Choosing A New Smartphone in the Experience Age
In the last two decades we have reaped the benefits of the Digital Age, which brought the Internet and computing to the desktop making the world a data driven economy. That ushered in the Information Age which made mobile computing possible with access to your data from anywhere with the emergence of cloud services and wireless networks. Now we are in the Experience Age, where information has become necessary to bring consumers a better UX (user experience) with core innovations that were the result of the data gathered from the Information Age. Data gathered about users by Big Business allowed data scientists to provide insights to vendors on how products were used and which features were popular. Other insights allowed vendors to provide data to marketing firms to target consumers with ads. It was now about the best way to provide service to customers to give them the best experience so that Big Business can build brand loyalty. This allows vendors to learn things about their customers and in the case of smartphones, build features that will be useful. This has led to many changes in the way we use devices in our every day life. With the Experience Age, choosing a smartphone has become more difficult than ever with the many brands competing. It is not just about the brand, it is about the features and there are now new things to consider when choosing the right smartphone.
In the past it was simple enough. A phone was a simple analog device used to make voice calls. The Digital Age paved the way for integrating microprocessors into mobile phones, making them basically a handheld computer. Then it evolved into simple text messaging SMS with address books, contact manager and speed dialer as a digital device. Devices called PDA’s provided the features for the first generation of intelligent phones. Soon the top vendors like Nokia, Blackberry and Motorola were building high end phones which can send and receive e-mail with a colored screen. They were fine, if you can tolerate tiny low resolution screens and clunky devices. The first great innovation in mobile phones was the introduction of the iPhone. The iPhone introduced a slimmer form factor, with touchscreen glass and quality build aluminum enclosure body. It was also able to display a better screen for browsing the Internet and advanced messaging capabilities. Consumers loved it for the look, feel and features. That was when the word smartphone became the norm and this suddenly led to so many new capabilities that it led to disruption in the telecommunications industry with Apple taking the helm. The Information Age then made mobile phones more intelligent and interconnected with carriers providing data service since vendors could now manufacture phones with modems on a chip. With all these new features, vendors were getting feedback about their smartphones and now they were interested in getting insights on how customers were using their products.
I have narrowed down the considerations for a smartphone in the Experience Age to 4 things:
- Form Factor
- Features
- Reliability
- Budget
Form factor is about the build quality and size of the smartphone. Obviously this also includes design aesthetics for some users, who may consider looks first. It’s not just the look, but it is also about the feel. How comfortable is the device in your hand? Can you operate the smartphone with one hand? Considering the size of the phone depends on whether you want a large screen display or something that can easily fit in your pocket. Vendors have learned that many consumers are now using their smartphones as their primary device to access the Internet rather than a desktop computer or laptop. Thus the form factor has increased in screen size so users can see more on the display. Another trend is that more users are watching streaming video, whether YouTube or Netflix, on their phones. It has also become popular for playing all types of games. Those who want their smartphone for use as an entertainment or media device need large screens. Gamers would prefer a size which easily fits in their hand. The trend now is edge to edge displays with less bezels which make more room for viewing more content. Thus considering the form factor you want depends on the size, feel and comfort.
