So I've been waiting for the iphone 5 and I'm disappointed, for someone who's had iphone since the 3G and loves his ipad this is a big step for me as I'm thinking of stepping outside the ecosystem.
The Galaxy S3 looks gorgeous, the screen is impressive and I've heard good things
The Nokia 920 is a lust-puppy, looks really good despite being the same design. Windows 7 is really interesting me and that wireless charging is pretty neat.
The Nokia seems underpowered and windows did just treat all it's early adopters pretty poorly. Will it be out of date quickly?
That's not true whatsoever. First, specs don't matter. What matters is what the OS does with the hardware it has. My two year old, single core 1GHz Samsung Focus has never lagged, or stuttered on me once.
New Windows Phone 8 devices will be using the latest Qualcomm dual core 1.5GHz processor. Said CPU is so popular Qualcomm can't meet demand. The Nokia Lumia 920 will also have 1GB of RAM, which all high end phones have today. Not to mention it has the best camera (on paper).
Microsoft is committed to supporting all Windows Phone 8 devices for 18 months. Are Windows Phone 7.5 users getting screwed? Yeah, but Microsoft is making a change that will make the platform immensely better.
So I've been waiting for the iphone 5 and I'm disappointed, for someone who's had iphone since the 3G and loves his ipad this is a big step for me as I'm thinking of stepping outside the ecosystem.
The Galaxy S3 looks gorgeous, the screen is impressive and I've heard good things
The Nokia 920 is a lust-puppy, looks really good despite being the same design. Windows 7 is really interesting me and that wireless charging is pretty neat.
The Nokia seems underpowered and windows did just treat all it's early adopters pretty poorly. Will it be out of date quickly?
So these are two exampled available to me, two different ecosystems but I'm open to any suggestions.
I have to admit that I don't have that much experience on the Android side of things. What I have seen and heard is a lot of praise for the HTC One X. A lot of my friends carry the S3, and it's also a pretty great phone.
We are starting to reach a point with smartphones where raw horsepower matters less and less. When it comes to the WP8 devices, I wouldn't worry about performance. WP7 is incredibly snappy even with the somewhat lackluster processors of the older phones, and I have no reason to doubt that the new Nokia phones for example would not be even more responsive with the added horsepower of the new dual-core processors and increased RAM.
Current WP7 users will be getting WP7.8, which closely resembles what Apple does with older phones when they refresh their OS. In any case, if you buy one of the first WP8 phones you shouldn't have to worry about getting left behind. I'd actually worry more if you were going with Android or iOS.
I guess that the major question is, what are you looking for in a phone? Especially what are you looking for in a phone which you didn't get with an iPhone. Is your priority taking great pictures, or a large capacity for storing music? Is 4.5" too big for your pocket, or do you feel the need for a Note?
For me the Nokia Lumia 920 seems to strike a perfect balance with a great (on paper) camera, large and bright screen, 32 gigs of storage and all of the goodies that come with Windows Phone 8. Not to mention the excellent build-quality of Nokia handsets.
@thatlad: I can't speak for Windows Phone since I've never used it so I'll speak from the knowledge I have of the Android side.
If you can wait it out and want to consider an Android phone, Google will most likely release their next Nexus phone in December. That phone will avoid the fragmentation, UI issues other Android phones are known for. The S3 is undoubtedly pretty but I'm not sure if in a year or two it will be running as well with Touchwiz baked in. It's also still on ICS though Samsung has committed to upgrading it toJelly Bean. The HTC One X is another option but could run into the same issues as the S3. If money is tight you could go with the Galaxy Nexus (I think you can get it at 350$ off contract now). It's already on Jelly Bean and will most likely get updated to the next version of Android come December (assuming Google has a version bump).
@thatlad: If you buy an Android phone that isn't a Nexus, assume you won't get timely OS updates. If you buy a phone with ICS or JB now, that's probably OK. They're both quite good. The Galaxy Nexus is a bit old to recommend now, I think. The One X is a great phone today though--just know you'll be disappointed on software updates. What @HeadNodShy said is correct about Nexus phones in the past, although it's not certain that they'll actually roll a new phone this year, since they released a tablet in the summer.
I would wait for Microsoft to prove that Windows Phone is going to be a real contender before buying in. As @Falcon said, comparing specs between platforms are largely meaningless, but I want to see real support from lots of developers before buying into a two-year contract. We won't know how that works out for six months at minimum, I think.
