What You Want

If you are looking to purchase a cell phone, you should first decide on which factors are most important to you. These factors might be price, early termination fees, phone selection available within a network, or other factors. Once you know which factor is most important, you can target a carrier or phone that is designed to be best in a particular way. In the highly competitive cell phone industry, carriers and phone manufacturers attempt to differentiate themselves by targeting specific needs. This means that cell phones often offer something unique like a nationwide plan, international calling, or group plan. For this reason, you should aim to work with a carrier that aims to be best in a particular field. By doing this, you’ll be able to save on what you want most.

Price

Price is one of the most important things to think about when choosing a phone. Phones and plans range from low cost to very expensive, and you definitely want to find a phone and plan that fits within your price range. From prepaid options to low monthly payments to the most expensive phones on the market, there is an option for everyone. Determine your price point, and you’ll be able to do your research from there.

Carrier

Some of the most popular carriers are Verizon, AT&T, Virgin Mobile, T-Mobile, Sprint, and more. Some phones are only carried through a certain carrier, so it's important to make sure the carrier you choose has the phone you want. Each also has certain advantages. For example, Verizon has a coverage network that blankets more than 99% of the United States. In contrast, companies like Boost Mobile will assess additional roaming charges when outside of major cities. Those who travel often or live in multiple places should consider getting their phone plan from a carrier that offers exceptional nationwide coverage. Individuals who spend most of their time at home or in the office should make sure that their phone carrier has good coverage where they plan to use the device.

Main Features

When picking the right phone, you should take a look at the features offered. These range from keyboard and interface, camera and video capabilities, memory, accessibility, operating systems, and more. For example, some phones are designed to have exceptional storage capabilities for users who plan to store a great amount of data on their device. Other phones are designed to be more like a personal computer, with cellular capabilities being mostly secondary. For corporate use, it may be important that a cell phone's communication is encrypted or that it supports unique applications. If you plan to use one of these unique applications, it will be important to use a phone with a compatible operating system. For all of these purposes, there are specific phone plans designed to meet those needs.

Bonus Features

You should also compare phones based on their unique features as well. In an attempt to be different from the rest of the competition, most phones offer a unique feature that might be right for specialized applications. For example, contractors might benefit from a cell phone that has a rugged design that will be protected from falls. These rugged phones can also be appropriate for those who engage in competitive sports and outdoor activities. Another type of phone, called a push-to-talk phone, gives users the optional capability of utilizing their phone as a walkie-talkie. Since cell phones are capable of picking up a signal in any city, these can be much more useful than regular radio-based push-to-talk communication devices. Finally, some cell phone carriers have cameras with exceptional resolutions that are designed for photographers or those who like to post images on social media.

Design

You may also want to compare potential phones based on their cosmetic appearance. This is a valid way of differentiating smartphones since they will often be used visually when browsing the Internet. Many phone buyers today like phones with an "open" design where they don't have to open the device. These are similar to tablets, as they have touchscreen displays and usually have advanced functionality. Another type of phone to consider is a flip phone, which mostly takes input from either a number pad or a touchscreen. Finally, there are slider phones which offer a full keyboard instead of a number pad. These can be convenient for texting or browsing the Internet, especially for phones that don't have a touchscreen display.

Connectivity

Not all cell phones use the same protocols or technologies to communicate. Further, some phones allow users to access multiple networks depending on available signals in a given location. Most cell phone carriers today offer at least 3G coverage, which provides high-speed Internet access while traveling in most places. Many large cities today have 4G coverage, which offers speeds up to 5 megabits per second. If you plan to use streaming video or spend most of their time browsing the Internet should look for a phone that has 4G coverage. WiFi is another nice feature to have, even for those with access to advanced Internet connections. Since most WiFi connections offer unlimited bandwidth, they can be used as an alternative to more expensive 3G and 4G Internet. Those who plan to use a cell phone at home or in the office should make sure that it provides full support for WiFi.

Contract Considerations

Last, it is important to take a look at the length and terms of the contract. Many carriers require at least a two-year contract. As part of agreeing to these terms, most carriers will offer advanced smartphones either free-of-charge or at reduced rates. This can make a device such as an iPhone or Android much more affordable. However, it also obligates you to agree to a contract that might exceed the term of their current employment. As a result, you should carefully evaluate the costs associated with early contract termination. Most carriers charge a fixed fee plus an additional amount for each month still remaining in the contract at termination. Carriers that have excessive charges for early termination should be avoided.

Also, contracts can change based on how many users will be on the plan and how many minutes you have on your plan. You’ll want to consider data plan costs, text messaging costs, and more when considering the contract.