I presently own a flip phone with basic cellphone capabilities and I have decided that I now want to give Smartphones a try. The problem is that Smartphones are a totally new concept to me, I know next to nothing about them and have no idea as to where to start.

I would appreciate some suggestions/recommendations on what to look for, programs & accessories and whatever else that might be helpful for someone who has never owned a Smartphone. I am presently using Verizon.

Thanks.

Verizon has the Motorola One "Ace" at a decent price.

This is an Android based phone (you either have Android or Apple).

Nice screen size easy to use, plenty of internal memory (like a computer hard drive), and expendable memory with a Micro SD Card.

I use this phone with an Otter Box case (for protection against drops) and a tempered glass screen protector.

It is like having a computer in my pocket.

ggile,

There are so many choices I think it would serve you well to go to the store and try a bunch of different phones out. I'm an Android user (Samsung Galaxy S20) myself, and have an Apple SE for work. I despise my Apple phone but that's what my job has.

You may be partial to Apple, but then again you may like a completely different brand. Pretty much any newer phone will surely suit your needs. I know that doesn't answer your question, but for a decision like this, I think you should hold them and try them out prior to making a big decision like going from a flip phone to a smart phone.

I recommend apple but you might want to look at the computer you use to make a choice.

Apple phones are the easiest to use if you aren't tech savvy.

You’ll be happy with an iPhone

IMO there’s too many versions and types of Android smartphone out there with them all slightly different by model and make.

Apple is very consistent and user friendly, I’d recommend the iPhone SE if you wanted a smaller one and an iPhone 11 or 12 if you wanted larger.

Do you have a tablet? If so I would recommend you get a smart phone that matches the tablet operating system, either apple or android.

If not then your big issue is which operating system to go with. Most apps (but not all) are written for either System.

The apple or android route is a bigger Agruement discussion then 9mm vs .45.

Once you figure out the OS you can talk specific phones.

As for apps; google maps, my radar, a web browser (duck duck go), calculator, clock, and google books are apps I use daily. Most of the apps you end up with are used less frequently but are there when you need them.

We have Verizon and three of us are very happy with the bottom of the line Samsung A50. Yesterday I added a fourth line for our disabled daughter with two upgrades of the A50 that is now the A42. Does everything we could ask without paying top dollar.

Just our opinion and experience.

I use my apple phone for making calls,and sending text messages. I use the calculator from time to time. It is compatible with my Ipad which is nice. I do not surf the net on my iphone, I have a desktop computer for that. I may do facetime which is a primitive form of video conferencing. Decide how you will use your phone.

I chose an iPhone 3GS in 2010 because it would cover the following:

Phone/Text, Calendar, Calculator, Email, Maps/GPS, iPod. One device instead of several. Once I started traveling a lot for work, it was indispensable. Airline apps, hotel apps, data-based communication apps that are used by a lot of people I work with outside the US (WeChat, What's App, KakaoTalk, Line, etc.).

Along the way I've had a 5, 6, 7, X, Xs, and 11Pro. Since the 7 I am on the Apple Store plan and can upgrade each year (after 12 payments) or not. I didn't upgrade to the 12 because it was late to market and I am working at home since March 2020.

As of now I have security system control with auto disarm over bluetooth and geo-fencing, remote garage door control, thermostat and lighting control, and various other things. And then I had to add all the stupid apps schools use now to communicate everything. The wallet is nice to have my credit cards for use with Apple Pay, all the stupid club cards for stores, airline boarding passes, and other passes/tickets.

I will not buy a car without Apple Play to put the Music, Maps, and other functions on the car touchscreen while keeping you "honest" about hands free safety.

Google Pixel

I would say the decision points follow the following:

1) supported by your provider. This is sort of a trick point as most providers will work well with most phones, but you might want to inquire about "deals" they have with specific phones, and if anything is specifically not supported. If you are very much into wanting to try heavy high-speed data provision, the whole 5G thing might have some impact here.

