Jean Baguma, Marketing Manager Huawei Uganda tips on how to differentiate between a basic phone and a smartphone. Below is what she says:
• Functionality
While ordinary mobile phones are used for the basic purpose of making and receiving calls, sending and receiving text messages, Smartphones are like miniatures of computers that can also place and receive calls. Smartphones are basically cellular phones that perform most of the functions of a computer, typically having a touchscreen interface, internet access, and an operating system capable of running downloaded applications.
• Operating system (OS)
Unlike ordinary mobile phones, smartphones have mobile operating systems which power them. For instance, Huawei smartphones are powered by either Kirin or Android OS. Smartphones use operating systems to enable them provide advanced functions that were previously only available on computers. The OS is also the platform that developers can use to create applications or ‘apps’ such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and games among others.
• Internet
Ordinary mobiles do not usually come with internet capabilities, and when they do, they are limited by small screen size and slower hardware. Smartphones online connectivity is a pivotal aspect of the modern smartphone and with large screens, high processing power and software compatibility, smartphones can be used to perform almost all of the same internet activities as a computer. Smartphones can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi or using mobile telecom data using a network service provider such as MTN, Airtel and Africell.
• QWERTY keyboard
A smartphone has a QWERTY keyboard that is laid out in the same way as that in the computer, and not in the usual alphanumeric manner as seen on most ordinary mobile phones. The QWERTY keyboard can either be hardware, which are physical keys for you to type on, or software, such as the touch screen of the Huawei P9.
• Shape and Size
Ordinary mobile phones have been synonymous with smaller widths and lengths although are much thicker, while smartphones have larger widths and lengths and are much thinner. The larger face dimensions of smartphones are a result of the larger screen interface, which ranges from roughly 4 – 6 inches. Most standard mobiles have a much smaller screen than this. Larger smartphones, slightly smaller than tablets are currently being introduced into the market and are commonly referred to as Phablets. An example is the Huawei Mate 8.
• Cameras
High resolution cameras are a staple of the modern smartphone. Cameras are still available with many ordinary mobiles, though smartphone cameras provide much higher resolutions as well as video recording. Smartphone applications make it simple to adjust and edit images and videos, and front-facing cameras are now available with many smartphones for video calling. For instance, the Huawei P9 and P9 Plus feature two rear-facing camera lenses, with more light and better clarity enabling one to capture detailed high quality pictures both in good and low light conditions. The P9 and P9 Plus excel in both picture quality and image focusing speed, delivering photos with superior richness, clarity and authenticity.
Conclusively, smartphones are much more advanced than standard mobiles, but in reality the purchasing decision all comes down to what the buyer is looking for.