CPU frequency
The clock frequency of the CPU that the device is equipped with. For multi-core processors, which are standard in modern smartphones, the frequency of each individual core is implied; and if the processor has cores with different frequencies (see "Number of cores") — usually, the maximum indicator is given.
In general,
high performance smartphones have high frequency of the processor. However, note that this parameter itself is not directly related to the capabilities of the CPU: many other features of the chip affect the actual performance, and often a low cost solution with a higher clock speed turns out to be less performant than an expensive one, and at the same time, presumably, more "slow" processor. In addition, the overall performance of the system directly depends on a whole set of other factors — primarily the amount of RAM. Therefore, when evaluating a smartphone, it is worth focus not so much on the frequency of the processor, but on the general specs of the system and visual indicators like the results in tests (see below).
RAM
The parameter determines the overall performance of the smartphone: the more RAM, the faster the device works and the better it copes with an abundance of tasks and / or resource-intensive applications (ceteris paribus). This is even more true in light of the fact that large amounts of "RAM" are usually combined with powerful advanced processors. However, only devices with identical operating systems can be directly compared with each other, and in the case of Android, with the same versions and editions of this OS (for more on all this, see "Operating system"). This is due to the fact that different operating systems and even different versions of the same OS can differ markedly in terms of RAM requirements. For example, iOS, thanks to good optimization for specific devices, is able to work efficiently with
3 GB of RAM. For modern versions of Android in the regular edition (not Go Edition), the mentioned 3 GB is actually the required minimum. Under such an OS, it is better to have at least
4 GB or
6 GB of RAM. In high-end devices with powerful electronic "stuffing" you can also find more impressive numbers -
8 GB or even
12 GB or more.
Max. memory card storage
The largest volume of memory card with which the phone supports. For more information about the cards themselves, see "Memory Card Slot"; here we note that capacious cards often use advanced technologies that are not supported by all devices, and sometimes phones simply do not have enough power to process large amounts of data. Therefore, for the convenience of choosing in our catalog, the maximum supported volume is indicated.
In fact, there are cases when some devices may exceed the claimed characteristics. However, it is worth focusing on official data, because, if officially supported volume is exceeded, normal operation of the card is not guaranteed.
Main lens
Specifications of the main lens of the rear camera installed in the phone. In models with several lenses (see “Number of lenses”), the main one is responsible for basic shooting capabilities and does not have a pronounced specialization (wide-angle, telephoto, etc.). Four main parameters can be indicated here: resolution, aperture (
high aperture optics are quite common), focal length, additional sensor data.
Resolution(in megapixels, MP)
Resolution of the sensor used for the main lens. Budget options are equipped with a module
8 MP and
below, many models have
12 MP camera /
13 MP, also recently a trend towards increasing megapixels has been popular. Often in smartphones you can find the main photomodule at
48 MP,
50 MP< /a>, 64 MP and even
108 MP .
The maximum resolution of the resulting image directly depends on the resolution of the sensor; and the high resolution of the "picture", in turn, allows you to better display fine details. On the other hand, an increase in the number of megapixels in itself can lead to a deterioration in the overall image quality - due to the smaller size of each individual pixel, the noise level increases. As a result,
...the direct resolution of the camera has little effect on the quality of the shooting - more depends on the physical size of the matrix, the features of the optics and various design tricks used by the manufacturer.
Aperture
Aperture describes the ability of a lens to transmit light. It is written as a fractional number, for example f/1.9. Moreover, the larger the number in the denominator, the lower the aperture ratio, the less light passes through the optics, all other things being equal. For example, an f/2.6 lens will be “darker” than f/1.9.
High aperture gives the camera a number of advantages. First, it improves the quality of shooting in low light. Secondly, it's possible to shoot at low shutter speeds, minimizing the effect of "stirring" and blurring of moving objects in the frame. Thirdly, with fast optics it is easier to achieve a beautiful background blur ("bokeh") — for example, when shooting portraits.
Focal length(in millimetres)
The focal length is a distance between the sensor and the centre of the lens (focused to infinity), at which the most clear image is obtained on the matrix. However, for smartphones, the specifications indicate not the actual, but the so-called equivalent focal length — a conditional indicator recalculated using special formulas. This indicator can be used to evaluate and compare cameras with different sensor sizes (the actual focal length cannot be used for this, since with a different sensor size the same real focal length will correspond to different viewing angles). (It is also worth saying that the equivalent focal length can be noticeably larger than the thickness of the case — there is nothing unusual in this, since this is a conditional, and not a real indicator).
