Choosing a new phone is never easy which is why most of us turn to our friends for advice. The problem with that is that our friends have their own preferred brands and their own needs when it comes to a phone, none of which might match up to what you need from your phone.

Going to a store isn’t necessarily any better as the sales people who are meant to help you make the right choice to meet your needs, usually end up pushing phones that will help them meet their sales targets.

Here are 6 tips to help you figure out which phone to buy:

  • iOS is all about ease of use while Android gives you more choice
    • If you can’t decide between iOS and Android, choose an iPhone if you want something that’s easy to use. It also gets the latest apps first and regularly gets the latest software updates.
    • If you’re after choice and more affordable options, then Android is the way to go.
  • Don’t pay more than you need to
    • Flagship phones like the Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8 usually fall in the R13 000 – R15 000 price range. Thanks to the advancements in technology, you can get a great mid-range phone for under R4000.
  • Get the right screen size
    • Phones displays have gotten bigger, which is great if like to watch a lot of videos on the go, play games or take advantage of Android’s split screen view. If one-handed use is important to you, then you could take a look at phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 or LG V30+ which fit large displays (over 5.5 inches) into smaller bodies, or you could get a phone with a smaller display.
  • Display resolution isn’t everything
    • Some phones have a 4K screen, which is nice but let’s be honest, it’s overkill. How bright and colourful the display panel is, is far more important as it determines how easily you’ll be able to do things like see outdoors.  Some of the latest flagship smartphones also have HDR for showcasing even more colours.
  • Camera is more than megapixels
    • Camera has become one of the most important features on a smartphone. While many people might tell you to check how many megapixels there are on the camera, what you should be paying attention to are specs such as aperture (the lower numbers are better) and features such as dual-lenses and OIS (optical image stabilisation).
  • Get at least 32GB of storage
    • Phones with 16GB on-board storage aren’t worth buying even if they’re mid-range devices. If you can, get one with at least 32GB on-board storage if you can. The new minimum default storage size for most phones is 64GB. Some Android phones have an SD card slot – which is great for expanding storage – but it’s not an option on every Android device.