How to choose a feature phone

When choosing a push-button telephone, it is worth considering its autonomy, as well as some other technical and operational characteristics.

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How to choose a push-button phone: what to look for
The main selection criteria for push-button phones
How to choose a push-button phone with two SIM cards
How to choose a feature phone with a good battery
The best manufacturing companies

choose a feature phone

How to choose a push-button phone: what to look for

When choosing a push-button mobile phone, it is worth considering the following criteria:

Number of SIM cards;
Screen characteristics;
Form factor;
Autonomy and battery capacity;
Multimedia capabilities – support for mobile Internet, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, memory card slot, MP3 player, FM radio, camera;
Special features – protected housing, version for the elderly.
The manufacturer of the device is also important.

The main selection criteria for push-button phones

When choosing a push-button mobile phone, you should first of all determine its intended use. If this is a “backup device” designed exclusively for calls, then you should pay attention to the simplest models with a high battery capacity. If the phone is planned to be used actively, you can look at devices with a camera, support for an MP3 player, mobile Internet or even Wi-Fi.

Number of SIM cards

The vast majority of modern phones are equipped with two SIM-cards. However, models with three modules are also found – they are mainly produced by “typically Chinese” manufacturers like Texet or ZTE. Mobile phones with 1 SIM card are gradually dying out as a class.

However, the number of SIM cards directly determines the battery life of the device. After all, the phone needs to constantly maintain a connection to networks! And that takes energy from the battery.

Thus, if you need maximum autonomy – up to 1-2 weeks of work without recharging – you should pay attention to mobile phones with one SIM card. For urban use, solutions with two or three modules are suitable.

Screen Specifications

screen

Characteristics such as diagonal, resolution and color of the screen determine not only the practical qualities of the phone, but also its autonomy, as well as ease of use.

For mobile phones intended exclusively for calls, a black and white (monochrome) screen is preferred. Such a display has a high contrast, so that information from it can be read even by a visually impaired or just an elderly person. In addition, monochrome displays usually consume slightly less current than color displays, which further increases the autonomy of the phone.
The color of mobile phone displays is a very conditional concept. Usually, there is practically no saturation of shades, as a result of which the picture “blurs” and “merges”, further complicating readability – especially under bright sunlight. However, almost all mobile phone manufacturers currently produce devices with a color display, and it is difficult to find a device equipped with a monochrome screen.
The diagonal of the screen determines the amount of information that can fit on the display. The higher it is, the more information can be displayed at a time (or the more elements will be shown). For mobile phones, a large screen is not really needed, so 1-2 inches is the standard.
The screen resolution determines the autonomy of the device. The higher it is, the more energy the display will consume (but at the same time, the better the picture quality will be). For mobile phones, screen resolutions ranging from 160×128 to 320×240 pixels are standard. Devices that are equipped with a display with a higher or lower resolution are not worth buying.

Form factor

The vast majority of modern mobile phones are made in one of two form factors – monoblock (“brick”) and “clamshell”. You can also find various “sliders” in Chinese online stores, but in 2017 they are a rarity.

Monoblock is the most common phone form factor. The devices made in it are distinguished by high strength, reliability and resistance to mechanical stress.
“Clamshell” is more “image” and visual appeal. In addition, almost all models of phones made in this form factor support call termination when the lid is closed. Therefore, leaving a call “on the line” is almost impossible. Unfortunately, “clamshells” have less mechanical strength and durability than monoblocks.

Autonomy and battery capacity

Battery capacity

Battery capacity is a parameter that determines the autonomy of the device. But not directly. Despite the direct relationship “the larger the battery capacity, the longer the mobile phone will last”, other phenomena also influence the actual “life” time from a single charge, including the number of SIM card slots, the quality of cellular network coverage and active use scenarios.

Therefore, the most “realistic” indicator of device autonomy is the talk time. During calls, the energy in the battery consumes the most actively – about the same as when listening to music or FM radio, taking pictures or just setting an alarm.

As a result, if you need a mobile phone with maximum autonomy, it is advisable to choose models designed for the longest talk time. Then they will be able to “live” up to several days from a single charge, even when they are in an area with very poor cellular network coverage or while listening to music.

Multimedia features

Among the multimedia features that determine the practical qualities of a mobile phone, we can distinguish:

Mobile internet support. In fact, the function is not particularly useful, since on the tiny screen of the phone it will still not be possible to view web pages, emails or messages on social networks;
The presence of Bluetooth allows you to receive and send files, as well as use a wireless headset or a Hands-Free car system;
The presence of Wi-Fi also allows you to access the Internet from your mobile phone. But, as with 2G/3G, the usefulness of this feature is debatable;
The presence of a slot for a memory card is a useful feature for those people who plan to use the phone as a multimedia player. This flash drive can store music files, videos and other content;
The presence of an MP3 player is a software feature that turns the phone into a portable player. Music must first be written to a USB flash drive or to the internal memory of the device (however, it can also be received via Bluetooth);
The presence of FM-radio allows you to listen to radio stations of the standard FM-range with or without a headset. The function is useful, but in the active mode leads to a rapid discharge of the battery;
The presence of a camera, which is self-evident, allows you to take pictures. But it is worth remembering that usually absolutely no photographic module is installed in mobile phones, as a result of which the images are either very blurry and fuzzy, or desaturated, or all at once;
Having a flashlight is a very useful feature. It can use a camera flash or a separate LED. In the second case, the flashlight is “more powerful” and brighter than in the first.

Choosing the multimedia capabilities of a cell phone is based on your needs.

Special Features

Special features include:

Protected housing – rubber gaskets, metal inserts and other design solutions that make the phone resistant to shocks, drops and drowning. A useful feature for people who work at a construction site or often find themselves in extreme conditions;
Version for the elderly – large contrasting symbols on the display, large buttons, special shortcuts for some contacts. Useful if the phone is purchased for elderly relatives.
Special functions, as well as multimedia capabilities, are worth choosing if necessary.

How to choose a push-button phone with two SIM cards

Pay attention to the time of work in the call mode and the mode of operation of two SIM-cards – simultaneous, standby or alternate.

Simultaneous – you can receive calls on both SIM cards at the same time. Waiting – if there is a call on one SIM card, the caller on the second will hear the corresponding message. Alternating – if there is a call on one SIM card, the second one becomes unavailable.