Anyway, the field of view and the degree of magnification directly depend on the equivalent focal length: a larger focal length gives a smaller field of view and a larger size of individual objects that fall into the frame, and a decrease in this distance, in turn, allows you to cover more space. In most modern smartphones, the focal length of the main camera ranges from 13 to 35 mm; if compared with the optics of traditional cameras, then lenses with equivalent focal length up to 25 mm can be attributed to wide-angle lenses, more than 25 mm — to universal models “with a bias towards wide-angle shooting”. Such values are chosen due the fact that smartphones are often used for shooting in cramped conditions, when a fairly large space needs to fit into the frame at a small distance. Enlargement of the picture, if necessary, is most often carried out digitally — due to the reserve of megapixels on the sensor; but there are also models with optical zoom (see below) — for them, not one value is given, but the entire working range of the equivalent focal length (recall, optical zoom is carried out by changing the focal length).
Field of view(in degrees). It characterizes the size of the area covered by the lens, as well as the size of individual objects "seen" by the camera. The larger this field, the more of the scene gets into the frame, but the smaller the individual objects in the image are. The field of view is directly related to the focal length (see above): increasing this distance narrows the field of view of the lens, and vice versa.
Note that this parameter is generally considered important for professional use of the camera rather than for amateur photography. Therefore, viewing angle data is given mainly for smartphones equipped with advanced cameras — including in order to emphasize the high class of cameras. As for specific values, for the main lens they usually are in the range from 70° to 82° — this corresponds to the general specifics of such optics (universal shooting with an emphasis on general scenes and extensive coverage at short distances).
Additional Sensor Data
Additional information regarding the sensor installed in the main lens. This item can specify both the size (in inches) and the sensor model, and sometimes both parameters at once. Anyway, such data is provided only if the device is equipped with a high-end sensor. With the model, everything is quite simple: knowing the name of the sensor, you can find detailed data on it. The size is worth considering a little more.
The size of the sensor is traditionally indicated in fractional parts of an inch — accordingly, for example, a 1/2.3" sensor will be larger than 1/2.6". Larger sensors are considered more advanced, as they provide better image quality at the same resolution. The logic here is simple - due to the large sensor area, each individual pixel is also larger and gets more light, which improves sensitivity and reduces noise. Of course, the actual image quality will also depend on a number of other parameters, but in general, a larger sensor size usually means a more advanced camera. In advanced photo flagships, you can find matrices with a physical size of 1”, which is comparable to image sensors used in top compact cameras with fixed lenses.Cellular technology
Communication standards supported by the mobile phone. In the modern world, several standards related to different generations are actively used: GSM, 3G,
4G (LTE),
5G (including
fast mobile internet), CDMA. They vary in both specs and prevalence in different countries:
— GSM. The earliest of the communication standards found in modern telephones. Belongs to the second generation (2G). Allows you to make voice calls with acceptable sound quality, as well as transfer data at speeds up to 474 Kbps (using EDGE technology). Nowadays, GSM is considered completely obsolete, it has been almost universally replaced by more advanced standards of the next generations (3G, 4G, etc.). However, 2G support is found in most modern devices — not so much because of practical necessity, but because of technical features. The fact is that almost all communication standards that are relevant nowadays are add-ons over GSM, and modules for working with these standards are almost guaranteed to be compatible with GSM as well.
— 3G. In a broad sense, the 3G category (third generation communications) includes several standards. However, in the east european mobile phone market, this term refers specifically to the connection of the UMTS format. This standard is a development of GSM, such networks are often deployed on the basis of ready-made networks of the 2nd generation and c
...an also serve GSM phones without problems. Specifically, UMTS provides data transfer rates from 2 to 70 Mbps, depending on additional technologies implemented by a particular operator. This is already comparable to fixed Internet access; so, despite the spread of newer standards, 3G communication and phones for it are still quite popular — especially since such devices are compatible with 4G and 5G networks.
