What differences do smartphones make?

Smartphones, feature phones, mobile phones. What’s the difference? You may think it’s easy to distinguish between them all, but sometimes there’s not much difference between them. Here’s our breakdown of the three.

As a rule of thumb, the best way to differentiate the three groups is to keep in mind its features and therefore, cost. If a phone just makes a phone call, sends a text message and offers very little else, it’s mobile phone. If it offers a high-megapixel camera, enables you to edit Microsoft Office documents and photos then it’s a smartphone. And anywhere in between is probably a feature phone.

To explain things further, let’s look more in detail about the differences.

Mobile phones

These are usually the most affordable phones on the market. A great example of this is the Nokia 100. While a mobile phone doesn’t come packed with a high-end features, what it does offer is a brilliant battery life. This one has a standby time of 840 hours – well over a month – for example.

A mobile phone is principally there for the crucial jobs; to enable you to make a phone call and the odd SMS. In addition to its affordable price, one of the key reasons this model is so popular in places like Africa is its durable, dust-resistant design. 

Feature phones

Feature phones lie in the ever-contested space between mobile phones and smartphones. They are rich in features, very clearly more advanced than a mobile phone, but not quite so advanced as a smartphone. Often they have built-in cameras sometimes with a fairly high megapixel count. They support apps, game downloads and feature a Web browser. The Nokia Asha 305, Nokia Asha 306 and Nokia Asha 311are all feature phones

These particular examples are very close to being smartphones, and by some people’s definitions, they are. For now we’ll stick with Wikipedia’s definition of a smartphone, though: “A smartphone is a mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a feature phone.”

Of course, there’s a problem with this definition. What is “more advanced” changes every year. Ten years ago, having a calendar app would have been enough to get into the smartphone camp. Today, it’s nothing short of augmented reality browsers and HD video capabilities.

Feature phones are perfect for people who want more than just to make a phone call, but possibly don’t want to spend a lot of money on a fully-fledged smartphone. It’s a very good happy medium.

Smartphones

A smartphone is, as we’ve just discussed, a phone that’s at the forefront of current technology.

Current smartphones are capable of taking high-res photos that you can edit right on the phone. You could also create Office documents, edit them and upload them to the Cloud. Smartphones also feature GPS for finding your way around the world, plus much more.

The Nokia Lumia 900 is one example of a smartphone. It’s beautifully crafted, meets most of your needs and is for all intents and purposes a mobile computer

Most people start their phone journey with a mobile phone, as it’s the perfect way to be introduced to new technology. Then, after time, their confidence – and desire – grows and it’s time to upgrade to a feature phone. From here, not everybody takes the leap to smartphone, as feature phones are capable of so much.

However, those that do progress to smartphone do so to always be connected to the things that are important to them, whether it be friends and family on social networks, or to be kept up-to-date with the latest news from around the world, or to just blast some aliens in a high-def online game.

What did you first own? A mobile phone, a feature phone or a smart phone? Let us know, by using the comments section below.

Image credit: Per Olof Forsberg

Smartphone is a mobile phone that operates on an operating system, similar to a mini computer. Smartphones are basically that – a mini computer. They offer a variety of features such as calling capabilities, computing capabilities, video conferencing, online surfing, cameras, media players, GPS navigation units, etc. Any mobile phone that lets you do the work of a computer is considered as a smartphone. Smartphone are powered by operating systems such as Android, iOS, Windows Mobile, etc.  The term ‘smartphone’ was introduced into the market by Ericsson in 1997, when it used the word to describe its GS 88 ‘Penelope’ concept as a smartphone. There is no clear distinction that decides which phones are smartphone and which phones are not. However, with the increasing technology and offerings in a phone, the category has expanded to include all the new features that are currently available in the market.

Smartphones and normal phones are two different categories of cell phones. With the smartphone boom, normal phones have taken a backseat and have become limited with many companies focusing on developing smartphones. The Normal Phones category does not exactly have a set definition, as the term changes with the upgrade in technology each time. The term has also been adapted depending on the companies that are trying to promote their ‘smartphones’. Normal phones are still existent in small numbers catering to the market of users that do not require the high-end features of a smartphone.

It's estimated that by the year 2015, over 65 percent of the United States population will own a smartphone, according to an article published on CNET. That's over 200 million people. Smartphones, with their email, Web browsing, gaming, texting and video-messaging capabilities, are quickly making regular cellular phones irrelevant, but regular, traditional cell phones still offer some benefits.

Functionality

1. Regular cell phones offer texting and calling functionality, whereas smartphones offer a list of features including email, Internet access, video chatting, gaming, app downloading, video taking and music storage.

Camera

1. Many regular cell phones are equipped with cameras, but not of the quality found on smartphones. For instance, the iPhone 4S features an 8-megapixel camera, capable of taking both still photos and video in 1080p quality. It also offers the ability to edit from the phone itself and enables users to share pictures and videos instantly. Zoom features, face detection and reduced motion blur are other features of the 4S camera.

Purpose

1. Smartphones offer users a level of on-the-go convenience not matched by standard phones, increasing user efficiency. This is important with sales representatives and other executives, as smartphones enable them to check email and browse information while they're on the road or away from a computer. Smartphones are also stylish and portray a sense of professionalism and efficiency, traits that are viewed positively by clients and potential clients.

Cost

1. Cost is the main area where traditional cell phones still hold an advantage over smartphones. For instance, purchasing a smartphone starts around $200, and that's only if you're a new customer or eligible for a phone upgrade; for others, the cost is much higher. Then there's the mandatory cellular data package, which costs about $30 per month in addition to text and talk plans. Regular cell phone users don't pay for data plans. Traditional cell phones are also much cheaper -- if not free -- up front.