The best approach to pick a smartphone is to look at the operating system

The iPhone (also known as iOS) is renowned for its simplicity, security, and seamless connection with other Apple devices.

Android is known for its Google services integration, flexibility to be modified, and often reduced cost.

Try demoing a device at a store if you have the opportunity. This will give you a fair idea of how each operating system looks and feels.

2. Set a budget. iPhones are usually more costly than Android phones. Apple and Samsung are often among the most costly phone makers (with retail prices ranging from $400 to $700), whereas HTC, LG, and Motorola create more affordable versions (some low-end smartphones are available for around $100).

When purchased in conjunction with a phone carrier contract, phones are subsidized or even given away for free. This normally binds you to a carrier's two-year billing plan, with penalties for canceling early.

Some carriers additionally charge a monthly 'device fee' to compensate for the lack of an upfront smartphone payment.

3. Take into account the devices and software you already have. If you already possess a tablet or PC, choosing a phone with developer support will provide you the highest level of interaction with its services and applications (for example, Apple computers and iPads are often cross-compatible with iPhone apps). However, keep in mind that practically any phone can connect to and operate on almost any computer operating system.

If you use Microsoft Office or Google frequently, an Android phone will provide you with the finest integration and support (although note that both Microsoft and Google produce their most popular apps for the competing operating system as well).

4. Figure out which characteristics are most appropriate for you. Basic functionality like email, online surfing, and navigation will be available on all operating systems.

Siri, fingerprint scanning, FaceTime chat, and iCloud support are all exclusive features of iOS/iPhone.

Google Now, home-screen widgets, and third-party app installation are all available on Android (meaning you can download programs from the internet and install them outside of the Play Store ecosystem). Most Android phones now have fingerprint sensors, photo cloud storage, and document and cloud storage via Google Drive.

5. Think about which applications you'd like to utilize. Many popular programs (such as Google Maps, Microsoft Office, and Apple Music) are available on all operating systems, while certain apps (such as iMessage, Face-time, and Google Now) are only available on one platform. Make sure the apps you want are available in the app store linked with each choice (Apple, Google Play).

In general, if a popular program isn't available on a competitor's operating system, there's a good likelihood that a functionally equivalent alternative exists.

Your store account is connected to your app purchases. Your purchases will be transferable to any subsequent phones as long as they run on the same operating system.

6. Decide on a computer operating system. Personal preference will be the decisive factor for the majority of people. Those who want a simple interface and a safe system would prefer iPhones with iOS, while those who want more personalized options and a lower overall cost will pick a smartphone, Android phone.

1. Decide on a carrier. Most carriers will provide a variety of phone alternatives that run on different operating systems (no OS is specific to a carrier). To decrease the upfront cost of smartphones, major carriers frequently subsidize phones or offer various payment options and contract combinations.

Some carriers, like T-Mobile, let you skip the contract and pay for the phone as part of your monthly bill. If you cancel your subscription early, you will be required to pay the remaining phone expenses all at once.

Unlocked phones are those that are acquired without the involvement of a carrier and hence are not tied to a service contract. They are more expensive, but they provide you with a lot more options if you ever need to transfer carriers.

2. Decide on phone service and a data package that suits your needs. Prepaid monthly plans for phone minutes, messages, and data via the cellular network are commonly available from phone service providers.

You might be able to save money on your monthly bill by not purchasing a data plan at all, but you won't be able to use the internet on your phone unless you're connected to wifi.

3. Select a display size. The diagonal measurement of the screen size is taken from corner to corner. In the end, screen size is a personal choice. Smaller screen phones are generally more affordable and fit well in your pocket. If you want to view a lot of videos, a larger monitor may be ideal.

The "SE" series of iPhones is for small phones, while the "Plus" series is for phones with a larger screen.

Smaller budget devices like the Moto G or Galaxy S Mini, higher-end models like the Galaxy S or HTC One series, and gigantic models like the Galaxy Note or Nexus 6P are all available on Android.

4. Determine how new your phone model should be. Newer phones are usually quicker and more powerful than their predecessors, but they are more expensive. Older phones, in particular, will have a harder difficulty running current applications.

Waiting for a new model of your chosen smartphone to become available and then taking advantage of a price decrease on the other versions is a decent compromise for the budget-conscious. When a new phone model is released, demand for previous versions drops instantly, and the price frequently drops to reflect this.

5. Examine the available storage space. The storage capacity of a phone (measured in gigabytes or GB) indicates how many files (pictures, movies, and programs) it can hold at any given moment. The amount of storage space available has a significant impact on the price of a smartphone, so think about how much you'll need before deciding on a model.

The only difference between a 16GB iPhone 6 and a 32GB iPhone 6 is storage capacity. A 16GB iPhone 6 can contain roughly 10,000 photos or 4000 music but bear in mind that your phone storage must also fit all of your downloaded apps.

With the purchase of a microSD card, certain Android phones (but not all) allow for storage expansion. After purchase, iPhones do not permit storage extension.

6. Take into account the camera's quality. Although smartphones are recognized for producing high-quality images in general, picture quality varies significantly between manufacturers and models. The easiest approach to assess a phone's camera quality is to look for example photos were taken with that type of smartphone online or to test the camera yourself.

While manufacturers frequently tout a camera's megapixel count, other factors to consider include ISO, low-light performance, brightness, and noise reduction.

Most current smartphones include front- and rear-facing cameras, as well as flashes, and will accept third-party add-ons (such as lens attachments).

The camera hardware and software of iPhones are well-known for their exceptional quality.

7. Think about how long your phone's battery lasts. Battery technology is improving all the time, so newer phones have longer battery life. However, how long the battery lasts is mostly determined by your usage patterns. Talking on the phone, gaming, and using a phone outside of the internet range will all quickly deplete the battery.

The average smartphone battery life is 8 to 18 hours.

Replaceable batteries will be unavailable on the majority of top Android devices. Replaceable batteries are not available on any iPhone model.

Quick charge technology is used by several newer Android phones to help recharge their huge batteries quickly (e.g. Samsung Galaxy S series or Motorola Droid Turbo series). Quick charge phones, according to manufacturers, may reach 50 percent charge in around 30 minutes.