What iPhone are you using now? I profoundly don't get the disappointment at the new iPhone. They're claiming big battery life in a LTE phone that is small, with all the other stuff iOS does well. What else you expecting it to do for you?
If you don't have to stick with at&t, I would really recommend you at least look at sprints coverage in your area and see when you are supposed to get their lte. They have been pretty good to me, are affordable, and the evo lte is a One x with a kickstand and a removable memory card. It has a great screen, arguably the best on the market (same as the one x) and is scheduled to get jelly bean in the near future.
What iPhone are you using now? I profoundly don't get the disappointment at the new iPhone. They're claiming big battery life in a LTE phone that is small, with all the other stuff iOS does well. What else you expecting it to do for you?
I think many people are having trouble adjusting to the fact that we're no longer in a "revolutionary" period of smart phone development.
@will I feel the disappointment that a lot of people had with the iPhone 5 announcement is pretty easy to understand. Apple played catch up in almost every regard. There was not one thing announced yesterday (at least nothing I can think of off hand) that cant already be found in other phones. That coupled with the fact there there were next to no secrets and everything was known ahead of time made for a pretty lack luster announcement imo. A bigger screen, but still way smaller then a lot of others. It looks pretty much the same as every other iPhone only longer. No NFC, although most people won't even know what NFC is. Not to mention the the new connector that makes everyones cables, docks and other accessories obsolete. To me this feels like the phone they should have released when the 4S came out.
Considering that the hype for this phone there was nothing all that earth shattering announced. Right or wrong people expect Apple to lead and innovate. That's now way harder to do with a more mature product and more competition but people don't care. It seems like Apple is more interested in litigating then they are innovating these days. I understand that its a calculated move on their part and they want to appeal to the mass market but early adopters want that next cool gadget with features that other people don't have. Is the iPhone 5 that? I'm not so sure. It's an excellent phone and I am sure they will sell a ton of them. It's a great upgrade for existing iPhone users but it in no way makes me want to switch from my Galaxy Nexus.
@episcopo: Samsung pretty much made mass adoption of large phones with the Note and GSIII. They're also not afraid to put a bunch weird and interesting features in their phones. I think they're a very innovative company.
Just because Apple has decided to be safe doesn't mean every other company has.
Do people who actually like and use an iPhone like it for the hardware or the software that runs on it?
For me I love the iPhone hardware but after using another phone, iOS feels dated, limited and constricting. The apps are great on iOS but the rows of icons are an insult to anyone with any tech competence. For something as personal as a phone that is always on your person, I need more personalization. For that reason I am looking at my options other then Apple when it comes to my next phone.
For WP8, I'd wait for the Nokia 920. The camera and the fit and finish looks top-notch. The app market is lacking and that is a major concern. WP8 looks interesting and is a drastic change from the others so it may appeal to some. Like Windows 8, the tiles are kinda cool but not quite there. It is Microsoft so it will almost be there but just out of reach from greatness.
Android always has a problem with hardware venders being cheap with bad build quality and bad design. Get anything with ICS or JB and be okay. The app market is good but the prices are slightly more than with iOS. The os is smooth as butter with JB but it still a bit janky as is the Google way.
What iPhone are you using now? I profoundly don't get the disappointment at the new iPhone. They're claiming big battery life in a LTE phone that is small, with all the other stuff iOS does well. What else you expecting it to do for you?
I think the best way to sum my disappointment can be this. I can sit there with my first iphone (3G) and the most recent one I bought for the wife (4S) and despite 4 years there isn't really a lot of difference. Yes the phones are physically different but that's only one iteration and this new iphone looks very similar to the last one only no glass back. The phone has evolved in terms of hardware of course, but really what has changed?
Now I'm not expecting the world but I'm living in the UK and the price Apple are asking for just doesn't marry up in my mind given the lack of significant improvement. Their competitiors have overtaken them with some hardware and winphone is the first mobile os I've seen to rival ios.
If I'd been asked 18 months ago Apple would have been the only option. After the past two launches...I'm not sure
In terms of what I'm looking for from a phone. It needs to look good, I want a bigger screen than the iphone but it's got to be beautiful. Camera's aren't a problem as the top phones all seem to be pretty similar.
