Getting a phone for the first time is very exciting for most students. There are also many options that a student could look towards. From the soon-to-drop $499 iPhone SE 4 to the $799 iPhone 16 that now packs AI smarts, the latest lineup of phones turns buying your first phone into a choose-your-own-adventure scenario.
There are many reasons why a student may choose a certain phone as their first phone. One of these reasons may be because of camera quality. A lot of students nowadays like to take pictures on their phone to post on social media or send to their friends. Another reason why a student may choose a certain phone may be because of the price. Students are usually working on a tight budget when they buy their first phone, so the phone that they choose has to fit within that budget, but also be a reliable first phone for them. One final reason may be because of battery life. Students may be more inclined to choose a phone with an excellent battery life because of the extended time one can spend on their phone without the phone shutting off on them.
“For me, battery quality is the most important because there’s a lot of factors that go into a good phone. Mostly it’s a mix of everything but if I have to pick one it would be battery life because when you’re on your phone especially on a road trip or something you’re not going to care about camera quality, you’re going to care about your battery,” junior Youssef Naguib said.
Nowadays, when one goes to buy a phone, they have to set a budget for themselves in order to keep them from overspending on phones. Now, a new phone can cost you from 500 dollars, to upwards of 1189 dollars for the new models. This price could be very expensive for most, especially as a student where you are most of the time, working on a modest budget. As such, most new phones could be overkill for students looking for a first time device.
“For me, affordable is around 500 dollars. I don’t see myself spending more than that amount for a phone that I’m probably going to switch out in a few years,” sophomore Faizan Mohammed said.
There are many new features that come with the newest lineups of phones. For example, the new Iphone 16 has built in Apple Intelligence which can summarize notes and also transcribe lectures for students. Although this feature may be a distraction for some, it may also be a helpful study aid, as this can improve productivity and minimize the time a student may spend studying for a certain subject.
“I really like the AI features on the new phones. For me it’s not a distraction but a study aid. It’s a really big thing for a phone to have this and I would definitely buy the phone just to use it,” junior Surya Maroju said.
For some, buying the latest tech isn’t the way to go. Some people may go for older models instead. Usually, the prices for these models are heavily discounted by most tech retailers, as they have to make space for the upcoming new models, as well as trying to get rid of the stock of their old models. The time to buy these devices is usually between one to two months after the release of the new models, as prices will be the lowest. Most of these old-gen models still have the latest features and can handle new updates that new-gen models are receiving, so for most, this is a bargain.
“I would prefer buying the old model rather than the new model because most of the time, the old models still get the same updates as the new models do, and they have most of the features as the new ones too,” senior Ibraheem Suhail said.
Picking a first phone as a student requires balancing budget, features and personal needs. Whether it’s prioritizing battery life, camera quality or new tech like AI features, each student has different preferences. While the latest models offer exciting options, older models still provide great value and essential features, making them a smart choice for many. Ultimately, the right phone depends on a student’s lifestyle, budget and tech needs.