5 must-have features to look for in an affordable mobile device

When it comes to outfitting your workforce with mobile devices, it’s tempting to look at the latest phones with the fastest processors, sharpest screens, and maximum storage. Inevitably, cost becomes a factor. IT decision makers have to consider which options are most affordable while meeting employees’ needs.

Today’s midrange mobile devices, like Samsung’s Galaxy A Series, offer great performance, long-lasting batteries, and bright, high-resolution screens. Your team can do everything from keeping up with nonstop communications and accessing business apps to scanning barcodes and capturing crisp photos on the go — all on a cost-effective device.

But how do you know which affordable mobile device is best for you and your business? As you search for the right fit, look out for these five must-have features that can have the greatest impact on your team’s productivity, while staying within budget.

1. Speed and storage capacity

Processing speed can make the difference between a happy employee and a frustrated one. With today’s midrange business mobile devices, you don’t have to sacrifice speed for price. But you will need a phone that has the processing power to run all your business-critical apps. With enough RAM, your employees’ mobile devices can allow them to multitask more efficiently on the go. As a starting point, 3GB RAM is often enough to get the job done when people are primarily using just one or two apps. But for smoother multitasking, look for 4GB onboard RAM or more.

Also, consider your devices’ storage capacity. When an employee needs to capture a photo or download a file before a client meeting, they shouldn’t have to worry that their phone’s internal storage is full. Repeatedly clearing storage space saps time and productivity. Avoid this sacrifice by giving your team members the tools they need to get the job done without a hitch.

If you think you might need more storage in the future, make sure your phone has expandable storage with a microSD card.

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G, for example, includes 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Galaxy A25 5G and Galaxy A35 5G increase the RAM to 6GB. All three devices support expandable storage via a microSD card slot.

2. An expansive display

If your team reviews technical documents or inputs data on their phone, they need a screen that’s large enough to clearly show those details without having to squint or hold the device inches from their face. With a larger display, your team can work more comfortably, input data faster and even show information on the screen to clients. If you need to view content outdoors, the bright display of Galaxy 35 5G is easy on the eyes while it brilliantly showcases everything you need to see. It’s Samsung’s brightest A Series display yet.

You used to have to spend significantly more to get a phone with a display larger than 6 inches, but today there are many mid-tier options that offer plenty of screen real estate.

Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G give workers an expansive, 6.5-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display. Galaxy A35 5G measures 6.6 inches and has further enhancements to the Super AMOLED display. A Super AMOLED display with a high refresh rate is perfect for viewing business apps and documents.

3. A versatile camera

Many enterprise teams rely on mobile devices to quickly capture and share images and video, and this is much more effective with a versatile multi-lens camera system. With an ultra-wide lens, for instance, your team can capture meeting notes or project areas in their entirety and share snapshots with their colleagues before the meeting is even over.

With crisper photos and videos, remote colleagues can see a more detailed view of everything they’re collaborating on, whether it’s a project site or an event space. Greater visibility can help your team coordinate complex tasks from a distance, so business keeps running smoothly regardless of where everyone’s working from. A versatile camera can also help create imagery for use in social media. Of course, a crisp, sharp, stable phone camera is also now a necessity for videoconferencing on the go.

Galaxy A15 5G, Galaxy A25 5G and Galaxy A35 5G are standouts in this respect, each boasting a three-lens rear camera system. Galaxy A35 5G is the most powerful of the trio, thanks to its 5MP macro lens (compared to a still-rather-impressive 2MP macro lens on Galaxy A15 5G and A25 5G). All three devices have a 50MP main lens with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 13MP front camera.

4. Built-in security

Every business depends on reliable data security. You’ll want to choose a device with built-in mobile security you can trust.

Whatever phone you choose, it should fully integrate with a robust mobile device management (MDM) solution so your IT team can easily configure your devices, access mobile security controls, apply device security policies and update software across your fleet. A defense-grade security platform like Samsung Knox — which is built into Samsung devices from the chip up — will help keep your critical data protected as your business continues to grow. With Privacy Dashboard and Private Share available on all Galaxy A Series devices, any user can operate and collaborate securely from anywhere.

Biometric authentication is another key security feature to consider. With the fingerprint scanners on Galaxy A15 5G, Galaxy A25 5G and Galaxy A35 5G, unlocking your device is extra secure and easy. You don’t have to sacrifice convenience and productivity for security, and you don’t have to stretch your budget to protect your business.

5. Maximum mobility with 5G

Your business needs to stay connected even when team members are working remotely. All A Series devices mentioned feature core connectivity essentials. Samsung has been a leader in introducing high-speed, low-latency 5G capability to its midrange lineup. As their names suggest, Galaxy A15 5G, A25 5G and A35 5G all feature high-speed 5G cellular modems.

With the A Series’ robust performance and lightning-fast 5G on some models, you have the freedom to explore unlimited professional possibilities. Access your work in the cloud and stream video from your office or on the go.

If you don’t need a cellular connection, you can opt to go unlocked, allowing your employees’ mobile devices to only connect over Wi-Fi rather than cellular data. This can bring significant cost savings, while still letting you take full advantage of your mobile apps and workflows. All of these options can help you lower your total cost of ownership (TCO) while avoiding vendor lock-in, so you can enjoy maximum budget flexibility.

With so many affordable business phones to choose from, it can be tricky to figure out which one best suits your needs. By focusing on speed, storage, display size, camera quality, security and flexibility, you can quickly filter out which phones won’t fit the bill. Once you’ve picked the right midrange phone for your workforce, you can be confident you’ve made a smart technology investment for your business.

Choosing a new business mobile device is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be a huge investment. See whether Galaxy A Series devices could help you get it all done, at no extra cost. And if you’re looking to outfit a small to medium-sized business, get expert advice on planning your mobile device deployment with this free guide.