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Don't Know Which Mobile Phone to Buy: How to Choose a Smartphone (Want a microSD card slot)

The aim of this guide is to help you decide which (smart-)phone is the best for you, based on your needs and budget.

Here are some basic points you should know when buying a smartphone: 

1) Operating system (OS) - The user interface which allows common users to use the hardware components (camera, speakers, etc.). The most common operating systems which run on smartphones are:

  • Android - runs on the majority of smartphones (Sony, Samsung, LG, Huawei, etc.). The latest version of this operating system is Android OS v.6 Marshmallow (as of Aug 2016). Some PROs and CONs using Android as operating system:

    PROs: 
    - A huge catalogue of applications
    - Home-screen widgets
    - Open-source

    CONs: 
    - Back-up options are limited to specific user data
    - No quality control of the applications
  • iOS - runs only on iPhones, iPads and iPods. Its latest version is iOS v.9.3 (as of Aug 2016)

    PROs:
    - Full back-up service
    - Frequent system updates
    - Greater control of notifications and data usage
    - Easier to uninstall applications
    - Mostly high-quality apps are offered in App store

    CONs:
    -     No home-screen widgets
    - Many limitations
     
  • Windows Phone OS - used by Nokia and Microsoft smartphones. The latest version of this smartphone is Windows Mobile 10 (as of Aug 2016)
  • BlackBerry OS - used only on Blackberry smartphones. The latest version of Blackberry OS is v10.3 (as of Aug 2016)

Note that not all devices can be upgraded to the latest OS version. It's mentioned in the solutions listed below. 

2) CPU (Central Processing Unit, or Processor, or the "brain" of a smartphone) - The main component of a smartphone which is a crucial factor for phone speed (how quickly applications open etc.).

There are several types of processors used in smartphones:

  • Single-Core - It has only one independent microprocessor
  • Dual-Core  - A multi-core processor with two independent microprocessors
  • Quad-Core  - A multi-core processor with four independent microprocessors
  • Hexa-Core - A multi-core processor with six independent microprocessors
  • Octa-Core - A multi-core processor with eight independent microprocessors

Note: You should treat the smartphone as a whole, as unity of all the components in it. It doesn't mean that a device which has an Octa-Core processor is faster than a device which has a Quad-Core processor. For instance, iPhone 6s has a Dual-Core processor, but it doesn't lag as much as some Octa-Core-processor smartphones.

The above-mentioned note also applies to camera quality. It doesn't mean that a 21 megapixel camera will produce higher-quality images than an 8 megapixel one (take iPhones for example. iPhone 6s has a 12 MP camera and produces better images than smartphones with 21 megapixel camera).

3) RAM (Random Access Memory) - The more RAM the more applications you can run in parallel.  Usually, the amount of RAM in smartphones varies from 1 GB to 4 GB.

4) Storage size - The space you have to store your pictures, music, videos or other documents. The amount of free memory on smartphones varies from 4 GB - 128 GB of internal memory, plus the ability to add a microSD card (up to 256 GB)

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Select specifications which apply:

Click on this if you're not willing to pay more than $100 on your mobile

Click on this if you only want to spend a max. of $200 on your mobile

Click on this if you only want to spend a max. of $300 on your mobile

Click on this if you only want to spend a max. of $500 on your mobile

Click on this if you don't want to spend more than $1,000 on your mobile

Click on this if you're willing to pay more than $1,000 on your mobile.

Click on this if you want a smartphone (with more functions than a calls-and-SMS-only phone)

Click on this if you only need the most basic functions in a phone: making calls and sending SMS

Click on this if you want your mobile to have a certain size (be it big or small)

Click on this if you already know from which manufacturer (Apple, LG, Windows etc.) your mobile should be.

Click on this if you want a (smart-)phone with a removable (which you can easily remove and replace yourself), or a non-removable (which can be removed and replaced in repair shops only) battery.

Click on this if you have a preferred operating system (e.g. iOS, Android, or Windows) which might be the case if you already use this operating system and don't want to switch to a different one.

