I recently wrote a detailed post on what’s in my laptop bag and the focus is predominantly on travel technology.
Thanks to reader input, I updated my camera (to Canon S95) and my laptop (to a Lenovo u300s), and months later I’m thrilled with both decisions.
But at the time I punted on the phone. And so now I’m coming back to y’all again for help.
I’m still working off a Blackberry Bold 9700, it’s long been out of contract. I’ve been a Blackberry guy for years because my primary use is e-mail. Ever since 2006 I’ve found it to be a workable enough phone, so I condensed that way, I haven’t had a land line in about 10 years either.
I know that Blackberry has been supposedly working on their next generation operating system, to compete with iPhone and Android, but it’s been delayed and I don’t have high hopes for it. I feel like it’s a dying platform, and the world is passing me by. I’m ready to make the switch, but I need advice, because I don’t know the best device for my situation.
I live off the thing, so I’m not scared of buying a top-end device. Put a different way, I’m not looking to sacrifice quality or performance for $100.
On the other hand, if it’s more likely that the ‘right’ device will appear in the next few months if only I wait, my Blackberry still works fine, I don’t have to pull the trigger immediately.
- I’m looking for an Android, not an iPhone.
- It has to work well as my primary phone, not just as a handheld computer.
- The #1 use is e-mail, far more than media or social networking.
- Currently the only app I use is with Twitter, though I’d love to be able to upload photos to Photobucket (where I store my photos and host them for my blog) and also post here from my phone.
Battery life is important. Weight matters. I’d love a big screen and comfortable browsing experience, I hate the browser on the Blackberry and do anything I can to avoid using it for anything but the simplest tasks.
Mostly though I don’t know what I don’t know, don’t know what I’m missing, since it seems as though I’ve missed out on generations of functionality. Hence the need for a consensus answer among my travel savvy readers. What do I want?
Thanks in advance!
Samsung Galaxy S3, or S2 4G (LTE) version.
IPhone. I had Bb for decade; thought it would be like cutting my arm off to make switch. Not so. W has Droid phone; nothing but grief and weird problems. Buy the iPhone; take 3 minutes to learn how to use it.
You left out the most important thing, imo:
Do you want a physical keyboard? Most former BB users do.
Who is your mobile carrier?
Personally, it depends on which manufacturer’s skin you perfer best. I am partial to HTC Sense, but Samsung has a decent one as well.
Samsung galaxy nexus. It’s a game changer
I would wait for the Samsung Galaxy S3 to come out (some time this summer)
You may not want it but what you need is the iPhone 🙂
Dropped my crapberry several months ago in favor of the apple device and never looked back since, and like you my primary use is email.
@Ken my carrier since 2006 has been AT&T, for 10 years before that it was Sprint, I use Verizon for my MiFI.
@Ron Schnell – i think I want a keyboard. It’s hard to imagine not having one. But increasingly I’m becoming open to the idea that it isn’t necessary, truth is I do not know.
As a long-time Android user, I’m a huge fan of HTC. I’ve had many of their models and my current one, the Sensation, has been hands-down the best phone I’ve ever owned. I am now looking for my next handset also and will be either buying the HTC One X or the Samsung S3. I’m waiting for the latter to appear on the market to get a better feel for it before pulling the trigger. My suggestion to you is to do the same.
For the record, I also had an iPhone 3GS and 4S. I never liked the iPhone’s functionality, due to many things other phones do that iPhone would “block” just to have something to offer in the next model (like syncing over Wi-Fi, for example). However, in return for being an Apple puppet, you do get a phone that “just works.” So that’s the trade-off. I do like the design as well, but that angle is getting old now as others like HTC and Samsung are making theirs much sexier and with far larger screens.
As for BB, anyone who uses one is really losing out. It’s a terrible phone — always has been. The only reason bankers use it is to send secret messages about their clients’ illegal transaction over BB Messenger. I get the hardware keyboard, but one week with the software one and you’ll by typing away very quickly. You don’t have to do it key-by-key. You can swipe and do funky things that will speed you up even more than BB’s keyboard. My gut feeling is that BB won’t exist (at least in its current form) for much longer.
Honestly, for 95% of casual users out there, the iPhone works better for almost every task than the Android. The phone just works. My friends that have Androids complain about weird issues that are hard to solve, something that I never face as an iPhone user.
