There'll be an abundance of Black Friday phone deals around, so follow our advice to get the best deal possible on your next handset no matter your budget. There are also easy steps you can take to look after your handset to keep it in better nick for longer and prevent your data getting into the wrong hands.
Read on to see the five things I'd avoid doing as a phone expert.
1. Buy a phone on a contract without working out the total cost
Phone contracts can be a tempting way to spread out the cost of your handset instead of buying a phone outright (also known as buying Sim-free). However, what might seem like a reasonable monthly cost can disguise the premium you pay overall. Long-term contracts may also be subject to mid-contract price rises, so your monthly cost will go up over time.
In almost all cases, I would buy a phone outright with a separate Sim-only deal to save money. But before I do that, I'll do the sums on any deals I find to make sure that's the best way to go. To make this easier, you can use our contract calculator below.
2. Buy a phone that's too old
Buying a handset that's a year or so old or buying a refurbished phone can save you a lot of money – especially when it comes to premium phones from the likes of Apple, Samsung and Google. On the whole, the upgrades we've seen from phones over the past few years haven't been anything special, so you're not missing much by stepping back a generation or two. However, make sure the handset you're looking at is still supported by updates. I'd recommend choosing one with at least two years of updates left.
Software updates bring the latest features to your phone's operating system. More importantly, security updates help prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in your phone.
Manufacturers usually support premium handsets for longer than cheaper ones. I wouldn't buy a phone that was released more than three years ago if it's a premium model, or two years ago if it's a mid-range or cheaper handset. We've found phones still on sale that have less than a year left of support guaranteed or are already out of support.
3. Buy the first deal I see
If you're buying your phone outright (not through a contract), it can be tempting to opt for the first discount you see from your favourite retailer. But I would always shop around first - even if it's just doing a quick Google search for the handset.
Contracts commonly come with add-ons such as free streaming services or even free gifts, but these are usually built into the contract repayment in some fashion, so use our calculator above to check this before you buy.
4. Buy an ultra-premium phone
Most major phone manufacturers reserve the crème de la crème of the latest features and upgrades for an ultra-premium device at the top of their flagship range. This might be a sharper display, faster processor or more advanced cameras.
However, most people may not even notice these upgrades, especially compared to cheaper phones in that flagship range. For example, one of the biggest upgrades is often an extra telephoto lens to get you the sharpest images when you zoom in to a great degree. But how often you're planning to take zoomed-in shots probably isn't going to warrant the extra money you'll pay for a top-range phone. So, consider going for a cheaper option.
We've also noticed that mid-range and even entry-level phones are performing better and better in our tests. They may not have built-in AI capabilities, but the fundamental features (think screen quality, battery life, and speed for day-to-day use) are good on a number of them. If I were looking to balance value with a phone's performance, I'd buy outside the highly advertised flagship ranges.
5. Fail to look after my phone
If you don't look after your phone, its performance can diminish faster than it should. Here are our top tips on how to keep your phone in its best shape and how to keep your data safe if the worst should happen.
Secure your phone as soon as you get it
If you lose your phone or it gets stolen, your best chance of finding it again and securing your data will be determined by the steps you've taken before it's gone.As soon as you've got your phone, set up Find My Device on an Android phone or Find My iPhone on an Apple iPhone so you can track and control it remotely.Clean it often
We take our phones everywhere and they can pick up a lot of nasty bacteria on the way. I use a 70% isopropyl alcohol wipe to disinfect my phone, but you can also use mild soap and water with a damp microfibre cloth (we recommend a lint-free one).
Keep things tidy
A common complaint from Which? members is running out of storage, or battery life not being as good as it used to be. Offloading unused apps on iPhone – deleting an app without removing its data – can help to alleviate these issues. It's also a good idea to just delete apps you never use. Closing apps to prevent them running in the background can help, but a good measure in general is to restart a phone once in a while - once a week is good, to clear things up.
Keep it updated
You might find the reminders that pop up on your phone's screen to update its software annoying, but it's important to take the time to update it so security patches are installed. Without these, vulnerabilities can appear in your phone's software and be exploited.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/five-things-id-never-do-as-a-smartphone-expert-apmjE1z0LkRa