My main uses are email and a quick internet browser.
In terms of what I'm looking for from a phone. It needs to look good, I want a bigger screen than the iphone but it's got to be beautiful. Camera's aren't a problem as the top phones all seem to be pretty similar.
My main uses are email and a quick internet browser.
And I'm looking for a wow factor
I think the best recommendation for you is to wait for the announcement of the new Nexus phone in the fall, and the reviews of the Lumia 920 once it's released.
I'm torn between pre-ordering an iPhone 5 and waiting for the Nexus announcement.
I'm in the same boat, my Nexus S is rapidly approaching two years good service and while it's still great I am almost ready to upgrade.
At the moment I am edging towards staying on Android, I love my Nexus S, I have some 60gb of mp3 files uploaded to Google Music and as 15 miles of one of the busiest stretches of motorway in Europe sits between my house and where I work I have found the Google Now traffic reports that came with Jelly Bean to be invaluable.
However, 4G is rolling out in the UK as we speak (it opened for business this week in fact) and while I don't want to take the plunge right now as the rollout covers where I work but not where I live I suspect that will change within the two years I want to get out of my next handset. It seems this year more thought than ever needs to go into what to buy.
For me it's as someone else said, the base interface is getting really long in the tooth, jumping in and out of rows of apps (even if it does have the best selection of them) is really not good enough anymore. I was getting tired of it last year, hence I jumped to WP7.5.
So yes, if you still like iOS iPhone5 is a fine iterative upgrade (how you managed to talk nearly an hour about it this week...) but it doesn't fix anything for those of us that have gotten tired of it.
I think the best recommendation for you is to wait for the announcement of the new Nexus phone in the fall, and the reviews of the Lumia 920 once it's released.
Yep, think you're right. I'm really attracted to the Nokia which is ironic considering what I said about the iphone and the fact the 920 is the exact same design as the N9. It seems to have a good balance of looks, big screen and impressive os.
Waiting for the next nexus is a good shout too though, I'm hesitant to go near android due to the problems the platform has but it does seem to be the platform most open to innovation
I'd say Lumia 920, HTC One X or Sony Xperia T (or TX).
Just an FYI to a fellow brit; Carphone Warehouse has the Xperia T free on contract for £26/month right now. Seems like a good deal to me.
Back in the day I'd swear by SonyEricsson phones, they were the best. Now though the brand is tarnished in my eyes. They rarely update the OS and the phones just aren't good looking. The one thing the past phones always had was the cybershot camera's, streets ahead of others. Now though, Apple/Nokia/Samsung/HTC all streaking ahead
Top tip, never buy into a contract. Buy the phone outright and get sim free. Costs you less in the long run, gives you the freedom to ebay the phone and move the contract too.
I found the numbers are about the same. It's maybe a little cheaper if you buy the handset with cash and get a SIM only deal, I have a SIM only tariff with 3 that costs me £15 pcm. My handset was £430. If I keep the handset for two years then my total cost of ownership is £790.
£790 in equal installments is £33 pcm, for which you can get several "flagship" handsets for free. Maybe not quite as many as you might want, and maybe you cant get the handset/carrier combo you want if you buy up front which is what caused me to go down that road, but it really isnt as big a deal as some people make out if you do take the subsidised option. Of course, I have an unlocked and unbranded phone to sell at any time I would like, but there isnt really that much stopping you selling a carrier locked handset if you want to...
@thatlad: As KingMonkey said; it works out to about the same in the UK, in the US contracts are just stupid expensive and you obviously save a lot of money going prepaid. Here however it's not so bad for example that Xperia at £26 PM vs buying it and going on say GiffGaff at £10PM.
£26 x 24 = £624
Sim only:
£400 + (£10 x 24) = £640
To be fair the GiffGaff plan is better but really all contracts do in the UK is spread the cost of an expensive handset over a couple years.
Suppose it depends on your contract too. There's something completely wrong in my mind about signing a 2 year contract, it's up there with playing Sonic the hedgehog on a nintendo and using IE6
I don't know how the iPhone 5 is a disappointment. New phones are boring now, better screens, better battery. That's really all we'll be getting for a while, until the next big thing hits.