If it’s a political statement, fine, but be aware that you’re buying a phone that is likely to cause you more trouble and overall be less functional than the competing model. If you’re a huge tech nerd who can really push the envelope in terms of making use of functionality and really value integration with Google services, then it makes sense to get an Android. But you don’t seem like that person.
Have you considered windows phone? A lot of people just dismiss it as an irrelevant third ecosystem but i’m really a big fan. The software is really very good if you don’twant to be dealing with stuff on your phone all the time and want to just be able to glance and go. Since all windows phones are on one standard platform, you also don’t have to deal with the weird fragmentation problems that android devices sometimes have.
Here are some thoughts from someone who it seems may have been in a similar position as you are today about a year ago, or so. I’m a bit of a gadget guy, but I think I have now resigned myself to perhaps having become a “technological curmudgeon.” In other words, I like what I like because I have found it WORKS for me.
Before getting to my suggestion, here’s what’s in my bag and why:
BB 9930 (VzW’s version of 9900) – Battery life, battery life, battery life yet much faster than the 9650/9700 series, physical keyboard – very similar in design and size to what seems to be considered the best BB keyboard ever – the original Bold 9000 – which makes replying to e-mails super easy and quick, battery life, durable design and construction – $19.99 for Otter Box Commuter case worth every penny as I’ve dropped the phone countless times and it’s never been damaged, best BB display yet (MUCH better – bigger, sharper, brighter, more responsive than 9650/9700 that it replaced), it’s also a touch screen – useful when navigating some sites/phone options, did I mention battery life? 🙂 and finally, it’s a world phone that cost me $10 to unlock with code from n4bb.com – took less than 10 minutes all-in.
Lenovo T420s – Lenovo has done an good job of sticking to the ThinkPad tradition; still the best keyboards in the business and most durable, in my opinion, and even with optional UltraBay aux battery it weighs less than 4 lbs but returns over 8 hours runtime. ‘Nuff said.
New VzW Jetpack 4620L 4G LTE/Global Capable. I had VzW’s Sammy 4G LTE hotspot and it was good – it’s for sale now, if you’re interested – but this one does seem to be a bit better; cost me $250 retail/no contract. VzW’s LTE system is far more widespread than AT&T’s.
I have tried the following gadgets and while I have found that they do some things well, they’ve ultimately gone back because they’re not good at what I need – production is far more important than consumption for me: iPad 2 and new iPad (even with keyboard folio); Sammy Galaxy Nexus and Samsung Droid Charge (amazing phones, terrible battery life, neither world capable), iPhone 4S 64GB (amazing phone, OK battery life but still nothing close to BB 9930 which easily lasts me from 0700 to bedtime with typical use).
I’m sure you’ll be stunned to hear that I suggest that you give the BlackBerry 9900 (AT&T/T-Mobile)/9930 (VzW) a try. While I understand that many reviewers/analysts/the public may be down on BB, you still cannot beat a BB phone for battery life, physical keyboard, e-mail, etc. The upside for you is that, as a result of BB’s tough times, most carriers are selling the phones at reasonable prices – either on contract or retail – and with a little cajoling you might get your carrier to concede the BB 9900 to you in exchange for extending your contract for two years if you threaten to leave them for VzW or another carrier.
Since you own a 9700, you’re likely either an AT&T or T-Mobile customer. If so, another upside of the 9900 is that it uses either carrier’s HSPA+ network (branded by AT&T and T-Mobile as 4G in the US – but NOT LTE/and known as 3.5G in Europe, I believe) in addition to typical 3G; the 9930 can’t do that in the US as it will work only on CDMA here, but apparently can use HSPA+ overseas.
As to the BB software I, too, used to hate the browser on the BB 9650 but in my view RIM has largely solved the issue with BB OS 7.0. Most sites I visit load quickly and are fine – check out the NYTimes.com site, for example. And everything else just works, of course, especially anything involving e-mail or BBM.
I believe all 3 major US cell carriers have a 14-day return policy. Typically, I have tried to time the purchase of a new phone for just before a trip so I can really see whether it works for me. If not, back it goes when I return home.
Good luck with your search!
Congratulations on choosing Android over iPhone. The functionality you’re looking for is easily handled with Android.
