that the phone will take better, more high-resolution photos. And because many people use their phones to take pictures now, that’s a pretty appealing spec.
However, you’d be surprised by how low-res some of the pictures taken by high pixel count lenses can appear. For phone cameras, the pixel count doesn’t affect the quality of the photos taken as much as the actual size of the camera lens (or aperture). If you want pictures that have high detail and contrast, then camera size is what you should be looking for, not the pixel count.
Hidden fees and charges
You probably see a lot of commercials and ads for phones that have a flat fee associated with them. If you have this price in mind when weighing options, you might want to dig a little deeper to make sure that’s the real end price of the phone. There are often some hidden fees involved when purchasing a phone, like activation fees, and you may end up wanting insurance or a warranty plan. In addition, there are some phone brands and models that are easy to repair at any local repair shop, while others will essentially have to be replaced if damaged. The true cost of a phone will be some combination of all these costs, rather than the flat fee you pay for the phone itself.
Insufficient Battery Life
Your phone’s battery life is an important feature to know when making a choice. Someone who works from a desk all day and can leave their phone plugged in will have very different battery needs than someone who’s on the go and can only charge their phone occasionally. Ensuring that your phone has the battery life you need will not only save you trouble, it could end up saving your life. Knowing the dos and don’ts of phone buying is going to make your life easier and will likely save a good deal of money as well.
