TextNow Guide
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Find The Best Phone For Your Needs

Erin

Erin

 

August 21, 2020

Find The Best Phone For Your Needs

How many times have you seen a commercial or an ad for a newly released smartphone and thought, "Wow I need that!" Don’t worry, it’s happened to the best of us. The truth is, there are new phones being released every year, and although they might seem like a must-have in the moment, we want to help you avoid unnecessarily throwing away your hard-earned money so you can make sure the next phone you buy is really providing you with the features that you need and value most.

Not every phone will be a one-size-fits-all because not everyone's needs are the same. So for that reason, consider some of these factors when buying a new phone to ensure that you get the best longterm value.

Calling and Texting Capabilities

Black flip phone

It may seem obvious that if you're getting a phone you want to have reliable calling and texting, but then again, it's 2020 and with all the other features that smartphones have, calling and texting may well be at the bottom of some people's wish lists. The good news for those who value calling and texting above all else when it comes to a new phone is that you can really save a lot of money by opting for a phone without all the new bells and whistles that you won't find as much value in. In fact, perhaps a smartphone isn't something you're looking for at all. Quality flip phones without data or even a camera do still exist for those looking to keep it simple, while still meeting their communication needs.

Camera Quality

I don't know about you, but whenever I see an advertisement for a new phone, the highlighting feature is almost always—without fail— the "superior camera" that it has. If you're looking to build a large social media following with your exceptional image content, or hoping to capture digital photos that you can potentially turn to print, this may be a decisive consideration for you. The resolution of pictures it will provide, the number of lenses available, zoom and autofocus capabilities, night mode options, and many more factors may be exactly what you value and what you'll look to invest in when shopping for your new phone.

Influencer taking selfie

But if you don't think that you need all those fancy features and really just want a camera that's good enough to capture those hilarious faces your kids make or the adorable way your dog sleeps, then perhaps a simpler camera without all the extra features, and a much lower price point, will suffice.

Take a look at this article we posted last year that shows the emphasis brands like Apple have put on improving camera quality over other aspects of their smartphones. If the camera is not a top priority for you, consider buying a slightly older model which will get you most of the same features with a much lower price tag.

Storage Space

When considering the best phone for your needs, storage space is a huge factor. The amount of storage space your phone provides can have a domino effect on the other factors that you value in your phone. Want to use a lot of different apps without bogging down the phone's processor? Take a lot of photos that you want to save to your phone? Want to make sure the phone can run smoothly and reliably at all times? Having ample storage space on your phone will ensure that not only can you download all the apps and save all the photos to your heart's desire, but can also provide you with peace of mind that even with all these things running, your phone will still be able to function sufficiently to support the most basic phone tasks like making a call.

If you're not the type of person to have a handful of social media apps, mobile games, manage your mobile banking, and store all your music on your phone, then perhaps opt for a phone with less storage space to save money on your next phone purchase — that premium storage space doesn't come cheap.

Dual SIM Capabilities

Man checking map and phone

This may be a sore spot right now, but it you're a traveller and like to stay connected while travelling internationally, a phone with dual SIM capabilities may be something you want to seriously consider! The dual SIM option will allow you to use your primary carrier when you're at home over their network, but with the flexibility to install a temporary SIM card while abroad that will be compatible with the local network so you can also have a reliable data connection while in a foreign country — without incurring high roaming fees from your home carrier.

Operating System of Devices You Already Own

Macbook, iPad and iPhone

This is a pretty big one that can be easily overlooked, but it is really one of the most important factors you should be considering. If you're not sure what the best phone for your needs is, a great way to start narrowing down the options is to think about what other existing devices you already have and will be using alongside your new phone. If you have a MacBook or iPad, a new iPhone may be the best option for cross-device functionality. Prefer a PC? Go for an Android to seamlessly connect various accounts or saved files.

Hopefully by now you have a clearer idea of some key features that you know you'll find value in when purchasing your next phone. The good news is, no matter what you pick, the TextNow app is available for download on Android and iOS phones so access to a secondary number from TextNow is not something you'll ever have to compromise on!

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