Almost everyone has a smartphone counted among their possessions, so it's pretty easy to recognise one at first glance. That's not a hard task, but that's also not why we're here. It's easy to take smartphones for granted, but how well do you know what a smartphone actually is? What defines a smartphone?
It's a complicated question, but at its core, the deciding step up from phone to smartphone is its computer-like aspects. In fact, a smartphone is basically a little computer. It has an operating system (such as Android or iOS) that allows it to make use of various apps.
From browsing the internet to playing video games, smartphones far exceed their more basic predecessors. Sure, an old mobile can run Snake, but there's a giant leap in technology to a handheld device that can run Genshin Impact. Modern smartphones are super powerful.
We're here to take a look at a handful of key features that are key to a smartphone. When you factor all of these in, it'll be difficult to think back to how we got by with simple mobile phones.
Computer power
As we said, a smartphone is like a miniature computer in many ways. It has a CPU and is able to download and run apps. These can be just about anything. Writing down notes, checking emails, listening to podcasts, streaming music, crosswords, Netflix, ordering food; if you can think of it, you can almost certainly find an app for it.
Old mobiles would usually come pre-installed with a handful of simple games (such as Snake or Breakout), but smartphones allowed mobile gaming to truly bloom. There are your classics, including Cut The Rope and Angry Birds, but many advanced smartphones have strong enough specs to run intensive multi-platform games. You can play Genshin Impact just as well on your phone as you do on your PlayStation or PC, and that's nothing short of impressive.
Internet access
Being able to access and browse the internet is one of the best features of a smartphone. Most models come with a pre-installed browser, so you can access the internet as soon as your connection is set. Having access to so much knowledge always within reach is one of the smartphone's many achievements.
It used to be that smartphones couldn't run Flash on websites, but now that Flash is a thing of the past, there's very little difference between browsing on your phone or PC.
Smartphones are able to use mobile data (that's your 4G/5G) in place of a direct Wi-Fi connection, so you've got a way to access the internet while you're out and about. If you're deep in the countryside, this connection can drop in quality and eventually not be able to access the internet, but cities and towns tend to be pretty reliable.
GPS and other features
It's not as exciting as some other features, but the usefulness of a smartphone's GPS cannot be understated. Location tracking lets us know where we are on a digital map, an absolute blessing for navigating an unfamiliar city. It's also beneficial for planning a route.
It's not just a GPS either; smartphones come equipped with plenty of great features. Each model and line differs, but if you can think of something handy for a phone to have, you can find one with it. Most smartphones now come with smart assistants, letting you navigate, search, set reminders and more, all with just a few voice commands. Certain smartphones may come pre-installed with health-tracking software ideal for pairing with a smartwatch or fitness tracker.
Bluetooth is also worth mentioning. With this, smartphones can connect to numerous other devices, such as headphones and speakers, without requiring a physical cable connection. No more need to worry about getting tangled up in wires while choosing your music for a morning jog.
Camera
Cameras on phones were a thing before smartphones, but the difference in quality is visible. Even early smartphones were comparable to a standalone budget camera, whereas mobile phones were typically quite grainy.
Smartphone cameras also sport a lot more advanced features. Older mobiles may allow you to adjust the brightness and other simple settings, but overall, you're pretty limited with what can be done. That's not the case with smartphones. Their picture quality is generally excellent, especially with models from the last few years. In terms of features, the possibilities are endless. Some models can manipulate what is shown in the background, and most smartphones come with a selection of filters to adjust a photo's overall feel and style.
Touchscreen
Allow it's not a requirement for smartphones to have a touchscreen, almost all of them do. Even the models that do have some buttons often still keep the touchscreen.
The reason for this is simple: it's much easier to use a touchscreen than buttons. With an old mobile phone, texting letters required multiple presses of a button in order to scroll to the right one (and often go one too far and need to redo it). Texting a legible sentence took a lot more effort and time than it does today, and there was no auto-correct or predictive text to help out either.
Stepping forward into touchscreen tech did mean that flip phones were left behind, but modern technology allows to combine both, such as with the Samsung Flip4.
Closing thoughts
That's a brief summary of the key features that really make a smartphone what it is. Going from home phones to mobile phones was a big leap, but smartphones are on an entirely separate level. Having a powerful little computer in our pockets at all times is very useful, and it means we've almost always got access to the internet. Thanks to smartphones, communication has never been more convenient.
Kyle Purves is a Commercial Content Writer for What’s The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.
They’re well-versed in reviewing a variety of tech products, with a soft spot for speakers and earphones. They’re also no stranger to hunting down the best savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, listening to Japanese noise rock, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.
Subscribe to the What’s The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the rest of the What’s The Best team.