What to look for in your next business mobile phone
The days of having to lug a heavy bag with your laptop in it when you travel are long gone. Now it’s possible to connect to just about any part of your business life from the phone in your pocket. Choose the right phone, and you’ll be able to do more than simply stay in contact with colleagues and clients.
Performance is obviously a key factor – you don’t want to be left hanging while your phone struggles to run apps or make a connection. Look for a phone boasting one of the latest mobile processors, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630. Also, make sure there’s plenty of RAM onboard – 4GB or more if you can afford it. A decent-size screen is crucial too if you’re going to spend long hours staring at the screen – aim for 5.5 inches at full HD or higher.
Storage is critical too – if your phone doesn’t come with at least 32GB of onboard storage, make sure it at least supports expandable storage in the form of a microSD slot.
All this raw power can quickly sap a battery – the last thing you need is to be cut off at the wrong moment. If no removable battery option is present, look for a model with a battery capacity of at least 3,000mAh and preferably 5,000mAh if you’re going to spend more than a day between charges.
Essential connectivity
Worried about losing reception at a critical moment? Any half-decent business phone is a dual-SIM model, allowing you to switch networks without having to swap out SIM cards. You’ll never have to worry about being out of contact thanks to iffy reception again. This can also be useful if you’re often working abroad as it means you can keep your regular SIM in the phone and add a local one and save on call costs.
Speaking of connectivity, make sure your phone supports 4G for lightning-fast mobile internet, as well as 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which will enable it to connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks on the go. Bluetooth is also essential for making use of wireless technologies like hands-free.
Security is important of course – while this is more critical at a phone network or app level, there’s still the question of physical theft. Look for innovative features such as a fingerprint sensor that locks the phone to you while also offering convenient features like fast unlocking of your phone and answering calls.
Bonus features
Your phone’s camera may seem unimportant, but you don’t need to be a photographer to benefit from making sure your phone is suitably equipped. If you stumble across a photo or video op, your phone should be able to deliver professional and shareable results. Look for features like slow shutter speed (perfect for low-light shooting) and a wide-angle lens for capturing landscapes – the ASUS ZenFone 4 even comes with two rear-view cameras, each one dedicated to a specific type of shot.
Your phone can double as a voice recorder too – perfect for dictating notes or conducting an interview. Get accurate results by making sure the phone’s mic is up to the task: if it’s going to compete with a dedicated voice recorder, noise-reduction technology is crucial.
Last, but not least, make sure the phone uses a widely supported operating system, such as Android. Also, check to see whether the phone’s customised OS offers compelling features that could really make a difference to the way you work. For example, ASUS’s ZenUI 4.0 offers a “Twin Apps” feature, which lets you run two iterations of the same app side-by-side, allowing you to easily move between different accounts within that app.
Just as in our personal lives our mobile phones are a crucial item to have, when choosing your next business phone you need to make sure it has everything you need.
Essential connectivity
Worried about losing reception at a critical moment? Any half-decent business phone is a dual-SIM model, allowing you to switch networks without having to swap out SIM cards. You’ll never have to worry about being out of contact thanks to iffy reception again. This can also be useful if you’re often working abroad as it means you can keep your regular SIM in the phone and add a local one and save on call costs.
Speaking of connectivity, make sure your phone supports 4G for lightning-fast mobile internet, as well as 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which will enable it to connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks on the go. Bluetooth is also essential for making use of wireless technologies like hands-free.
Security is important of course – while this is more critical at a phone network or app level, there’s still the question of physical theft. Look for innovative features such as a fingerprint sensor that locks the phone to you while also offering convenient features like fast unlocking of your phone and answering calls.
Bonus features
Your phone’s camera may seem unimportant, but you don’t need to be a photographer to benefit from making sure your phone is suitably equipped. If you stumble across a photo or video op, your phone should be able to deliver professional and shareable results. Look for features like slow shutter speed (perfect for low-light shooting) and a wide-angle lens for capturing landscapes – the ASUS ZenFone 4 even comes with two rear-view cameras, each one dedicated to a specific type of shot.
Your phone can double as a voice recorder too – perfect for dictating notes or conducting an interview. Get accurate results by making sure the phone’s mic is up to the task: if it’s going to compete with a dedicated voice recorder, noise-reduction technology is crucial.
Last, but not least, make sure the phone uses a widely supported operating system, such as Android. Also, check to see whether the phone’s customised OS offers compelling features that could really make a difference to the way you work. For example, ASUS’s ZenUI 4.0 offers a “Twin Apps” feature, which lets you run two iterations of the same app side-by-side, allowing you to easily move between different accounts within that app.
Just as in our personal lives our mobile phones are a crucial item to have, when choosing your next business phone you need to make sure it has everything you need.
