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What you need to consider when looking for a new phone

onlygirlblog
Guest blogger

Ask my kids what I do for a job, hobby or in my spare time and their answer has proven to be ''she does lots on her phone!'' Never before have we (at least, I) relied so much on our handheld worlds for work, life-min and socialising; but with so many things to use our gadgets for it can be difficult to know which phone will work best for us and our lives.
 
It's only recently that our 9 and 11 year olds have got their own mobile phones, and my overworked iPhone 6s plus has been in need of retirement longer than Peter, our octogenarian school care-taker; so, when EE asked me what I consider when thinking about an upgrade or getting the kids their debut mobile, I was prepped and poised. Here are my top questions you should be asking yourself, your kids and the helpful team at any EE store to narrow down the exciting minefield of getting a new phone.
 
 

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Camera
 

This is a biggie for me! As a blogger and mum of active boys, I love capturing 'blink and they're gone' magical, comical and day-to-day moments. I use my camera phone for all my social media images and vlogging on the move, but I'd love to do away with my hefty camera sometimes, so a great phone camera is high on my priorities - I love the look of what the newer iPhones (7 onwards) can do in portrait mode, giving the appearance of pictures taken with a DSLR camera with just a snap on your phone!

 
That said, our younger boys aren't interested in taking pictures or social media, so a great camera doesn't rate high on their tech radar.
 
 

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Battery Life

 

I'm pretty sure everyone wants their phone to last as long as possible there's nothing more niggling than a sudden black screen of death, mid insta-story! Nonetheless, you might have found the phone of your dreams, but if it's not going to get you half-way through your working day, it's a swipe left in the match-making stakes.

 
Slowly nudging me towards the iPhone 8 is the promise of less charging wires lurking around our already cable-tastic, breakfast bar - thanks to wireless charging! Just plonk that beaut on the charging pad and let the Apple magic commence!
 
 

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Size Matters

 

Like all important things in life, mobile phones come in a plethora of sizes these days, there's something to suit everyone from palm quashing beasts to diminutive tech nuggets.

 
I'm a 'go big' kinda gal! I prefer a larger phone, for internet browsing, replying to emails and photo editing; but this has come at the cost of not being able to pop it into a bijou clutch or my back pocket. Even so, I'm not giving up my iPhone plus at the next upgrade I've got accustomed to a great screen size while still (just about) fitting in my hand!
 
Mr OG, on the other hand, is a pretty streamlined dude - he uses his phone as it was intended in 1999 for phone calls and texts, and without a man-bag, the smaller the better in his humble opinion, so he sticks to his 'standard' sized iPhone 6s.

 


Operating System (MobileOS)

 

Panic not, I'm not about to get too techy - but it's worth knowing your iOS from your Android. For me, this is a simple (almost, a too stuck in my ways) decision; I've been hooked on Apple since 2008 and like to know that although a sparkly new phone might have a whizzy camera and phenomenal screen definition, that I'll be able to pick up right where I left off- I'm therefore iOS all the way. But perhaps you'd like a bit more freedom than Apple is willing to offer - Android (developed by Google) or Windows might be better for you. If, like me, you're a tad bewildered by the OS monster, just ask a friendly EE team member to guide you towards enlightenment!

 
 

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Memory

 

Luckily, long gone are the days of being told to delete some texts once you'd received 10(!) to free up memory, but we're now in an era where the average person has 630 pictures on their phone camera roll (according to GIGAOM research), along with videos, music downloads, podcasts, audio books, televisions series et al! If we're coming clean, I currently have 9001 photos, 387 videos, 55 apps, 5 audio books and 42 pod casts -  taking up 31.5gb of my 128gb storage - it's nice to know I'm not going to be stopped in my photo taking tracks and forced to delete some magical family moments on the hoof!

 
If downloads, filming videos and (like me) taking 93 pictures at a time are your thing, you might want to consider going BIG on the memory front; for you Android lovers I hear that the Google Pixel 2 comes with unlimited storage, endless snapping and music ahoy!
 
Meanwhile, the boys (from 2-15) tend to watch YouTube and stream from Apple Music while we're at home, without the need for mega downloads - so, like their ability to remember where the wash basket is, they use little memory at all times!
 

 

Price

 

This one goes without saying!

 
If, like me, your phone is your livelihood and you've a proven track record of looking after it, a bit like that Tamagotchi in 1997, then it's worth investing. If, like certain small people in our house you have a tendency to 'forget' things, drop things and generally leave things lying on the floor or in the bottom of a bag, it might be best looking at a cheaper model.
 
 

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EE Store Finder

 

Hopefully, by now, you have a bit more clarity on the key points you should be asking yourself when upgrading; undoubtedly though, you'll need a helping hand in guiding you towards the right handset for you. Check out your nearest EE store and get chatting to one of the trained EE team members.

 
As sure as I'll need a tea in the morning, I know as a family we'll all be sticking with iPhones and iPads at our next upgrades - it'll just come down to price ranges and the pretty awesome optional extras EE throw in, like the Beats X earphones on their fab Christmas deal!
 
What is it you look for in a great phone? I'd love to know what keeps your mobile world turning.
 

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