Specs, features or price: What really matters when you're buying a smartphone?

Smartphones are getting smarter with the latest specs and features- Here's how you can find a phone that fits your needs
Published May 24, 2017
Photo credit: Oppo Pakistan
Photo credit: Oppo Pakistan

It's not just about the looks - specs and features is the first thing one looks at when buying a new phone.

But what technological aspects actually make your phone faster, powerful and savvy?

Here is a quick look at the latest in smartphone technology that has been a major hit with users:

Octa-core 64-bit processor

A 64-bit processor is rarely found in most smartphones, and this processor speed is capable of accessing more than 4 billion times of memory as compared to a regular smartphone. This means everything from browsing to loading applications is faster.

Top picks with this feature: Huawei's Ascend Mate 7 and HTC Desire 820 both come with this processor speed. The Oppo F3 also has a powerful octa-core, 64-bit processor.

Smart-Facial Recognition

For those who are into taking selfies and preserving moments wherever they go, this feature is the ultimate win! This built-in feature enables the camera to identify if there are more than two people in the lens, so that it automatically switches to a group selfie mode,. Facial recognition makes group selfies effortless without the user having to adjust the camera.

Top pick with this feature: The OPPO F3 has a dual selfie camera, and both the 16 MP camera with a sensor of f/2.0 and the 8 MP one with a f/2.4 sensor size can detect more than one face in the picture without a hitch!

High Dynamic Range (HDR) camera

More commonly known as HDR, it is another feature that adds more dynamic range and depth to photographs. Smartphones with an HDR camera make even dark photos look lighter in exposure. Ordinary camera phones can only capture so much highlight and shadow detail - with HDR the highlight and shadow details are both increased, making the picture as close to the image seen by a human eye as possible!

Top pick with this feature: Google's new Pixel phone comes with an HDR camera.

High energy density battery

A high energy density battery with 3500 mAh capacity is capable of giving your phone longer endurance, up to at least 18 hours. With a powerful battery like this, you can increase talk time and even run a lot more applications without worrying about fast battery drainage, Also, no need to hold onto a power bank or any other source of power supply!

Top pick with this feature: The newly launched Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus comes with this battery.

Finger print reader

No longer a feature limited to Apple smartphones, a finger print reader is advanced to the point where even a slight touch of the user is enough to unlock the device. The latest finger print reading technology in smartphones is equipped with a hydrophobic membrane, which even detects prints even when the users' fingers are wet.

Photo credit: Oppo Pakistan
Photo credit: Oppo Pakistan

Top pick with this feature: While a number of models are now being launched with this feature including the Oppo F3, OnePlus 3 and iPhone 7 are quite popular for their smart finger print recognition technology.

Dual selfie camera

A dual selfie camera is unlike any ordinary selfie cam in a phone because of its wider field of view. There is limited amount of image distortion due to this camera, and with a 6P lens, the quality of the images are much more professional as compared to the rest.

Top pick with this feature: The OPPO F3 comes with a dual selfie camera that can detect group selfies with automatic facial recognition. Plus, it offers 16 megapixel and 8 megapixel dual front cameras, making it a hit for those who love taking selfies with their friends.


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