The cell phone market is nothing if not dynamic. Only a handful of years ago, it would have been unthinkable for Blackberry to lose its hold on the "secure smartphone for business" market.
Android, though, has since surpassed the now defunct device manufacturer and established dominance in terms of mobile operating systems by market share. For now, iOS remains Android's strongest competition, and no other player seems ready to make a run at leadership in a space with such high barriers to entry.
With all of that turmoil, the obvious question can be overlooked: What is the best smartphone for business-specifically, my business?
Which one should you choose?
To start, the question should be: What is the best smartphone for business users? And the answer often varies based on your job.
For multimedia, perhaps more significant for web development and marketing positions, the iPhone is king. The graphics rendering is fast and sharp, with iPhone 8 running 750p resolution and up to 60 frames per second. The A11 processor allows for seamless multi-tasking like loading videos, refreshing web pages and making calls at the same time. And the touchscreen functionality, with its multiple contact points, continues to push boundaries for clarity, speed, and ease of use.
Android phones fit much of this same bill-albeit without quite the fast and clear graphics rendering. Android keyboards are touchscreen, and their displays are conveniently larger-like the HTC EVO 4G LTE. With the Android operating system being developed by Google, phones running on it are also known for their search and mapping speeds. For heavy travelers, this can be a godsend when directions are needed on the spot.
Talking to home base
Smartphones are extensions of your desk-the importance of their integration with your desktop files cannot be overstated. Each smartphone operating system comes with different ways to communicate with home base.
iPhones sync best with iWork, unsurprisingly, but few companies base their business on Apple’s answer to MS Office. Android-based phones, like the Samsung's Galaxy or Google's Pixel, are best equipped to sync with Google Docs, if that is your company’s office platform. Both iPhones and Android-based phones have fast and easy-to-use apps (e.g., Dropbox) that will simply display Office documents; however, the ability to edit them will vary by app.
Window’s OS phones were an attempt at giving Microsoft the best integration with Microsoft Office. After losing the uphill battle to break into the smartphone market, the company officially ended its support of the platform in 2017.
What about the power?
In the rush of figuring out integrations, graphic renderings, keyboard functionality and processor power, one crucial detail can get left by the wayside: How long does the battery last? There is nothing worse than having to start an important phone call with, "Sorry if I lose you. I’ll call you back tonight if my phone dies."
The latest iPhones, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, house impressively powerful lithium-ion batteries and also introduced wireless charging, though they aren't without their issues or detractors. Android phones vary, but two models of Samsung's Galaxy finished near the top of a battery life comparison study conducted by statista.com.
Smartphones have developed so quickly and with such diverse capabilities over the previous decade that, though they are now essential for most businesses, deciding on which one is right for you should be dependent upon your daily responsibilities. Once you have those tasks prioritized, you’re on the road to finding the smartphone that keeps everything moving.
