Are smartphones worth the money? Smartphones vs Feature phones
The smartphone might have launched itself into our lives in the late 2000s, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone has joined the smartphone generation. So if you’re still hanging onto your good old feature phone, not sure whether to make the jump, here’s our guide to are smartphones are worth the money?
Smartphone pros
Do I need a smartphone?
Despite the name, you might find that a basic mobile phone isn’t quite as jam packed full of features as you might think. Your typical ‘dumb phone’ is designed to cover all your basic needs, from making calls and sending text messages to splitting the bill using the calculator.
A smartphone, on the other hand, offers a load more features underneath its smart exterior. With access to an app store, whether it’s the Google Play Store, Windows Store or Apple App Store, you can download any programmes to make your phone do absolutely anything! From social media sites like Facebook, to games such as Candy Crush Saga, you can whittle away hours playing, researching and messaging, usually for absolutely free!
As well as apps, other smartphone features include web browsers which let you surf the net, cameras to snap impromptu photos and media players to listen to limitless tunes on the go, which is something that only some feature handsets can offer. Different handsets offer different features so look around before choosing. Apple iPhones now have a fingerprint scanner which allows you to make purchases by simply holding your finger over a button! Whilst the Samsung Galaxy S5 can measure your heart beat, which is awesome for fitness fanatics.
Advantages of feature phones
Battery life
But don’t let the mention of apps steal the show: there are a whole host of advantages to having a basic phone too. Starting with battery life. With the invention of smartphones, we witnessed the death of the time that you could go days without rushing to the nearest charging point- but not with a feature phone.
Because basic phones boast fewer features than your average smart phone, it often means they can keep on going, and going, then going some more before you have to top up its juice.
Lead a simpler life
As well as your basic phone being simple to use, it can also help you to lead a simpler life. Whilst some people might love the fact that they can receive emails and notifications wherever they go, feature mobile phones mean that when you leave the office, you’ve well and truly left the office. No midnight emails that keep you up all night, and no group WhatsApp messages which go off nonstop all day long.
And when most basic phones such as the Nokia 105 sport features such as a calculator, built in torch and tonnes of games, it means having a simple phone doesn’t have to be boring.
Are smartphones difficult to use?
So if you can lead a simpler life with a feature phone, does it mean that smartphones are hard to use?
Not necessarily! There are tonnes of easy to use mobile phones which have been designed with everyone in mind, regardless of whether you’re a complete novice or an absolute pro. With tutorials explaining how to use your smartphone from the moment you turn it on, you can make the move from ‘dumb’ phone to smartphone effortlessly!
Plus, with a number of Huawei phones offering a ‘Simple’ mode perfect for first time users, you might find that smartphones are easier to use than you think!
Smartphone prices: it might not cost as much as you think!
You might assume that picking up a star spangling smartphone might set you back a few pounds- and in some cases you’d be right. But buying a smartphone doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, there are tens of mid-range and budget mobile phones which offer you all the features, functions and apps as a pricey handset, but for half the money.
The cost of a smartphone completely depends on how new it is and what it does, so whilst your new flagship iPhone might do some damage to your bank balance, a slightly older, or more basic smartphone might not. Have a look at what you can get for your money with our smartphone contracts. With deals for less than £10 per month on offer, you might be pleasantly surprised!
Are smartphones worth the money?
So if you’re ready to make the jump from your trusty feature phone to the world of the shiny smartphone, you might be shocked to learn that it doesn’t have to mean switching to a more complicated or expensive device. With budget phones providing all the same features as your basic feature model, and then some, it seems like a no brainer to upgrade.
Still not convinced? Why not browse through our range of cheap basic mobile phones on offer here?