For phone selection, my view is there are 4 key factors:
1. Carrier and International capability (esp. if you are Verizon)
If you want Version you have to be careful about which phone you pick if you go overseas. Many Verizon phones don’t have GSM chips, and unfortunately their best ones currently don’t. Supposedly most of the phones released the last six months (think Droid RAZR and Droid 4 and newer) have the chip but its inactive due to Verizon working out software issues. They gave an ETA of end of Q2. Can you afford to wait 2 months to let it shake out?
With AT+T and TMobile its less of an issue, but AT+T’s frequencies are more compatible internationally than TMobile in case you decide to roam with data, or pick up a local data card you’ll get faster speeds with an AT+T phone.
2. Network Speed.
If you are buying now, or soon, go 4G LTE if you can. It’s the next generation network, and you don’t get a subsidized upgrade for another 2 years so 3G or fake-4G will lag.
That puts you in the Verizon or AT+T camp; Sprint is in catchup mode. TMobile tends to have great phones and great prices but network compatibility and speed (for data) should be studied further.
3. Screen Size.
The driving factor here is how you use the phone. In particular if you’re on the move.
When walking through an airport, pulling a rollerbag in the other hand, you need to be able to use the phone (and touchscreen) with one hand. You also want it not to be unbalanced or unwieldy. It’s the only reason not to automatically go with one of the huge 4.7″ or 5″ devices. So pick a screen that feels comfortable with one hand.
4. Physical Keyboard
I saw you said you think you need one. Before you lock in that decision, ask a friend if they have Swype or one of the other custom Android sofware keyboards. You may find you are perfectly happy without the keyboard and the extra bulk.
The one reason to keep a physical keyboard is that in landscape mode, you’ll get more screen real estate because you won’t use up display space on the soft keyboard. So if you send lots of long emails and texts you may benefit.
There are plenty of really strong phones available today, mid-range or high-end. You said you’re also willing to wait a few months. Samsung and HTC are introducing a new line of phones (HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy III) which will set the bar for the next 12-18 months. The only question is how long before they launch them in the US, and with which carrier?
PhoneArena is a good website to consult if you want to do some more research.
Good luck!
If email is important, I think a physical keyboard is important. I use the Droid 4 (VZW). Great keyboard. Decent screen. Decent battery life since the most recent software update. Phone supports 4G/LTE.
I am also going to throw out a shout to windows phone ( lumia 900). The email integration is fantastic and I really like their touch keyboard over the iOS. If you primary email usage is with Microsoft exchange and you like outlook, then windows phone is a fantastic choice
I would go with Verizon and motos droid razr maxx. Can’t beat the 4g coverage and the 21 hr battery life. Everything is playing catchup to that. I know AT&T is Known for the international coverage but since 99% of the use is domestic nothing can beat Verizon
Droid razr max. Great battery life, bells, and whistles. Great phone.
Get an iPhone (unless you have an irrational hatred of all things made by Apple, and even then, you should consider an iPhone). I have an iPhone and love it. All my friends with iPhones love them. But a lot of my friends with Android phones wish they had bought an iPhone instead — particularly the two or three friends whose Android phones have died on them (one of whom was an Apple-hater and swore he’d never buy an iPhone — and then had to eat his words).
I was in your exact situation a few months back and followed everyones advice about getting an android, so i ditched the blackberry and gor an android, big mistake.
you, like me, need it for email mainly. the touch screen on the droid is not great and not useful for even a normal email.
the apps are cool, sure, and can do bunch of stuff on web and etc, but for me it is not worth the sacrifice of the email and now im stuck.
Parroting some other comments, you should really check out a Windows Phone. To me, it’s the best of iphone and android. You have solid battery life, a great email system, the tiles are all custom, and it has your photobucket app.
You should go for the Nokia Lumia 900 – best in show at CES this year. http://www.att.com/lumia/?wtSlotClick=1-007HCK!903000-1-1&rel=nofollow#fbid=Dq9f4apt2KI
You didn’t mention which cell phone carrier you were using, but both Verizon and AT&T offer trial periods. (t-Mobile probably does too, come to think of it.) If you have decided not to get an iPhone, then as Byron suggests, I would strongly recommend that you give Windows Phone a good solid look. I think you will be happier with its stability and ease of use than with an Android device.