Click on this if you want a mobile device with a secondary camera.

Click on this if you want to add extra memory (a microSD card) to your mobile device

Click on this if you want a device with a scratch−resistant screen, i.e. a device which has a "Corning Gorilla Glass" protection.

Click on this if you want your new mobile to have a stylish design

Click on this if long battery life is very important to you

Click on this if you want to additionally protect your smartphone and unlock it only with your fingerprint.

Click on this if you want to buy a waterproof mobile device (i.e. a device which can be used under water for a certain period of time)

Click on this if it's important to you that your mobile device has a physical keyboard, i.e. not only a "virtual keyboard" on the screen

Click on this if you have specific technical requirements, e.g. processor speed, min. megapixels for camera etc.

Click on this if you want a phone running on the Android operating system.

Click on this if if want a mobile device which works with a nano SIM card (it looks like this http://goo.gl/0DOq4e)

Click on this if you want your mobile (camera) to have at least 4 Megapixels. Read this intro to megapixels http://goo.gl/dbNK9r, however be aware that a high number of megapixels doesn't guarantee a high picture quality, as you can read here: http://goo.gl/PUZ8QV

Click on this if you want a mobile device which works with a micro SIM card (it looks like this http://goo.gl/v8rUoz).

Click on this if you're fine if your new mobile has a camera with less than 4 Megapixels. Read this intro to megapixels http://goo.gl/dbNK9r, however be aware that a high number of megapixels doesn't guarantee a high picture quality, as you can read here: http://goo.gl/PUZ8QV

Click on this if want a mobile device which works with a standard/mini SIM card (it looks like this https://goo.gl/nrkomV)

Click on this if you want your mobile (camera) to have at least 6 Megapixels. Read this intro to megapixels http://goo.gl/dbNK9r, however be aware that a high number of megapixels doesn't guarantee a high picture quality, as you can read here: http://goo.gl/PUZ8QV

Click on this if you want a phone running on the Windows phone operating system.

Click on this if want the diagonal of your mobile screen to be larger than 5.3 inches. See on http://goo.gl/3jNErw how much that is.

Click on this if you want a phone running on the iOS operating system.

Click on this if want the diagonal of your mobile screen to be between 4.65 and less than 5.3 inches. See on http://goo.gl/3jNErw how much that is.

Click on this if you want your mobile (camera) to have at least 8 Megapixels. Read this intro to megapixels http://goo.gl/dbNK9r, however be aware that a high number of megapixels doesn't guarantee a high picture quality, as you can read here: http://goo.gl/PUZ8QV

Click on this if you want your mobile (camera) to have at least 12 Megapixels. Read this intro to megapixels http://goo.gl/dbNK9r, however be aware that a high number of megapixels doesn't guarantee a high picture quality, as you can read here: http://goo.gl/PUZ8QV

Click on this if you want a battery which would last at least 70 hours if you do one hour of calls, one hour of video playback and one hour of web browsing daily.

Click on this if you want the diagonal of your mobile screen to be between 3.5 and less than 4.3 inches. See on http://goo.gl/3jNErw how much that is.

Click on this if you're fine with a phone which only supports the second generation of wireless telephone technology

Click on this if you want a battery which would last at least 100 hours if you do one hour of calls, one hour of video playback and one hour of web browsing daily.

Click on this if you don't want the diagonal of your mobile screen exceed 3.5 inches. See on http://goo.gl/3jNErw how much that is.

Click on this if want the diagonal of your mobile screen to be between 4.3 and less than 4.65 inches. See on http://goo.gl/3jNErw how much that is.

Click on this if you want a phone that supports the third generation of wireless telephone technology

Click on this if you want a phone that supports the fourth generation of wireless telephone technology.

