New Delhi: The smartphones universe is growing magnificently – at a rate much faster than you can imagine. They have become ubiquitous as evident from the fact that worldwide smartphone shipments overtook feature phones in the first quarter of this year. With each passing day, smartphones are becoming more powerful, enabling us to do more in a lesser period of time. At present the smartphone market is ripe with the number of choices available well-suited to every budget, but picking the right one is tricky. Here's a guide that will give you advice on navigating the minefield to pick the right phone for yourself.
Choose the right OS
You are buying a smartphone to do things like e-mail, web access, phone calls and texts, so choosing the right operating system does matter. It is also because what you'll be interacting with for hours every day.
Today, Android runs on 43 percent of all the world's smartphones while Apple iOS still runs on one in five smartphones. Of the 227 countries for which data is tracked by StatCounter's research arm, StatCounter Global Stats, Android was the market leader in 135 countries, whereas Apple was the market leader in only 38 countries, including the U.S.
It says Android's biggest advantage is that it is not bound to be used by a single device manufacturer or a relatively limited price point. This shows why Google-owned OS is very popular in countries with low per-capita income. On the other hand, Android also has its list the non-price-sensitive consumers either, since companies like Samsung and HTC produce high-end Android-powered phones featuring the newest technology. Android also appeals to regular consumers; devices from HTC, Samsung, LG, Motorola, and Sony are using Android to give users beautiful displays perfect for Skype, texting, emailing, and reading eBooks.
The iOS, which runs only on Apple devices, is not only tied to a device but a relatively high price range. Most of the 38 countries in which iOS is popular are developed countries with a large number of consumers with high disposable incomes. So if you want a phone running a mature and stable operating system with a plethora of apps from which to choose, this is it. But the platform also has its own downsides. If you are buying an iPhone then you have to accept Apple's design choices or its preference for 4-inch screens. Also, the the platform is rigid and not very customizable — apart from being able to choose your wallpaper and the arrangement of your app icons, you can' do much.
The most common difference is that a common user can say about these platforms is the availability of different programs and apps across various platforms. If you plan to have high-quality and vivid apps, an iPhone is your best bet. However, Android-powered phones are quickly making up ground against Apple regarding apps.
Similarly, a Windows mobile phone is also a good option if plan to do a lot of work on your phone. The operating system has a unique flow; screens slide into one another, and the home screen has Live Tiles to give immediate updates on everything from the weather to social media. Apps are becoming more plentiful, but there are still Android and iOS titles that might be missed by those who switch.