When considering Android phones today, three key things I consider are:
1) Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (Android versions are named after sweets and go alphabetically, Gingerbread and Honeycomb were the previous versions and Jelly Bean will be the next) – Since you will probably using this phone for the next year or two at least, you will want the latest version of the OS, or at the least, a phone that is upgradeable to 4.0 ICS (such as the Droid Razr and Razr Maxx for Verizon). All things being equal, it is more convenient to just buy a phone with the new OS.
2) 4G LTE – This has more to do with your wireless carrier, but if you are on Verizon or AT&T, absolutely buy a phone with LTE support, the speeds are as fast as wired broadband. Sprint is rolling out their 4G LTE network now and T-Mobile has yet to, so this is less of an issue with those two.
3) Screen – Obviously screen size matters, and some of the new Android phones have very large, gorgeous screens, but you should also consider the type of panel. Generally the best panels right now are Super LCD2 and Super AMOLED Plus. As such, the HTC One X and its variants have probably the best screen on any smartphone right now with its 4.7″ laminated Super LCD2 screen. The Super AMOLED (no Plus) panels on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S III are a notch below because they use what’s called a Pentile matrix for their pixels which can be not as sharp.
With that, the top of the line phones on each carrier right now are:
Sprint – Samsung Galaxy Nexus (the HTC Evo 4G LTE, their version of the HTC One X is available for pre-order now and shipping later this month)
Verizon – Samsung Galaxy Nexus
AT&T – HTC One X
T-Mobile – HTC One S
Keep in mind the Samsung Galaxy Nexus S III was just announced this past week, so it’s not yet known when it will start shipping, but even so it is not world’s different from the Galaxy Nexus, so if you need a phone now, I would not wait around for it.
Caveats
– If battery life is of utmost importance, consider the Motorla Droid Razr Maxx. Might be useful with all your travels and potentially not having an outlet.
– I’ve been using the new BlackBerry Bold 9930 (also 9900 depending on carrier), and I have been pleasantly surprised with it. It’s not as good as my iPhone or Android devices I’ve used in the past, but the keyboard is far and away the best mobile typing experience I’ve used (this is now my 5th BlackBerry). Also, the new design is slim enough where it’s not terrible to carry around.
The one thing you will miss the most going from BB to either Android or iPhone will not be the physical keyboard (SwiftKey, Swype, are great, Apple’s is good), but the battery life. You can count on a BB, even with reasonably heavy use, to make it through a full 24 hours and more, and you hardly ever need to worry about charging it. You’ll be lucky to get 12 hours from most of the others, and under heavy use or bad reception, you’ll will see 4 or 5 hours. This isn’t such a big deal if you’re deskbound, but it matters a lot if you’re traveling.
If you are set on the Android platform, I would concur with the Samsung Galaxy recommendations, but personally, I would get an unlocked Sony Experia Arc S world phone. My wife has one and I will be switching to it based on what I’ve seen. (I am a BB 9830 user and picked up the Sony for her B-Day). The Sony product is great, it is super thin and does everything you need. It is new in N America, but already well known in the rest of the world. Get the Arc S version which is an improvement over the Arc being peddled in N. America. Don’t become an Apple drone…
the iphone looks like (and is) a cheap trendy piece of junk. unfortunately, because of its popularity, other companies have tried to imitate it in terms of appearance and design. the development of “apps” is far more important than the enhancement of what is normal use (emails, etc)…
the real business user is out of luck for the most part, especially in regard to a sophisticated looking phone with basic functions AND a keyboard
I’d go with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Pure Android (no manufacturer skins), latest Android OS and updates, huge screen, lightweight.
Gary, the one thing I do not see mentioned here is battery. You say you have no land line. If you use your phone a lot the one thing I can’t do without is a spare battery. With the iPhone there is no such thing. Once your battery goes bad you are either tied to a cord or if you have a real problem you need to send the whole phone in to replace the battery. Your first impression is best. Stick with android and I would suggest Verizon for best coverage everywhere I travel. Go to the store and see what fits best in your hand.
I would highly recommend the Windows Phone. After using several Android phones and having returned the new Ipad as they did not quite offer the user experience I needed. Even for a tablet I am using Windows 8 Consumer Preview on an Acer Iconia W500. It just works like the IOs, but offers more flexibility.
