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Nowadays, smartphones have penetrated every detail of our lives. Therefore, when purchasing a suitable smartphone, it is essential to understand the specifications and details. So, how to read smartphone specifications? Today, I will explain smartphone specifications for beginners. Let’s see if you can understand these smartphone parameters!
How to read smartphone specifications? A detailed guide on smartphone specifications.
In many smartphone review articles, we generally include detailed specifications at the beginning. Below, we take the Honor V8 specifications as an example, as shown in the image below.
Smartphone Specifications
For a smartphone, the core specifications include: CPU, RAM, ROM storage, screen specifications, camera, network standards, battery capacity, operating system, body material, and special features, which are somewhat similar to the CPU, graphics card, and memory of a computer.
Smartphone CPU
The full name of CPU is Central Processing Unit, which means the central processor in Chinese. It is a large-scale integrated circuit, similar to a computer CPU, and serves as the control center of the entire smartphone.
Smartphone CPU
For a smartphone, the CPU determines its performance. The CPU not only affects the smartphone’s computing speed but also its graphics performance, as it includes a GPU, which determines gaming performance. In simple terms, smartphones do not have a dedicated graphics card like PCs, as the graphics processing unit is integrated with the CPU. A high-performance smartphone CPU will naturally have a good built-in GPU.
Currently, there are many smartphone CPU chip manufacturers, among which Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, MediaTek, and Huawei are relatively active. Huawei and MediaTek are domestic CPU chip manufacturers, while Qualcomm and Apple are American smartphone CPU chip manufacturers, and Samsung is a Korean chip manufacturer. Except for Apple and Huawei processors, which are only used in their own devices, the others are used in various Android brand smartphones.
If you want to understand the performance of a specific smartphone CPU, the most convenient way is to refer to the smartphone CPU ladder chart, which can provide a quick overview.
RAM/ROM Memory
Similar to computers, smartphones also have RAM and ROM memory, but the terminology is different. In PCs, memory and hard drives are the main differentiators, where memory refers to RAM, and hard drive corresponds to ROM storage.
In smartphones, RAM and ROM memory are collectively referred to as memory. In simple terms, they are like a computer’s memory and hard drive. RAM is responsible for running programs and data exchange, allowing software to operate and processes to run. Generally, the larger the RAM in a smartphone, the smoother it operates. Currently, smartphones typically have RAM of 2GB or more, with mainstream models equipped with 3GB/4GB, or even 6GB of large memory, providing excellent smoothness.
ROM memory is equivalent to a computer’s hard drive, serving as a storage device for various files, including videos, music, photos, software, etc. Currently, smartphones have ROM storage of over 16GB, with mainstream models equipped with 32GB/64GB, or even 128GB of large capacity storage.
Generally speaking, RAM determines how many background applications a smartphone can run, so larger is better. ROM determines how many files a smartphone can store, with size having minimal impact on system operation speed.
Screen Specifications
Smartphone screen specifications are relatively easy to understand. The core aspects to focus on include screen size, screen resolution, and screen material.
Screen size is straightforward; small-screen phones are generally under 5 inches, while large-screen phones typically have screens of 5.5 inches or more, and some giant-screen phones have screen sizes exceeding 6 inches. The specific choice depends on whether you prefer small, large, or giant screens.
Smartphone Screen
Screen resolution determines the quality of the phone’s display, generally the higher, the better. Currently, entry-level smartphone screen resolutions have reached 1280×720 pixels, which is 720P HD. Mainstream models have mostly reached 1920×1080 pixels, which is 1080P Full HD, and the next level is 2560×1440 pixels, which is also Full HD. Generally, the higher the screen resolution, the better, but higher resolutions consume more power. Currently, 1080P offers the best balance between picture quality and power consumption, while 2K screens are expected to become mainstream, especially for future VR devices that require a resolution above 2K for better picture quality experiences.
Screen material affects the cost and quality of the display. This topic can be a bit abstract and complex, previously analyzed in detail, so it will not be introduced here.
Additionally, curved screen phones, as shown in the image above, will also become mainstream. Currently, the Samsung S7 Edge and Vivo Xplay5 are both excellent curved screen phones.
Camera
Photography, as one of the core functions of smartphones, has become increasingly impressive. For smartphones, the specifications of the camera determine its photography performance. So how can we tell if a smartphone camera is good?
Smartphone Camera
Generally, it mainly depends on the camera’s pixel (the more, the better), sensor type, aperture, flash, and camera features. Currently, many higher-end smartphones have rear cameras with over 13 million pixels, most equipped with PDAF phase detection autofocus. Moreover, many flagship models feature dual rear cameras, such as the Huawei P9 and Honor V8, which are equipped with dual cameras and support laser focus or optical image stabilization, etc.
The Honor V8 features a dual rear camera setup.
In summary, smartphone cameras can be quite complex. For users, simply looking at pixel count, aperture, flash, and special features is sufficient. These special features typically refer to 4K recording, PDAF phase detection autofocus, OIS optical image stabilization, laser focus, etc. Generally, better photography smartphones will be equipped with PDAF phase detection autofocus, while flagship models mostly include laser focus, OIS optical image stabilization, and dual main cameras.
