Smartphones are an integral part of everyday life. We use them for everything from keeping in touch with colleagues and loved ones to summoning food to our door when we don’t feel like cooking. These pocket-sized computers have also brought traditional forms of entertainment into the 21st century.
Mobile gaming, for instance, is one of the biggest trends of the digital age, and there are countless gaming experiences out there designed ‘specially for playing on the go. As a species, we’re also consuming movies, TV shows, podcasts and even books via our easily transportable small screens. Not only that, but even real money leisure activities like sports betting have made the move to mobile, with plenty of bookmakers offering wagering promotions that are compatible with mobile betting.
So far, our description of smartphones paints them as utilitarian tools created solely for function, with little to no consideration given to aesthetics. Of course, we all know that’s not the case, and, if anything, your phone is just as much of a fashion statement as the clothes or shoes you select to wear every day.
A Plethora of Models
So, what does your smartphone say about your sense of style?
Thankfully, in today’s market, there’s a veritable plethora of smartphone models to choose from for a truly personalised look. Apple has become known for its ultra-sleek aesthetic, while certain Android models feature a stylish utilitarian chassis. Then, there are those devices that hearken back to the early days of mobile, featuring retro design elements with cutting-edge functionality.
Of course, that’s to say nothing of the numerous phone cases, protective covers and pop sockets that we can use to add further customisation to a handset.
Samsung Flagship
While Samsung phones run on the Android operating system, the South Korean company has worked hard to position itself as the counterbalance to Apple. That’s why some of the company’s flagship smartphones can cost more than even the latest iPhone models.
For that money, however, you do often receive more features, such as a folding screen, recording from both cameras at once, and waterproof technology. Therefore, a portion of these smartphone owners are early adopters of bleeding-edge mobile trends.
But, we could also view owning a flagship Samsung model as a protest or counter against popular culture. Since Apple represents the mobile equivalent of high fashion, Samsung devices are akin to wearing alternative fashions.
Mid-Range Device
Somewhere between a premium device like the latest iPhone and a budget Nokia is the mid-range device. For the vast majority of mobile users, a mid-range phone delivers the functionality of a high-end phone at a more affordable price.
Someone with a mid-range phone may care more about function over style. Using one is similar to wearing a favourite comfy hoodie and jeans than looking like you just walked off a catwalk.
The Gaming Phone
You’ll find it pretty hard to buy a phone today that can’t play a whole host of games, from Minecraft to Call of Duty: Mobile. Most of the smartphones that have been released in the past few years are more than capable of loading games, but for hardcore gamers, this isn’t always enough.
If you’re someone who enjoys squeezing every last drop of performance from a game, then you need the hardware to be able to do it. That’s where gaming phones come in. These slightly larger devices pack in more oomph, as well as special features like hotkeys, active cooling, and more appropriately placed charging ports.
Like many other products aimed at gamers, they’re also styled differently, ditching the minimalism of comparable devices in favour of carbon fibre effects, vibration and, of course, RGB lights.
Carrying a gaming phone to use as your daily driver is a very clear statement that playing video games is your passion and you’re proud of it, just like using a Mario keyring or wearing a Fortnite loot llama T-shirt.