Deciding Which New Phone Is The Best For You

Deciding which new phone is best for you comes down to what features you cannot live without. Keep these options in mind when you go shopping.

Office Demands vs. Home Business

                                               Image via Flickr by Sergey Galyonkin

A Smartphone that can handle multiple email accounts is essential for work but has little utility for home use. Blackberry devices, including the Blackberry 10, support POP email accounts and corporate servers that run Microsoft Exchange and Outlook Web Access. The downside for these phones is the general lack of an app store to give added business value.

If you're running a business from your home, try the iPhone 5S. Email connectivity is still possible across multiple accounts, including POP mail, IMAP and Microsoft Exchange, and you have access to the iTunes app market. The disadvantage you'll run into here is price -- about $600 without a contract.

Taking High Quality Pictures

Cameras on today's phones rival any standalone point-and-shoot on the market. Android phones and Windows phones dominate this segment of the industry with the Nokia Lumia 1021 leading the way with its 41-megapixel camera. This Windows phone's ZEISS element lens and PureView technology combines seven megapixels into one, enabling DSLR-quality photos with just a button touch.

On the Android side, the Samsung Galaxy S5's 16-megapixel camera provides high-end camera options that still best anything Apple has out there at the moment. The phone also incorporates real-time HDR technology, white balance presets, image stabilization, multiple focus settings and white balance presets.

Power to Run Your Apps

What good is it to have millions of apps available for download if your phone doesn't have enough RAM to run them? If you like to run a ton of apps at once or use your phone for graphic heavy games, you need a device that can handle the increased power demands. Samsung makes the devices with the highest RAM (random access memory) now available, including the Galaxy Note 3 (3GB of RAM). Sony's Xperia line of phones also features 3GB of RAM and comparable processor speeds to the Samsung Galaxy series but has lower display resolution.

Into the Future: Multiple media outlets confirmed that Samsung developed the world's first 4GB RAM chip for a smartphone back in 2013. That's enough power to run most desktop applications.

Phone Security Features

Keeping sensitive business information on your phone? You need a device that can keep your data secure and prevent access even if you lose it or someone steals it. Built-in fingerprint scanners on the iPhone 5S, HTC One Max and Samsung Galaxy S5 make certain that only you can unlock your phone. Remote data wiping for phones using Android or iOS operating systems helps you and your company cut sensitive information should the phone fall into the wrong hands. Take advantage of cloud storage features on the Android or iTunes app markets so your data doesn't need to live on your phone.

Handling a Heavy Workload

How long your phone can hold a charge can mean the difference between getting work done on the road and a desperate search for a wall outlet. PC Mag's own testing crowned the Huawei Ascend Mate2 as the leader in battery life with more than 30 hours available on a single charge. If you've never heard of the phone, that's because it's manufacturer only started offering smartphones in the United States in 2014. If you'd like a device with a more established sales history in the US, try the Droid Maxx. This phone has over 19 hours of battery life and full access to the Android app market and a 10MP camera.

Decide with Special Features

Some proprietary features set phones apart from the rest of the pack. If you have relatives and friends scattered across the country, you may want an iPhone to leverage FaceTime for more personal communication. Are you a person who hates typing on a touch screen? Try a phone like one from the Galaxy Note series, which incorporates a stylus for hand writing your notes.
Special features are no sign of a phone with staying power, however, so it's important to look at all factors before making a final decision.

Choosing the phone that's best for you comes down to how you view its importance in your daily life. Take these tips and go forth to make informed choices.