I'm still using my Nexus S, it's super quick on Jelly Bean and the screen still looks nice, being a samoled at a paltry 800x480 or whatever. So if you go Android I would heartily recommend a Nexus, my Nexus S is single core yet Jelly Bean is totally lag free, seriously. The Galaxy Nexus will still be a great choice today.
Still think Android is a much better OS than iOS but I'll probably switch to iPhone again in the future so that my Mac and iPad are perfectly synced.
Still think Android is a much better OS than iOS but I'll probably switch to iPhone again in the future so that my Mac and iPad are perfectly synced.
See I'm mainly syncing with google so android makes sense to a certain point with me. Is there any news on when the new nexus will be announced? Who'll make it, Samsung, ASUS?
Had a look at the nokia lumia 900 yesterday to give me an idea on the 920, it's a pretty phone a shame that in the UK its' only available in black. I think I'd want to get a red one (Liverpool fan)
I'm not sure what everyone's budget looks like, but personally, I got real tired of paying out the ass for my phone. Recently, I sold my iPhone 4S and used the money to pay my AT&T termination fee. I then bought a Galaxy Nexus for $350 direct from Google unlocked, and am on a no-contract prepaid plan from T-Mobile. 100 minutes (I never use a lot of minutes, and you can set up wifi calling without too much hassle for home use), unlimited text, and unlimited data - the first 5gb of which is "at 4G speeds", which means various things, but in metro Detroit, means usually 8-12mb down, 1-5 up. This plan is $30/month. It is awesome. It. Is. Awesome.
GNex isn't a wow-inducing phone at this point, but it's solid (especially if you can forgive the shitty low-light camera), and it's getting all the updates. That's my route, maybe a little boring but cheap and flexible.
I've been thinking about going to StraightTalk with my 4S because unlimited everything is about $40 cheaper than my current AT&T plan, anybody do it or know anyone that has? Is T-Mobile worth it on a 4S despite the lack of 3G?
I get that on my home broadband, I'd definitely take that on my phone!
Here in the UK we're getting left behind with 4G, makes me wonder if it's worth even considering the 4g element in my next phone purchase and worry about that on the phone after that. EE is launching a 4G network but I remember when 3G launched and the networks couldn't handle it, I could see me having big first adopter problems.
One thing that has stood out to me when researching my new phone...weight. Hate to say it as it will come across as distortion field but the weight difference is quite a thing in the iphone 5. 112grams when you compare it against most big phone it's a huge difference the Nokia weighing in at 185-190grams. Wondering if that much weight will annoy me
@thatlad: For things like smartphones, some extra weight is actually nice. Lots of people's complains with phones is that they feel cheap because they're large but light. Carrying it around , an extra 70g isn't something you will notice... but in your hand, it can make a world of difference.
So I've been waiting for the iphone 5 and I'm disappointed, for someone who's had iphone since the 3G and loves his ipad this is a big step for me as I'm thinking of stepping outside the ecosystem.
The Galaxy S3 looks gorgeous, the screen is impressive and I've heard good things
The Nokia 920 is a lust-puppy, looks really good despite being the same design. Windows 7 is really interesting me and that wireless charging is pretty neat.
Reservations include:
Android's fragmentation, upgrade schedules, manufacturers's UI, malware
The Nokia seems underpowered and windows did just treat all it's early adopters pretty poorly. Will it be out of date quickly?
So these are two exampled available to me, two different ecosystems but I'm open to any suggestions.
@thatlad said:
That's not true whatsoever. First, specs don't matter. What matters is what the OS does with the hardware it has. My two year old, single core 1GHz Samsung Focus has never lagged, or stuttered on me once.
New Windows Phone 8 devices will be using the latest Qualcomm dual core 1.5GHz processor. Said CPU is so popular Qualcomm can't meet demand. The Nokia Lumia 920 will also have 1GB of RAM, which all high end phones have today. Not to mention it has the best camera (on paper).
Microsoft is committed to supporting all Windows Phone 8 devices for 18 months. Are Windows Phone 7.5 users getting screwed? Yeah, but Microsoft is making a change that will make the platform immensely better.
@thatlad said:
I have to admit that I don't have that much experience on the Android side of things. What I have seen and heard is a lot of praise for the HTC One X. A lot of my friends carry the S3, and it's also a pretty great phone.
