Buying a new cell phone is not a simple process; there are so many things that need to be considered and understood before committing to a new handset. The pace at which the technology is moving is incredible and you only needs look at what happened to Blackberry over a five-year period to know that what is huge one year can be almost non-existent the next. So what sort of things should you consider when looking to buy a new phone? Here are a few tips to help you navigate the process and to make sure that you end up with the right technology and no shopping regrets.
Find the best bargains
When buying a handset remember that you are not just buying the technology you are getting a whole package. What comes with the phone? Do you get a contract and if so what are the rates and how much data do you get? If it is not a contract what comes with the phone? If you are serious about your purchase maybe go online and search for something like, ‘
buy Galaxy S9 plus cases’ or something similar. It is very likely that you will return something positive that will ensure you get a good handset with some worthwhile value-adds throw in.
Go with what you know
As much as technology changes, there is a lot to be said for sticking with what you know. Obviously if your experience with a particular handset has been negative, you should absolutely change, but if you have enjoyed the previous handset, then stick with it, just upgrade to a newer model. But if you feel the need to change make, consider seriously sticking with the same technology. For example, if you are familiar with Android technology you might want to replace a Sony with a Samsung or a Huawei, that is a safe transition to make, but
jumping from Android to IOS is a different leap and should be thought through carefully.
Know yourself
It is important to do a needs analysis, so you can make the most informed decision possible. If you are the type of person who enjoys taking pictures and posting them on Instagram them look at the camera specs. How much memory does it have? What are the security features? These are all important things to consider. Similarly, if you are signing up to a contact to get the phone, how much data, free calls and SMS do you get? It is all important information to know so that you can find the technology and the package that best suits your needs.
Do you really need to go there?
So often people upgrade their handsets simply because they are due for a new contract. This is often a very unnecessary thing to do, especially if your old phone is still working well. If and when you find yourself at this juncture think carefully about what you are about to commit yourself to. It may well be better to cancel your contract and continue to use the phone on a pre-pay basis. Then, when your phone is actually ready to retire, shop around for a new contract and a
phone and proceed from there. But make sure that you are in control of the process and that it is not being dictated to you by the needs of the mobile operators.
