Keeping up with the times is hard enough to do with fashion alone, but add to that the chic factor of the newest technology and you’re hard-pressed to turn heads on the street. To aid you in your search for that attention-grabbing look by smartphone alone, take a look at the newest flagships, decide which is right for you, and dress it up!

Staying up to date with tech times is admittedly difficult. You never know who to trust when reading opinion pieces, and your friends certainly (most likely) don’t know what’s right for you in the smartphone department. Check out these important specs on the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S5 and decide which of these two powerhouses best fits your mobile needs.

iPhone 5S

For those who love the slick and efficient look, the iPhone 5S is great for you. The 4″ screen is easily held in one hand and makes typing and taking pictures simple, whether held in portrait or landscape orientation. With a display showing at 640×1136 pixels with a pixel density of 326 and IPS LCD technology, much more than your app icons will look simply amazing.

The camera is a huge consideration on any current smartphone. With the iPhone 5S, you’ll get great photos with the iSight 8MP rear-facing camera, which takes pictures with a dual LED flash and boasts amazing image stabilization for those pesky in-motion photos, auto-focus and tap-to-focus capabilities, and finally Burst Mode, taking up to 10 pictures per second so you can choose which was actually the best without having to re-pose for every “I don’t like that! Delete it!” How better to stay streamlined and productive than with the iPhone 5S? There’s probably not a better way until the iPhone 6 debuts.

All above specs via PhoneArena.

Galaxy S5

For the lover of a little more gaud and hand-feel, the Galaxy S5 has a lot to offer. With a 5.1″ display powered by AMOLED technology and a resolution of 1080×1920 with a pixel density of about 432, again your photos will be vibrant and well-snapped with the GS5.

The GS5’s rear-facing camera is 16MP technology equipped with phase detection autofocus and tap-to-focus capabilities. One may also opt to manually focus the camera on this flagship, for those wanting a more professional edge. Add to that the 2.1 MP front-facing camera and you’re in serious selfie business!

A major current consideration when deciding on a new smartphone now includes the health technology available to any model. With peripherals on the rise in all areas, most technologies allow for dual purposes in the health and fitness arena. For the GS5 specifically, the on-board heart rate monitor and S Health Partner couple well together. Verizon Wireless reports that the phone is capable of “…track[ing] your steps [and challenging friends to] earn badges and get on‚Äìdemand healthy eating advice.” What better way to boost your style and health than with the Galaxy S5 as your current smartphone partner? Honestly, that’s a tough question.

All above specs via PhoneArena.

Now that you’ve hopefully found a smartphone that works for you, it’s time to take a look at how best to deck that phone out for street time with an amazing phone case! As The New York Times shows, there are a lot of criteria to consider when looking to protect and glam up your new smartphone. Remember these tips when decking out your new best friend.

Access to Controls

Just because you may have found the most chic or cute case for your smartphone, don’t confuse looks with functionality. Answer truthfully: do you really want a case that doesn’t let you return to your home screen or lock your screen at all? Waiting for auto-lock and having to remove your case to return home might make you second guess trapping your phone inside that all-protective case.

Screen Protection?

If you find a case that comes with screen protection for your touch-screen phone, advice goes against the buy. There is no guarantee you’ll find the protection compatible with your screen, so it’s definitely a much better idea to purchase a good-looking case that keeps your screen open and then attach a screen protector compatible with touchscreen devices.

Overdo It!

While most phone cases when meant for protection are just plain huge and seem to double the size of your phone, there’s definitely a counter-measure: overdo it. If the thing’s already huge, why not use some adhesives and stickers to further exhibit your own style above that intrusively big safety case?

Guest Blog post by Blaine Kelton