What should be the specs of your next Android smartphone?

Smartphones have gotten really, really good these days. Good phones are getting cheaper and cheap phones have become very decent. If you are planning to upgrade or buy a new Android smartphone, usually the first thing you do is to check the specs sheet if it is really worth the price.

If you still haven’t picked one up, then let this be a guide on what are the ideal specs you may consider before buying your new phone or upgrading into mid-range to high-end phone. I guess that this will also be the standard specs several months from now so you are not required to upgrade sooner. Additionally, you’re probably going to be spending the next year or two years together, so you definitely want to think on it before you actually make the purchase.

1. FULL HD DISPLAY

Full HD is currently the standard for a smartphone display resolution especially if you are have a device with a 5-inch screen, although 2K or Quad HD displays have been around on high-end phones like the Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5. However, some of the newly released smartphones this year still offer Full HD displays such as the Sony Xperia X and Xiaomi Mi 5 because practically, only selected people can tell a Quad HD display from a Full HD one, and this is only after comparing the two resolutions with their nose stuck to the phone’s screen, not in a typical usage scenario.

2. FAST CHARGING CAPABILTIY

Charge fast! Over and over. Get a device with a fast charging system that can fully charge a smartphone in the shortest time possible like Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, Super VOOC, Mediatek PumpExpress+ and Samsung Adaptive Fast Charging. Take note that in order for the technology to work, you need to have both a device and charger that support fast charging technology, because it requires intelligence on both ends to know the state of the battery and charger for proper power output.

3. USB TYPE-C

USB-C is cool for a bunch of reasons. First, it’s reversible, which means that unlike the Micro-USB plug you use now, you can stick in a USB-C cable any which way as either side is “up.” The new plug and receptacle can carry up to a USB 3.1 connection which boasts a 10Gbps maximum data rate, transmit DisplayPort signals at up to 4K resolution, and handle up to 100W of electrical power with fast charging, all at the same time.

4. AT LEAST 3000 MAH BATTERY

If you intend to use your phone all day, then you will really need to pay attention to the phone’s battery capacity. Bigger batteries don’t always mean longer use, with screen size and processor performance to be taken into account. But generally a larger battery will help and getting at least 3000 mAh battery will last your phone in a day with moderate usage.

5. 2GB DDR4 or 3GB DDR3 RAM

For RAM, moving on DDR4 should be the key, 2GB DDR4 would outperform 3GB DDR3. Sadly, this relies on the chip maker. For now, Qualcomm keeps DDR4 only to the 800- series and MediaTek’s upcoming Helio P20 and X30 will also support DDR4, and no news on Intel-based mobile processor yet. So be sure to check that you are getting the 2GB 4th generation of RAM or look for the late 3rd generation 3GB.

6. 32GB INTERNAL STORAGE

Our smartphones continue to consume more storage, which is what happens when every part of your mobile experience gets bigger and better. For these reasons, 16GB of storage really just doesn’t cut it long term. With 32GB of internal storage, average users don’t run into storage issues after at least three months of use. Let’s just all wish that manufacturers will ditch its 16GB base model for their upcoming devices and shell out for the larger storage options.

7. FINGERPRINT SCANNER

Fingerprint scanners are no longer reserved for the top devices only. Initially, it was solely used to unlocking your device and later, features such as making payments were also implemented to make people’s lives a bit easier. Android Marshmallow (6.0) has added support for fingerprint sensors which is a clear indication that all future flagships and even budget devices can include one. If you do classified transactions online and want to protect some private information then you should get a phone with an extra security feature.

Listed above are the some of the notable and standard specs that should be looked at first, and here are some others that you might also want to consider.

• Expandable Memory via Micro-SD Card
• Latest Glass Technology from Asahi or Corning Gorilla Glass for added screen protection
• Water and Dust Resistance with mid to high IP rating

What are the specs you want in your next Android smartphone? Tell us more about it on the comment section below.