Owning a smartphone today is like having armor ready for battle. In today’s daily productivity demands having a functional and efficient smartphone is very much needed. Whether you are a photography enthusiast, a gaming guru, or just someone who loves endless scrolling, this article is your cheat sheet.
Editor
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Expert
Joben Tan chevron_right
Table of Contents
How to Choose a Smartphone - Buying Guide
According to Joben, here are some of the important factors you should consider before purchasing a new smartphone.
1. Do you game, edit photos, or multitask heavily? Prioritize a powerful processor and sufficient RAM storage
A smartphone’s performance mostly relies on its processor and RAM storage. If you are a gamer, a smartphone with a powerful processor like Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Dimensity 9300 is what you need. If you’re an Apple fan, the Apple A17 Bionic chip is their most powerful processor. At least 4GB of RAM storage is recommended to maximize the performance of the said processors.
For casual to light users, mid-range processors like Snapdragon 778G and Dimensity 1100 and at least 4GB of RAM storage should suffice for basic tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming.
2. Get the right screen size and display resolution
There isn’t really any standard when it comes to this factor, so you should consider the phone’s screen size and resolution that would suit your needs.
Smartphones with a 6-inch screen or above are great for media consumption or multitasking with multiple applications, but they make it less pocket-friendly. Screen sizes below 5.8 inches are much easier to handle but offer less viewing space.
Resolution talks about how sharp a smartphone’s display is. Get a smartphone with at least 1280 x 720p resolution.
3. Battery life
The battery gives life to a smartphone, so it should be capable enough for your usage. Look for phones with capacities of 4,000mAh or more for heavy use. This battery capacity is enough to run your device all day long.
Top 10 Smartphones in Singapore 2024
Why it’s our top pick
This phone is undoubtedly the top-tier smartphone today. Featuring its impressive camera performance, exceptional features, and premium build.
The Samsung Galaxy 24 Ultra is the latest mobile innovation today. This smartphone highlights an integrated S Pen that allows users to take notes, edit photos, or sketch with precision and ease. It also boasts an immersive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x display with a high 120Hz refresh rate.
Specifications:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Operating System: Android 14 with One UI 6.1
- RAM & Storage: 12GB RAM and up to 1TB storage
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Display: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 120Hz refresh rate
Performance
The Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers an impressive performance from its Battery longevity and AI-powered efficiency that learns your usage patterns and optimizes the performance, battery life, and settings to result in more personalized and longer usage. Aside from its blazing performance, this smartphone is also IP68 water and dust resistant.
Samsung Galaxy A54 is one of the best budget smartphones today. It is perfect for everyone because of its sleek and stylish build for a comfortable grip.
Specifications:
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 810
- Operating System: Android 13 with One UI 5.0
- RAM & Storage: Up to 6GB RAM and 256GB storage
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Display: 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate
Performance
It offers a 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED vibrant display and 5G connectivity for faster download and gaming combined with its 5000mAh battery for an all-day reliable performance. Beyond that, it also has a It also has a good quality triple-lens camera system that will surely appeal to photography enthusiasts.
The Google Pixel 8 is a flagship smartphone that is loaded with innovative features like the latest Google Tensor G3 chip, superb camera, and AI-powered features. It has a 6.2-inch OLED display with a 120Hz smooth refresh rate and comes with a premium-quality build.
Specifications:
- Processor: Google Tensor G3
- Operating System: Android 14
- RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM, 128GB, 256GB storage
- Battery: 4575mAh
- Display: 6.2-inch OLED, 120Hz refresh rate
Performance
Because of this device’s G3 chip, it can power through demanding tasks with ease. It is known for its outstanding Google AI features like Magic Eraser and Live Translate that enhance your images and communication experience.
Xiaomi Redmi 12 is a budget smartphone that delivers value for your money. This phone boasts an FM radio which most of the smartphones of today don’t possess. It is also IP53 dust and splash-resistant.
Specifications:
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G88
- Operating System: Android 12 with MIUI 13
- RAM & Storage: Up to 6GB RAM and up to 128GB storage
- Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charging
- Display: 6.71-inch LCD, 90Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution
Performance
Its Media Tek Helio G88 processor delivers a decent performance for everyday tasks like social media browsing and light gaming. It boasts a larger display, and a revamped design with a glass back. Moreover, the 5000mAh battery life is one of its strong points, lasting a full day on a single charge.