We are starting to reach a point with smartphones where raw horsepower matters less and less. When it comes to the WP8 devices, I wouldn't worry about performance. WP7 is incredibly snappy even with the somewhat lackluster processors of the older phones, and I have no reason to doubt that the new Nokia phones for example would not be even more responsive with the added horsepower of the new dual-core processors and increased RAM.
Current WP7 users will be getting WP7.8, which closely resembles what Apple does with older phones when they refresh their OS. In any case, if you buy one of the first WP8 phones you shouldn't have to worry about getting left behind. I'd actually worry more if you were going with Android or iOS.
I guess that the major question is, what are you looking for in a phone? Especially what are you looking for in a phone which you didn't get with an iPhone. Is your priority taking great pictures, or a large capacity for storing music? Is 4.5" too big for your pocket, or do you feel the need for a Note?
For me the Nokia Lumia 920 seems to strike a perfect balance with a great (on paper) camera, large and bright screen, 32 gigs of storage and all of the goodies that come with Windows Phone 8. Not to mention the excellent build-quality of Nokia handsets.
@thatlad: I can't speak for Windows Phone since I've never used it so I'll speak from the knowledge I have of the Android side.
If you can wait it out and want to consider an Android phone, Google will most likely release their next Nexus phone in December. That phone will avoid the fragmentation, UI issues other Android phones are known for. The S3 is undoubtedly pretty but I'm not sure if in a year or two it will be running as well with Touchwiz baked in. It's also still on ICS though Samsung has committed to upgrading it toJelly Bean. The HTC One X is another option but could run into the same issues as the S3. If money is tight you could go with the Galaxy Nexus (I think you can get it at 350$ off contract now). It's already on Jelly Bean and will most likely get updated to the next version of Android come December (assuming Google has a version bump).
@thatlad: If you buy an Android phone that isn't a Nexus, assume you won't get timely OS updates. If you buy a phone with ICS or JB now, that's probably OK. They're both quite good. The Galaxy Nexus is a bit old to recommend now, I think. The One X is a great phone today though--just know you'll be disappointed on software updates. What @HeadNodShy said is correct about Nexus phones in the past, although it's not certain that they'll actually roll a new phone this year, since they released a tablet in the summer.
I would wait for Microsoft to prove that Windows Phone is going to be a real contender before buying in. As @Falcon said, comparing specs between platforms are largely meaningless, but I want to see real support from lots of developers before buying into a two-year contract. We won't know how that works out for six months at minimum, I think.
What iPhone are you using now? I profoundly don't get the disappointment at the new iPhone. They're claiming big battery life in a LTE phone that is small, with all the other stuff iOS does well. What else you expecting it to do for you?
@will: God damn, In Canada the iphones(all models) come on 3 year contracts (still worth it) but I am so jealous :(
If you don't have to stick with at&t, I would really recommend you at least look at sprints coverage in your area and see when you are supposed to get their lte. They have been pretty good to me, are affordable, and the evo lte is a One x with a kickstand and a removable memory card. It has a great screen, arguably the best on the market (same as the one x) and is scheduled to get jelly bean in the near future.
@will said:
I think many people are having trouble adjusting to the fact that we're no longer in a "revolutionary" period of smart phone development.
@thatlad: I think the Samsung ATIV S looks really cool :).
I'm torn between pre-ordering an iPhone 5 and waiting for the Nexus announcement.
@will I feel the disappointment that a lot of people had with the iPhone 5 announcement is pretty easy to understand. Apple played catch up in almost every regard. There was not one thing announced yesterday (at least nothing I can think of off hand) that cant already be found in other phones. That coupled with the fact there there were next to no secrets and everything was known ahead of time made for a pretty lack luster announcement imo. A bigger screen, but still way smaller then a lot of others. It looks pretty much the same as every other iPhone only longer. No NFC, although most people won't even know what NFC is. Not to mention the the new connector that makes everyones cables, docks and other accessories obsolete. To me this feels like the phone they should have released when the 4S came out.
Considering that the hype for this phone there was nothing all that earth shattering announced. Right or wrong people expect Apple to lead and innovate. That's now way harder to do with a more mature product and more competition but people don't care. It seems like Apple is more interested in litigating then they are innovating these days. I understand that its a calculated move on their part and they want to appeal to the mass market but early adopters want that next cool gadget with features that other people don't have. Is the iPhone 5 that? I'm not so sure. It's an excellent phone and I am sure they will sell a ton of them. It's a great upgrade for existing iPhone users but it in no way makes me want to switch from my Galaxy Nexus.
