Choosing the best mobile phone for your personality, lifestyle and needs is not nearly as simple as it was in past decades. Today, there are seemingly infinite brands, options, carriers and operating system combinations to choose from. To make things more complicated, there are also important considerations for transferring data from one phone to another, as well as carrier penalties should you choose to switch providers. If consumers are not careful, the cost to get a new smartphone can skyrocket above just the price of a new phone.

Picking your next smartphone is a difficult and important decision. However, if you answer these three questions, you can be sure to choose the right device for your lifestyle and needs:

Should I Switch Wireless Carriers?

There are several factors to consider when contemplating whether or not to switch wireless carriers. Certainly, there are some clear advantages to changing wireless carriers. Often, a new carrier will offer better deals on a new phone or a discount on your plan to switch to their services, so it’s no surprise that 9 percent of adults plan to switch wireless carriers in the next 12 months. Most of the time, the old wireless carrier will charge a fee to cancel your contract if it has not ended. However, it is always a good idea to check with potential new service providers to see if they are offering a contract buy out special. It is not uncommon to save money on a new phone as well as your monthly payments by switching to a new carrier who is offering new customer discounts. Before switching, be sure to check the carrier’s cell phone coverage in your area as well as areas that you frequent.

How Much Phone Can I Afford?

Smartphones are not cheap. Long gone are the days when most consumers could purchase a phone outright. In fact, the average price of a smartphone in North America is $567. Fortunately, there are many cell phone options at various price tiers to choose from when looking to purchase a new smartphone. There are many options including $0 down, pay as you go phone plans, and more. Whether you intend to pay monthly, pay in a lump sum, or a combination of both, make sure that you set a budget before setting out to purchase a new smartphone.

What Do I Use My Phone for Most?

In today’s digital world, we use our phones constantly and for everything. However, some people use their phones for more specific purposes than others. For this reason, it is very important to decide what activities your phone needs to be best at before purchasing. For example, if you are a blogger and plan to use your phone to document travels and post pictures to social media, emphasizing the camera quality would be a good idea. On the other hand, if you are a fitness fanatic who plans to use your device to track progress, you might be better served to prioritize the ability to connect to gadgets and a broad availability of apps.

Switching wireless carriers doesn’t have to be a hassle. Simply deciding which carrier can offer you the best deal on the most affordable phone with the best options for your lifestyle can set you up for the purchase of the perfect smartphone. Bye-bye buyer’s remorse!