Choosing the best smartphone for your business can be a tricky and mind-boggling affair: there are hundreds of thousands of models to choose from – not to mention each model’s specs, operating system and so on.

Thankfully, we’ve done the research for you. Here are 6 handy tips that will help you decide on a work phone.

Choosing between iOS and Android

iOS is Apple’s very own operating system. It’s super easy to set up and administer an iOS device – especially if you have multiple Apple devices. This operating system is a closed system – meaning that it’s very difficult for a dodgy app to make its way to the app store (each app that’s submitted undergoes very rigorous testing by Apple) – making it a very secure system. Best of all, if you’re a newbie, learning how to use iOS is really easy.

On the other hand, iOS will only run on iPhones and iPads, limiting your choice of phone models to Apple devices. The closed operating system can sometimes be a con, as you can’t really configure Apple software or customise your iPhone according to your business needs.

Android is a mobile operating system that’s used by most smartphones. It’s free and open-source software that’s been adopted by various mobile companies to create their own customised version of the operating system.

Opting for an Android enables you to keep your options open – as there are literally thousands of phones to choose from. As we’ve mentioned, it’s open-source software – meaning that it’s highly customisable. Furthermore, if you’re using GSuite for your work, Android is probably a better option as Google services work very coherently with Android.

However, Android phones are very vulnerable to viruses and hacker attacks. Its UI (user interface) is not as straightforward and easy to use as iOS. Moreover, budget Android phones tend to be hit or miss as manufacturers and designers don’t always listen to customers’ feedback when it comes to design, UI and hardware.

Application

It’s important to think about how you’re going to use your phone. If you’re required to work outdoors, you need to make sure that you choose a heavy-duty smartphone. A rugged device is a good option, as it’s built to tolerate the harshest of environments.

Conversely, if you mostly work indoors, you need to check what phone specs are the most important for your work. For example, if you’re an administrator or a PA, you need to make sure that your phone has a long battery life and can handle a lot of documents and emails.

Frequency of use

If you’re constantly on your phone, you need to make sure that your phone’s hardware is robust enough for you to be able to do your job without having to change your phone every couple of months. For example, if you’re using your phone for data capture, you need to make sure that your phone is well-equipped to scan hundreds of bar codes and QR codes daily.

Performance

You need to consider whether or not your work requires you to have a high-performing device. You can narrow down your options by asking yourself the following questions: how much in-phone data storage do you require? What types of apps will you be using? How much time do you spend on your work phone each day?

Phone security and management

Make sure that the smartphone that you’re going to buy for work aligns with your workplace’s existing IT systems and policies. This may seem obvious, but checking what system your workplace’s IT department is using will save you a lot of time and money.

Total Cost of Ownership

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is a calculation that’s used to determine the overall cost of your product throughout its life cycle. When we’re talking about a smartphone’s TCO, there are two costs that we need to consider: the hard costs and the soft costs. The hard costs refer to costs associated with the phone itself. The soft costs refer to training, operation and downtime costs. The lower the overall score, the higher the return on investment.