7 smartphone hardware specs you shouldn't ignore

September 21, 2020

7 smartphone hardware specs you shouldn't ignore

Smartphones have become indispensable in today's world. From millennials to Gen-Z, almost everyone has come across a smartphone at least once in their lifetime. Although smartphone penetration in India stands at a mere 36% in 2018, it is still one of the world's largest tech markets owing to our country's gargantuan population.

While most of us might not be tech-savvy, we do check for certain specifications when buying a new smartphone, which might include screen size, battery, resolution, etc. Although these obvious specifications that every user looks for, are hands down the most important ones, here are 7 other "not so obvious" hardware specifications that you should keep in mind while buying your next smartphone :

1. GPU

The GPU i.e. graphics processing unit plays a major role in determining device performance in the tasks that require intensive graphic processing. Apart from the CPU aka the processor, which a lot of people might be familiar with, the GPU is also a major factor that determines your device's overall performance. While this might not of the greatest importance to the majority of users, getting a device with a good GPU in the budget that you're looking for is pretty sweet, especially if you're someone who renders a lot of videos or is an avid gamer. Preferably Adreno GPU's perform better than their mali counterparts, with Adreno 650 being the most powerful(yeah you guessed it, it comes with the snapdragon 865 series). Here are the mobile GPU rankings 2020.

2. Battery Type

Yeah, you saw it right, it's the battery type that comes in at number 2. While battery size is surely what people look for while buying a smartphone, battery type remains a very crucial aspect to determine how long your device lasts.

While lithium-polymer aka li-po batteries can be made as small as a credit card and are extremely robust and flexible(not to mention they never leak as they don't have any electrolyte inside), they have their downsides too, with the major one being their cost. On the other hand, Lithium-ion aka Li-ion batteries are incredibly cost-efficient, have much higher power density than their li-po counterparts and do not have any memory effect(where batteries become harder to charge when they age). Although most brands are now shifting towards li-po batteries, li-ion still remains a popular choice. If not li-ion, you should opt for lithium-ion-polymer batteries, the latest addition to the lot, which combines the pros of both the battery types.

The all-new Samsung Galaxy M51 packs in a monstrous 7000 mAh battery.

3. Pixel Density

While most people are content by getting a new device that has a ton of resolution mentioned on its spec sheet, the pixel density is definitely worth looking for, to ensure a crisp and vivid viewing experience. While a higher resolution does predict that your display will be awesome, it isn't always the case, especially if your device has a massive screen. That's when pixels per inch come into play. Regardless of what your screen size is, the pixels per inch aka PPI system provides a uniform parameter to judge screen quality across any device. Although it hugely depends upon how much you are are ready to dish out of your pocket, a pixel density of 400+ is considered good enough for most people.

The oneplus 7 pro packs a whopping 516 PPI display

4. Camera Sensor

Most people are just flattened by megapixels that are flaunted on their device's spec sheet. Although megapixels do play an important role, the most important tool that will help you get breathtaking snaps with amazing dynamic range and pure detail out of your device is the sensor seated within it and its size. Make sure you get a bit of research done on the web as to what is the best camera sensor your budget can buy you. Remember, the bigger the sensor, the better. Some flagship-grade camera sensors are Samsung S5KHMX, Sony IMX 686, etc. Click here to see the best camera phones from last year.

5. Aspect and Screen to body Ratios

While aspect ratio tells you how tall is to how wide your device is, the screen to body ratio determines how much screen space you get. While aspect ratio is not very important, it can be critical for someone like a cinematographer or even someone who consumes a lot of content on their smartphone. While most smartphones nowadays ship with the 20:9 aspect ratio, you can go for a device with a 21:9 if you need that super aesthetic cinematic look.

The screen to body ratio, on the other hand, is something you should surely look for. We all know that notches, cut-outs, bezels, etc somehow hinder our viewing experience, so do look for a higher screen to body ratio while getting a new device.

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro features a seamless screen with a screen to body ratio of 94.06%

6. Brightness

This might sound trivial, but it is quite handy to have a smartphone with great brightness levels. Brightness levels are measured in nits, so do check for both the minimum and maximum brightness levels your device can offer so that you can comfortably use your device in the bright sunshine or late in the night. Click here if you're a geek too.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ peaks out at a record-breaking 1308 nits

7. CPU Architecture

This may sound a little nerdy or intimidating, the CPU architecture of your device determines how power efficient your device shall be and also how much snappier it will feel. While clock speed and number of cores are important, the cpu architecture is also instrumental. Most devices run on 7-16 nanometre architecture. The lesser the size of the architecture, the more power-efficient and powerful the CPU is as there are more number of transistors that can fit into the same space. For example, a 7nm architecture processor provides a 35% speed improvement, 65% less power, and a 3.3X density improvement over a 14/16nm architecture. For more info, click here.