Evaluation of the best smartphone model in the market by integrating fuzzy-AHP and PROMETHEE decision-making approach

Abstract

Smartphones nowadays have become the most globally demanded electronic devices. Each year, almost thousands of new smartphone models are launched by different brands having diverse specifications and variable price range. Due to the availability of large smartphone quantity in the market, sometimes the buyers get confused about the most appropriate model to buy at low price with respect to descent hardware specifications. This research article states such a type of decision problem and solves it using multi-criteria decision-making techniques that enable the mobile users to select the best smartphone model. The main objective of the study is to choose the best smartphone model among 10 selected models available in the market with the help of fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) and preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations (PROMETHEE) where FAHP based on trapezoidal fuzzy numbers is used to evaluate the criteria weights and PROMETHEE is used to propose the preference ranking order of the alternatives. Seven important specifications (i.e., criteria), namely price, storage capacity, RAM, battery, screen size, camera and clock speed, are considered based on which the selection procedure is carried out. PROMETHEE I provides the partial alternatives ranking and shows the mode of preference of each model over other models, whereas PROMETHEE II delivers the complete ranking of the alternatives which recommends Realme 5i and Samsung J6 Plus as the best and worst model, respectively, among the group.