@episcopo: Samsung pretty much made mass adoption of large phones with the Note and GSIII. They're also not afraid to put a bunch weird and interesting features in their phones. I think they're a very innovative company.
Just because Apple has decided to be safe doesn't mean every other company has.
Do people who actually like and use an iPhone like it for the hardware or the software that runs on it?
For me I love the iPhone hardware but after using another phone, iOS feels dated, limited and constricting. The apps are great on iOS but the rows of icons are an insult to anyone with any tech competence. For something as personal as a phone that is always on your person, I need more personalization. For that reason I am looking at my options other then Apple when it comes to my next phone.
For WP8, I'd wait for the Nokia 920. The camera and the fit and finish looks top-notch. The app market is lacking and that is a major concern. WP8 looks interesting and is a drastic change from the others so it may appeal to some. Like Windows 8, the tiles are kinda cool but not quite there. It is Microsoft so it will almost be there but just out of reach from greatness.
Android always has a problem with hardware venders being cheap with bad build quality and bad design. Get anything with ICS or JB and be okay. The app market is good but the prices are slightly more than with iOS. The os is smooth as butter with JB but it still a bit janky as is the Google way.
@will said:
I think the best way to sum my disappointment can be this. I can sit there with my first iphone (3G) and the most recent one I bought for the wife (4S) and despite 4 years there isn't really a lot of difference. Yes the phones are physically different but that's only one iteration and this new iphone looks very similar to the last one only no glass back. The phone has evolved in terms of hardware of course, but really what has changed?
Now I'm not expecting the world but I'm living in the UK and the price Apple are asking for just doesn't marry up in my mind given the lack of significant improvement. Their competitiors have overtaken them with some hardware and winphone is the first mobile os I've seen to rival ios.
If I'd been asked 18 months ago Apple would have been the only option. After the past two launches...I'm not sure
In terms of what I'm looking for from a phone. It needs to look good, I want a bigger screen than the iphone but it's got to be beautiful. Camera's aren't a problem as the top phones all seem to be pretty similar.
My main uses are email and a quick internet browser.
And I'm looking for a wow factor
@thatlad said:
I think the best recommendation for you is to wait for the announcement of the new Nexus phone in the fall, and the reviews of the Lumia 920 once it's released.
@thatlad:
I'd say Lumia 920, HTC One X or Sony Xperia T (or TX).
Just an FYI to a fellow brit; Carphone Warehouse has the Xperia T free on contract for £26/month right now. Seems like a good deal to me.
@Evelgest said:
I'm in the same boat, my Nexus S is rapidly approaching two years good service and while it's still great I am almost ready to upgrade.
At the moment I am edging towards staying on Android, I love my Nexus S, I have some 60gb of mp3 files uploaded to Google Music and as 15 miles of one of the busiest stretches of motorway in Europe sits between my house and where I work I have found the Google Now traffic reports that came with Jelly Bean to be invaluable.
However, 4G is rolling out in the UK as we speak (it opened for business this week in fact) and while I don't want to take the plunge right now as the rollout covers where I work but not where I live I suspect that will change within the two years I want to get out of my next handset. It seems this year more thought than ever needs to go into what to buy.
For me it's as someone else said, the base interface is getting really long in the tooth, jumping in and out of rows of apps (even if it does have the best selection of them) is really not good enough anymore. I was getting tired of it last year, hence I jumped to WP7.5.
So yes, if you still like iOS iPhone5 is a fine iterative upgrade (how you managed to talk nearly an hour about it this week...) but it doesn't fix anything for those of us that have gotten tired of it.
@isomeri said:
Yep, think you're right. I'm really attracted to the Nokia which is ironic considering what I said about the iphone and the fact the 920 is the exact same design as the N9. It seems to have a good balance of looks, big screen and impressive os.
Waiting for the next nexus is a good shout too though, I'm hesitant to go near android due to the problems the platform has but it does seem to be the platform most open to innovation
@JamesRockley said:
Back in the day I'd swear by SonyEricsson phones, they were the best. Now though the brand is tarnished in my eyes. They rarely update the OS and the phones just aren't good looking. The one thing the past phones always had was the cybershot camera's, streets ahead of others. Now though, Apple/Nokia/Samsung/HTC all streaking ahead
Top tip, never buy into a contract. Buy the phone outright and get sim free. Costs you less in the long run, gives you the freedom to ebay the phone and move the contract too.