2) Apple vs. Android. Two aspects, if you like the idea and actuality of an "integrated environment across all your devices," Apple is the clear preferred direction. This pretty much mean you'd already have a Mac on your desk as your preferred computing platform, an AppleTV connected to your TV> etc. It also means that you will be locked into Apple's way of working for most stuff. Going Android means that you prefer Google to Apple for these decisions, however, you have the option, if you are so inclined and have sort of a hacker mentality, to make significant changes to many more aspects of your interaction with your devices. If you are running Linux on your desktop, Android may indeed be the better fit.

3) Specific features and capabilities of the phone itself. Things like how good the camera is, audio quality, 4G/5G/blahblah, etc.

4) Price.

I don't think that you will be able to find anyone who can, or will figure this stuff out for you. You have to do the most painful and difficult thing imaginable, educate yourself. In doing so, realize that vendors lie, sometime very creatively, and the guys who are willing/anxious to share their opinions, will use language and concepts that the uninitiated have no hope to understand.

There are many many Internet sites that are dedicated to understanding the ins and outs of smartphones. Find and explore these until the jargon starts to make sense to you. Then you might be able to start understanding what is involved in making an informed decision.

Thanks everyone for your input, there are some good points for me to consider.

I got my first smart phone, an iPhone 12 mini, a few months ago. Despite the fact that I am pretty tech challenged, the transition from the flip phone wasn't too bad. I have been using the basic functions and it will take a while to learn the more advanced. The mini is nice in that it will fit in a pocket fairly easily. I don't care for Apple's politics, but that is a whole different issue.

FWIW we spend a fair amount of time in rural areas and Verizon has good coverage.

My last purchase was through a place called Back Market. I got a Pixel 3 in excellent condition for 150 bucks. I never buy a new one again.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
Apple phones are the easiest to use if you aren't tech savvy.

Wrong. Neither are difficult to operate, they just do things differently.

To the Op, if this is your first smartphone, you'll likely put minimal demands on it. As such, I'd look for a carrier deal where you might be able to score a decent Samsung phone for free. If it turns out you really dig the smartphone world, you can always upgrade to something more feature packed (i.e. expensive) down the road.

quote:

Originally posted by SpinZone:
Do you have a tablet? If so I would recommend you get a smart phone that matches the tablet operating system, either apple or android.

I've got a Apple iPad Pro, a Samsung Galaxy Tab, and a brand new Microsoft Surface tablet. Following your advice, I wonder which phone platform I should be on.

(Update)

I decided on the Iphone SE (2020). For as little as I use a cell phone, it fills in the niche between my flip phone and latest smartphones quite nicely.

I've spent the last week familiarizing with my new phone and found the process to be mostly tedious rather than difficult.

Thanks again to you all for your input.

quote:

Originally posted by ggile:
(Update)

I decided on the Iphone SE (2020).

Good choice, IMO.

My wife and I have iPhone SE (2020)'s. We're quite pleased with them. Just about the "right" size: Just big enough to be mostly useful for most things you'd want to do with a smartphone, but not so big they don't easily fit just about anywhere you'd want to stash one.

quote:

Originally posted by ggile:
I've spent the last week familiarizing with my new phone and found the process to be mostly tedious rather than difficult.

The good news is you'll have to go through that tedium only once. Mostly And when you someday want/need an upgrade the process will be about as painless as such a thing could be, if you stick with iThings.

Now, of course, you may be doomed. I once-upon-a-time shunned the whole "smart things" thing. Now I'm up to iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Air Pods, Apple TVs, and Apple HomeKit. Couldn't help it. The integration between these things is just so darn cool . I'm now even considering *gasp* Home Pods!

"Siri, turn on irrigation zone 5, please..."

There is more to a ‘smartphone’ than just calling & texting. You have instant access to news, weather, markets, emails, navigation, & finding tidbits of information.

I hang back from the Apple bow wave, an 8 or a little better is enough. I like the smaller phones.

"Apple"
'nuff said!