Key Takeaways Checking specs like benchmark scores, camera megapixels, and peak brightness is not enough to judge the quality of a phone. The efficiency of the chip, software optimization, well-tuned image processing pipeline, and good thermal management are equally important. Don't overlook the repairability of a phone and the manufacturer's customer service quality, as they matter more than technical specifications in the long run.
Buying a great smartphone is not easy, given the plethora of options. While most of us look for the best specs at the lowest price, it's important to remember that they're not everything. So, let's discuss exactly what you should look for in a modern smartphone.
Smartphone Specs Are Less Relevant Now
We've grown accustomed to believing that having a more powerful processor is a surefire way to get smoother performance, which is why we tend to check benchmark scores to compare devices. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. While benchmark scores give us a rough idea of expected performance, they can be inconsistent.
Two separate phones having the same chip can differ in performance. Some companies have even been accused of setting their devices to detect when a benchmark test is running and overclock the CPU to boost the rating, which is not indicative of real-world performance.
Efficiency matters just as much as raw power. Put simply, a chip that consistently performs well with minimal battery consumption is better than one that delivers excellent performance but starts to throttle after some time and drains your battery quickly.
This also shows us that the capacity of your phone's battery alone isn't enough to determine the overall battery life you'll get. While a bigger battery is always better, you won't be able to take advantage of that capacity if the rest of the device is poorly optimized.
Case in point: iPhones can deliver better battery life than Android flagships despite having physically smaller cells because iOS is so optimized and Apple silicon is so efficient.
There's perhaps no better example of irrelevant specs than the megapixel count on your phone's camera sensor. You should check what adding more megapixels actually does to a camera sensor. So much goes into making a good camera system that most camera specs you read online are basically pointless.
Lastly, let's talk about peak brightness. Peak brightness isn't the maximum brightness you can achieve by dragging the slider all the way to the right. In reality, it refers to the maximum brightness level of a single point in the display, tested under ideal conditions. For you, the more relevant spec to check is the nit count in high-brightness mode.
What Actually Matters in a Smartphone
I'd argue software optimization matters far more than anything else in a modern smartphone. That's because most phones now have more than capable hardware, so the only distinguishing factor is the attention to detail the company has given to its software.
A well-optimized software allows you to do more with existing hardware. For you, that means smoother animations, faster app launches, increased UI responsiveness, better RAM management, longer battery life, enhanced security, and less frequent bugs and crashes.
Similar is the case for cameras. How well your phone handles image processing has just as much, if not more, of an impact on the final photo as the sensor size.
As smartphone photography becomes more computational, the actual hardware won't matter as much. Video recording does require more power, but without an optimized image pipeline, more power won't help much.
Another thing you should take note of is measures taken for thermal management. This includes heat pipes, vapor chambers, and thermal paste that help dissipate heat away from critical components, so your phone doesn't throttle or overheat during demanding tasks.
Most people forget this, but I highly recommend factoring in the repairability of your phone. As tough as modern smartphones are, they aren't invulnerable. So, if you do end up damaging your device, you should have the peace of mind that spare parts are readily available and that the repair cost is reasonable.
Lastly, one thing you'll absolutely not find on any spec sheet is the quality of the customer support in your region. For this, I suggest you visit the official support page of the phone's manufacturer and check out the number and proximity of service centers in your region. You can also go to community forums to gain some insights into other people's experiences.