Looks fade sooner, performance lasts longer! Don’t be fooled by superstar visuals and find what’s under the hood of your next smartphone buy.
Humans are visual creatures and the moment we see something shining, we think it’s treasure. But not everything that shines is gold. So, be careful of those alluring rear designs of smartphones sold in the market.
Before you proceed, check the specs first, the display, and then the aesthetic. Here are the reasons why performance matters more than looks in smartphones.
User Experience
Image credit: realme
Performance is a key player in your experience as a gadget user. From swiping the user interface to the loading of apps, performance is the real deal. A combination of weak processor and low memory will lead to lags, delays, and stutters. Even your favorite social media apps will suffer from these anomalies.
While developers created Lite versions of their apps, nothing beats the feature-rich full versions. At the end of the day, you’ll desire something fast and reliable over stunning aesthetics.
Productivity and Entertainment
Image credit: HONOR
A crisp display panel with vivid visuals and powerful cameras will win scenes no matter what. A pretender with jaw-dropping camera design but lacks an adequate sensor won’t last. Imagine how unreliable it is when trying to catch moments on a fly?
When choosing a smartphone focused on camera features, you want to pair that with an excellent display so you can view pics and watch videos at amazing quality. It doesn’t matter if the back isn’t glamorous or has an awkward placement. You can buy a phone case to mitigate that.
As long as it can accomplish your visual demands, it’s all good!
Durability and Longevity
Image credit: CUBOT
Many ignore rugged smartphones because they’re bulky and somewhat ugly. But their beauty isn’t for the eyes, it’s for touch! Rugged smartphones can handle hazards, drops, and bumps – keeping those blemishes away. Even glamorous smartphones with IP rating and drop resistance have a chance of getting dents from a single accidental drop.
However, getting a rugged smartphone should match your lifestyle or occupation. This type of mobile gizmo is most recommended for those working on the field and those who love outdoor adventures. Some new rugged smartphones now have powerful processors and good camera setups.
Battery Efficiency
Image credit: POCO
Got yourself a charming new smartphone? Is it charging fast enough? Battery efficiency is a growing concern. Replacing a battery soon will add to the mountain of e-waste and the components will harm the environment.
When buying, consider the charge rate and any battery or charging protection provided by the brand. This is your simple help in combating e-waste.
Lithium batteries, common among smartphones, prefer the 20% to 80% zone; that’s just how these batteries work. The recommended take is to limit the charging to 80%, if possible, and charge it using the standard way.
Since 5W is very slow, you can opt for 15W to 25W of fast charging. Go higher and top-up to full if you’re traveling.
Futureproofing
Image credit: Apple
Aesthetics will fade over time. While it applies to the hardware parts too, design loses its appeal faster compared to the chipset, RAM, camera, and display. That’s the reason why most brands overhaul the aesthetics to meet the hungry eyes.
Glam and glitters have zero contribution in futureproofing. But investing in a flagship, if you can, will yield you a smartphone good for at least a decade. Apple, Google, and Samsung, among others, have more than five years of software support, which guarantees the enduring age of your flagship buy.
Even after it meets the end of its life cycle, as long as the hardware components aren’t damaged, the device will be in service for several more years. It could still beat many new mid-rangers by then.
Takeaway
An eye-catcher is good if you’re into appearance only, but it won’t work for everyday tasks. That’s why it’s the best scenario if you can get both – style and performance in a single device.
The downside is the budget. Flagships are always expensive while mid-rangers are always subpar to true powerhouses. Is there a middle ground? There are two and one of them comes with some risks.
First, you can go for rental smartphones. Peeps who often go to events and concerts prefer them rather than buying. You can get top-notch camera features and the best aesthetics for special occasions.
Second, buy a second-hand flagship or upper mid-ranger. It’s an investment and costs way cheaper than buying the latest offering. But be careful because second-hand devices often don’t have a warranty. Do this at your own risk.