Home » Smartphones » Tech Guides » Smartphone Buying Guide for Malaysians

Smartphone Buying Guide for Malaysians

in , - on 23:19:00 - 1 comment

It's quite an unexplainable bond.

Google's Nexus 6P by Huawei. Source: Huawei

In fact, it's almost symbiotic what most of us have with our smartphones. The smartphone has become a sort of necessity for most of us, and it's always on us. It's pretty much stitched to our palms and magnetized to our fingers at this point - not that it's a bad thing by any means.

There are an abundance of smartphones today, and new models are getting released every few months. Everyone's got a smartphone for them, young or old, girl or guy - the market is just saturated with smartphones! 

It is precisely because there is so many on the market that it can get a little difficult trying to choose one - I know I have that problem. We're all just spoiled for choice at this point, really. So if you're looking for a smartphone, this handy little quick guide of mine will set you straight.

First things first though: I believe that we all have to realize a few things about buying smartphones:
  • Bigger isn't always better.
  • Expensive isn't always better.
  • Beautiful and impressive specifications don't mean that a smartphone is going to be flawless. Great software optimization can always turn the tide - in simple terms: a smarter brain in your smartphone is always better than all brawn.
  • Buy a smartphone based on your own needs and uses - not anyone else's!
  • Always buy a smartphone that is within your means. Unless you've got loads of money, then hello flagship smartphones all the way.
  • Try to get the best that you can afford, it'll ensure your smartphone lasts longer.
The smartphones I'll be recommending here shouldn't be taken as an ultimatum and you have to remember that this entire guide is purely for reference (and entertainment), so be flexible. I also won't be showing a lot of specifications as it can be easily found in many places.

Now that we've got those settled in, let's begin! 

Ask yourself, "What do I need in a smartphone?"

To make things really simple, let's break up all smartphone users into five types: The Power User, the Photographer, the Marathoner, the Everyday Joe; and the Detached One.

All of us are placed into either one or a combination of those types of users, and that itself will make it easy to guide ourselves into buying smartphones. Let me not waste your time any further and get right into it:

The Power User

You're the one smartphones fear; you push their boundaries and run the darn thing to its limit. You want only the best of the best in smartphones, the latest processors, the most RAM, the largest storage, the best camera. You'll never settle.
You know you're a power user when you notice a lot of the little things in your smartphone - that millisecond lag is all it takes to spoil your day. On a more serious note however you just want your smartphone to be fast, to keep up with your quick lifestyle. 
The camera has to be as versatile as possible, capturing images perfectly in every situation. The display of the smartphone has to be crisp in all manner of light too. It's going to be able to run the most intensive of mobile games.
Flagship smartphones are the best choice for you, there is truly nothing like the best device of a brand. Your best smartphones would be the likes of the iPhone 6S, Samsung Galaxy S7 (and S7 Edge), the HTC 10, and the LG G5. Flagship smartphones like these tend to go about RM2500 and above, but you do get your bang for buck. 



Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Source: Samsung

Here's a simplified list of a few suitable powerhouse smartphones for you:
The smartphones in the list above are all roughly RM2500 to slightly over RM3000.

 However, there are others that should be taken into consideration: Some other smartphone makers like Xiaomi (Mi Note), Huawei (P8 and Mate 8), and Asus (across the ZenFone 2 and upcoming ZenFone 3 range) have smartphones that are below RM2500, but may still very well fit the Power User's needs.

Another brand you should watch out for is OnePlus, as they were sort of the ones who revolutionized the whole "flagship-killer" class of smartphones, offering low prices for high-end specs. Their upcoming OnePlus Three seems to be a real show-stealer (probably under RM2000 too), you might want to check that out as well.

The Photographer

Snap, snap, snap. It's all point and click for you with your smartphone. The first thing you check on smartphones is the camera: You want to take photos all the time - you want a great selfie too. Everything else doesn't matter, as long as it works, but that camera has to be great. Great sensor, superb quality, crisp clean shots - that all matters.
Your smartphone today isn't just for communication and the Internet, this smartphone of yours is for capturing photographs too! Some argue that if you want to mainly capture photos then get a camera - but hang on, most people don't want to feel burdened by having to carry many devices around.

 Smartphone cameras are getting pretty amazing these days, and you'd be foolish to look down upon them. If you like to take photos with your smartphone, make sure the phone's got enough storage (or a microSD card slot for expansion) and the camera is able to take photos well in most lighting. A higher megapixel count doesn't mean a better photo, but it's still a welcomed addition. 