Gary,
Many of your other choices, including your former and current laptops and camera and the fact that you kept your blackberry for so long suggest you’re a power user, but one who values an efficient platform that works versus losing productivity chasing the next hot feature. As a person with the exact same needs as you (valuing battery life, using the phone primarily for email, not wanting to carry extra devices, etc.) I can’t recommend the iPhone enough and I feel you’re perhaps writing it off too quickly. An iPhone is NOT equivalent to choosing a MacBook as your computer or, in the early days when competitors were superior, an iPod as your media player. That said…
1) If you truly need a physical keyboard then of course an iPhone is out.
2) Android is good enough where you’ll probably be happy with it. The danger is feature fragmentation and very spotty support a year down the road, but just about any phone, running Apple, Android, or Windows platforms, will blow that old blackberry away.
I have an iPhone and i love it. What an amazing piece of craftsmanship and uncompromising quality. With the iPhone you do get full support at any Apple store. With Android phones, you are truly on your own. Same goes for software updates. Apple provides software updates up to four years since the phone purchase – it is important because you get new functionally on your phone years after you bought it. It does not happen on Android at all. 87% of all Android phones are sold with the system that is two years old. Less than 3% of Android phones use the current system.
It is important to understand that iPhone and Android are two completely different business models. Apple owns both hardware and software and they make money on both (e.g., when you buy an app on your 2 year old iPhone, Apple takes 30% cut). Which is why they are focused on customer loyalty: provide first class tech support service, free software updates, etc – after all they will make money off their customers throughout the relationship. Think of Apple model as Marriage – emphasis on the long term relationship model with customer.
Android handset manufacturers do not own the software. They only make money on the sale of the phone. Google owns the software but even they don’t make money on it (they make on ads). The model of incentives is completely broken. Which is why software upgrades are never provided. Tech support is unheard of (where would you go if your HTC phone breaks? Local T-mobile store? Fly to Taoyuan? Calling Google? There is no support phone number. Good luck! you are on your own). Basically it is in financial interest of HTC, Samsung, etc to encourage you to replace your existing Android phone with a new phone as soon as possible. This is why the moment you buy a phone with them, the relationship changes (deal is closed, not more money is to be made). This is why they introduce new phones every two weeks – the idea to make your phone obsolete ASAP so you buy a new one. This is why there is a huge fragmentation in Android – you don’t want old phones to be able to run new apps, you want to encourage customers to buy new phones. For example, Flipboard, one of the most popular mobile news apps, is released exclusively for Galaxy 3 – you will not be able to use it on any other Android phone. Same is true about many other apps – they often come exclusive to a particular Android phone. Just to compare Flipboard is accessible on all iPhone models, even the ones released in 2008. Think of Android as a one night stand – money only made at the point of sale; emphasis on pre-sale courtship of the customers; no relationship post-sale whatsoever. Sort of like Jetsetter’s approach – lot’s of promises but nothing good get’s ever delivered.
Galaxy Nexus on Verizon. The phone is excellent – large screen, fast and lightweight.
Verizon’s 4G coverage is even better – works everywhere and fast.
Check out the Nokia N8. It has a 12 MP camera and built in GPS which lets one download and store maps onto the phone and access them without an internet connection. The maps are for almost every country in the world, from Australia to Germany, you can pipoint your location.
The maps and camera features are worth the price of the phone alone, and it is unlocked freeing you from any ties to a particular carrier. You can use the phone with ATT, TMobile, or Simple Mobile which offers prepaid unlimited plans from $50 a month.
You can buy the phone at Amazon here. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZX7RNC/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=wireless&psc=1
Can you elaborate on why you don’t want an iPhone? In many cases it really is the best choice.
That being said, carrier is important and limits your choices. Even though the “nexus” name means increasingly little (see Verizon meddling and delayed updates on sprint), it is still the most reliable choice for an android phone today. That experience is as close as to “real” android as one gets.
The HTC one series looks pretty good as well. Verizon is skipping that, so the droid razr might be the best choice there.