Click on this if it's important to you that the phone has a certain storage size so that you can save many pictures/music/video on your mobile

Click on this if you want your phone to have at least 8 gigabytes of storage space

Click on this if you want your phone to have at least 16 gigabytes of storage space

Click on this if you want your phone to have at least 32 gigabytes of storage space

Click on this if you want your phone to have at least 64 gigabytes of storage space

Click on this if you want a battery which would last at least 30 hours if you do one hour of calls, one hour of video playback and one hour of web browsing daily.

Click on this if you want a battery which would last at least 50 hours, if you do one hour of calls, one hour of video playback and one hour of web browsing daily.

Click on this if you want a smartphone which has a Dual core, Quad core, Hexa Core or Octa core processor.

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  1. Buy BlackBerry Priv (from $379.99)

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    BlackBerry Priv is the first BlackBerry Android phone. It has an impressive screen and is one of the best phones when it comes to security.

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to v6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
    • A Dual-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A57 & quad-core 1.44 GHz Cortex-A53 processor
    • 3 GB RAM
    • 18 MP camera with autofocus and a 2 MP front camera
    • AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • Its 5.4-inch display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4
    • Internal memory of 32 GB with the possibility to add a microSD card up to 256 GB
    • A non-removable 3410 mAh battery, which offers you 14:40 hours of talk time, 08:20 hours of web browsing and 06:33 hours of video playback and up to 420 hours of stand-by. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • (A QWERTY keyboard)
    • Large internal memory
    • 4G-LTE Support
    • Large screen size

    Cons

    • A Below-average selfie camera
    • Bulky

    You can buy this smartphone, which is rated with 3.6/5 stars, from Amazon.

    ---
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  2. Buy HTC Desire 820 (from $318.98)

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    A mid-range phone model focused on making "selfies". Featuring excellent UI, fast CPU and a functional keyboard.

    One of its flaws is software problems.

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat), upgradable to v6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
    • A Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 processor
    • 2 GB RAM
    • 13 MP camera with autofocus and a 8 MP front camera
    • LCD capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • Its 5.5-inch display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3
    • Internal memory of 16 GB with the possibility to add a microSD card up to 256 GB
    • A non-removable 2600 mAh battery, which offers you 14:17 - 22:24 hours of talk time, 09:10 hours of web browsing and 07:10 hours of video playback and up to 424 hours of stand-by. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • Dual frontal stereo speakers
    • Large RAM (2 GB)
    • Large internal memory
    • 4G-LTE Support
    • Large screen size

    Cons

    • A bit too large to hold
    • Not good low-light camera pictures

     

    You can purchase the Dual SIM model of this smartphone, which is rated with 3.1/5 stars, from Amazon.

    ---
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  3. Buy Samsung Galaxy s7 edge (from $618.49)

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    A current flagship of Samsung mobiles, this is an extremely powerful phone recommended for every Android fan that is looking to spend a lot on his new phone.

    Released on March 2016, this phone packs an excellent CPU, 12 MP camera, large memory storage and 4 GB of RAM.

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v6.0 (Marshmallow)
    • A Dual-core 2.15 GHz Kryo & dual-core 1.6 GHz Kryo /
      Quad-core 2.3 GHz Mongoose + quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 processor (depends on the model)
    • 4 GB RAM
    • 12 MP camera with autofocus and a 5 MP front camera
    • Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • Its 5.5-inch display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4
    • Internal memory of 32/64 GB (depends on the model) with the possibility to add a microSD card up to 256 GB (which will use the SIM 2 slot, on the Dual SIM version)
    • A non-removable 3600 mAh battery, which offers you 24:29 hours of talk time, 13:32 hours of web browsing and 20:08 hours of video playback. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • Extremely high density screen
    • Water-resistant
    • A fingerprint sensor
    • Large RAM (4 GB)
    • Large internal memory
    • 4G-LTE Support
    • Great Camera quality
    • Great design

    Cons

    • A minor lag in TouchWiz
    • Occasionally, the screen can be overly reflective
    • The microSD card occupies the SIM 2 slot (on the DUAL SIM model)

    • You can buy the 32 GB version of this smartphone, which is rated with 4.0/5 stars by customers, from Amazon.
    • Click here if you want to purchase the 64 GB version, rated with 3.5/5 stars by customers

    ---
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  4. Buy HTC Desire 510 (from $194.01)

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    A very cheap 4G phone, featuring very fast operating system and good battery life.

