Choosing well: smartphones
A phone is kept for three to four years. Three things really make a difference in daily use: battery life, the screen and camera quality. The rest is rarely felt.
What to check
Start with battery life
It’s the criterion most closely tied to satisfaction in the reviews we track. Below 4,500 mAh, expect a top-up during the day if you use mobile data. Above 5,000 mAh, you get two days of moderate use.
Don’t overpay for the refresh rate
90 Hz is enough for browsing and video. The difference with 120 or 144 Hz shows mostly side by side, when scrolling fast. Only pay the premium if you game.
Storage is almost never expandable
Count on 128 GB for everyday use, 256 GB if you film in high definition. In this segment, no model accepts a memory card any more.
Check the water resistance rating
Splash resistance and immersion resistance are not the same thing. The second survives a drop in the sink, the first doesn’t.
What you get for each budget
Under €400
Calls, messages, everyday photos. A 60 Hz screen and limited storage are the normal trade-offs at this level.
€400 to €700
The sweet spot for value: good battery life, a decent screen, photos good enough in daylight.
Over €700
Only justified for the camera, the screen or gaming. In perceived everyday speed, the gap with the previous bracket is small.
Frequent mistakes
Choosing on megapixels: beyond 48 Mpx, the sensor and the processing matter far more.
Paying for 512 GB when online storage costs a few euros a year.
Ignoring weight and width: a 6.8-inch screen doesn’t fit in every pocket.