— 4G (LTE). Communication 4 generations based on the LTE standard; other 4G standards are not used in mobile phones. LTE is a further development of 3G (UMTS), deployed on the basis of the same technical base, but operates at higher speeds — up to 173 Mbps, which is comparable to a full-fledged broadband Internet connection. LTE networks are commercially operated in many countries of the world, but not in all; therefore, before buying a 4G-compatible phone, it's a good idea to check if it will be possible to use all its features in your area.
— 5G. Further, after 4G, the development of mobile communication standards. In the official specifications of this generation, a peak speed of 20 Gbps for reception and 10 Gbps for transmission, guaranteed speed (at high network load) of 100 and 50 Mb/s, respectively, as well as a number of solutions aimed at improving reliability and overall connection quality. A set of such solutions includes, in particular, multi-element antenna arrays (Massive MIMO) and beamforming technologies (Beamforming) at base stations, as well as the possibility of direct communication between subscriber devices. With all this, this standard allows to reduce energy consumption in comparison with its predecessors.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the rumors about the dangers of 5G communications for health. According to modern scientific data, such a connection does not pose a danger to the human body, and the rumors mentioned are conspiracy theories that are not supported by any weighty arguments.
— CDMA. CDMA networks are known to users primarily by the activities of cell phone networks that provide the opportunity to receive a mobile phone with a direct city number. At one time, these networks competed with GSM and more advanced standards based on it, but as mobile communications developed and became cheaper, CDMA operators for the most part curtailed their activities in the voice communications market and switched to mobile Internet access services. It is worth noting here that the EV-DO Rev.A and Rev.B data transmission technologies available in CDMA networks are capable of providing connection speeds at the level of third-generation networks (up to 3.1 Mbps in the first case and up to 14.7 Mbps in the second), so in some places these services were promoted under the 3G label. However, this connection should not be confused with UMTS-based 3G (see above) — these are two fundamentally different standards that are incompatible with each other. Roughly speaking, if we are talking about 3G in a mobile phone, usually, we mean UMTS, but 3G modems more often use CDMA (EV-DO).
It is worth noting that the GSM, 3G and 4G standards (in that order) are, in fact, stages in the development of mobile networks of the same type. In fact, this means that a phone with support for a later standard, by definition, supports earlier ones — for example, a device with LTE is able to work with both GSM and 3G.
You also need to remember that different ranges can be used within the same standard, and not all of them can be supported in a mobile device. However phones officially sold in a certain country are usually optimized for local networks, and there should be no problems with them. But if the device is planned to be imported from another country, and it was not intended for the local market, it makes sense to first clarify the compatibility by bands. Otherwise, a situation may arise when the device simply “does not see” the network, although formally it will be compatible with a certain communication standard.SIM slots
The quantity and types of removable cards (SIM, memory cards) that can be installed in the phone. On E-Catalog this parameter is specified only for devices that allow the installation of more than one SIM card — most often that means
2 SIM cards, however, you can find devices with
three or even four corresponding slots.
Initially several slots mean that several phone numbers can be used on one device. Thus it is possible to combine personal and work numbers, separate plans for calls and the Internet, etc. in one device. However modern devices (especially smartphones) often provide the combined design
“SIM + SIM / memory card " : one of the slots is intended only for SIM, the second can be used both for a SIM card or for a memory card such as microSD or Nano Memory (see "Memory card slot"). At the same time, there is no separate slot for a memory card in the device, so the user has to choose between the second number and additional storage. Therefore, if you want to use 2 SIM cards and a memory card at the same time, you should pay attention to models where this
is directly stated.
It is also worth considering that individual slots may differ in the type of compatible SIM cards; see below for details.
Connectivity technology
Types of communications supported by the device in addition to mobile networks.
This list includes two types of characteristics. The first is the communication technology itself: Wi-Fi (including advanced standards
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) ,
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax),
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) ,
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)),
Bluetooth a> (including the new generation Bluetooth v 5 in the form of a
version 5.0,
5.1,
5.2,
5.3 and
5.4),
NFC,
satellite communication. The second type is additional functions implemented through one or another communication standard: this is primarily
aptX support (including
aptX HD,
aptX Adaptive and
aptX Lossless) and even a built-in walkie-talkie. Here is a more detailed description of each of these characteristics:
— Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n). Wi-Fi is a wireless communication technology that in modern phones can be used both to access the Internet through wireless access points, and for direct
...communication with other devices (in particular, cameras and drones). Wi-Fi is a must for smartphones, but is extremely rare in traditional phones. Specifically, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) provides data transfer speeds of up to 600 Mbit/s and uses two frequency ranges at once - 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, making it compatible with earlier 802.11 b/g standards and with more new Wi-Fi 5 (see below). Wi-Fi 4 is considered a relatively modest standard by modern standards, but it is still quite sufficient for most tasks.
