Mobile Phones

GLONASS

GLONASS is the Russian equivalent of the American GPS system. If a phone uses a combination of GPS and GLONASS, it provides more precise location information and faster localisation.

A-GPS

A-GPS downloads data from the mobile network about the satellites precise orbit and thus accelerates the localisation process after the GPS is turned on.

GPS

GPS is an American positioning system that can determine your position on or above the ground within the accuracy of a few meters. It can also be used to measure distance and time.

LTE (Long Term Evolution) marks the next generation of mobile data networks. This is an intermediate step between 3G and 4G. Although manufacturers and operators sometimes mistakenly refer to it as 4G, it is not a full 4G network. That's for LTE Advanced. The maximum theoretical data transfer rate is up to 175Mbps for download and up to 57.6Mbps for sending data in one frequency band.

Display Technology

In regards to technology-electronics, there are several different displays commonly found: TFT, IPS, and AMOLED.

TFT (Thin Film Transistor)

This is commonly found in cheap mobile phones. An advantage is its low production cost. Disadvantages include the narrow viewing angles, low-quality contrast and long response time.

IPS (In-Plane Switching)

This is also sometimes referred to as Super-TFT. It's used on both mid and high-end smartphones. It has much less flaws when compared to older TFT displays. IPS provides accurate colour reproduction and wide viewing angles.

AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode)

This is currently the most advanced display on the market. With declining production costs, it can now be found on ma

Proximity sensor

The vast majority of modern mobile phones are equipped with a proximity sensor. Its task is to evaluate the distance of an object from the sensor. Once the object gets close, the telephone activates a particular function. One of the most common is the function to turn off the screen and the touch layer when the user dials a phone number and places the phone close to his ear.

Ambient light sensor

An ambient light sensor that monitors the ambient light levels and dynamically adjusts the display backlight intensity. A practical and handy feature, it is part of most modern phones. It turns the display brightness to the maximum in bright sunlight and dims the backlight in the dark. This makes the phone’s display perfectly readable in all lighting conditions without straining your eyes.

VoWiFi

The LTE network also carries VoWiFi (Voice Over Wi-Fi). This technology is often mistaken for VoIP (Voice Over IP), which enables calls over the Internet. VoWiFi connects to the radio part of the network via your home Wi-Fi coverage, so it looks like you are simply calling via a standard GSM network. It is mainly used in areas with poor coverage. Just like VoIP, this function must be supported both by your operator and your phone in order to work.

VoLTE

VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is an LTE technology that enables voice service over LTE. The standard must be supported by both your phone operator and the phone itself in order to work. Its advantages are high call quality and faster network connection.

Display resolution

Specifies the number of pixels (dots) on the screen. Typically, the display resolution is listed in a format such as 1920 × 1 080. In practice, the higher the resolution, the better the image quality. Do not forget to compare the resolution to the screen size, however. If you have two phones with the same display resolution, the image quality on the phone with a smaller screen will be better because its screen pixel density is higher.

Dual SIM

A pair of GSM modules allows you to operate two active SIM cards in one phone simultaneously. The primary slot usually supports voice and data services, while the secondary slot supports only voice services. You'll find more information in the user manual provided by the manufacturer.

Platform

Platform and operating system are to some extent very similar terms, but not entirely. An operating system (OS) is a software running smartphones, computers, laptops and tablets. Google Android or Apple iOS are most common for mobile phones and tablets. You can find out more detailed information about each OS as well as their advantages and disadvantages in our Comparison of Mobile Operating Systems article. When referring to Android and iOS as platforms, we're talking about a package of services associated with them, such as Gmail for Google or iTunes for Apple. These services can be used not only on mobile devices, but also on computers and laptops.

VR-Ready

This indicates the phones that support virtual reality (VR). If the phone is marked as VR-Ready, you can simply buy a VR headset and enjoy 360° videos or play games designed for VR.

Lightning Connector

The Lightning connector is used with iPhone models and various Apple products. It's a tiny (8-pin) duplex port that carries both digital signal and power. The proprietary Apple cable has a Lightning connector on one end (the one plugged into the phone) and a standard USB connector on the other, making it compatible with a PC or car charger. The iPhone 7 also uses it as a headphone jack adapter.

Battery life

Battery life is listed in mAh (milliampere-hours); the higher the number, the bigger battery capacity. Battery life is mainly affected by such factors as the screen size (or illuminated area), CPU performance, data exchange functions, or GPS. Standby time therefore serves an objective battery life comparison between different phone models.

Standby time

Standby time is used to make the battery life comparison between different mobile phones as objective as possible. Standby time is tested in the laboratory and does not reflect real life conditions. It refers to the maximum amount of time a phone can remain powered on a single charge.

SIM Card Type

SIM cards are available in various sizes. The smallest is NanoSIM (e.g. used in iPhones), the most common is microSIM (used in most smartphones) and the largest is the miniSIM, the original SIM card which has more than ten years' history and is now generally only used in push-button phones.

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