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So many phones on the market have different features and specs that it can be hard to decide what you want to go with. Plus, when you add in all the other carriers in the area offering various plans and free perks, it becomes a headache-producing experience that is better left for someone else to deal with.
It does not have to be that bad of an experience, though. All you have to do is move ahead one step at a time, decide what you want and need, and then ignore everything that does not fit your wants. That means that before you decide on a phone and carrier, you need to analyze your specific situation.
Price Range
If you do not have a budget set up and updated, now is the time to do it. Go to a website that offers you a free template and download it if you want to write it out by hand, or use one to type your information in and then print it out. Either way, finish this step before moving on.
Once that is done, you will know how much money you have each month that can go towards a cell phone plan. Plus, you will be able to see how much extra money you have coming in to save up for the phone. That can make a huge difference in your phone selection.
Features
You need to figure out what you are looking for in a phone because that will make a huge difference in your direction when picking one out. If you want a large-screened phone with a great camera, you may lean toward a Google Pixel or iPhone. If you want a small foldable phone that can fit into your pocket, a Droid will be the better option.
What it all boils down to is what you will use the phone for the most. Granted, a mobile phone will be used for everything imaginable, but when picking one out, you need to know what you want and what you need and rule the rest out.
Operating System
The argument between iPhone and Droid will continue forever, so you must pick a side and stick with it. Each of them has there own benefits and downfalls. If you want to get the best outright mobile phone on the planet, you will need to stick with want you like, or else you will regret the decision that you have made.
One thing that may help you decide is if you want more choices or fewer. The iPhone lineup is limited to the phones that have recently come out on the market, but you can bet that anything dealing with that operating system will be costly. On the other hand, Droid phones offer you multitudes of brands, phone styles, and levels of technology, all at varying price points.
Specs
Every phone will have its own specs that you need to read through. If you do not understand what they all mean, bring a friend or family member who does. If that is not an option, you can research and read up on all the terminology available or find a salesperson that you trust and follow their guidance.
Most of the time, the person behind the counter will be more than enough to help you understand your needs, but only if they work for a reputable company. That means sticking with some of the more prominent carriers. After you decide what carrier you want to go with, find the closest in-person representative and chat with them.
Carrier
The carrier you go through may be simply because you have been using them for some time, or maybe it is because of the free perks they give. If you want a new phone and one of the outlet stores is offering it for free or at a discount, you may want to check them out and see if they provide a good service.
Remember that you do not owe your money to anyone, so if a company wants your business, they will work hard to get it. Obviously, there will be some limitations on what they can do for you, but if they at least make an effort, you will know that they actually want your business, so they may be the carrier to go with.
Service Plan
Once again, the type of service plan that you get will depend upon your needs. If you travel a lot of the time, you will want a good service plan that allows for substantial amounts of data. You will not need much data if you never use your phone for the internet unless you are on Wi-Fi.
The one thing that a good plan will have is an option for unlimited talking and texting, which is imperative in today’s world. Most people use mobile phones for all their communications, ditching the landlines that limit your location for calls. If you go with a lower-level plan, make sure that they will not charge you an outrageous amount if you go over.
Final Thoughts
It may seem like a lot of things to go over, but taking the time to analyze your needs, wants, and budget before you start looking around will make the task much more manageable. If you have all the information written down, you can read through the features and specs of each phone in front of you and remove the ones that do not match your needs. Once you have reduced the options to a couple, you can choose from there based on the price and look.
