What makes a high-end phone different from a low-end one?

Smartphones occupy a wide gamut of categories, where each one caters to specific users. However, there are two segments, in particular, that dominate and cover the majority of the landscape – the high-end and low-end. For the longest of time, most consumers perceived low-end phones as those being sold by carriers for “free” with a 2-year agreement. Conversely, most high-end phones were customarily attached with $200 on-contract prices. With the recent movement in the wireless industry, phones are now sold either in full without any subsidies, or placed on some sort of installation payment.

So, that begs the question of what makes a high-end phone better than a low-end one. We know that there are several obvious differences, which we explain below, but there are also subjective reasons that vouch otherwise. While it’s almost our natural inclination to believe that all high-end phones are superior to their low-end counterparts right from the get-go, there are exceptions to the rule. To the credit of devices in the low-end, their biggest selling point has to be arguably their savings – there’s just no comparison there.

Over the course of the last year, we’ve seen a radical shift in how phone manufacturers have scrutinized the low-end of the market. Consumers look at the $500+ sticker tags attached to most high-end phones and instantly have a conundrum about it, more so when many folks have been used to paying roughly $200 for one with a 2-year contract. That’s some serious chunk of change to shell out! In comparison, these $200 and under ‘affordably’ priced smartphones pose some intriguing propositions, especially from a monetary standpoint, which make them extremely attractive.

We can go on and on, but before we spoil too much right now, make sure to go through the listing below to uncover exactly what makes a high-end phone different from a low-end. Also, don’t forget about the video as well, seeing that we take a deeper dive into the whole thing.