Checklist for Choosing a Smartphone

There are dozens of smartphones available from different carriers, but choosing one that works for your lifestyle can be a little overwhelming. Whether you’re buying for your first smartphone or lost the last one on a trip, the guidelines below will help your figure out what wireless carrier to pick, smarthpone operating system to choose, and the plan to avail.

Specs Matter
Smartphones today come in a variety of features. Some have large, touch screen feature, while others have smaller display with numerical keypads. Write down what matters to you so it will be easier for you to narrow down your choices.

Operating System
Thanks to the ever-evolving technology, you now have four main smartphone choices to consider: Android, BlackBerry, iOS, and Windows Phone.

Android is an open source operating system that runs on a lot of smartphones available today, such as Sony Xperia Miro, LG Optimus L7, Motorola RAZR V, and HTC Evo 4G LTE. Visually, it’s similar to iOS, but adds customizable homescreen and widgets.

Meanwhile, if you’re accustomed to mobile phones with physical keyboard, the BlackBerry models are for you. When it comes to operating system, though, BlackBerry smartphone have slower hardware and limited core amenities that are typically found in Android and iOS devices.

Speaking of iOS, who wouldn’t recognize iPhone? To date, iPhone is the only smartphone that runs in iOS and Apple intends to keep it that way. It offers clean, simple design and an app/game catalog suited for different iPhone users. Additionally, it doesn’t allow much geeky tinkering as Android does.

Finally, there’s Windows Phone from Microsoft. It’s the only operating system that employs a new type of interface and is based almost entirely on the Zune MP3. Windows Phone uses Live Tiles, which are half app icon, half widget.

Carrier
The four biggest wireless carriers include AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Coverage will usually vary depending on your location. Therefore, it’s ideal to test each network at your home and workplace just to be sure it will be a good fit to your needs.

AT&T remains the premiere and home for the iPhone. It has a 4G LTE and 3G HSPA+ network. Sprint is the first to to deliver 4G (WiMax) through its partnership with Clearwire, though it’s still struggling to keep up with AT&T and Verizon when it comes to high-speed 4G network. T-Mobile, on the other hand, is the most flexible carrier in terms of plans and prices; whereas, Verizon is still the most expensive carrier. Along with AT&T, Verizon dominate the market and carries iPhone, Android devices, and many BlackBerry devices.