How to choose a push-button telephone

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

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:

1. Number of SIM cards;

2. Screen characteristics;

3. Form Factor;

4. Battery autonomy and capacity;

5. Multimedia capabilities – support for mobile Internet, availability Bluetooth, availability of Wi-Fi, availability of a memory card slot, availability of an MP3 player, availability of FM radio, presence of a camera;

6. Special functions – protected case, version for the elderly.

7. The manufacturer of the device is also important.

The main criteria for choosing push-button telephones

When choosing a push-button mobile phone, it is worth first of all to 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 actively exploited, you can look for 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 dual SIM cards. However, models with three modules are also found – they are produced mainly 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 the networks! And this takes energy from the battery.

Thus, if maximum autonomy is required – 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 characteristics

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

1. For mobile phones designed exclusively for calls, a black and white (monochrome) screen is preferred. Such a display is characterized by increased contrast, so that even a visually impaired or just an elderly person can read information from it. In addition, monochrome displays usually draw slightly less current than color, which further increases the battery life of the phone.

2. 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 'diffuses' and 'merges', further complicating readability – especially in 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.

3. 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 one time (or the more displayed items will be). For mobile phones, a large screen is not particularly needed, so 1-2 inches are standard.

4. The screen resolution determines the autonomy of the device. The higher it is, the more power the display will consume (but at the same time, the better the picture quality). For mobile phones, the standard is screen resolutions ranging from 160 × 128 to 320 × 240 pixels. Devices that are equipped with a display with a higher or lower resolution are impractical to buy.

Form factor

The vast majority of modern mobile phones are executed in one of two form factors – candy bar ('brick') and 'clamshell'. Various 'sliders' can also be found in Chinese online stores, but these are rare in 2017.

1. A candy bar is the most common form factor of phones. The devices made in it are distinguished by high strength, reliability and resistance to mechanical stress.

2. The 'clamshell' is distinguished by its greater 'image' and visual appeal. In addition, almost all phone models made in this form factor support the disconnection of a call when the lid is closed. Therefore, leaving a call 'on the line' is almost impossible. Unfortunately, clamshells have less mechanical strength and durability than candy bars.

Battery autonomy and capacity

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

Therefore, the most 'realistic' indicator of device autonomy is the talk time. During calls, the energy in the battery is consumed most actively – in much the same way as when listening to music or FM-radio, taking pictures or just setting an alarm.

As a consequence, if a mobile phone with maximum autonomy is required, it is advisable to choose models designed for the longest talk time. Then they will be able to 'live' up to several days on a single charge, even when they are in an area with a very weak cellular network coverage or while listening to music.

Multimedia capabilities

Among the multimedia capabilities that determine the practical qualities of a mobile phone are:

1. Support for mobile internet. In fact, the feature is not particularly useful, since you still can't see web pages, emails or social media messages on a tiny phone screen;

2. Availability Bluetooth allows you to send and receive files, as well as use a wireless headset or car Hands-Free system;

3. The presence of Wi-Fi also allows you to access the Internet from your mobile phone. But, as with 2G / 3G, the practical use of this feature is rather controversial;

4. The presence of a memory card slot is a useful feature for those people who plan to use the phone as a multimedia player. You can record music files, videos and other content on this USB flash drive;

5. The presence of an MP3 player is a software feature that turns your phone into a portable player. Music must first be written to a USB flash drive or to the internal memory of the device (however, you can also get it by Bluetooth);

6. The presence of an 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 active mode it leads to a rapid discharge of the battery;

7. The presence of a camera, which is self-evident, allows you to take pictures. But it is worth remembering that usually no photographic module is installed in mobile phones, as a result of which the images are either very blurry and indistinct, or unsaturated, or all of this at once;

8. Having a flashlight is a very useful feature. It can be used with a camera flash or a separate LED. In the second case, the flashlight is 'more powerful' and brighter than in the first.

It is worth choosing multimedia capabilities of a cell phone based on your needs.

Special functions

Among the special functions are:

1. Protected case – rubber gaskets, metal inserts and other design solutions that make the phone resistant to shocks, drops and drowning. A useful function for people who work at a construction site or often find themselves in extreme conditions;

2. Version for the elderly – large contrasting symbols on the display, large buttons, special shortcut functions for some contacts. Useful if the phone is purchased for elderly relatives.

3. Special features, as well as multimedia features, are worth choosing when needed.

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

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

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

How to choose a push-button phone with a good battery

Pay attention to the operating time of the device in call mode. Also, the less multimedia capabilities, the better. And they are also recommended for buying a device without a mobile Internet.

The best manufacturers

Among the best manufacturers of mobile phones are:

1. Nokia, Samsung – still make great cell phones;

2. Just5 – cute mobile phones for seniors and hipsters;

3. Irbis, Texet, Dexp, Keneksi are Chinese manufacturers of ultra-budget mobile phones.

4. You can also highlight the companies Philips and CAT. The first ones produce mobile phones with maximum battery life, and the second ones – devices protected by the most modern, including militaristic, standards.

In the following articles, our experts will tell you how to choose a battery for a smartphone and the secrets of choosing a phone for the Internet.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.