Things To Consider Before Buying a Smartphone in 2024

2024 has started with powerful launches of smartphones from popular brands. The year began with the Redmi Note 13 5G series, Vivo X100 series, POCO X6 Pro series, and many other smartphones like Realme 12 Pro series 5G, iQOO Neo 9 Pro and Now Nothing Phone 2a. Not only do they have great specifications, but these devices have unique designs and powerful specifications. Many of the devices launched this year and in the last quarter of 2023 (like Xiaomi 14 series, iQOO 12 5G, OnePlus Open, and iPhone 15 series) were some of the best devices we have had all these years. The last 6 months have also introduced many budget and mid-range smartphones, making it tough to choose any one out of all.

Although these smartphones offer great specifications, they also have drawbacks. We are not going to talk about the specific devices today, but rather, the things to consider before you decide to buy a new smartphone. Whether you are looking for a budget smartphone, mid-range or high-mid range, or flagship-smartphones, here’s everything you should consider before purchasing a smartphone in 2024.

1. Processor and Performance: The first parameter is, of course, the processor which the smartphone packs. Many smartphone processors in the market claim to offer powerful performance for the price you pay. However, it all comes down to you using the smartphone. To quickly check the performance, check the name of the processor featured in the smartphone and check its AnTuTu score online. You can buy that smartphone if it has an AnTuTu score higher than 1,50,000. Remember this AnTuTu score suggests an entry-level smartphone, 5,00,000 to 10,00,000 suggest middle to higher middle, and 10,00,000 to 22,00,000 suggest higher-middle to high-performing devices.
2. Display: It is the second major factor to consider before buying a smartphone because, hey, you will spend your time watching the screen of your smartphone, right? If you are not too careful with this one, you will end up with a smartphone with a “not so great” display that will spoil your mood while watching your favorite shows and always cause eye pain. A 60 to 120Hz refresh rate is a must for the display to perform smoothly. However, compared to OLED, AMOLED displays are better, providing deeper blacks and smoother visuals for movies, videos, and gaming, and it saves battery. Currently, LTPO displays save more battery life and offer a smoother experience. Ensure you enable night-time or night mode in displays with high PWM Dimming and TÜV Rheinland-certified eye protection technology.
3. Camera Photo Capability: Today, every smartphone holder wants a great camera for taking photos in different settings. Whether individual photos, group photos, or natural event photos, you just like the device to perform best and deliver powerful, life-like images that speak to your mind. Choosing a smartphone with the highest megapixel, like 108-megapixel or 200-megapixel, does not guarantee great photos. iPhones still used 12-megapixel to 48-megapixel but offered better images than all the other high-megapixel smartphones. So, what makes a good image? A good picture is created from a good sensor that gathers more lights in RAW format.
4. Camera Video Capability: Today, your smartphone should support at least 1080p 30fps, and going a little up, it should have video recording capability like 1080p 60fps, 4K 30fps, 4K 60fps, and up to 8K 30fps. 1080p 30fps resolution and even 720p 60fps with over 2K to 8K bitrate are good options. But if the video has a higher resolution and lower bitrate, it will produce very bad quality and a huge file size. However, the technology is moving so fast that we could also see 12K or 16K resolution video recording in coming years. Not stretching for that long, we should at least expect a video recording higher than 720p.
5. Storage and MMC Support: Besides a good processor and display, you have to check whether your device offers you enough in-built storage for backing up your photos, videos, and files. Nowadays, most smartphones only provide built-in storage without the option to expand it using a Memory Card (MMC). You should avoid smartphones without memory card support to save yourself from awkward situations. Why? Let’s say you bought a smartphone with higher built-in memory without expansion. Then, in the future, you will have limited space left on your device. Today, apps use a minimum of 12 MB to more than 4 GB (games). In the future, the apps will occupy more space; you will always run out of it.
6. Updates: When buying a smartphone, you must know how many years of OS and security updates you are getting. If it only provides updates for a year, then your smartphone will not support future versions of the apps in your smartphone with efficient performance. With updates, you have more years to use your smartphone before it becomes completely old. Currently, the Google Pixel 8 series offers a maximum of seven years of updates, ensuring that the device will still be relevant for many years.
7. AI-Powered Features: When you think about 2024, you think about artificial intelligence. That being said, you need to pick those devices that readily offer some features powered by AI. It will make you relevant to current market trends, increase productivity, and save time. The AI translator, AI assistant notes, and many other services using the technology will help you plan your daily activities easily.
8. Services: When your smartphone is not working, show it to the nearest authorized service centers. If you take it to any other private mobile repair shop, the shop owner will not accept any harm done to your device. Also, the company will only provide services if everything goes right. So, you must prefer the company’s authorized service centers to repair your device.
9. Exchange or Resale Value: When buying a device, you must consider its resale value and current market demand. Many companies offer great exchange offers for the older devices of their brand and other companies with similar specifications. 
10. Price and Competition: Price is the most important point to consider while buying. Many smartphone companies follow different price strategies, so their prices differ. However, a great deal can sometimes come along, offering so many features at a very appropriate price. But still, there are some trade-offs that you need to check. The brands compromise with the processors, camera sensors, batteries, and other aspects to lower the prices. Smartphones are expensive because companies spend billions on advertisements; therefore, they cover it through higher prices.