How to pick the smartphone for your needs

It’s not quite a jungle out there but with the growing clutter in the smartphone space, picking a smartphone that truly matches your needs (or wants!) has never been tougher. A growing number of users are waking up to the reality that, as far as mobile devices go, one size doesn’t fit all and we’re not just talking mobile display sizes here. Make your own ‘objective’ wish list and then zero in on the one for you; we give you some pointers.  

Take sides:
It’s no longer just about the hardware specs but also about which platform works best for you. Apple fanboys like consistency and own Apple devices across categories (iPhone, iPad and Mac Book). Makes sense if you have spent all your savings buying Apple Apps. If you are primarily a Gmail user who loves the freedom and flexibility of tweaking your phone, Android devices are a no-brainer. Android and Apple might have a huge lead in terms of Apps, but Blackberry’s business credentials and Windows Phone’s eye candy UI are tough to ignore. 

Power user:
Compulsive gamer? Frenetic Multi-tasker with fidgety fingers? You need serious firepower – a zippy processor that tangos with at least 2GB of RAM to keep up with you. LG’s G Flex 2 is powered by Qualcomm’s newest beast – the Snapdragon 810 (1.5GHz Quad-Core) processor while Samsung’s flagships like the Note 4 and Galaxy S6 have some serious spunk. The iPhone 6 and 6 plus have continued the buttery smooth iPhone legacy but all the action is not just restricted to pricey devices. The One Plus One (2.5 GHz processor / 3GB RAM) and the Xiaomi Mi4 (2.5 GHz processor / 3GB RAM) pack serious punch in the sub Rs 25,000 segment. 
Marathon runner: heavy users often wonder why device manufacturers don’t spend more R&D dollars on backing their gorgeous smartphones with more robust battery support. It’s not easy to keep pace with quad HD displays and blazing processors but we have already begun to see light at the end of that tunnel. The iPhone battery jokes have eased somewhat since the iPhone 6 debuted while Sony has also made big strides with its Xperia flagships like the Z2 and Z3. The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 (4500 mAh battery) and the One Plus One (3100 mAh) have proved that large displays don’t impact battery life. Gionee (Marathon 3 and Marathon 2) and Micromax (Canvas Power) are among a long list of brands that have focused on the sub Rs 10,000 segment with powerful batteries.  

Kill that point and shoot:
The lines have blurred, smartphones are steadily eclipsing point and shoot cameras. The last two years have seen some of the paradigm shifts in mobile shooters. The HTC One M8, LG G Flex 2 and G3 (Both with laser auto focus) have ridiculously fast cameras. The iPhone 6 plus and the Note 4/Galaxy Note Edge became the first Apple and Samsung devices with OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) – better low-light clarity and fewer blurry images. Selfie fiends will love the 13MP shooter (With a dual LED) on board the HTC Desire Eye, the Lumia 730’s wide-angle Selfie Cam and the ‘beautify mode’ on the OPPO R5. Sony’s Xperia Z3 doesn’t just snap great images courtesy it’s brilliant Exmor sensor, but also does it underwater – just the device you need if you ever go snorkelling   

Entertainment on the go:
You might have that monster TV in your den but chances are you watch more content and listen to more music on your smartphone during long flights or high intensity workouts. LG’s G Flex 2 finally gets the curved smartphone right – the curved angle combines beautifully with the high resolution Plastic OLED screen. It’s tough to beat the big boys (phablets) like the iPhone 6 Plus that combine large displays with high Pixel per inch (PPI) ratios. Google Nexus 6 might be slightly unwieldy but its 493 PPI screen is truly spectacular. Quad HD displays (Like the LG G3 and the OPPO Find 7) have changed the game for smartphones. It’s not just videos and images, these devices also make web browsing and flipping through e-books a lot more fun with their sharp text. 

Form over function:
If you are an attention seeker who needs your phone to do the talking at a review meeting or at the pub, you probably need a pretty phone – performance be damned! OPPO’s R5 and the Vivo X5 Max have pushed the slim form factor almost over the edge. The HTC One M8 (and soon the very similar looking M9) is easily one of the best looking devices out there with its gorgeous brushed aluminium build. Samsung might have finally gotten over its plastic fetish with the Samsung Galaxy 6, while the Nokia Lumia 830 proves that plastic is not necessarily uncool.