With so many brands of Android phones and tons of specifications for each phone, it can be challenging to decide on that one device that’d be suitable for you as a power user.
So, let’s look at six specs that will help you in your search for a fast and powerful Android phone.
1. CPU nm Process
Nanometer or nm is a unit of measure for distance. One nanometer is equal to 0.000000001 meters. So, it’s a pretty tiny unit.
In a processor, nm is used to measure the size of transistors that make up a CPU. Transistors are responsible for performing calculations by switching on and off. Smaller transistors mean you can fit more of them in a CPU. Naturally, the more transistors in a processor, the more efficiently it will perform.
The reasons for this efficient performance include a higher density of transistors, lower power consumption, and easier cooling requirements. Besides, the smaller transistors are faster as compared to their bigger counterparts.
So, while choosing your next Android phone, it’d be best to look at the nm of the CPU. Remember, the lower the nm, the better the processor’s efficiency. Compare the processors of different phones based on nm, and you’ll know which is more efficient.
As of this writing, the latest phone by Samsung and Xiaomi have 4nm CPUs. However, you’ll mostly find 7nm to 12nm options in budget phones these days.
2. CPU Core Count
In the past, many CPUs packed just one core that focused on one task at a time. Nowadays, CPUs have multiple cores to work on different tasks simultaneously. Each core is a separate set of transistors within a CPU. It is a processor in itself, and multiple processors allow better multitasking capabilities.
So, as you have guessed, more cores mean more computing ability in a CPU. However, it is not always a rule of thumb, as we’ll discuss in the next section.
In 2022, the most common number of cores in a CPU is eight, known as an octa-core processor. For the current requirements of apps and games, octa-core processors are better suited and should be enough. However, this will inevitably change in the future with more cores and advancements in technologies.
3. CPU Clock Speed (GHz)
A CPU’s clock speed is as important as its core count. Gigahertz or GHz is the unit of measure for the clock speed of a processor. Clock speed is the number of cycles executed by a CPU in a second. Billions of transistors turn on and off in a cycle that lets the processors perform tasks.
Now, the number of cores alone isn’t a sign of high performance. You’ll likely find eight cores in a low-end Android phone, as well as in a high-end phone. So, what’s the difference?
Yes, clock speed is where these CPUs differ. A processor with eight cores of 1 GHz each will obviously be slower than a CPU of eight cores of 2 GHz each. It is essential to check the clock speed of each core during your decision-making process.
So, while comparing the CPUs of the Android phones that you are looking to buy, we highly recommend you to make a decision based on these first three points related to CPUs to find the one suitable for your power user needs.
4. RAM
RAM or random access memory is a short-term or volatile memory of a device. Once you launch an app or a game, the data required by your processor to run it is stored in RAM.
In layman’s terms, your phone stores the data of the active apps and tasks in its RAM for faster processing. RAMs are faster in terms of read-write operations than ROMs (Read Only Memory). This is why the app stored in RAM will perform faster too.
Read More: A Quick and Dirty Guide to RAM: What You Need to Know
RAM is often considered a sign of performance and a faster machine. However, RAM can do only so much, and you will need a powerful processor to make full use of it.
Currently, the high-end phones feature as much as 12 GB of RAM. However, 8 GB of RAM will also provide optimum results if you have a solid processor. But, with the ever-increasing size of Android OS and apps, you will require 12 GB or more RAM in the future.
5. Storage
Unlike PCs, storage is not directly related to speed and performance in smartphones. In PCs, you can switch from HDD hard drives to SSDs to boost performance, as SSDs are a lot faster than HDD hard drives.
With that being said, have you ever run out of space on your Android phone? Yes, the phone starts acting funny and can hang and malfunction. So, to ensure your phone keeps running smoothly in the long run, it is wise to go for a phone with larger storage space.
At the moment, some high-end phones like the Galaxy S22 Ultra offer up to 1 TB of internal memory. However, 128 to 256 GB is a good range to aim for.
6. Screen Refresh Rate
What we have discussed so far is primarily internal functionality. Let’s complete this list by adding a specification that will visually affect your phone’s performance. This may be the most critical point as you’ll be looking at your phone’s display all the time.
Screen refresh rate is measured in Hz or Hertz. It is the number of times your screen refreshes an image. Naturally, your phone will render smooth photos and videos if it has a higher refresh rate, as there will be less motion blur.
If you have a phone with powerful internal hardware and a weak refresh rate, it will ruin your experience. At the same time, a higher refresh rate, combined with a good processor, RAM, and internal memory, will offer the best results.
Currently, high-end phones offer up to a 120Hz screen refresh rate. Anything 90Hz and above would be ideal to have, as of this writing.
Consider These Specs Before Buying Your Next Android Phone
Once you have a phone with solid specifications, as mentioned above, you can be sure that it will perform fast. And if the device is powerful in terms of these specs, it is likely to have other great features too. Ultimately, you’ll have a smartphone that will last you for years to come.