I think you should wait for BB10, QNX is the best embedded OS there is. It is fully capable of running Android apps (as soon as RIMM decides to allow it). As soon as RIMM decides to stop building their own app universe and open their devices up to Android, Blackberries will be some of the best android devices on the market.
I’m an Android user myself and I’m seriously considering switching to blackberry when they open it up to Android apps.
I currently use the GSM Galaxy Nexus with the factory extended battery on T-mobile and it is by far the best phone I’ve had.
Answers to your concerns:
Battery Life: With heavy use I can get 14 hours moderate use I can go all day with 20% left at the end of the day. One of the great features of Android and Windows phones is the removable battery. If your phone runs out of power pop in a new battery and you are good to go. No need to tether yourself to a wall socket like the iPhone users you see at the airports.
Web Browser: All Android phones provide a full browsing experience. Some sites will default to a mobile site but there is always a setting in the Android browsers to switch to a desktop view. Like a desktop you can install several different web browsers onto your phone unlike the iPhone where you are stuck with safari. You will see Flash and HTML 5 content.
Screen size: The Galaxy Nexus is 4.65” and is full 720p HD resolution. It’s awesome for watching movies or browsing the web.
Email: I would switch to Gmail if you don’t already use it. Gmail can be setup to pickup mail from other mail services such as yahoo. Gmail fully syncs so you don’t have to worry about having different versions of your inbox contents between your phone, laptop, and desktop.
Light weight: The Galaxy Nexus is made of plastic so even with the extended battery it is still lightweight. The extended battery provides a nice bump in battery life and doesn’t really increase the size of the phone.
Features useful for travelers:
Navigation: Google maps with street view provides real time turn by turn navigation with voice very important for those times that you are driving and need directions. The iPhone does not have that functionality built in.
Carrier Unlocked : The Galaxy Nexus is factory unlocked and pentaband HSPA+ which means you are not tied down to any carrier and you can get 3g speeds on any carrier worldwide. In the US you will get high speed data on both T-Mobile and ATT. It was really awesome when I traveled abroad and able to pop in a local SIM which saved a ton of money calling back to the US and not to mention getting online at 3g speeds while in another country without paying ridiculous roaming data prices. With google voice you can have your US number forwarded to the foreign number.
Mobile Hotspot: All Android phones have tethering capability which allows your other wifi devices to connect to the internet using the data connection on the phone. My friend who was with me abroad turned on the wifi on his ATT locked iPhone to get online while we were abroad because the roaming data rates for ATT are crazy.
Phone Stability: All phones crash even the iPhone the only difference is that the Android phones will let you know when it crashes while the iPhone just kicks you back to the home screen without warning. The Galaxy Nexus is a reference device which means all developers use that phone to write apps so it is the most stable of all Android phones. The hardware is now considered mid-tier but is more than adequate if you are not playing games that require a lot of processing power. I can watch movies and Netflix in HD resolution just fine.
LTE: LTE is faster than HSPA+ data connectivity but I would stay away from LTE until next year at the earliest. Right now the LTE modems haven’t been fully integrated onto the chip which will take a toll on battery life.
Google Services: If you use any Google services you can’t beat the integration that an Android phone provides. It just works with everything. I have used an Android phone now for two years and there are still new features that I am just learning about or starting to use. The possibilities are endless.
Customization: You can customize your phone to be as boring or busy as you like. You can set it up as a boring phone with a bunch of icons like the iPhone or you can install widgets and 3D wall papers.
Obviously I recommend the Galaxy Nexus but the new top end devices are great too like the HTC One X and the Samsung S3 that was just announced. The only downfall of the HTC One X is the non-removable battery. Both these phones have manufacturer designed custom UI’s which will slow the speed in which you get updates. But if you don’t mind waiting a while for the newest software update it’s not that big of a deal. They both will run on ATT’s LTE network and battery life is still a mystery. Also if you leave the US you will be back down to HSPA+ speeds. If you want ultra battery life right now nothing beats the Droid Razr Maxx because they essentially squeezed two batteries into phone.
