Why Do I Want a Touch Screen Cell Phone?

Touch screen phones are all the rage these days. Using this hot interface makes flipping through photos, navigating around web pages, selecting options and even typing into a series of elegant gestures. No more arguing with your phone’s keypad as you try to type a text message using individual buttons that represents three or more different characters. The whole process becomes instinctive.

This tactile technology can be a little daunting to a user who is accustomed to using physical buttons, keyboards and trackballs, however with a little practice, most anyone will soon become adept at maneuvering through the information on their cell phone with just a touch. Once you’ve become comfortable with the new interface, returning to a physical keyboard and trackball will feel clunky and restrictive.

A good touch screen cell phone will have a large screen, high resolution and a strong battery life. You’ll also want a solid, intuitive interface that doesn’t require memorizing an owner’s manual to use.

There are some crucial features that you should look for if you’re considering a touch screen cell phone. Many multimedia, music and smartphones come equipped with a touch screen interface. Usually the difference between the three types is an operating system. A smartphone will always have an operating system but they may also have many multimedia features. On the other hand, a multimedia or music phone doesn’t necessarily have to use an operating system but will have a camera, music/digital player and other features for sound, images and communications.

With that in mind, look for these important features in any touch screen cell phone you may be thinking about.

Screen size

Touch screen sizes range from 2.5 to 3.5 inches wide. No matter how petite your hands may be, a finger tip is still larger than the point of a stylus, so the larger the screen you have to work with the better.

Display resolution

Here again, the larger the number of pixels displayed the better—a high pixel count will yield the sharpest image. Most touch screen cell phone resolutions range from 400x240 to 480x360 pixels.

Interface

There are as many different types of interfaces as there are touch screen cell phones. Most employ a tactile, or haptic, feedback which means that there will be some physical sensation—usually a vibration or other movement—to let you know when an action has been recognized. It’s also possible that there won’t be any feedback other than what you see on the screen itself.

Battery life

Touch screen technology is, by its very nature, a battery hog. Generally, the cell phones that utilize this feature will have a larger battery capacity. You definitely want the largest possible battery and/or one that recharges quickly.

Keep these points in mind, along with what you plan on using your cell phone for, when you’re choosing a touch screen cell phone. Be sure to check out our smartphone, multimedia and music cell phone reviews for more information on cell phones because at Top TenREVIEWS we’ve done the research so you don’t have to.