With smartphones being an essential part of our daily lives, manufacturers are constantly competing to win customers to their brand with new features and capabilities. To help cut through all the tech terminology and complicated jargon, we’ve put together the top new features for what to look for when buying a new smartphone, from camera specs and design to durability and battery life.

Cameras

Woman in orange jumper and man in denim shirt taking a selfie with their smartphone’s camera in an urban setting.

People don't buy smartphones just because they make great phone calls; they buy them because of what else they can do. And with many of us using our phone as our primary snapping and videoing device, whether a smartphone can take great content can be the deciding factor in buying a new device. 

The good news? Camera quality is constantly improving, not just in relation to the sheer number of megapixels that provides better images and videos, but other features like optical and digital zoom, different modes for capturing different types of shots or shooting 4K video. Some smartphone cameras also offer time-lapse and slow-motion capabilities so users can get even more creative with their content. 

The Google Pixel 7a smartphone has a triple-camera system with an impressive 64-megapixel main camera. It can shoot 4K video at up to 60 frames per second, making for high-resolution content and increased creative opportunities at the editing stage due to the better quality of the original footage. It also has a feature called Magic Eraser, which can easily remove unwanted objects (or people!) from your images.

SEE ALSO: What Should I Do With My Old Phone?

Battery Life 

We’ve all been there: your phone running out of juice at a crucial moment. Yep, battery life was once a weakness of early smartphones but, thanks to efficiencies created through a combination of the latest silicon chips and the most recent operating systems, even the feature-laden latest models, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23, offer up to two days of power. Not only that, they also have fast-charging (or turbo-charging) capability to have you up and running again in next to no time. 

Durability

Today’s smartphones are tougher than they used to be, with many offering water and dust resistance. The new Nokia C32, for instance, has an IP52 rating, which means it can handle dirt and water spills that would have previously put a device out of commission. Likewise, the new Moto Razr 40 is a foldable smartphone that has a water-repellent design, meaning your device will stay safe and operational despite minor liquid accidents or getting caught in a light rain shower.

‍Screen Quality and Resolution

We do so much on our smartphones and also consume a lot of content, with a 2022 US study showing that over two thirds of under 55s watch video footage on their phone at least weekly. So screen quality has become an important feature. Thanks to the latest innovations in tech, the viewing experience on some devices has become first-class. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, for instance, has a display resolution of 3088 x 1440 and a 120Hz refresh rate, so the screen always looks sharp and bright.

Foldable and Flippable Phones 

With the rise in streaming and using social media apps on our phones, size does count. But for making calls and checking messages, a smaller phone might be more convenient. The solution? The new range of devices with foldable screens and the return of better, smarter flip phones, which allow you to easily double the size of the screen or fold and slip into your pocket as required. When opened up, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 boasts a 7.6-inch touchscreen that allows you to be productive on the go, taking video calls or watching content while scribbling notes simultaneously. More of a flip person? The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 fits snugly into your pocket, then opens up to a full-size screen when you need added functionality.

Performance

Smartphones use similar processors to computers to ensure they offer the smooth performance users are looking for. These processors can range from dual-core and quad-core all the way up to octa-core – to put it simply, the more cores the better. The good processors can not only provide fast and snappy performance when using and switching between apps, but also create a power efficiency so your battery lasts longer as well.

Design

One thing that easily differentiates one device from another is design. Smartphone manufacturers know how personal a device can be given customers often have it on-hand 24 hours a day. Would you prefer a device that's thin and light and easy to fit in your pocket or are you after a device that’s more rugged and can handle day-to-day wear and tear? 

Colour is also important for customers and there are usually several choices for each device. The Samsung Galaxy S23, for instance, has four hues to choose from including cream, green, black and lavender. You could be using your next smartphone for years, so it's important for you to be happy with the look, design and colour.

Included Apps and User Interface

The home screen of an android phone showing apps like Twitter and Spotify.

Each smartphone, no matter what operating system, has a user interface – a layer of software that allows users to navigate the device. And with this user interface are several included apps, including a web browser, photo gallery, clock, camera app and much more. The best user interface is one that offers the cleanest, simplest operation and navigation (having lots of handy apps included is also a bonus).

SEE ALSO: Let the Geek Guide You: How to Set up a Mobile Hotspot and More

5G Network

The 5G network is increasing its footprint week after week. Having a 5G device means a customer has access to these speedier networks to stream and download content faster. The other advantage of 5G is greater capacity, so more users can access a single 5G cell tower without it dropping out (which would likely happen if a lot of people access the same 4G tower). The best example of this can be seen at a sporting event in a large crowd. 4G users would find it hard to send a text message or access data but the 5G network offers a lot more bandwidth and capacity. 

Memory and Storage

Usually, a smartphone with more internal memory costs more. Having more internal memory means you can store more pictures, videos, apps and other files without the need to access them from the cloud. Many smartphones also have a memory card slot that allows users to expand the device’s capacity with a Micro SD card. That gives you more room for storage and an easy way to transfer data from one phone to another if you need to switch devices, or when it’s time to upgrade.

Security

Smartphone features such as basic fingerprint sensors or facial recognition are essential for security.

Our smartphones contain a lot of sensitive information such as our digital wallets and banking apps, so it’s crucial to have strong security. At the very least, most smartphones have a fingerprint sensor so they can be unlocked in a second with a single press of a finger. Others also offer face unlock – facial recognition technology – so users can unlock their device just by looking at it.‍

What To Try 

Trade in Your Old Tech

If you have old devices lying around, consider trading them in for an instant Officeworks gift card. With just a few questions, you can assess the value of your old phone, tablet, laptop or smartwatch, then receive a digital gift card for the agreed value to spend on whatever you like, in-store at Officeworks. To find out more check out the Officeworks Trade-in page.

Hot Tip: Just remember to delete any personal data from anything you trade in or bring in to be recycled.