    Its lacks are rather expected for its price, poor camera, very limited internal storage and a bad screen quality.

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)
    • A Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 - EU model
      Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 - USA model processor
    • 1 GB RAM
    • 5 MP camera and a VGA front camera
    • A capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • A 4.7-inch display
    • Internal memory of 8 GB, with the possibility to add a microSD card up to 256 GB
    • A removable 2100 mAh battery, which offers you 14:06 hours of talk time, 10:53 hours of web browsing and 09:54 hours of video playback. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • A good processor
    • 4G-LTE Support
    • Large screen size

    Cons

    • Poor display quality
    • Weak camera

    You can buy this smartphone, which is rated with 3.1/5 stars, from Amazon.

    ---
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  5. Buy Samsung Galaxy S7 (from $503.5)

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    Samsung's newest flagship, S7 is an extremely good phone. Featuring superb screen and camera and a waterproof design, only flaw of this phone are its justified high price.

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v6.0 (Marshmallow)
    • A Dual-core 2.15 GHz Kryo & dual-core 1.6 GHz Kryo
      Quad-core 2.3 GHz Mongoose + quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 (depends on the model)
    • 4 GB RAM
    • 12 MP camera with autofocus and a 5 MP front camera
    • Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • Its 5.1-inch display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4
    • Internal memory of 32/64 GB (depends on the model) with the possibility to add a microSD card up to 256 GB (which will use the SIM 2 slot, on the Dual SIM version)
    • A non-removable 3000 mAh battery, which offers you 22:57 hours of talk time, 09:34 hours of web browsing and 14:50 hours of video playback. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • Extremely high density screen
    • Water-resistant
    • A fingerprint sensor
    • Large RAM (4 GB)
    • Large internal memory
    • 4G-LTE Support
    • Great Camera quality
    • Great design

    Cons

    • A minor lag in TouchWiz
    • The microSD card occupies the SIM 2 slot (on the DUAL SIM version)

    • You can buy the 32 GB version of this smartphone, which is rated with 4.1/5 stars, from Amazon.
    • If you prefer the 64 GB version, click here.

    ---
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  6. Buy Lenovo Vibe x3 (from $297.00) − Currently unavailable

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    Lenovo Vibe X3 is the current Lenovo flagship model on the market, featuring high quality audio, excellent specifications and performance and a very good screen. The only drawback is the average camera quality.

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v5.1 (Lollipop)
    • A Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & Dual-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A57 processor
    • 3 GB RAM
    • Dual SIM (Nano-SIM)
    • 21 MP camera with autofocus and a 8 MP front camera
    • IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • Its 5.5-inch display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3
    • Internal memory of 32/64 GB (depends on the model), with the possibility to add a microSD card up to 256 GB (which will use the SIM 2 slot)
    • A non-removable 3500 mAh battery, which offers you up to 31:00 hours of talk time and up to 618 hours of stand-by. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • Large internal memory (32/64 GB)
    • Large RAM (3 GB)
    • 4G-LTE Support
    • Large screen size
    • Great camera quality
    • A fast and accurate fingerprint sensor
    • Amazing sound quality

    Cons

    • Heating issues
    • Battery backup is not up to expectation
    • No dedicated microSD slot (it uses the SIM 2 slot)

    • You can purchase the 32 GB version of this smartphone which is rated with 4.3/5 stars by customers, from Amazon.
    • You can also buy the 64 GB version of this smartphone from Amazon.

      This smartphone is currently unavailable.

    ---
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  7. Buy Samsung Galaxy S5 (from $299.95)

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    A powerful phone with a completely redesigned Android UI and a beautiful screen, it is a surprise this phone has a great battery life.