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). The Wi-Fi standard (see above), which is the successor to Wi-Fi 4. In theory, it supports speeds of up to 6.77 Gbps, and also uses the 5 GHz band - it is less loaded with extraneous signals and more noise-resistant than the traditional 2.4 GHz. For compatibility purposes, a smartphone with a Wi-Fi 5 module may provide support for earlier standards, but it would not hurt to clarify this point separately.
- WiGig (802.11ad). Further, after Wi-Fi 5, the development of Wi-Fi standards, characterized primarily by the use of the 60 GHz band. In terms of maximum speed, it is virtually no different from Wi-Fi 5, however, the higher frequency increases the channel capacity, so that when several gadgets simultaneously communicate with one common device (for example, a router), the communication speed does not drop as much as in earlier standards. On the other hand, the 802.11ad signal is almost incapable of passing through walls; Manufacturers use various tricks to compensate for this shortcoming, but the best communication quality is still achieved only with direct visibility. Relatively little equipment for the WiGig standard is currently being produced, and it is not compatible with earlier versions of Wi-Fi; Therefore, smartphones usually provide support for other standards.
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). A standard developed as a direct development and improvement of Wi-Fi 5. Uses the ranges from 1 to 7 GHz - that is, it is capable of operating at standard frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (including equipment of earlier standards), and in others frequency bands. The maximum data transfer rate has increased to 10 Gbps, but the main advantage of Wi-Fi 6 was not even this, but the further optimization of the simultaneous operation of several devices on the same channel (improving the technical solutions used in Wi-Fi 5 and WiGig). Thanks to this, Wi-Fi 6 gives the lowest speed drop among modern standards when the channel is busy.
- Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax). The Wi-Fi 6E standard is technically called 802.11ax. But unlike basic Wi-Fi 6 (for more details, see the corresponding paragraph), which is named similarly, it provides for operation in the unused 6 GHz band. In total, the standard uses 14 different frequency bands, offering high throughput in the most crowded places with many active connections. And it is backwards compatible with previous versions.
— Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be). The technology, like the previous Wi-Fi 6E, is capable of operating in three frequency ranges: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz. At the same time, the maximum bandwidth in Wi-Fi 7 was increased from 160 MHz to 320 MHz - the wider the channel, the more data it can transmit. The IEEE 802.11be standard uses 4096-QAM modulation, which also allows more symbols to be accommodated in a data transmission unit. From Wi-Fi 7 you can squeeze out a maximum theoretical information exchange speed of up to 46 Gbps. In the context of using wireless connections for streaming and video games, the implemented MLO (Multi-Link Operation) development seems very interesting. With its help, you can aggregate several channels in different ranges, which significantly reduces delays in data transmission and ensures low and stable ping. And Multi-RU (Multiple Resource Unit) technology is designed to minimize communication delays when there are many connected client devices.
— Bluetooth. Direct wireless communication technology between various devices. In mobile phones it is used primarily for connecting headphones, headsets and wrist gadgets such as fitness bracelets, but other methods of application are also possible - remote control mode, direct file transfer, etc. In modern mobile phones there can be different versions of Bluetooth, here are their features:
- Bluetooth v 4.0. A fundamental update (after version 3.0), introducing another data transmission format - Bluetooth Low Energy (LE). This protocol is designed primarily for miniature devices that transmit small amounts of information, such as fitness bracelets and medical sensors. Bluetooth LE allows you to significantly save energy during such communication.
- Bluetooth v4.1. Development and improvement of Bluetooth 4.0. One of the key improvements was the optimization of collaboration with 4G LTE communication modules - so that Bluetooth and LTE do not interfere with each other. In addition, this version makes it possible to simultaneously use a Bluetooth device in several roles - for example, to remotely control an external device while simultaneously streaming music to headphones.
