How to Choose a Smartphone for Studying Online

When you study online, the type of gadgets that you use can really help you to succeed with your degree. Most online programs of study, for example, a MSIA degree, require some technology, such as a laptop or desktop PC, to access and complete the module topics and assigned work. But, for online students, it’s often necessary to have a range of other gadgets to support their work. For many, the right smartphone is vital to study success. Here are some of the main things to consider when choosing a smartphone as an online student.

Operating System

When choosing a smartphone, it’s a good idea to go for one that can easily be synced up with your laptop or computer. For example, if you use a MacBook, then an iPhone will be an ideal choice of smartphone since you can sync the two devices together, making it easier to keep up with work on the go. On the other hand, if you have a Windows laptop or a Chromebook, an Android or Windows smartphone will pair well.

Hard Drive Space

Many students use their smartphones to save notes, take photographs of important notes or textbook pages, and store a lot of information pertaining to their degree topic that they can easily access. So, when you’re choosing a smartphone that you hope to use throughout your online information security degree program, you should always consider the amount of internal storage space available. For example, if you expect to be storing a lot of files on your iPhone, you may need to invest in one with more space available. Alternatively, many Android smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy range, allow you to expand the memory with a MicroSD card.

App Availability

When you are choosing a smartphone, it’s important to ensure that it will be able to work with all of the productivity apps that you hope to download to assist you with your degree. In general, smartphones that are running on the latest operating systems are fully compatible with all popular apps and more. Be aware that if you’re purchasing an older generation of iPhone such as the 3G or 4, it may not work with all apps if iOS cannot be updated.

Protective Features

Most online students can get by financially thanks to saving money on tuition fees. However, it’s always nice to save money when it comes to things such as smartphone repairs. If you are prone to damaging your smartphone, then it’s a good idea to explore various models that offer a range of extra protective features. For example, most new generation Sony Xperia handsets are water resistant.

Screen Size

Lastly, be sure to consider the screen size when choosing a new smartphone. When studying online, your smartphone can be a very helpful gadget for reading notes, articles, topic information and even full textbooks in e-book format. So, a bigger screen could be an ideal choice in this case.

Which smartphone do you use as a student? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.