I found the numbers are about the same. It's maybe a little cheaper if you buy the handset with cash and get a SIM only deal, I have a SIM only tariff with 3 that costs me £15 pcm. My handset was £430. If I keep the handset for two years then my total cost of ownership is £790.
£790 in equal installments is £33 pcm, for which you can get several "flagship" handsets for free. Maybe not quite as many as you might want, and maybe you cant get the handset/carrier combo you want if you buy up front which is what caused me to go down that road, but it really isnt as big a deal as some people make out if you do take the subsidised option. Of course, I have an unlocked and unbranded phone to sell at any time I would like, but there isnt really that much stopping you selling a carrier locked handset if you want to...
@thatlad: As KingMonkey said; it works out to about the same in the UK, in the US contracts are just stupid expensive and you obviously save a lot of money going prepaid. Here however it's not so bad for example that Xperia at £26 PM vs buying it and going on say GiffGaff at £10PM.
£26 x 24 = £624
Sim only:
£400 + (£10 x 24) = £640
To be fair the GiffGaff plan is better but really all contracts do in the UK is spread the cost of an expensive handset over a couple years.
Suppose it depends on your contract too. There's something completely wrong in my mind about signing a 2 year contract, it's up there with playing Sonic the hedgehog on a nintendo and using IE6
I don't know how the iPhone 5 is a disappointment. New phones are boring now, better screens, better battery. That's really all we'll be getting for a while, until the next big thing hits.
I'm still using my Nexus S, it's super quick on Jelly Bean and the screen still looks nice, being a samoled at a paltry 800x480 or whatever. So if you go Android I would heartily recommend a Nexus, my Nexus S is single core yet Jelly Bean is totally lag free, seriously. The Galaxy Nexus will still be a great choice today.
Still think Android is a much better OS than iOS but I'll probably switch to iPhone again in the future so that my Mac and iPad are perfectly synced.
@Sooty said:
See I'm mainly syncing with google so android makes sense to a certain point with me. Is there any news on when the new nexus will be announced? Who'll make it, Samsung, ASUS?
Had a look at the nokia lumia 900 yesterday to give me an idea on the 920, it's a pretty phone a shame that in the UK its' only available in black. I think I'd want to get a red one (Liverpool fan)
I'm not sure what everyone's budget looks like, but personally, I got real tired of paying out the ass for my phone. Recently, I sold my iPhone 4S and used the money to pay my AT&T termination fee. I then bought a Galaxy Nexus for $350 direct from Google unlocked, and am on a no-contract prepaid plan from T-Mobile. 100 minutes (I never use a lot of minutes, and you can set up wifi calling without too much hassle for home use), unlimited text, and unlimited data - the first 5gb of which is "at 4G speeds", which means various things, but in metro Detroit, means usually 8-12mb down, 1-5 up. This plan is $30/month. It is awesome. It. Is. Awesome.
GNex isn't a wow-inducing phone at this point, but it's solid (especially if you can forgive the shitty low-light camera), and it's getting all the updates. That's my route, maybe a little boring but cheap and flexible.
I've been thinking about going to StraightTalk with my 4S because unlimited everything is about $40 cheaper than my current AT&T plan, anybody do it or know anyone that has? Is T-Mobile worth it on a 4S despite the lack of 3G?
@Barta said:
I get that on my home broadband, I'd definitely take that on my phone!
Here in the UK we're getting left behind with 4G, makes me wonder if it's worth even considering the 4g element in my next phone purchase and worry about that on the phone after that. EE is launching a 4G network but I remember when 3G launched and the networks couldn't handle it, I could see me having big first adopter problems.
One thing that has stood out to me when researching my new phone...weight. Hate to say it as it will come across as distortion field but the weight difference is quite a thing in the iphone 5. 112grams when you compare it against most big phone it's a huge difference the Nokia weighing in at 185-190grams. Wondering if that much weight will annoy me
@thatlad: For things like smartphones, some extra weight is actually nice. Lots of people's complains with phones is that they feel cheap because they're large but light. Carrying it around , an extra 70g isn't something you will notice... but in your hand, it can make a world of difference.