 The Samsung Galaxy S7 and the HTC 10 have the best smartphone cameras on the market currently, but the price tag might drive some people away. You might want to consider these few smartphones that are just about RM2000 (the Huawei P9 Plus and Sony Z5 can go for about RM2200 to RM2400 now) and below that are more photography-centric: 
A smartphone camera with optical zoom, the Asus ZenFone Zoom. Source: Asus

 You might want to check out this in-depth comparison of the top smartphone cameras by PC Advisor UK too: Click here. 

The Marathoner

You don't really mind if your smartphone's specifications aren't at the peak of technology, you just want it to last you through your day (or more). Your phone's battery life is the most important thing, you want a large battery, and you want it to last long. 
If you're always on the go and constantly travelling, finding your smartphone low on battery life without any power outlet nearby or power bank on hand can be very frustrating. You're probably wondering "Why the heck can't my phone last longer?!" Well, you're the Marathoner. 
A large battery in a beautiful design, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3. Source: Xiaomi

 Your ideal smartphone is the one with a large battery: Being able to last for a whole day and more. Sure, the other specifications and the camera must fulfil your uses, but you place a larger emphasis on the battery - there's just no other way to explain your preference. Fortunately, there are several smartphones out there with large battery capacities and acceptable performance.

For the Marathoner, here are the top three popular smartphones in Malaysia with massive batteries:
Besides these, Sony Xperia smartphones are also known for their incredible battery life; they may not have very large batteries in their phones, but great optimizations and innovations do help a lot more (smart brain, not brawn!).

 Let us not forget the existence of power banks too! There are many great power banks out there that can keep your smartphone juiced up. The Xiaomi power bank range is one of the best available, as it's not only affordable, but very efficient and high quality too (get them here.)

The Everyday Joe

Or Jane. You're not looking to spend big bucks on your smartphone, you want to stay within the reasonable range. Your smartphone's gotta fulfil your needs and it doesn't need to be over the top. You just want a smartphone that works.
A smartphone for you is first and foremost just something you'll want to help make your life a little bit more convenient. You need it to make phone calls, you need it so you'll be able to catch your emails, news, and some entertainment on the go.

 You want to be able to perform quite a number of tasks on a smartphone. Maybe even play a few mobile games - throwing a few birds here and there, nothing too intensive. If you're an Everyday Joe/Jane, you are probably not going to want to spend a lot on a smartphone, but not something that's too little either.

 Mid-ranged smartphones are probably the best bet for the Everyday Joe type of user, probably somewhere below RM2000 - or even below RM1500, really. Entry-level smartphones (usually around RM500 or so) are also acceptable in some cases - entirely dependent also on how simple your usage is. For the iPhone user, the current iPhone SE is also a rather commendable mid-range iPhone of sorts. Flagship smartphones, of course, are always welcomed if you've got the budget.
Asus ZenFone 2. Source: Asus

 Here are some really great options (there are many more in the wild!) for the Everyday Joe:

The Detached One

You don't really care for a smartphone's capability or feature. It's just for you to make calls, the occasional photograph or news bit on the Internet - maybe send an email, even. You don't look to spend any large sum of money at all - in fact, lesser money spent the better. 
You know you're detached when you don't really even bother knowing everything a smartphone can do - in fact, you probably aren't even reading this to begin with; you know someone who's The Detached One.
Moto G (4th Generation). Source: Motorola

Users like these just want the smartphone mostly for the phone part: They want to make calls, send text messages, utilise data messaging apps such as Whatsapp and Telegram, read the occasional email etc. It's all very, very simple use. Affordable and easily replaceable are the best.

 So what kind of smartphones are suitable for these users? Entry-level to mid-ranged smartphones are great! There are still many smartphones out there that can be had for around RM500! Don't let the price point fool you though, these smartphones are rather reliable as well. Here's some that I would recommend.

Once again: The smartphones I have recommended here shouldn't be taken as an ultimatum and you have to remember that this entire guide is purely for reference (and entertainment), so be take it easy! I'll happily take any comments and feedback! 
Labels: ,

1 comments:

Anonymous mod
18 September 2019 at 16:38

Thanks for sharing such an informative article.
Things to consider before buying smartphone

Reply

Post a Comment