- Bluetooth v4.2. Further, after 4.1, the development of the Bluetooth standard. It did not provide any fundamental updates, but received a number of improvements regarding reliability and noise immunity, as well as improved compatibility with the Internet of Things.
- Bluetooth v 5.0. Version introduced in 2016. The key innovations were the further expansion of capabilities associated with the Internet of Things. In particular, in the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol (see above), it became possible to double the data transfer rate (up to 2 Mbit/s) at the cost of reducing the range, and also quadruple the range at the cost of reducing the speed; In addition, a number of improvements have been introduced regarding simultaneous work with a large number of connected devices.
- Bluetooth v5.1. Update of the version described above v 5.0. In addition to general improvements in the quality and reliability of communication, this update introduced such an interesting feature as determining the direction from which the Bluetooth signal is coming. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to determine the location of connected devices with centimeter accuracy, which can be useful, for example, when searching for wireless headphones.
- Bluetooth v 5.2. The next update after 5.1 is Bluetooth 5 generation. The main innovations in this version are a number of security improvements, additional optimization of power consumption in LE mode and a new audio signal format for synchronizing parallel playback on multiple devices.
- Bluetooth v 5.3. The Bluetooth v 5.3 wireless protocol was introduced at the dawn of 2022. Among the innovations in it, they accelerated the process of negotiating a communication channel between the controller and the device, implemented the function of quickly switching between the operating state in a low duty cycle and a high-speed mode, and improved the throughput and stability of the communication by reducing susceptibility to interference. When unexpected interference occurs in Low Energy mode, the procedure for selecting a communication channel to switch from now on has been accelerated. There are no fundamental innovations in protocol 5.3, but a number of qualitative improvements are evident in it.
- Bluetooth v5.4. Protocol version 5.4, which was introduced at the beginning of 2023, increased the range and speed of data exchange, which is well suited for use in applications that require communication over long distances (for example, smart home systems). Also in Bluetooth v 5.4, the energy-saving BLE mode has been improved. This version of the protocol uses new security features to protect data from unauthorized access, has increased communication reliability by selecting the best channel for communication, and prevents communication losses due to interference.
- aptX support. aptX technology was developed to improve the quality of sound transmitted over Bluetooth. When transmitting sound in a regular format, without aptX, the signal is compressed quite heavily, which affects the sound quality; This is not critical when talking on the phone, but it can significantly spoil the impression of listening to music. In turn, aptX allows you to transmit an audio signal with virtually no compression and achieve sound quality comparable to a wired communication. Such features will be especially appreciated by music lovers who prefer Bluetooth headphones or wireless speakers. Of course, to use aptX, both your smartphone and external audio device must support it.
- aptX HD support. aptX HD is a further development and improvement of the original aptX technology, allowing you to transmit sound in even higher quality - Hi-Res (24-bits/48kHz). According to the creators, this standard allows you to achieve signal quality superior to AudioCD and sound purity comparable to wired communication. The latter is often questionable, but it can be argued that overall aptX HD provides very high sound quality. On the other hand, all the advantages of this technology become noticeable only on Hi-Res audio - with quality 24-bits/48kHz or higher; otherwise, the quality is limited not so much by the characteristics of the communication as by the properties of the source files.
- Support for aptX LL. A modification of aptX technology, designed to minimize signal transmission delays. Encoding and decoding a signal when transmitting audio via Blueooth with aptX inevitably takes some time; This is not critical when listening to music, but in videos or games there may be a noticeable desynchronization between the image and sound. The aptX LL technology does not have this shortcoming; it also gives a delay, but this delay is so small that a person does not notice it.
- Support for aptX Adaptive. Further development of aptX; actually combines the capabilities of aptX HD and aptX Low Latency, but is not limited to this. One of the main features of this standard is the so-called adaptive bitrate: the codec automatically adjusts the actual data transfer rate based on the characteristics of the broadcast content (music, game audio, voice communications, etc.) and the congestion of the frequencies used. This, in particular, helps reduce energy consumption and increase communication reliability; and special algorithms allow you to broadcast sound quality comparable to aptX HD (24 bits/48 kHz), using much less transmitted data. And the minimum data transfer latency (at the aptX LL level) makes this codec excellent for games and movies.