Features are of course the selling point that advertisers use to get you to buy their product. The use of all sorts of technical jargon even makes the phone more marketable because of claims it is the latest and greatest technology available. That is true for the next few months until a new smartphone arrives. Thus when considering features, make sure you choose something that will meet your immediate needs as well as the near future. Features are provided either by the vendor or from the OS (Android, iOS). The things to consider in terms of features are display, storage, memory, processor, camera, Internet speed and basic mobile services that your carrier can provide on the phone. If you like viewing high end content from the web, you will probably need a high end OLED display with Quad HD resolution. If you use your smartphone for shooting video, consider a camera that can shoot in 4K at 60 fps. If you often use your smartphone for taking pictures, you would want a high resolution camera that is 12 MP or higher. Storage on many smartphones can be done on cloud services now, but there are still users who prefer an SD card. Storage capacity may also be important for users who will be using the phone to store many files from video, photos and downloaded files. Storage is also used when installing apps on the phone, so if you are frequently downloading apps you need plenty of storage. Memory has evolved to make smartphones faster, so having more is better. It is the processor on smartphones that provide them many capabilities, so they are the brains behind the smartphone. The processor type is dependent on the vendor and smartphone model, so choosing the processor is more brand specific and not something you can install on just any phone. If you are a fan of a particular processor or SoC, then you would have to buy the phone that processor uses. If you are looking for all the best features a vendor can provide, it is called the the “flagship” and it is the most high end model the vendor provides. Consider also how you interact with your phone. Do you need voice command assistant features? How about handicap support for disabilities? Those features can be useful since it makes life a lot more easier. If you are looking for fast Internet speeds, make sure your phone supports a minimum 3G standard for basic Internet speed. Phones that offer the highest speeds support 4G LTE networks and higher, so do make sure your phone has that feature.
Vendors are also incorporating AI now to make your smartphone experience more intelligent, whether with a digital assistant or built in function. AR/VR/MR features are also making phones more immersive for both entertainment and educational purposes. Another important feature to look at is whether the smartphone is compatible with other devices like wireless earphones, printers, synching data with other computers, connectivity to external storage, other bluetooth devices and WiFi. There are other features not discussed, so it is best to look at the specs either on the vendors website or at your local store.
Reliability is often ignored when choosing a smartphone. The IP rating of smartphone gives it’s resistance to water and dirt. An IP68 rating is ideal if you are very much on the go and risk having your phone in dusty environments or falling in water. Higher IP ratings are best to consider. The build quality of the phone is also something that is often not considered. It is better now with gorilla glass screens that are more resistant to shattering and cracking if the phone falls on the ground. More delicate looking phones may not be able to withstand a fall, so do consider if you are clumsy with your phone then you need something with a more durable design. As part of reliability, battery life is very important. Some smartphones don’t advertise how long they last on a single charge. Check the battery capacity which is measured in mAh. The > mAh the longer your battery will last. Most smartphones also have quick charging capabilities, so consider that too. You will benefit from it since quick charging can take your phone from 0% to 50% battery life in 30 minutes. A reliable phone is one that can last you enough time until the next charge, and that requires a high capacity battery. Look at also whether your phone has energy efficiency built in to conserve battery life and prolong your voice calls. If you use your smartphone mostly for data, look at the battery life expectancy and compare that to voice talk time. In terms of reliability, the best phone not only works like a champion, but should have a warranty to back it up in case things go wrong. This agreement is often with the service provider for the phone along with the vendor’s policy. Extended warranty can also be purchased, so if you are really concerned about your phone not having any downtime that is something to consider.
Now that you know what you need in a smartphone, you go ahead and buy it. Now depending on your budget, the smartphone you buy will come at a cost you pay for the device and also the service provider (T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon). Often you pay less if you lock down a contract agreement. Otherwise prepare your budget for the type of smartphone you want to purchase. There are entry level phones that provide certain features at an affordable budget. Next step up are the medium level phones that most users would be good with in regards to the price and performance. If you have enough money to burn, and you want the best features, the flagship is the best choice but also the most expensive. The best deal to choose is if you have an option to upgrade your phone with a service renewal after a contract ends, without paying the full price for the next new model.
Vendors now design smartphones with more than just the best features, they now have the consumer in mind. They want to give you every bang for the buck with their brand, since this will make you consider them for future purchases. It makes sense if you look at the objective which is to satisfy customers. Sometimes users get a bad experience, but it is not the smartphone vendor at fault. It is often times the service provider or carrier who disappoints with poor telecom service. Slow Internet speeds and dropped voice calls is more a problem inherent in the carrier’s network and not the smartphone. Choosing the best carrier also depends on your location, so it is better if you have many choices for telecom service. They are competing to provide you the best service, so choose the one who has the best track record. Finally, choose the smartphone you know will satisfy you and provide the best experience.
