Music Cell Phone Buying Guide

If you’ve ever wanted a soundtrack for your life, now’s your chance. Music cell phones combine the connect-me-anywhere cell phone with the take-me-anywhere MP3 player. But music phones vary as widely as the music you listen to. Some offer little more than a music player. Others boast internet, email, PC syncing and more. Remember why you want a music phone—for the music—but a few extras never hurt either. Read ahead to see which features are worth pausing the music for, and for which features you can keep your earphones in.

Features to Talk About

Are You Compatible: Supported Music Formats

Digital music comes in various file formats. MP3 and AAC are extremely common. Others include WAV, AIFF, AMR and more. When you download music, it downloads in a specific format depending on the software you use. Make sure you pick a music phone that supports the file formats most prevalent to your computer.

Worth 1600 x 1200 Words: Digital Camera Resolution

Most music phones come standard with a digital camera, but resolution varies as much as your music tastes. For you shutterbugs, most cameras have between one and two megapixels. A few have as high as five. Keep an eye out for extra features, too, like zoom and video capabilities.

Brain Space: Memory

Music phones come with internal and external memory. Internal memory is usually limited—no more than 512 MB, but usually less. Apple’s iPhone is the exception with a whopping 8 GB. To store music, pictures and video on your cell phone, make sure it has a slot for a mini SD memory card. It’s pointless to buy a music phone if you can’t store music.

Long Live the Phone: Battery Life

Music phone battery life is measured in two ways: standby time (when your cell phone is idle) and talk time (when you’re using your phone). Focus on talk time. Making and receiving calls, listening to music and taking pictures all drain power. Pick a music phone with at least a four-hour talk time. This should last you most days.

Crowded Calling: Talking Functions

Without fail, you’ll be interrupted when talking on your cell phone. It’s inevitable. So pick a music phone with features to help you take the hassle out of those interruptions.

• Call holding puts the person you’re speaking with on hold without disconnecting the line.
• Call waiting lets you take a secondary call while staying connected to the first.
• Conference calling connects multiple people simultaneously, letting you talk with all your friends at once.

Sleek and Smooth: Cell Phone Style

For most people, cell phone choice comes down to aesthetics—color, size and style. Music phones come in three styles (candy-bar, slider and flip) with endless variations on each. Pick a phone you like the look of and feel comfortable using.

Build and Bulk: Cell Phone Dimensions

Unlike multimedia or smartphones, music phones can be small and still play the music you want. Don’t pick size over functions, but pick a music phone that’s easy to tote in your pocket.

Features to Mention

Size Matters: Screen Size

It’s nice to have a large screen to view, but don’t let size alone trick you into buying a music phone. You’ll be able to navigate your music player whether your screen is two inches or three.

Sweet Tooth for Bluetooth

Bluetooth technology transmits cell phone signals to an ear piece, car stereo or other cell phone, letting you talk and work at the same time. Most music phones come with this feature. Some states, like California, have passed laws that require hands-free devices if you talk on your cell phone while driving. Check local legislation for details and regulations.

Operation Operating Systems

Cell phone operating systems vary from Windows to manufacturer-specific systems, like Apple’s OS X. Don’t buy a music phone because of the operating system. Buy according to its features and functions, and music-playing capabilities.

Talking Loud: Speakerphone

Pre-Bluetooth, speakerphone lets you talk and work without pinning your cell phone between your ear and shoulder. Most music phones come standard with speaker phone.

Testing, One, Two: Volume Control

Volume control goes hand in hand with listening to music. You don’t want to strain your eardrums. Or burst them for that matter. But buying a music phone without volume control is like buying a radio without a tuner. It’s standard with all music phones.

In Conclusion

Music cell phones give you the use of a cell phone with the ease of an MP3 player. They’re the perfect solution to making a soundtrack for your life. But as much as your music tastes vary, so do music phones. Buy the right music phone for you by visiting our side-by-side comparison chart and see which phones have the features you’re looking (and listening) for.