1 - Making a choice
A phone... for phoning
You can’t be bothered with all the multimedia features and just want to be able to make calls? Don’t worry, although smartphones are the order of the day, all brands still offer “traditional” phones. For a few pounds you’ll find phones that are nicely made and do exactly what you want – phone or text. What’s more, as they have very few features, these phones generally have a better battery life. Even if you only want to pay the minimum, you’ll still be able to get your hands on a good phone.
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£10 - £20
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£15 - £30
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£25 - £25
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What’s “now”: a multimedia touch phone
Mobile enthusiasts who long for the latest technology now have a whole range of mobile touch phones to choose from. Camera, the net, email, GPS, sensor and video player, these mini-computer pocket phones really are the business. Although these machines might have a spec that seems to combine everything you can think of in one device, don’t get carried away because the perfect multifunction phone does not exist. It’s a good idea to work out what’s really a priority for you – camera, the net, mp3 player – before you start looking. Make sure you think about how easy they are to use as there’s no point breaking your head over tortuous menus! The downside of having all these features is that battery life is generally pretty limited!
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£8 - £489
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£375 - £550
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£12 - £349
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All linked up
Making calls, although still a favourite way of using a phone, is gradually being edged out by other forms of communication. At the top of the list is texting, closely followed by emails. Virtual touch keyboards don’t yet measure up to a full physical keyboard. If you often use your mobile for writing, you’ll definitely need a physical keyboard. It should be easy to type with and the keys need to be large and separated so as to minimise typing errors. If you want to be able to consult emails, you should try and go for a device that allows you to create several accounts and that has Push Mail, a feature that ensures you receive mails almost as soon as they are sent.
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£190 - £400
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£120 - £140
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£196 - £196
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A pro smartphone
Something for businessmen and women, the smartphone is a device that allows you to manage your desk on the run. Although some multifunction phones are also smartphones, not all of them are! Some mobiles function with a closed OS and it’s almost impossible to add extra software. Veritable mini pocket computers, they have full connectivity (wi-fi, 3G+ etc). Sometimes with touch screens and always with a physical keyboard, they should have logical functionality, be responsive and have decent battery life. Smartphones now also come with cameras and audio players so as to attract general consumers. Careful however, make sure you do need the features on offer as these terminals not also do a lot but are also expensive.
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£529 - £1,028
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£10 - £300
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£7 - £288
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2 - The Science
The really important aspects of the spec
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- Design and build/Finish :
if there’s one device that needs to be able to stand up to a few knocks, it’s your mobile phone. Its casing needs to be solid and have an excellent finish. Some phones even have an anti-scatch screen. From the point of view of a phone’s design and build, it should have short cut keys to all the main functions (camera, menus, diary).
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- Operating system (OS) :
like computers, mobile phones run an OS. The phone’s responsivess depends on it. Some OS’s have outstanding rapidity and task execution while others are much slower! This can of course be very annoying. Today some pro systems are installed on general consumer phones; look out for this as they aren’t necessarily the easiest to use.
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- Battery life :
good battery life is a must for any mobile device. You should be looking for something that lasts a few days, but as phones are now increasingly used for all sorts of different tasks, your battery will sometimes only last a day. If you’re on the move a lot this is something to keep an eye on.
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- Reception :
on this depends the quality of calls and the “range” of your device. If you get good reception, you’ll be able to link up to your network even when you’re in an underground carpark for example, whereas a less sensitive phone will often show that the network is unavailable. Obviously this also depends on the coverage offered by your operator.
What you’ll need to go a bit further
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- User interface :
this is what you see once your phone is switched on. You’ll be able to work your way more or less easily round the menus depending on how well your phone has been conceived. Ideally it should be practical, logical and intuitive. When it is well thought out, the interface will allow you to get to grips with your phone easily: ie. ease of use.
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- Screen :
screens are getting bigger and bigger. A good screen should be large enough to be legible (2,5" is the minimum), bright, with a good enough resolution to display web pages and video in enough detail. All screens look darker if you don’t look at them straight on.
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- Photo sensor :
high Megapixel photo sensors are also appearing on mobile phones. It used to be 3 Mpixels, then it went up to 5 and now many have 8 Mpixels. As with cameras of course, the number of Megapixels isn’t everything. If you only use your phone occasionally to send photos by MMS, a 3 or 5 Megapixel mobile will be fine. If you want to print the photos however, better to go for a higher Megapixel sensor. Next, if you count on using the photo feature regularly, make sure an image stabilizer is also included as well as several sensitiviites and a flash. Remember that no smartphone will measure up to a good digital compact, even though they’re heading in that direction.
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- SAR limits :
each phone has an SAR (specific absorption rate). This is regulated under EU law and gives the level of radio waves emitted by the device. The SAR must be under 2 W/kg.
3 - Accessories
Memory cards
Few are mobile phones that come with sufficient memory. Usually you’ll find that the internal memory of your phone is very poor indeed. This is why you need to complement it with a MicroSD card, especially if you go for a multimedia phone and want to manage various files (photos, videos, music etc). If you’re going to be able to read this tiny card, don’t forget your SD adaptor!
Covers
Even when a phone is well built, it is bound to take a few knocks. So giving the casing some protection is advisable. You’ll find plenty of choice when it comes to phone covers! Sober or psychedelic, supple or rigid, transparent or opaque… there’s something for everyone.
Headphones
Most phones now have a built-in audio player and come with headphones. Unfortunately they’re not usually very good quality: if audio quality is important to you, you’ll probably want to change them. Make sure you go for a mobile with a standard out (3.5mm jack) or if necessary, make sure they come with an adaptor.
Hands-free kit
A hands-free kit is practical and helps avoid electromagnetic waves. While the debate on phone safety is still running, many people prefer to go for a hands-free kit just in case. If your phone has Bluetooth, look out for a wireless hands-free.
4 - Going further
