Choosing the best smartphone Essential guide to smartphones
If you're in the market for a new mobile phone deal then you've probably heard the term 'smartphone' by now. But what are smartphones? How are they different to regular mobile phones and, most importantly, are they worth the higher price tag?
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What are smartphones?
Smartphones are mobile phones that can perform a number of different functions, such as playing music, taking pictures, surfing the internet and running applications.
Smartphones are sometimes confused with 'feature phones', which are lower-priced handsets that can also access the internet and perform similar multimedia tasks.
The difference is that smartphones have much more powerful computer processors and run a complete 'operating system', in the same way your home PC runs an operating system like Windows. So, in many ways, smartphones are more like pocket PCs than mobile phones.
Like with PCs, different smartphones can often run the same operating system, even if they're made by different manufacturers. For instance, HTC's Desire HD and Samsung's Galaxy S2 both run Android, an operating system that was developed by Google.
However, some operating systems, such as the iOS, can only be found on a single brand of smartphone (in this case the iPhone).
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Smartphone features
Not all smartphones offer the same features, but below are the ones that most devices should be capable of.
High-speed internet access
A great deal of a smartphone's functionality relies on it being able to access the internet, allowing you to browse web pages, access email, watch online videos and download apps and music.
Music player
Nearly all smartphones should be able to play music files in the same way as a dedicated Mp3-player. However, be warned that the sound quality can often be inferior to a dedicated device.
Camera
Most smartphones are able to take pictures and record video. If these are features you'll use often, make sure you check the camera quality, as it can vary quite considerably between different smartphones.
For instance, despite being the most popular smartphones on the market, the iPhone 3G and 3GS have been criticised for the low resolution of their cameras.
Touchscreen
Smartphone touchscreens were popularised by Apple's iPhone and have since been used by many other smartphone manufacturers.
There are two main types of smartphone touchscreens - resistive and capacitive. Capacitive is the more advanced touchscreen technology and offers more accurate control.
Touchscreens can be divisive when it comes to their usability. Some people find it awkward to type on a touchscreen keypad, while others would never think of going back to regular buttons. So it's a good idea to try out a touchscreen phone before you buy one.
Applications
Applications (or 'apps') are a key feature of smartphones. They broaden the functionality of your phone, in a similar way to the software you buy for your PC.
Different smartphone operating systems have access to different online stores where you can buy apps. So not all smartphones have access to the same apps. For instance, the iPhone uses Apple's App Store, whereas Android-based phones access the Android Market.
Should I buy a smartphone?
Before buying an expensive smartphone you should think carefully about whether or not you'll use its extra features, as they are essentially what you're paying a premium for - don't expect the voice call quality, or reception to be much better than a regular phone.
If you're certain that you just want a phone for voice calls and texting then it really isn't worth paying so much extra for a smartphone. There are many good quality budget phones you can buy for a fraction of the price.
But, if you're unfamiliar with smartphones, it can be hard to know how useful their features can be. This is because smartphones rely, to an extent, on users downloading individual apps to expand the phone's functionality.
For instance, if you're bad with directions, travel apps such as Google Maps make it incredibly easy to locate streets and postcodes, even giving you voice directions to your destination.
Or, if you like to keep up-to-date with current affairs, you can download apps from The Guardian, BBC News and CNN, which deliver news stories straight to your phone.
You can also find barcode apps that let you scan items in shops and then see if they're available cheaper anywhere else.
Which? tests 60 phones a year including smartphones as well as the most basic devices. Read our mobile phone reviews here.