Network Standards
Understanding network standards when choosing a smartphone can better avoid issues caused by unsupported SIM cards. Currently, most smartphones can support 2G and 3G from China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom, but a deeper understanding of network standards is optimal: China Mobile 2G standard is GSM, China Telecom 2G standard is CDMA, China Mobile 3G standard is TD-CDMA, China Unicom 3G standard is WCDMA, China Telecom 3G standard is CDMA2000, China Mobile 4G standard is TD-LTE, and both China Unicom and China Telecom 4G standards are FDD-LTE. Readers are advised to understand these network standards before selecting a smartphone based on their SIM card.
Full Network Access
Nowadays, full network access smartphones are becoming more common. When purchasing a phone, it is generally recommended to choose a full network access model, as it can support all three major operators’ networks. If you need to switch cards across operators later, such a smartphone will be very convenient.
Details of the three major operators’ network bands.
Additionally, it is important to note that the SIM card slots in smartphones typically support standard SIM, micro SIM, and Nano SIM (mini card). When installing a SIM card in a smartphone, you need to pay attention not only to the supported network standards but also to the card type and whether card cutting is necessary.
Battery Capacity
Battery capacity is straightforward; generally, the larger the battery capacity, the better the endurance. Currently, most smartphones are equipped with batteries ranging from 3000 to 4000mAh, providing decent capacity. As a result, the battery life of most smartphones is generally around 1-2 days.
Smartphone Battery
When buying a smartphone, if battery life is a priority, it is advisable to choose models you like that have larger capacities, as they generally offer better endurance. Additionally, fast charging technology is currently very popular. When choosing a smartphone, it is also necessary to check if it supports fast charging. Generally, mainstream models support fast charging, providing faster charging speeds and saving charging wait time.
Of course, fast charging technology varies in quality. For example, Qualcomm QC3.0 and VOOC flash charging perform excellently in charging efficiency and are worth considering.
Operating System
As smartphones have developed, operating systems have become quite mature. Currently, the best operating system in smartphones is undoubtedly Apple’s iOS, with the latest version being iOS 9, and iOS 10 is set to launch in September 2016. However, the iOS system is only used in Apple’s iPhone models.
Smartphone Systems
Currently, almost all domestic smartphones use the Android system. Domestic smartphone manufacturers have optimized and developed the Android system, resulting in variants such as Xiaomi MIUI, Meizu Flyme, Huawei EMUI, etc. In terms of overall experience, MIUI is the most well-known, followed by Flyme and EMUI.
Body Material
In the past, most smartphones were made of plastic, but recently, glass and metal materials have become popular. In terms of quality, plastic is the lowest, while glass and metal offer a better feel and are more mainstream. Therefore, currently, apart from entry-level models that use plastic, better mid-range or high-end smartphones generally use glass or metal materials, especially metal, which is widely used.
Glass vs. Metal (Comparison of Xiaomi 5 and Meizu PRO 6)
Special Features
Special features of smartphones mainly refer to: fingerprint recognition, 3D pressure-sensitive screens, USB Type-C interfaces, 2.5D screens, infrared remote controls, etc. Currently, many higher-end smartphones are equipped with fingerprint recognition, support reversible USB Type-C interfaces, and 2.5D curved glass screens. The 3D pressure-sensitive screen is mainly found in flagship models.
Other Parameters
1) Light/Distance Sensor
What is a light/distance sensor? A light sensor, also known as a brightness sensor, can automatically adjust the screen brightness based on the ambient light, providing the best visual effect and saving battery power.
A distance sensor, also known as a displacement sensor, is usually located on either side of the phone’s earpiece or in the earpiece groove. When a user answers or makes a call, the phone is brought close to the head, and the distance sensor measures the distance. Once it reaches a certain level, it turns off the background light, and when moved away, it lights up the background light again, making it more convenient for users and saving battery power.
2) What is an electronic compass?
The smartphone electronic compass is both a software and hardware component that displays direction and pitch based on the phone’s position. Although GPS is widely used for navigation, positioning, speed measurement, and orientation, its signal can easily be blocked by terrain and objects, significantly reducing accuracy.
Especially in densely populated urban areas and densely forested regions, the effectiveness of GPS signals is only 60%. Moreover, GPS cannot provide heading information when stationary. To compensate for this, a combination of navigation and orientation methods can be used, and electronic compass products are designed to meet this demand, effectively compensating for GPS signal shortcomings and ensuring 100% effective navigation and orientation information.
Postscript:
This concludes the detailed explanation of smartphone specifications. It is a popular science article about smartphones. With the widespread adoption of smartphones, the prices of smartphones in the market have become very balanced, making it more important to understand how to filter smartphones. Of course, if you are wealthy, you can ignore smartphone specifications, as buying high-end flagship models generally won’t disappoint.