Samsung S23 Ultra is the crown jewel of Samsung’s smartphones. It boasts a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a superb camera system, and a luxurious design. Its 120hz refresh rate allows the phone to run smoothly and feel incredibly responsive.
Specifications:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Operating System: Android 13 (One UI 5.1)
- RAM & Storage: Up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Display: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate and QHD+ resolution
Performance
The true highlight of this smartphone is its camera system. Its 200MP main camera and the 10x optical zoom and 100x Space Zoom enables users to capture stunningly detailed photos at any lighting condition and brings you closer to the action.
The iPhone 15 is equipped with a Super Retina XDR OLED display, measuring 6.1 inches across the diagonal. It has a two-camera setup at the back (48MP and 12MP telephoto lens) that delivers excellent shots. It is IP68 dust and water-resistant like its predecessors.
Specifications:
- Processor: Hexa-core
- Operating System: iOS (17.x)
- RAM & Storage: 6GB LPDDR5,128GB
- Battery: 3349 mAh
- Display: Super Retina XDR
Performance
iPhone 15 delivers a good performance; it brings a lot more compared to its predecessors. The OLED display is an integration. The USB-C is the much-awaited feature for iPhone and the iPhone 15 has it. Overall, this phone is a good choice.
ASUS ROG Phone 7 is a gaming-focused smartphone, that has a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display and a 144Hz refresh rate. It comes with an AirTrigger shoulder buttons and additional mappable buttons for enhance gaming experience.
Specifications:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Operating System: Android 13 (with ROG UI)
- RAM & Storage: Up to 12GB RAM and 1TB storage
- Battery: 6,000mAh with 65W fast charging
- Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED, 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, HDR10+
Performance
This phone has a monstrous performance in terms of its processor and RAM storage. It is incredibly efficient in thermal management using its AeroActive Cooling 7 system that keeps the phone cool even during extended and heavy gaming sessions.
The OPPO Reno 10 Pro + 5G boasts a sleek design, powerful performance and an impressive camera shot, offering a complete package for tech-savvy users. It features a quad-camera setup that performs well in both day and night light.
Specifications:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Operating System: Android 13 (with ColorOS 13)
- RAM & Storage: Up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage
- Battery: 4,500mAh with 65W fast charging
- Display: 6.74-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+
Performance
The 120Hz refresh rate of the display gives the user an incredibly smooth scrolling and animations. The battery life is decent and can last a full day with moderate usage. The 65W fast charging brings the phone back to life quickly from 0 to 100% in just approximately 30 minutes.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a premium build with a large 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x display. It has a quad-camera system that delivers stunning photos and videos, while being the first Galaxy with an S pen, opening new ways for creative pursuits.
Specifications:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Operating System: Android 12 with One UI 6.1
- RAM & Storage: Up to 12GB RAM and 1TB storage
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Display: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 120Hz refresh rate
Performance
This smartphone is a beast in terms of build and performance. It is very efficient in handling demanding tasks such as multitasking, gaming and even video editing. The S pen allows users to explore their creative side, it can be used in taking down notes, editing photos and even in drawing with precision.
The Vivo V29e is a mid-range smartphone that boasts a sleek and stylish design and a decent performance. It is available in two eye-catching designs – Sunshine Gold and Moonlight Blue. It has an amazing 50MP selfie-camera that will deliver best selfies and video calls.
Specifications:
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 820
- Operating System: Funtouch OS 13 (based on Android 13)
- RAM & Storage: Up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage
- Battery: 4800mAh with 44W fast charging
- Display: 6.44-inch AMOLED, 2400 x 1080 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
Performance
This smart phone offers an expandable memory of 8GB. The Dimensity 820 offers a smooth multitasking and snappy responsiveness suitable for daily tasks. It can handle light to moderate gaming well thanks to 129Hz refresh rate display.
Conclusion
Choosing a smartphone is no longer a simple task. Companies themselves face intense competition with the rising number of upcoming smartphone brands that are taking over the market. This puts pressure on them to continuously introduce new features and designs to put themselves above the current market.
Joben Tan
I would recommend the Google Pixel 8 series mainly for me, I would use Google apps such as Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Home which integrated well with the Pixel series, including Pixel 8.