    Recommended for a people looking to spend a bit more on the phone, the only big con of this phone is its creaky design.

     

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat), upgradable to v6.0 (Marshmallow)
    • A Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400 processor
    • 2 GB RAM
    • 16 MP camera with autofocus and a 2 MP front camera
    • Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • Its 5.1-inch display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3
    • Internal memory of 16/32 GB (depends on the model) with the possibility to add a microSD card up to 256 GB
    • A removable 2800 mAh battery, which offers you 27:37 hours of talk time, 09:39 hours of web browsing and 11:15 hours of video playback and up to 390 hours of stand-by. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • Extremely high density screen
    • Large RAM (2 GB)
    • Large internal memory
    • 4G-LTE Support
    • Great Camera quality
    • Water-resistant

    Cons

    • Poor software improvements
    • Occasionally slow performance

    You can buy the 16 GB version of this smartphone, which is rated with 3.9/5 stars by customers, from Amazon.

    ---
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  8. Buy Samsung Galaxy A5 (from $319.40) − Currently unavailable

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    Very elegant design and powerful screen are the main features of this phone, however when comparing its specifications with a rival models, it seems rather overpriced.

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to v5.0.2 (Lollipop)
    • A Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 processor
    • 2 GB RAM
    • 13 MP camera with autofocus and a 5 MP front camera
    • Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • Its 5.0-inch display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4
    • Internal memory of 16 GB, with the possibility to add a microSD card up to 64 GB
    • A non-removable 2300 mAh battery, which offers you 18:02 hours of talk time, 11:36 hours of web browsing and 09:18 hours of video playback. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • Metallic body frame and a compact body design
    • Large RAM (2 GB)
    • 4G-LTE Support
    • Large screen size
    • Good camera quality

    Cons

    • No LED indicator for incoming messages and charging
    • Speakers are not so good (according to some users)

    You can buy this smartphone, which is rated with 4.0/5 stars, from Amazon.
    This smartphone is currently unavailable.

    ---
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  9. Buy Samsung Galaxy S7560 Trend (from $71.45)

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    If you are looking for an Android phone for a very cheap price with decent features, S7560 is the one.

    Packed with a solid camera (5 megapixel), running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, single core 1 GHz processor and 512 MB RAM, this phone is great for Android starters or just the ones that are not willing to spend much yet want a solid phone.

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
    • A 1.0 GHz processor
    • 768 MB RAM
    • 5 MP camera with autofocus and a VGA front camera
    • TFT capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • A 4-inch display
    • Internal memory of 4 GB
    • A removable 1500 mAh battery, which offers you 08:20 of talk time and up to 330 hours of stand-by. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • Cheap price
    • Pocket-friendly

    Cons

    • Outdated operating system
    • Poor VGA camera

    You can purchase this smartphone, which is rated with 4.1/5 stars by customers, on Amazon.

    ---
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  10. Buy Sony Xperia Z5 (from $354.99)

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    Current flagship model from Sony, Xperia Z5 features strong battery, great design and all-round performance. Its downside is the heating problem.

    Note: Only the EU model has a fingerprint sensor.

    Its key features are:

    • Android OS, v5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to v6.0 (Marshmallow)
    • A Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A57 processor
    • 3 GB RAM
    • 23 MP camera with autofocus and a 5.1 MP front camera
    • An IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors
    • A 5.2-inch display protected with a scratch-resistant glass and oleophobic coating
    • Internal memory of 32 GB, with the possibility to add a microSD card up to 256 GB
    • A non-removable 2900 mAh battery, which offers you 17:13 hours of talk time, 14:35 hours of web browsing and 07:53 hours of video playback. (according to tests)

    Pros

    • Water-resistant
    • A 23 Megapixel camera with hybrid autofocus
    • Large RAM (3 GB)
    • 4G-LTE Support
    • Great quality 4K recording.

    Cons

    • Heating issue
    • Expensive

    You can buy this smartphone, which is rated with 4.1/5 stars, from Amazon.

    ---
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