– Support for aptX Lossless. The next branch of development of aptX technology, which allows you to transmit CD-quality sound over a wireless Bluetooth network without loss or use of compression. At the same time, audio broadcasting with sampling parameters of 16 bits / 44.1 kHz is carried out with a bitrate of about 1.4 Mbit/s - this is about three times faster than in the aptX Adaptive edition. Support for aptX Lossless began to be introduced in late 2021 as part of Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound initiative, which is available on smartphones, headphones and speakers with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and later.
— NFC chip. NFC is a technology for wireless communication over ultra-low distances, up to 10 cm. One of the most popular applications of this technology in smartphones is contactless payments, when the device actually plays the role of a credit card: just bring the device to a terminal that supports contactless technology like PayPass or PayWave. Another common way to use NFC is to automatically connect to another NFC-compatible device via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth: gadgets brought close to each other automatically set up a communication, and the customer only needs to confirm it. Other options are technically possible: recognizing smart cards and RFID tags, using the device as a travel card, access card, etc. However, such use formats are much less common.
- Infrared port. The infrared port looks like a small “eye”, usually on the top end of the phone. This equipment allows you to turn your phone into a remote control for controlling various equipment - just install the appropriate application. At the same time, we note that among such applications you can find an option for almost any device - from TVs to air conditioners, hoods, etc. Accordingly, the “smartphone remote control” turns out to be very universal.
— Walkie-talkie. Built-in radio module that allows you to use the phone as a walkie-talkie - for communication over relatively low distances without using SIM cards. Of course, for such communication you will need another walkie-talkie (or a phone with this function). The specific frequencies supported by the built-in radio module should be clarified separately; however, all phones with this feature operate in one or more standard bands. In practice, this means that they are capable of communicating not only with similar phones, but also with classic civilian walkie-talkies - provided they match the supported bands. The communication range is usually quite low; however, the built-in walkie-talkie can be very useful for tech in situations where conventional mobile communications are ineffective or unavailable. Typical examples of such situations are staying “far from civilization”, in an area of poor treatment, or traveling abroad, where roaming is expensive.
– Satellite communication. The satellite communication function is intended to send emergency alerts to rescue services in emergency situations. Smartphones with the ability to connect to satellite frequencies can communicate with emergency services in areas where there is no mobile network treatment. For better signal reception from satellites, it is advisable for the customer to be in an open space. At the stage of function formation, only ready-made requests can be transferred. In the future, it is planned to support full messaging via satellite communications, but a separate fee will be charged for them.Features
Additional features and capabilities of the device.
In modern mobile phones (especially smartphones) a very extensive amount of additional features can be provided. These can be both already familiar features, many of which are directly related to the original purpose of the device, as well as fairly new and/or unusual ones. The first category includes
an emergency call button(often found on
phones for the elderly),
noise cancellation,
FM receiver,
notification light and
a light sensor. The second category includes a
face and
fingerprint scanner (the latter can be located on the
back cover,
side panel,
front and even
right under the screen),
gyroscope, advanced
full-fledged flashlight,
stereo sound,
3D surround sound,
Hi-Res Audio and even such exotics as a
barometer. Here is a more detailed description of each of these options:
— 3D face scanner. A special
...technology for recognizing the user's face — not just by photographing, but by building a three-dimensional model of the face based on data from a special module on the front panel. This technology is constantly being improved, nowadays it is able to take into account the change of hairstyles and facial hair, the presence of glasses, makeup, etc. At the same time, the recognition of twins and children's faces still remains weak points (they have fewer individual features than adults ). The main use of a face scanner is authentication when unlocking a smartphone, entering applications, making payments, etc. At the same time, other, more original use cases are possible. For example, in some applications, the face scanner reads the user's facial expressions, and then this facial expression is repeated by an emoji on the phone screen.
— Fingerprint scanner. Fingerprint reader. It is mainly used for user authorization - for example, when unlocking the device, entering certain applications or accounts, confirming payments, etc. As for placement options, fingerprint scanners are increasingly moving from the back cover of the device to the surface of the side power / unlock button - to You can touch the sensor on the side with your thumb without releasing the smartphone from your hands and practically without changing your grip. Some time ago, sensors on the front of the case were quite popular - in particular, thanks to Apple, which was the first to tightly implement fingerprint recognition in its gadgets. However, such placement inevitably increases the size of the bottom frame, so the front fingerprint scanner is rare in modern smartphones. A good alternative to it is scanners right on the screen (more precisely, under the display matrix), which do not take up extra space on the front panel.