I too started with blackberry, then switched to an iPhone and then finally settled on Android. Windows phone is still not mature. No flash support and HTML 5 support is in its infancy which means there are a lot of sites that will not display properly or slowly. Yes Adobe will no longer support mobile flash but that doesn’t mean it’s not everywhere. The iPhone was amazing at first when I switched from a blackberry but after a months worth of use I noticed the battery life was terrible if I want to have email constantly sent to my phone like I did with my blackberry. Plus the browser still does not support flash and you are limited to what Apple wants you to have on your phone unless you are willing to hack your phone. The battery is non-removable and the screen is a tiny 3.5″ and a pain to type on if you have hands that are average size or larger. Coming from a blackberry you will probably want a bigger screen as you transition to an onscreen keyboard.
Sorry if my post was a little longer and more technical than the others but like you I live off of my phone and to date this is the best phone I have used.
Samsung Galaxy S2 (S3) and download Foxfi as your 1st app. I switched from an iphone and never looked back.
I tried a phone without a physical keyboard for a year, and was miserable. Right now, it’s tough to find a good phone with a physical keyboard. I am using a T-Mobile G2 from HTC, but they aren’t making new ones anymore. I’m very happy with it, as it is running pure Android, and the physical keyboard is good. I’m just waiting for a newer good Android with a keyboard that is running pure Android, but there is not one currently being made AT ALL. Since you said you can wait a bit, I suggest doing so, and getting whatever I get next.
Stay away from MS and iPhones, because you want to go with the OS that has the most phones out there, because they will always have the most apps.
“Stay away from MS and iPhones, because you want to go with the OS that has the most phones out there, because they will always have the most apps”
Ron – you are wrong. Iphone has considerably more apps than Android as reported in official numbers from Apple and Google. Not only Android has less apps, there is also quality and fragmentation on top of that. Every iPhone app was throughly screened by a team of engineers and testers at Apple, while Google just lets anyone submit apps with no quality control (every 2nd app on Android does not work).
I had the Droid 2 but now I have an iPhone 4s and I absolutely love my iPhone. I gave my 5-year-old my Droid and he is always asking me when I am going to upgrade so he can have my “old” iPhone. Even he knows what is better!
You want top tier applications get an iPhone. You want to choose from thousands of cases, 3rd party hardware peripherals, docks, car mounts, bike mounts, waterproof cases, dockable stereo systems, car steering wheel integration, GPS adapters, audio mixer docks, etc etc, get an iPhone.
Just go into any shop and what do you see? Shelves and shelves and shelves FULL of iPod/iPhone dock compatible sound systems, clock radios, audio mixer sleeve/docks, GPS amplifier car docks, handsfree car kit docks, insulin pump docks, oscilloscope dock adapters etc etc.
Because Android phones are all different shapes and sizes and there is no dock standard or standard location on the phone for such, you don’t see any of this rich hardware peripheral and accessory ecosystem for Android phones.
And don’t get me started on the vast number of cases for looks, protection, waterproofing or for mounting on vehicles, bikes, arm straps, holsters etc.
Juniper reported recently that Android malware and malicious exploits have surged to 13,000 with McAfee reporting that 100% of all malware last quarter targeted Android. Un-jailbroken iPhones have zero.
You want malware, get Android. 🙂
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/report-android-malware-up-3325-in-2011/18449
@Manny So funny because Gary specifically mentioned he didn’t want an iPhone and there you and everyone are trying to convince him to get one. Gary is not going to get malware running the twitter, UA or AA app. All of the mainstream apps that are favorites on iOS are available on Android. You will only run into problems if you install random apps from developers you never heard of. Facebook, United, AA and all of the financial apps work on the Galaxy Nexus along with Angry Birds Space which Android users get for free 😉
Gary:
Huge fan of your blog. Not sure if you used Priceonomics before – highly recommend them for researching economic/value facts on any desision, not just cell phone selection but even travel choices. See this for cell phones for example:
http://priceonomics.com/phones/#cell-phone-depreciation
This is a pure, non-emotional view on the economic value of different smartphone systems / models.
By the way, I use an iPhone 4s and I love it.
@UnitedEF I have been reading Gary’s blog for many years now and I have received countless helpful travel advice from him. I think it is only for me to jump in and share my experience on the iPhone with Gary.
“Gary is not going to get malware running the twitter, UA or AA app. All of the mainstream apps that are favorites on iOS are available on Android”.
