There was a time when buying a smartphone meant splashing serious cash. However, consumers today can buy a smartphone even on a shoestring budget, thanks to brands like Xiaomi and Realme. According to a joint study by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ACCII) and PwC, the number of smartphone users in the country is projected to rise by 84 percent to 859 million by the year 2022, from just 468 million in 2017. With smartphones now being made available cheaper than ever before, one needn’t worry too much about the expenses involved in buying a new mobile phone.

That said, it is also imperative that you do adequate research before choosing a smartphone. Considering there are a plethora of options for every budget and price range, you need to know what to look for, while zeroing in on your desired smartphone. Here are five important things you have to do, before buying a new mobile phone.

Due Diligence and Research

The first thing you should do before identifying the mobile phone you want to buy is do your due diligence, and know about the smartphones available in the market. Considering consumers now have myriad of options to choose from, it can get overwhelming, and it is important to do your research to identify the smartphones that are available within your budget. With brands like Vivo, Realme and Xiaomi offering budget-friendly smartphones with premium features, it is important to identify different top-rated smartphones available within the consumer’s budget.

Know What Features You Want in Your Smartphone

Once you choose a few models from different brands that fall within your budget, it is important that you prioritize what you want in your smartphone. For instance, brands like Xiaomi and Realme offer 6GB RAM mobile phones at relatively cheaper prices. However, if you are looking for a smartphone to create TikTok videos or viral content, then you have to consider smartphones with best-in-class cameras.

Poco X2, for instance, comes with a quad-rear camera setup with a 64MP primary camera, and a 20+20MP dual selfie camera, which makes it the ideal smartphone to shoot photos and record videos. Similarly, Redmi Note 9 Pro comes with a 48MP rear camera with AI scene recognition, HDR, ultra-wide and various other camera modes, making it the best phone under 15000. So this might be the best option in this budget range. So go ahead and buy this awesome phone in this price range.

Find the Right Time to Buy a Smartphone

While several reputed brands offer budget-friendly smartphones throughout the year, you can avail attractive discounts during the festive season, and other periods when e-commerce platforms have their clearance sales. Websites such as Amazon and Flipkart offer electronic products at discounted prices during certain periods, and you can make the most of your purchase by buying your new smartphone during these periods. Similarly, you can also opt to buy your mobile phone offline from retail stores during the festive season at a discounted price.

Identify the Best Place or Platform to Buy Your Phone

Once you decide on the ‘when’, next comes the ‘where’. Different e-commerce platforms offer the same product at different prices. Therefore, it is imperative that you keep an eye on the price of the smartphone you want to buy, and purchase the device from the platform or retail outlet offering the smartphone at the lowest price. This is particularly helpful, as you can save a significant amount on your new purchase.

Opt for Extended Warranty

The last part might also be the most significant. Once you identify the smartphone you want to purchase, along with the e-commerce platform or the retail outlet offering the best discounts, it is advised that you also opt for an extended warranty on your smartphone. Almost all the smartphones we purchase come with a 1-year manufacturer warranty. However, it is extremely likely that the phone may get damaged once the standard warranty expires. Thus, opting for an extended warranty by paying an additional amount while purchasing the smartphone would save you the hassle of worrying about the smartphone’s durability, and any accidental damages beyond the standard warranty period.