— Stereo sound. The ability to play full stereo sound through your phone's own speakers, without external audio devices. There must be at least two speakers for this task. This complicates the design and increases its cost, but it has a positive effect on the sound quality: the sound is more expressive and detailed than when using a single speaker, it has a volume effect, as well as a higher volume.
– 3D surround sound. The mechanics of spatial surround sound with localization of sound sources in three-dimensional space allows you to deeply immerse yourself in the atmosphere of films, enjoy listening to audio tracks, or completely immerse yourself in mobile gameplay. Algorithms for implementing 3D sound in smartphones differ in terms of software and hardware support, but they are all aimed at achieving the effect of realistic sound stage. Note that support for 3D surround sound can mean both commonly used technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X Ultra, as well as proprietary solutions from individual audio brands that have a hand in the sound subsystem of a mobile device (AKG, JBL, Harman, Huawei / Honor Histen, etc.).
– Hi-Res Audio. Mobile device support for high-resolution audio Hi-Res Audio - a digital signal with parameters from 96 kHz / 24 bits. Audio tracks in this format sound as close as possible to the original ideas of the authors of the compositions. The result is a sound that is as close as possible to what was recorded in the studio.
— FM receiver. Built-in module for receiving radio stations broadcasting in the FM band. Some devices also support other bands, but FM is the most popular nowadays (due to the ability to transmit stereo sound), it is in it that music radio stations usually broadcast. Note that some devices for reliable reception may require the connection of wired headphones — their cable plays the role of an external antenna.
— Notification indicator. Physically separate light beacon, pulsating or being constantly lighted up in response to incoming notifications of missed calls and received messages (including the ones from instant messengers and social network clients). Also, the indicator light usually signals a low remaining battery level and lights up during the battery recharging. The implementation of the notification indicator can be different: for some phones it is single-colour, for others it has colour coding of signals, flexibly adjustable for certain events through the settings menu. The light beacon allows you to visually comprehend the presence of incoming notifications without having to turn on the smartphone screen.
— Emergency call button. A separate button designed for use in critical situations. The specific features of such a button may be different, depending on the model: sending “alarming” SMS to selected numbers, automatically receiving calls from these numbers or calling them in turn, turning on the siren, etc. Anyway, the “emergency” button is usually clearly visible, and its presence is especially useful if the phone is used by an elderly person (in fact, in specialized devices designed for elderly, this button is almost mandatory).
— Noise suppression. An electronic filter that cleans the user's voice from extraneous noise (sounds of the street, the rumble of the wind in the microphone grille, etc.). Thus, the person at the other end of the line hears only the voice, with virtually no extra sounds. Of course, no noise reduction system is perfect; however, in most cases, this feature significantly improves the quality of the speech transmitted by the phone to the other person.
— Gyroscope. A device that tracks the rotation of a mobile phone in space. Modern gyroscopes, usually, work on all three axes and are able to recognize both the angle and the rate of turn; in addition, this feature almost necessarily means the presence of an accelerometer, which allows (among other things) to detect tremors and sharp movements of the device.
— Full-fledged flashlight. The presence of an advanced flashlight in the phone — more powerful than the usual one. The specific design and capabilities of such a flashlight may be different. So, in some devices, a separate LED (or a set of LEDs) is provided on the upper end, and this light source is used only as a flashlight. In others (mainly smartphones), we are talking about a special design of the flash: it consists of several LEDs, and only a part of them is usually used to illuminate when shooting, and all at once to work in flashlight mode. And the additional features of such a light source may include a laser pointer, beam focus, brightness control, etc. Anyway, most models with this feature are rugged devices with increased resistance to dust, moisture and shock (however, there are exceptions).
— Light sensor. A sensor that monitors the level of ambient light. It is mainly used to automatically adjust the brightness of the screen: in bright ambient light, it increases so that the image remains visible, and in twilight and darkness it decreases, which saves battery power and reduces eye fatigue.
