50 shopping mistakes to avoid this Diwali (PHONES)

50 shopping mistakes to avoid this Diwali (PHONES)

• Unlock issues: Ensure it’ll work in India

Something you need to ensure when picking up a phone from abroad is the compatibility with the mobile networks in India. A lot of websites sell unlocked phones, mostly originating from the U.S. Market. Before placing the order, double check with the seller/website about the global network unlock status of the device.

• Quad-core on budget phone isn’t the best

There are a lot of smartphones available starting at Rs. 9,000 that boast of a quad-core processor. Don’t be fooled by them. Most of them are powered by a variant of the MediaTek MT 6589 chipset. Do your homework and check the device before purchasing. There are three variations of the chipset and you’ll need to know which one your phone has if you’re even hoping for decent performance.

• Platform loyalty doesn’t pay

Just because you’ve been a loyal customer for years doesn’t mean that you have to remain one for the rest of your life. Experiment, check out what’s new. Also, it’s very likely that many of your old favourites are now dead and dying brands.

• "Complete ecosystem" is overrated

We have heard it so many times now - “You already have a MacBook? You must get an iPhone for proper integration”. These are the kind of statements that are fallacious and don’t make any sense. And yes, this applies to whatever the geniuses may have to tell you about the other ecosystems - Google, Windows etc. In fact, almost all manufacturers are doing there best to ensure that you have a seamless transition to their platform anyway. It’s the apps that will cost you when you switch platforms.

• Memory woes: You’ll never get what’s advertised

This is a very important point to consider, especially if you’re planning on picking up a budget smartphone. The Canvas HD for example showcases 4GB built-in storage but lets you use a mere 1.77GB. Native apps that can’t be removed and more importantly, the OS itself, will hog the free memory. You’ll need to do a mental check of your data needs, add 2-4GB to that and purchase a phone accordingly. Having a microSD expansion slot is always a huge bonus.

• Buying from abroad? What about the warranty?

There’s something appealing in getting stuff from abroad at a discount. Remember that you might sacrifice the warranty though. Confirm with the manufacturer if you’re worried.

• Regular updates

Regular updates are essential for a fun, smartphone experience. It’s no fun when you’re stuck on ICS while the whole world is going gaga over JellyBean. Many companies are a bit lax when it comes to dishing out updates and some might even have a reputation for abandoning support for older products. Research well before you buy. Forums are a great source of such information.

• AMOLED vs. IPS vs. ClearBlack vs.....

Phones have such an assortment of displays and each one claims to be better than the last. As a rule of thumb, IPS panels are the best in terms of image quality, but only if they’re calibrated. OLEDs and AMOLEDs are the most vibrant due to their pitch black blacks, but they usually have a green colour cast. Standard LCD panels are cheap. Good ones are decent, bad ones, terrible.

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iPhone 4 (Retina Display) vs Samsung Galaxy (Amoled Display)

• Aural prowess

It pays to listen to your future mobile phone’s speakers before you buy it. Many phones have some of the largest displays with the tinniest speakers ever made. Also remember that not all speakers are made the same and while some may have excellent treble, others might have improved bass (whatever little that can be managed from a speaker that measures 1cm across). Also, a speaker that is optimized for voices is more preferable in a mobile device. Call up a friend, have him talk to you and listen for clarity.

• Connectivity

Just because a phone has NFC, BlueTooth 4.0, 802.11ac and LTE support doesn’t meant that you must have it. The average person barely has access to 3G, let alone LTE and how many times have you transferred a file via Bluetooth or NFC that you so desperately need that feature? Sure, if you do need that feature then there’s no question that you must buy a device that supports such a feature, but if you don’t, don’t bother. Most of is nothing more than marketing mumbo-jumbo anyway.

• Plastic, metal or glass body?

Smartphones come in all shapes and sizes and also materials. Each type of material has its advantages and you shouldn’t dismiss any of them without due consideration. Plastic bodied phones are lighter and the panels are usually less prone to dents and scratches, given their flexibility. On the down side, the phones can feel cheap and might be flimsy to boot. Metal-bodied phones are ideal in terms of thickness and strength. However, very thin metal, as on the iPhone 5 will usually offer no better protection than a plastic bodied phone. Plus, metal looks really ugly when scratched. Glass bodied phones, such as the Nexus 4, while a pleasure to behold, are among the easiest phones to inadvertently damage. Choose wisely.

• Do your apps work on that?

Heavy Instagram user? Avoid BlackBerry, for example. Not all smartphone platforms offer the same selection of apps. You need to identify the apps critical to you, and check if the phone you’re going to buy lets you use them. Note that paid apps will have to be re-purchased if you're shifting platforms.

• Want a stylus?

The stylus is not just an archaic touch-screen tool that’s still being pushed for use in modern devices. The stylus, while mostly useless on current phones, given the finger-friendly UI, is still a popular input device, particularly for large-screen phones. It offers greater precision, but unless you need it, it serves no functional purpose. Also, make sure that the phone you buy has some mechanism to store the stylus when not in use.

• Dealer vs. manufacturer’s warranty

Many of those lower-priced devices that you may find online will be backed by a seller/dealer warranty. This type of warranty is useless unless you know from experience that the seller is extremely reliable. Such phones (with the seller warranty) are a risk from the moment you buy them and all your servicing needs are dependent on a guy who you might never see ever again. Not all dealer warranties are bad, and also, whether you need the warranty or not depends on the discount you get. Massive discounts might be worth losing the warranty over. You’re the best judge.

• Scratch resistant screens

Many manufacturers pass of their screens as “scratch resistant” but remember, Gorilla glass is Gorilla Glass and many manufacturers skimp out on this (including such big names as Sony) and you won’t really be aware of the exact certification of the supposed scratch-resistant screen that you’ve got. In such a situation, a good scratch guard is a life-saver. Stock scratch-guards are usually bad and it’s best to get a reputed one for your screen.