NeutralPickHow to choose the best smartphone for you: what to check before you buy
There is no single best smartphone. The best phone is the one that works on your mobile network, gets security updates for as long as you plan to keep it, and does the few things you use most, well. This guide lists what to look up for each phone you are considering, before you pay, so you can compare them in the same way.
Why the adverts and the shop are not enough
Phone adverts show the best result a phone can reach. The detailed specifications often say something different. For example:
- Camera samples in adverts are usually taken in good light, sometimes with extra equipment.
- A phone bought from another country may not support every frequency your mobile network uses.
- A cheaper phone may stop getting security updates years before a more expensive one, or the other way round.
The same phone name is often sold in several versions, with different storage, memory and network support. So check the exact version you would buy, using the maker's own specifications, and check the same things for every phone.
Before you look at any phone
Write down your answers to these four points. They decide which checks in the list matter most to you.
- How long you want to keep it. Two years, or five or more. A longer life needs years of security updates and a battery that can be replaced.
- What you use most. Photos and videos, maps and travel, games, work email, video calls, or mostly calls and messages.
- Your network and plan. Your mobile network, whether you use a physical SIM card or an eSIM (a SIM built into the phone), and whether you need two numbers.
- What it must work with. A smartwatch, earbuds, a car, a laptop, or apps you need for work, banking or government services.
The checklist
The checks are in three groups. Must have means a problem here can make it hard to use or costly to fix. Nice to have means it makes a real difference for many people. Optional means it only matters to some people. When you open the checklist in NeutralPick, you can move any check to a different group to match your answers above.
- Must have
- Works fully on your mobile networkDoes this exact version support the frequencies my network uses, voice calls over 4G/5G (often called VoLTE/VoNR), and the SIM type I need?Phones from another country may miss frequencies or 4G calling, which some networks now need for any call. Some countries also require phones bought abroad to be registered.
- Security updates for as long as you keep itUntil when will this model get security updates, according to the maker's published policy?Without security updates, a phone becomes riskier to use for banking and email. Many makers publish an update period; check it for this model.
- Battery life the way you will use itHow long does the battery last in independent tests that match how I use a phone, and how long does a full charge take?Makers' figures are measured in their own conditions. Tests by independent reviewers, using the same method for every phone, are easier to compare.
- Enough storage spaceHow much storage does this exact version have, how much is free after setup, and can a memory card be added?Storage cannot be added inside the phone later, and photos and videos fill it quickly. Many phones have no memory card slot.
- Runs the apps you needAre the apps I need, for example for banking, work or government services, available on this phone's operating system and version?Some apps only run on one operating system, or stop supporting older versions. Check each app's store page.
- A warranty that applies where you liveHow long is the warranty in my country, does it cover a phone bought from another country or a foreign seller, and where is repair done?Phones bought abroad are often not covered locally. Your country's consumer law may give you more than the maker's warranty.
- Nice to have
- A camera that suits what you photographHow do photos and videos look in independent tests in low light, of moving subjects and with the zoom I would use?Adverts show the best photos. Independent sample photos in different light show what to expect day to day.
- Battery and screen can be replacedCan the battery and screen be replaced by the maker or a repair shop, and roughly what does each repair cost?Batteries wear out after a few years of daily charging, and screens break. A reasonable repair price can add years of use.
- A size you can use comfortablyIs the phone comfortable to hold and use with one hand, and does it fit my pocket or bag?Screen size in inches doesn't tell you how a phone feels. Hold one in a shop if you can.
- Charging with what you already haveIs a charger included, does it charge from standard USB-C chargers, and does it support wireless charging if I want it?Many phones come without a charger. A standard charger you already own may charge it more slowly than the maker's own.
- Water and dust ratingWhat is its water and dust rating (for example IP67 or IP68), and what does the maker say it covers?IP ratings come from lab tests in fresh water; for IP68 the maker sets the depth and time. Most warranties don't cover water damage, whatever the rating.
- Optional
- Privacy settings you controlCan I turn off advertising tracking and app permissions easily, and are there pre-installed apps I can't remove?Some phones come with apps that can't be removed. Check the privacy settings and the list of pre-installed apps.
- Extras you will actually useDoes it have the extras I use, such as two SIMs, a headphone socket, tap-to-pay, or a stylus?Only check the extras you really use. Each one is easy to find in the maker's specifications.
The button opens this checklist in NeutralPick. There you can:
- Remove the checks that don't matter to you, add your own, and move checks between groups.
- Add each phone you are considering.
- For each phone, fill in what you found on the maker's website, its support pages and the shop's product page.
- See every phone side by side.
Want to see what a finished comparison looks like first? See an example comparison with three made-up phones.
Claims to look at carefully
Adverts and product pages often describe the points below in vague terms. When you see one, look for the specific information shown here. If you cannot find it, assume the answer is "no" or "only partly".
- "All-day battery". Look for an independent test that matches how you use a phone.
- A large number of megapixels. Look for independent sample photos in low light and with zoom. More megapixels doesn't always mean better photos.
- "Years of updates". Look for the maker's published policy for this model: how many years, and whether it covers security updates, new operating system versions, or both.
- The price. Add a charger if none is included, a case, extra storage if you need it, and any repair cover you plan to buy.
What to do with what you found
- Put all the phones side by side.
- Look at the Must have checks first. If a phone gets a No on one of your must-haves, remove it, however good the rest looks. Look closely at any Partial.
- If two phones are close, read reviews from owners who have used them for several months, especially about battery life and updates.
- Before you buy, check the shop's return policy, and check with your mobile network that the exact version works on it.
Why use NeutralPick to compare phones
- The same checks for every phone. You fill in the same checklist for each phone you are considering, so you compare them in the same way.
- Everything in one table. You see every phone side by side, check by check, instead of switching between shop pages and notes.
- Nobody can pay to influence it. There are no adverts, no paid placements and no "featured" products. No maker or shop can pay to be shown to you or placed higher.
- Free, with no account. You don't need to sign up or pay anything.