4 Mobile Phone Use Considerations You Might Not Have Thought Of
Buying a new mobile has never been more confusing, or potentially expensive if you make the wrong choice. While there are plenty of things you can do to cover the standards of what a new phone will need to do for your basic needs, they don’t always cover more advanced uses. In part that’s due to carrier restrictions and plans, which can wreck an otherwise great phone, but it’s also due to the specific use functions each device offers. Not everyone in a mobile shop is capable of providing the best advice, as many times they may have a very different view than you of what a good phone is.
We’ve taken a long look at what people really do with their phones, and the different complaints people have voiced over certain devices and their use, or lack of use. While some of these things might not apply to you, there will be at least a few that you’ll realise you might not have considered when looking at buying a new mobile. Read on for our list of four things that change how you use your mobile, and what you should consider before purchasing.
1) Screen Size: This one is obvious to the more tech crowds, but there are a large number of mobile users in the UK who don’t need giant screens. For them, phablets and large format phones are overkill. This is because they aren’t using their phones to send email messages, or to take photos. More often than not these are relative minimalists, or people who have very busy jobs that don’t allow them to engage with friends and colleagues over a mobile, unless they’re talking to them. Other times it’s those who have a separate device, like a tablet, which they use for email and MMS functions, or making photos and videos. They don’t get much real benefit from a mobile that offers similar functionality to their existing tablet, meaning a smartphone is the wrong sort of tool for them.
2) Durability: An old school Nokia mobile is a great, serviceable, and cheap phone. It won’t necessarily let you keep up with email, send MMS messages, or snap photos, but it will let you make calls – which is what a phone is supposed to do. If you work in a security related field, most trades, or any other situation where you need a phone that can take a beating, you’ll want to consider this. If you spend £700 on a new iPhone, how long is it realistically going to last before you break it? Less expensive and more durable phones can be great stand in devices for work purposes, and will let you avoid needing to constantly replace broken smartphones, or being left without a phone when you really need one.
3) Keyboards: Most people love the touch keyboards on phones, but for those with large fingers or less than perfect eyesight, they can be a bit of a chore to use. While there are great add on mobile keyboards, such as the Swype keyboard, not all devices natively support them or provide full functionality and use. Other times, it’s just a matter of someone having particularly large hands. For these users, a standard touch keyboard isn’t going to be helpful. Rather, it’s going to end up being an irritation over time. These users will prefer a larger format mobile device, like a phablet, or something with a tactile keyboard, such as the BlackBerry Passport. This is because these keyboards are more user friendly to those who aren’t able to easily use a smaller touch keyboard, or who might not always be in a position to type out messages while viewing the keys.
4) Power Connection Options: As a general rule, the most adaptable mobile phones in the market will have a USB connector, allowing others to plug in and charge almost anywhere. Unfortunately, not all devices work that way, with several having their own proprietary connectors. The iPhone is a great example of this, but there are also Android phones that don’t let their owners use a uniform method of connecting. If you are considering a new mobile, you’ll want to make sure you are purchasing something that you can also easily charge. A USB cable can easily be tucked into a pocket, or borrowed from someone in almost any café. Other types of chargers can’t always be so easily found, meaning that you could find yourself in a position where you can’t charge your great mobile, because you don’t have the right power connector.
While there are many different functions a modern mobile phone can perform, none of them matter if you can’t use the phone because your battery is flat. By paying attention to these considerations, you’ll be able to pick out a phone you can actually use, rather than something that will frustrate you, or end up being replaced in a few months by a devices that better suits your needs. Be selective in what you buy, and you’ll thank yourself for the convenience and use functions that support your individual and unique use of your mobile phone.
