Great design, image quality and battery life are just some of the features you should look for in a phone.

KNOW THE JARGON

• AMOLED VS IPS LCD: With AMOLED, each pixel is lit up individually, resulting in sharper graphics and richer colours at the end of the spectrum (reds and blacks, etc.). Older tech IPS LCD has a backlight and offers better brightness overall.

• DUAL REAR CAMERAS create images with multiple focal points. One camera is designed for closer objects and another for those further away. The phone blends the two images. Check aperture size: a lower number indicates a larger aperture – which means the camera performs better in low light.

• FAST CHARGE: As the battery – measured in milliamps (mAh) – gets fuller, the charger releases less power to ‘trickle’ charge, which also improves the lifespan of the battery.

• GORILLA GLASS protects the display against cracking. The higher the version number, the more durable the display.

• PIXELS PER INCH (PPI) PIXELS (P) are tiny dots that make up the display. The more pixels per inch, the higher the resolution or clarity of the display.

• SD STORAGE (memory card) gives you extra space.

• SLO-MO is recorded and played back at between 24–30 frames per second (fps). Slo-mo starts at 120fps. The higher the resolution at the higher fps, the better the camera.

• WATER AND DUST RESISTANCE (IP67/68): The higher the IP number, the better the phone handles water or dust. Both IP67 and 68 are resistant to dust, grit or pocket lint and brief submersion in water.

• WIRELESS CHARGING: Instead of being plugged in, the phone is placed on a charging pad (which is significantly slower).