The 7 biggest mistakes you can make when buying a smartphone
When you’re about to make a smartphone purchase, there are few forces of nature that can hold you back. Still, it’s always good to weigh your options before making a decision. And what are the best tips for purchasing the right smartphone? Let’s go through the things you should avoid.
Don’t trust TV commercials
Right there, during the commercial break of your favorite show, that beautiful device glides through the air. With perfect lighting and a high quality video. It dances in fluttering clouds, there’s a celebrity holding the device in his hand. Commercials, as we all already know, are made to make you feel good and desire what is being shown.
However, the commercial only shows the highlighted functions and the ones that are the best. You don’t get to see what it looks like when it’s full of fingerprints, how it runs with your favorite games and how much battery it consumes. For your purposes, commercials should only serve to let you know that the device exists.
Don’t go by what they say in the store
If you’re a seller, don’t be offended. There are many vendors who understand what they are talking about, who are well-intentioned, and who will really help you choose the best product, but the overwhelmingly vast majority need to hit sales targets, and receive commissions and bonuses if they sell more of a particular brand.
So, you need to be very careful. If someone you know who understands little about technology is about to go make a purchase at the store, go with them to help, because the seller will certainly try to push something that “sells more” or that "everyone is going for”. If you’ve already done your searching beforehand, you won’t fall for any kind of deception.
Don’t purchase from the first place you find a device
If you pass by a shop window at the mall and see an attractive device that fits your budget, don’t go in and buy it! If you’re without a smartphone or need a new one, an hour of searching on the internet will be of great use to you. If you just take it from anywhere, without doing any research, in most cases that will lead you to waste money. Both online and offline stores may offer better prices, and a little more research on the internet could save you a lot of money in the long-term. Now think about what you could do with all that money you save...
Don’t buy the most expensive or the cheapest
The iPhone X is the most expensive, so it must be the best. Right? Or alternatively, you could go to the store and purchase the cheapest smartphone available. Neither of these options is a good idea. Both will lead you to waste money in the long run, and you’ll likely still end up being unsatisfied.
If you go with the cheapest option, you may lose money once the device breaks much earlier than expected, and then you’ll likely be paying double to replace it. As for the most expensive option, everyone who understands a little bit about technology and marketing knows that you can get practically the same thing and spend far less.
There’s a lot of marketing that goes into the price, and carrying the most expensive phone doesn’t mean that it’s the best of them all. The price might also drop in a few months time. So it’s best to see what you need and take your time making your decision.
Don’t cling to famous brands
We all know the most famous brands available: Apple and Samsung. Obviously these brands have great models available, but the trick here is not to stick to them, and to instead explore lesser-known brands.
There are smaller brands that are great even if you haven’t heard of them. Some of them are Chinese, and some are full of features you’ve never even heard of. In these niches, you can find gems that will satisfy your needs in a way that already established brands can’t.
Be sure to consider last year's models
Are new releases always good? Do all releases outperform their predecessors? Of course not, and devices like the Galaxy S7 are out there to prove it two years later. They might leave the scene on shop windows, as it’s necessary to show that new things are coming, but you’ll still find these great items for sale online.
Along these lines, you can even look into a used smartphone, which in good condition and for a good price, can offer much more than a new and less powerful device.
Don’t buy without knowing your priorities first
The last tip is the most important. Even if you ignore all other advice, don’t throw this one aside. Buy the most expensive, the cheapest, this year’s model or last year’s, do exactly what they tell you to do at the store or on the TV... you can make all these mistakes if the device provides you what you need.
If you like photos, it's no use buying a bad camera. If you spend the day away from home, having a weak battery will only cause stress. If you like games, a small screen or poor performance will ruin everything. So whenever you buy a new phone, figure out what matters most to you. Once you’ve done that, you’ll already have a good idea of what you’re looking for.
But let's hear from you! What precautions do you take when buying a smartphone?
Popped a MetroPCS SIM card into my Huawei Honor 7X Android smartphone and have been content (then gave the Niece my ZTE Blade Z Max until she can find something better at a price she can afford). 👍
If there's a reason I attend CES here in Las Vegas? It's to take a good up close look at various Smartphones from ZTE, Honor / Huawei, etc (because if Best Buy doesn't want to carry Chinese phones? I can check 'em out in advance and buy 'em online).
Every No Contract Carrier will let you bring in phone (provided it works on their Network), I've never had an issue with software updates, phone works fine at a fraction of the cost for whatever is hip! 🤣
I buy Samsung as they have never let me down, from S4, S6 edge, S7 edge, S8+.
I dont want buy phone, just switch these phones you want without some money! Its very good trick
Samsung Have really let there S9 models with the phones body and pricing policy,with loads already knowing that next year with be the 10th anniversery year of phones and will want to make the future S10 or X really stand out,so loads are saving there money instead of switching to the S9 models,and was excited at first about the S9 plus but not paying £840 for phone,as i never buy a contract phone deal as after 12 months people love to buy another phone but your locked to a 24 month contract and up paying more than want you think,pricing policy of phones is really getting way over the top and damaging the demand for Top end phones,i would rather spend £840 on a top end Smart tv than on the S9 plus
I agree the final one is the most important, but would point out that priorities can include a non-functional "bling" factor: does the flagship phone help with Tinder (or Grindr) pick-ups at the bar? Draws oohs at the office water cooler or around the Thanksgiving or Xmas dinner table? Conversely, will the "Masters of the Universe" at a corporate or professional meeting snicker if you pull out a cheapie. All perfectly good reasons - we're all on our third or fourth phones by now, and know if they apply. For the purpose, as compared with a 5-digit wristwatch, 6-digit car, or 7-digit home, a phone is easily the best bargain bling for reliable social impact.
Good One, this article will help for who are willing to buy new mobile
As a rule, phones from "famous brands" are all the more expensive in the store, as the advertising is more. Obviously, the price of the ad is found in the price of the phone. And the percentage of the ad tends to be increasing as the brand is more ... famous!
Now, who has too much money and does not look at huge prices, he can buy the latest models. Those who prefer to wait a bit, those who prefer to buy a "balanced" phone (reasonable price and good features) will look for reviews and reviews from specialized sites that test the real features of the phones and then you can see if the phone really deserves its money.
Those looking for the best price will find very interesting promotions for slightly older phone models, perfect handsets for everyday use and an incredibly small price. These are the best phones: if it hurts, the repair costs pretty little, or even if I buy another phone, the price is very reasonable so even to buy a new phone.
As long as I do not need a Super-smartphone, the phone is also ranked fifth in the rankings. Or 6 or 10 ... for my needs are perfect.
you can switch these phones you want or new phone if moms phone is ended of 3 years ago and your phone is dead
answer is easy and one ; BUYING AN ANDROID...
You're an idiot :)
I never buy the "newest". Overpriced, over hyped. I prefer value. Flashy shiny new stuff just doesn't do it for me. I buy "last years" big deal. Last of the product line means any bugs should be taken care of, and you can get them for around 1/2 off.
And it'll die or not be supported a year sooner as a rule
Number 1, do not buy without removable battery. Do not let manufactures rip you off, by selling you planed obsolescence. Todays power house phones will be viable years after their batteries are dead.
What year you are writing from? Time travel is real !!!1
It is getting harder and harder to find them the LG V20 is still out there and it is a great phone. Many older models that work too, I still use the Note 4. To many people will to accept what they are given rather than demand what they want.
Tick tock!!