Well, not true actually. Android has no mechanism for screening apps meaning anyone can submit an app. There is 15 Disney apps on Android, but none of them actually are from Disney. You have shady developers all over the world submitting apps to Android under Disney, Twitter, Facebook, etc names. On Android just because something sounds mainstream, does’t mean it is. You could be downloading an app for AA but in fact it could be just a fake copy intended to collect your data. It happens all the time on Android. And most mainstream apps are not available on Android. Take Amtrak for example. There is an app on iPhone but nothing on Android.
Just my .02
If you are good at technology and can handle a phone that goes crazy sometimes but is more customizable and less nanny-state like go with the Android (Galaxy S3 which comes out in a few months gets my vote)
If you want something that just works get the iPhone 4S.
Both are great phones for what they are good at they just have 2 different users in mind.
Apple for the people who just want a smart phone that works and are willing to trade features e.g. screen size, physical keyboard etc…
Android for people who value choice and advanced features but are willing to deal with the small “issues” android can have.
Anecdotally, I love my droid and my mother hates hers.
Today’s issue of WSJ had a good article on this:
http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2012/05/06/android-malware-could-infiltrate-corporate-networks/?mod=yahoo_hs
Gary, by ruling out an iPhone, you are being irresponsible to yourself. Maybe you have a weird 1990s Apple-hate fetish, but that’s just negligent. Frankly, it’s rather annoying that you ask for advice when you really basically already know what you want. A piece of junk.
iPhones have way better battery life than 4G Androids.
Gary, by ruling out an iPhone, you are being irresponsible to yourself. Maybe you have a weird 1990s Apple-hate fetish, but that’s just negligent. Frankly, it’s rather annoying that you ask for advice when you really basically already know what you want. A piece of junk.
iPhones have way better battery life than 4G Androids.
@ James Actually surveys show that most CIOs choose iPhones over Android. Anecdotally, my brother-in-law who went MIT undergrad /Stanford GSB swears by his iPhone and iPad. He is probably the smartest person I know and is a technology genius (three startups, including Sidestep).
BTW – I love my iPhone. LOVE IT! The glass and metal ensures that it feels like a quality product – not cheap and plasticky. It’s just feels like an awesome slab of solid high technology…The Retina display is gorgeous – I still haven’t seen a screen that can compare in clarity or resolution. Some reviewers have commented that it almost looks as if the image is painted onto the glass and that sounds about right to me.
Having been a veteran user of PDAs in the days before the iPhone, I can appreciate just how incredible the iPhone’s App Store is. Yes, I actually used to purchase and install applications onto my Palm Pilot and let me tell you, it wasn’t much fun. I think I bought more apps in the week after the App Store opened than I had in the previous 5 years…
Now everybody has an App Store (or an Android Store, Ovi Store or whatever). It’s been copied but never bettered – nobody has yet quite nailed the ease of use that Apple got so right.
There’s a lot of talk about the iPhone being ‘closed’ whereas Android is ‘open’ but what does this actually mean? Well for a start you have to pay to become an Apple developer and you have to agree to the rules and regulations. You also run the risk of them not liking the app that you’ve worked on and refusing to release it until you’ve made changes to bring it in line. In contrast, anybody can develop for Android and release their app with no approval process whatsoever – which in theory sounds great.
Call me a fascist, but I’d rather have a closed, controlled environment with a fantastic choice of apps that I know have been tested to meet at least some basic standards of functionality and safety, than an unregulated free-for-all where I wasn’t quite sure if what I was downloading might have a virus or be stealing my personal data.
There’s also dozens of apps which I now rely on on an almost daily basis that simply don’t exist on Android and I’m too ‘invested’ in the App Store ecosystem to want to change.
It’s the perfect mix of hardware, software and all encompassing eco-system that keep me a happy iPhone user. Although I see some handsets from other manufacturers that I think look great, I honestly can’t ever imagine owning a phone other than an iPhone. Apple have got me hooked and I’m quite happy to live with that.
BTW: This is from today’s NY Times issue: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/technology/amtrak-to-use-iphones-to-streamline-service.html?partner=yahoofinance
There is no Amtrak app on Android. And this is just one example.
LOL why not galaxy note as it has a big screen though weight and size would be a problem… battery life would be solve if u get a spare battery…
and wht about wait to get the galaxy s3 from uk later in june?
htc one x or one xl arn’t bad for speed and screen