Mobile phones of today are capable of managing a juggling a startling array of tasks, many of which we barely thought imaginable just a few years ago: voice-activated turn-by-turn navigation, HD video recording, high quality image capture & sharing, mobile web browsing, tethering for you laptop, instant messaging, two-way video calls, the list is endless.
The problem is that manufacturers each say that their device is the all-singing all-dancing device and if you don't know what you're looking for choosing one can be a tricky business.
Here, we cut through all the glossy marketing guff to take a look at all the essential elements of a smartphone, what to look out for and how each element can come together to create a great life-enhancing device.
Multi-tasking
The ability to run multiple applications is key to the smartphone experience. For instance, if you're listening to your music, you don't want to have to shut your mMP3 player down just to send a message.
The operating system the key part of the device which determines what your smartphone can do with it's hardware. Ignore it at your peril! It's important to note that operating systems do receive periodic updates that unlock more super-powers.
Some platforms allow you to download lots of applications that bolster your phone's
Check out our guide to the different operating systems.
Touchphones vs. Keypads
One of the first and most obvious distinctions in the smartphone world is the device's physical interface. Do you want a purely touch driven device or qould you rather have a QWERTY keyboard - perhaps you'd like a combination of the two? To a great extent, it's down to personal preference, but it sure helps to understand the strengths of each:
Touchscreens
Touchscreen open up another world of interaction and navigating web pages becomes super simple. Typing on the touchscreen is easier than once you get used to it and with applications such as SWYPE, it can be every faster than using a keypad. Touchscreen quality can very though - capacitive screens are best for fingers, while resitive screen are more suited to stylus operation.
Since its launch, the iPhone has been the benchmark for touch devices. In the last year however, more and more handset appear to be catching up. The Palm Pre, HTC Desire, Legend & HD Mini, Google Nexus One, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 series and the Samsung Galaxy S are all top-notch touchscreen devices.
QWERTY keypads
Some people like the reassurance of pushin an actual button. Blackberry are masters of the QWERTY keypad although Nokia and Motorola have some excellent keypads on the N97 Mini and the Motorola Droid, the latter of which also has a d-pad.
Combos / Hybrids
If you want the best of both worlds, then some handsets integrate touchscreens with keypads. The only downside is added bulk. Good examples are the Nokia N97 Mini, which manages to keep bulk to a minimum, also the Motorola Droid, the Nokia N900 and the Xperia X10 Pro.
Easy To Use
User Interface
A good UIA good UI feels natural and intuitive, making use of the device, quick, easy and efficient. A poor UI will feel awkward, counter-intuitive and frustrating to deal with. Every new device takes a bit of time getting used to, but a good UI, will makes this transition more enjoyable. Imagine the User interface as the layer between the human and the machine - it should make operation as smooth as possible.
HTC's Sense UI comes as standard on all it's new models and is an extremely good example of manufacturers putting the user at the centre of a handset's design.
Hardware
As specs on smartphones look increasingly like PCs of a few years ago, but don't be put off! It certainly helps to understand how each of these parts come together. The CPU is the brain - the faster and more powerful it is, the quicker is can deal with all the tasks you demand of it while RAM or User Memory is the oil of the engine, of sorts.