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Buying a phone can be daunting, with so many options available at various price points. You also need to decide the key specs that are important for you. To help make that decision easier, I’ll share the smartphone specs I always prioritize when buying a new phone.
1 Display Size and Refresh Rate
Display size is the number one factor I consider when buying a new smartphone. I won’t buy a device with a screen bigger than 6.7 inches, as I find that too big and difficult to handle in daily use. This makes phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max a non-starter for me. The Galaxy S24 Plus we reviewed works because it houses a 6.7-inch panel with rounded corners, making it easy to handle.
There’s more to a display than just its size, though. The refresh rate also plays a key role. Almost all mid-range and flagship phones in the Android world now sport a 120Hz or higher refresh rate screen. In comparison, only the iPhone Pro models ship with 120Hz displays.
The problem is once you get used to a phone with a 120Hz screen, there’s no going back, as you can’t unsee the smoothness. So, even though the iPhone 16 might be better than many premium Android phones, I would still pick one from the latter for the higher refresh rate display.
2 Battery Life
There’s no point in owning a phone if it can’t make it through a day’s use. I use my phone to stay on top of my email accounts and Slack groups. It also helps me keep tabs on what my friends are up to through Instagram and Snapchat. This is even more important when traveling, as I use Google Maps to help navigate and find places to explore in a new city.
Given that I’m a power user, I always prioritize battery life over other critical aspects of a phone. But battery life alone is not everything. A phone should also charge quickly.
This is why I prefer the OnePlus 12 over the Pixel 9 Pro XL. While both phones deliver great battery life, the former supports 80W wired fast charging, which allows me to top up its battery to 100 percent in just over 30 minutes.
3 Processor
You might not pay much heed to your phone’s processor, but it makes a key difference in the long run. A sub-par CPU can cause your phone to overheat frequently, quickly drain its battery, or lead to performance issues while under heavy use.
An SoC also plays a key role in determining how long a phone will get updates. This is even more important now with the advent of AI. You would not want to buy a phone with an old chipset, even if it’s an attractive package overall.
For example, the iPhone 15 seemed like a complete package when it launched in 2023. While the A16 Bionic is still among the most powerful mobile SoCs in 2024, it unfortunately lacks Apple Intelligence support.
So, when buying a new phone or recommending one to others, I always prioritize the device featuring a newer processor.
4 Camera Hardware
Since I frequently take pictures using my smartphone, I always prioritize a great camera setup. It’s not always about raw specs, though, as the final image processing also plays a key role.
For example, the Galaxy S24 Ultra sports a more versatile rear camera setup than the iPhone 16 Pro. However, the latter is a more reliable point-and-click shooter, with the Samsung flagship struggling to capture moving objects due to its slow shutter speed.
The iPhone is also better at capturing videos with more details and less noise despite not packing camera sensors as big as many of its Chinese rivals. You can even tweak some iPhone camera settings to boost the video quality further.
Besides camera specs, modern iPhones can take better pictures in social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat. Since my wife is a heavy Instagram user, she always gets an iPhone, even if Android phones are available in the same price range with better camera hardware.
I value image quality more and don’t mind getting my hands dirty with the camera settings, so I prefer flagship Android phones despite their inferior video recording performance.
5 Modem
You might not pay much attention to the modem or baseband of the phone you plan to buy. But after years of using phones from several brands and with different chipsets, I’ve realized that a good modem is equally important.
The modem handles all the network communication on the phone; a poor modem can lead to connectivity issues like call drops or spotty coverage. Worse, it can lead to excessive battery drain, affecting a phone’s overall runtime.
For this reason, I avoid buying Google Pixel and Samsung phones that use an Exynos chip. These SoCs are paired with an Exynos modem, and their performance is typically inferior to Qualcomm’s offerings. You’ll find plenty of call drops and network connectivity complaints from Pixel users on the internet, as reported by Android Police.
The Pixel 9 seems to be better, thanks to its newer Exynos 5400 modem. However, I’d still prefer a phone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon modem based on my experience with the Pixel 7, Pixel 8, and older Galaxy phones with an Exynos baseband.
Depending on your use case, you may prioritize a phone with a bigger battery life and larger display over one with a better camera setup. However, as long as you consider the specs mentioned above, you will be more than happy with your smartphone purchase.
