The year 2026 is turning out to be an expensive one if you’re planning to buy a new smartphone. RAM prices are at an all-time high, and we’re finally starting to feel the impact.
Samsung’s latest foldables are more expensive than ever, and the upcoming Google Pixel 11 series is also expected to come with a price hike.
That makes buying a new phone a much tougher decision.
You’re not just spending a lot of money on something you use every day. You’re also paying more for a device that would’ve cost significantly less just a year ago. And when prices climb this high, you naturally expect more value in return.
That got me thinking: beyond the obvious things like the camera, battery, and display, which are already great on most flagship phones today, what smartphone features actually matter the most?
There are quite a few overlooked ones that, in my opinion, can be just as important as the headline features.
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Build quality and durability matter more to me than ever
Build materials matter when you use a device without a case
We spend a lot of time talking about how a smartphone looks, but one thing I judge every phone by is how it’s actually built.
Most flagships today are glass sandwiches with metal rails, but if you look a little closer, you’ll notice the differences.
Take the back panel, for example. Is it glossy or matte? Does it attract fingerprints? Is it slippery? These might sound like small details, but they completely change how confident you feel using a phone without a case.
The same goes for the finish on the metal rails. A polished frame feels different from a matte one.
Then there are the materials. Some companies now use titanium, while others still stick with aluminum. Titanium is generally stronger, but it tends to get hotter during prolonged gaming or other heavy workloads. Aluminum, on the other hand, usually dissipates heat a little better.
I’d rather have a well-finished aluminum phone than a titanium one that gets uncomfortable after extended use.
If you immediately throw a case on every phone, you probably won’t notice these differences as much. But if, like me, you often use phones without a case, build quality becomes more important.
Durability is another area that’s easy to overlook. Most flagship phones today offer IP68 or even IP69 protection, like the OnePlus 15. But if you’re shopping for a foldable, you’ll want to pay much closer attention.
For example, Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra carries an IP48 rating, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold offers full IP68 dust and water resistance. That’s the kind of spec that’s easy to ignore, but something that matters in the long run.
Great speakers have become a must-have feature on my phones
Great audio is something I notice every single time I test a new phone
The next thing almost nobody talks about is speaker quality. It’s also one of the first things people start complaining about after using a phone for a few weeks.
In my opinion, a smartphone needs good speakers. You’re not always going to have earbuds in.
I spend a lot of time listening to YouTube videos or Netflix while cooking, getting ready, or walking around the house, and that’s when speaker quality becomes surprisingly important.
The iPhone Air is one of my biggest regrets because of this. It has only a single top-firing speaker, whereas several cheaper (than iPhone Air) phones I own, including the Pixel 10, sound noticeably better.
Haptics are one of the first things I notice on any phone
Strong, precise vibrations make every interaction feel more polished
This one probably won’t matter to everyone, but a good vibration motor can completely change how premium a phone feels.
Most of us don’t keep our phones on full ringer anymore. We rely on vibrations for calls, notifications, and messages. You also feel the vibration motor every time you type or interact with Android’s haptics, which have become much more prominent over the past few years.
That’s why I recommend trying a phone in person before buying it. Type a few sentences, navigate around the UI, and see how the haptics feel.
A precise vibration motor makes a phone feel much more polished, while a cheap buzzy one can make even an expensive flagship feel mediocre.
Small hardware bonuses can make a huge difference
Thoughtful extras like an IR blaster and stylus support improve the experience
Then there are the smaller features that rarely make headlines but make a huge difference over time.
One of the reasons I enjoy using Chinese flagships is that they often include thoughtful extras like an IR blaster. It sounds like a small feature, but I use my phone to control TVs, air conditioners, and other appliances all the time without having to hunt for a remote.
Additionally, small things like finger or stylus input are important if you are buying a foldable phone.
There are plenty of other things worth paying attention to. Microphone quality is important if you make lots of video or voice calls. If you’re buying a foldable, features like stylus support can change how useful that larger display becomes.
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These smaller details matter just as much to me
I think we spend too much time judging smartphones by their cameras, batteries, and displays. Those things matter, but there are at least another dozen smaller details that can make or break the experience of using a phone every day.
A Pixel might offer the fastest Android updates and excellent speakers, but it doesn’t have an IR blaster.
Samsung’s Galaxy phones are among the most well-rounded Android devices you can buy, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is my favorite foldable this year, but it still falls short in durability.
None of these things is a deal-breaker on its own, but together, they’re what separate a good phone from a great one.