— Barometer. Sensor for measuring atmospheric pressure. By itself, the barometer only determines this pressure at the current time, but the methods of using such data may be different, depending on the software installed on the phone. For example, some navigation applications can determine the elevation difference between individual points on the ground by the difference in atmospheric pressure at these points; and in weather programs, barometer data can improve the accuracy of weather forecasts. Also, this feature will be useful for weather-sensitive people: it signals a change in the weather, allowing you to more accurately determine the cause of ailments and take measures to eliminate them.Navigation
Navigational features provided by a device, usually a smartphone.
It is almost mandatory for a modern smartphone to have a
GPS module and a digital compass. In addition, aGPS is often provided to speed up work, and
Dual GPS to improve accuracy. Here is a more detailed description of these features:
— aGPS. An auxiliary feature that allows you to speed up the start of the main GPS receiver. To work for its main purpose, such a receiver must update data on the location of navigation satellites; Obtaining this data in the classical way, directly from the satellites themselves, can take quite a long time (up to several minutes). This is especially true for the so-called "cold start" — when the receiver starts up after a long break in operation, and the data stored in it has become completely outdated. aGPS (Assisted GPS) allows you to receive up-to-date service information from mobile network — from the nearest base station (this feature is supported by most mobile networks nowadays). This can greatly speed up the startup process.
— GPS module. Navigation module that allows you to determine the current coordinates of the device through the GPS satellite navigation system. GPS is the oldest and most common of these systems. The standard accuracy of modern receivers of this standard is about 6 – 8 m, and with the use of special technologies — several decimetres. As for the GPS-mod
...ules in phones, they only provide the current location; How this data is used may vary depending on the operating system and installed applications. Among the most common options are map navigation (including track recording), geotagging photos and posts on social networks, searching for various objects nearby (attractions, transport stops, shops, hotels, cafes / restaurants, emergency services, etc.) , displaying the user's location (for example, to a taxi or delivery service), etc.
Notes to this paragraph may indicate additional systems supported by satellite receivers — for example, the European Galileo system. The exception is the Russian GLONASS, compatibility with which is specified separately (see below).
— Dual GPS. Additional feature found in modern GPS receivers (see above). Such receivers do not operate at one frequency, like traditional modules, but at two ("L1 + L5") — thus receiving two signal packets at once and comparing them with each other. This type of work significantly improves positioning accuracy — in some cases up to 10 – 20 cm. In addition, Dual GPS allows you to correctly process signals reflected from tall buildings — this increases efficiency in dense urban areas. However, it is worth noting that it is not always possible to use all the advantages of this feature. Full support for L5 is available only in the European Galileo system; in GPS (as of 2020), only about half of the satellites carry out such broadcasting, and in GLONASS it is not expected before 2030. In addition, compatibility may be limited by the capabilities of the smartphone: for example, in some models, Dual GPS mode becomes available only after a firmware update.
— GLONASS. Ability to use the GLONASS satellite navigation system. It is a Russian alternative to the American GPS, also providing global coverage. In standard mode, it almost does not differ in accuracy from GPS (about 5 – 10 m), but in special modes it is noticeably inferior (2.8 m versus 30 cm). Therefore, in modern smartphones, GLONASS is practically not used as the main navigation system — usually compatibility with it is provided as an additional feature of the GPS module. The ability to receive signals from two satellite systems at once has a positive effect on the quality of navigation, especially in dense urban areas, indoors and in mountainous areas: the number of dead zones decreases, the satellite search time decreases, and positioning accuracy improves.
— Galileo. European satellite navigation system, created as an alternative to the American GPS. Note that it is under the control of civilian departments, not the military. With a full fleet of 24 active satellites, the system gives an accuracy of up to 1 m in public mode and up to 20 cm with the GHA service. Working in conjunction with GPS, the Galileo system provides a more accurate position measurement, especially in densely populated areas.
— Digital compass. An electronic analogue of a conventional compass: a module that allows you to determine the direction to the cardinal points. Usually, it uses the same principle of operation, and the design is based on a miniature magnetic sensor. Along with the GPS module, it is an almost mandatory feature for modern smartphones. However digital compasses for the most of them are not accurate — but this drawback is not critical, since in the case of a smartphone, such accuracy is extremely rarely required.