10 questions to ask when buying a new mobile phone

We are living in the absolute golden age of technology. Smartphones have evolved to be a massive part of our lives and there is so much choice in the mobile phone market. “All that innovation and those options means there is a phone out there to suit everyone, but it also means there’s a lot to consider when it comes time to invest in a new one,” says John Wong, Mobile Buyer at The Good Guys. We’re always here to help you find whatever you need, but in the meantime, here are some key questions to help you narrow your search.

What Do I Use My Phone For?

This really is the main question. Is the phone your entertainment hub, meaning you’d need one with a bigger screen? Are you a keen photographer and want the tools to be able to snap a happy moment or a beautiful sunset at will with your mobile phone camera? Are you trying to get fit and want encouragement and coaching in your pocket? Do you want to keep in touch with friends and family without breaking the bank? Once you come up with a list of the must-have features, you can narrow your search from there.

Do I Need a Basic or Smartphone?

Smartphones put all the information and entertainment right at your fingertips, but that’s not for everyone. Whether it’s a child’s first phone, you are trying to cut down on your own screen time or you don’t love technology, feature phones (traditional mobile phones) are still available. Opel and Nokia have great options.

How Much Should I Spend On a Phone?

There really is a phone for every budget. “Smartphones start around the $100 mark and go up to almost $3000,” explains John Wong. “Flagship phones with all the fanciest features generally start around $1000.” This question is personal and comes down to which features are important to you, and how much you can afford to spend. If you don’t want to pay the cost up front, there’s always Afterpay, or you can get it on one of our great value plans with Telstra, which allow you to pay it off over 24 or 36 months.

How Much Data Do I Need On My Phone?

The answer to this question all comes back to how you use the phone. There are a lot of variables in this. For example, streaming 4K video uses around 1GB an hour, but you’d need to use social media for 10 hours to hit that number. If you move to a 5G phone, which has much faster download speeds and less latency, studies show you’re likely to use almost three times as much data as you did on 4G because of the convenience.

What’s The Best Phone For My Teenager?

This all really depends on the teenager but, generally speaking, you’ll want to look for a good, budget smartphone that still has good cameras and a quality screen. Kurt Bonnici, Head of Motorola ANZ says, “Our pick for teens would be the moto g9 plus or moto g 5G plus.” While Garry McGregor, Vice President at Samsung Electronics Australia, recommends the Samsung Galaxy A Series. “We want to make premium features accessible to as many people as we can. Features like 4k video recording, a Super AMOLED display and 5000mAh battery are available in our Galaxy A series, which are all under $1000.”

Is This Phone Easy To Use?

“Ease of use comes down to personal preference, so it’s worth coming in-store and seeing which phone operating system works best for you,” says John Wong. Mac users will likely prefer Apple iPhones, while PC users might gravitate more towards Android. Also check online tutorials for the phone you’re considering to make sure they’re written in a way that works for you.

Should I Buy The Phone Outright or On a Plan?

This also comes down to personal preference. For some people, the freedom of being able to move carriers or change on a whim is worth paying the whole cost up front, for others it might make more financial sense to split the cost over 24 or 36 months. Keep in mind that plans at The Good Guys have unbeatable value, and often come bundled with extras, such as gift cards you can spend on accessories.

What Is The Camera Quality?

“Mobile phone cameras have become so sophisticated that iPhones are now being used to film major motion pictures, while others still look really good without attracting the “pro” price tag,” says John Wong. Come in-store and make sure you like the photos a phone can take before you buy, if that’s something important to you.

How Much Storage Does The Phone Have?

We’ve all had the dreaded “storage full” error come up when trying to take a photo. This isn’t as much of a concern if you store your photos in the cloud, but if you like to keep them on your device, along with downloaded movies, music and games, that will influence how much storage you need. Also consider whether an SD card slot is important to you for expandable storage.

What Is The Reception And Coverage Like?

For the most part, this will come down to your carrier. Telstra has the best coverage and reception in the country, covering more than 97 per cent of the population. The main thing most people will want to consider is if they’re fine with the speeds of 4G or if they want to turbo-charge their downloads with 5G. If you’re a rural customer, though, ask in-store about Telstra Tick phones, like the Android Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, which get better coverage in remote areas.

There are so many options when it comes to smartphones, and the mobile experts at The Good Guys are here to help. Visit us in-store or online to find out more about the products in this article and don’t miss these tips on choosing your child’s first phone.