First Smartphone, android or iPhone?

[eeyoresmom]

Which would you recommend for as middle aged ( me!). DD says the iPhone, DS says and android. I' m going to Straight Talk and have to buy a phone this weekend. I can afford the iPhone, just not sure ..…....I currently use a Google tablet, but am not tied to that os in any way, don't play games etc. I'm on FB regularly, would like to start posting photos there. Any advise?

 

[elphaba91]

My mother is in her mid-50s and uses an iPhone. She loves it! She was never good with computers, etc. and her previous phone was very basic.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Apple products tend to be a bit easier to use for those who are not digital natives. In general, the apple operating systems are much more stable and things work as they're supposed to. I would recommend an iPhone.

 

[RitaE]

Apple products tend to be a bit easier to use for those who are not digital natives. In general, the apple operating systems are much more stable and things work as they're supposed to. I would recommend an iPhone.

I was an iPhone user for years, actually about a decade I think, and would have agreed with you a couple of years ago. But I really don't think so anymore. I personally like the most recent generations of Android products way better than the iPhone 5/5S series or the Apple tablets. I volunteer teach a technology series at our local library and the feeling I've gotten over the past year is that more and more people are ditching the Apple products.

But overall, I don't think either is a bad product and no matter which one you use you will likely be happy.

As for me right now I'm using the Google Moto X. I wish it had a memory card slot but otherwise absolutely no complaints about the phone. I'm not sure if that is an option on Straight Talk. I use Republic Services for my cell provider. $25 a month (works to a little over $30 with taxes) for unlimited talk, text and 3G data. Like all the other providers, they say unlimited data but reports are they throttle it at 5GB. Their 4G plan is $40 a month.

 

[HM]

Since you aren't already an Apple product user, I'd go for the Android phone. No need to get caught up in only being able to use iTunes, etc when you're not using them already.

 

[ssawka]

Since you are already familiar with Android, I would stick with that. Apple makes great products and they tend to be more user "friendly", but you pay for it.

I have an Apple laptop which I love, but I refuse to ever get an iPhone or iPad for myself. I simply do not like the fact that Apple dictates what goes on their products. Yes, I know the argument that it makes it more secure and more reliable, but in many ways Apple is turning in to the "big brother" that they use to accuse IBM of being.

 

[shruley]

Apple products tend to be a bit easier to use for those who are not digital natives. In general, the apple operating systems are much more stable and things work as they're supposed to. I would recommend an iPhone.

I get people may like iPhone over Android, but to say Android is unstable or doesn't work as well is a bit untrue. DH and I have Galaxy phones and a Google Nexus tablet and have never had any issues with the stability. I can't even remember the last time my phone/tablet has frozen or not functioned or anything.

OTOH, DD has apple- ipod touch, etc. I find them a huge pain in the butt. Mostly because I hate iTunes. At this point her iPod freezes much more often than our Galaxys, but it is a little older. I also noticed when I went to download games for her she liked on our phones, she had to pay for games than on our Android were free. At this point we're so annoyed with the iPod DH told her no more apple products in the house, and he is IT Manager. Her next phone or tablet will be android.

If an android is cheaper, I would go with that.

ETA: If you are already using an Android tablet, I would just stay with Android. While some may say iPhone is more "user friendly", if you are already used to the Android interface by using a tablet, you won't have any issues with using an Android phone.

 

[wiigirl]

Since you aren't already an Apple product user, I'd go for the Android phone. No need to get caught up in only being able to use iTunes, etc when you're not using them already.

 

[nalajms]

I get people may like iPhone over Android, but to say Android is unstable or doesn't work as well is a bit untrue. DH and I have Galaxy phones and a Google Nexus tablet and have never had any issues with the stability. I can't even remember the last time my phone/tablet has frozen or not functioned or anything.

I've had my Samsung Galaxy for about a year. 2 weekends ago the power button stopped working and the phone reboots itself several times during the day. And there's no way to turn the device on except to plug it in. I spent a whole weekend reinstalling software, resetting it, etc. Anyways, ended up with an app that turns on/off using the sensor button. Occasionally the phone will still reboot itself.

When the problem happened, I searched online and found that this is a common problem. So while the android might not be an issue, the actual phone can be lower quality.

My husband had a motorola photon, had issues and switched last year to iphone.

I am still debating whether or not to switch to iphone for the better quality product and better pictures. However, I'm not a fan of apple and prefer android os.

Regardless of what you get, buy a quality protector case and consider buying the insurance!

 

[shruley]

I've had my Samsung Galaxy for about a year. 2 weekends ago the power button stopped working and the phone reboots itself several times during the day. And there's no way to turn the device on except to plug it in. I spent a whole weekend reinstalling software, resetting it, etc. Anyways, ended up with an app that turns on/off using the sensor button. Occasionally the phone will still reboot itself.

When the problem happened, I searched online and found that this is a common problem. So while the android might not be an issue, the actual phone can be lower quality.

My husband had a motorola photon, had issues and switched last year to iphone.

I am still debating whether or not to switch to iphone for the better quality product and better pictures. However, I'm not a fan of apple and prefer android os.

Regardless of what you get, buy a quality protector case and consider buying the insurance!

I would obviously do research on the phone. Never had any issues at all with my Galaxy 3. I've dropped it LOTS of times. Even have a crack in my top screen (because I dropped it on a tile floor) but it still functions fine. The S4 does seem to have many more issues though, not sure what happened. I'm not sure what we'll get when we upgrade later in the year. But I don't think the Andriod interface is the issue. I've been amazed at how well our Nexus 10 has held up despite that a 16 month old plays on it very frequently and has done more to try to lock and mess up that thing than you could imagine.

 

[alc571]

If you're not familiar with Apple products already, I would go with Android. I had an iPhone for 2.5 years (the iPhone 4) and it died on me. Because of the way Apple is, they're constantly throwing updates at you and each one takes up more memory. Because they memory is not expandable, it slows the device down. I only had maybe 5 apps on my phone, some pictures and about 200 songs. It got so bad that after the last update, I couldn't access Facebook or the internet because it was insanely slow. My iPad was fine, but it was newer. I paid my carrier $140 just to get out of the contract and move to a Samsung Galaxy S3. I love it! I'm so glad I switched. And not only did I switch, but my 60-year-old parents, and a coworker of mine also switched to S3's based on playing with mine and the good deal I got.

If you had asked me before the last iOS updated, I would have said Apple all the way - but no more. I love my new phone, and I have a 32G memory card in it that I put all my pictures and music on, so it doesn't interfere with how it runs.

 

[wenrob]

I would go into a store, play with the different phones and see which ones seem instinctual to you. You no longer have to be locked into iTunes for media, just about everyone has an app that can be used on an Apple device for music, movies, books etc. Apps would have to be all iTunes though. Our iPhones and iPads have all run fairly smooth over the years, no issues. With cloud services and things like Dropbox etc I never has space issues.

 

[FamilyGuy]

Quite frankly, you can't go wrong with either.

I prefer Android, all others in my household use apple Iphones.

As others have mentioned, protection for the device is more important than which device you pick! Screen protectors and more importantly good quality protective cases can truly extended the usuable life of the device (the usable life can easily get cut short by a catastrophic drop or other mishap).

 

[descovy]

My parents and some other relatives (age 60's-70's) have gotten iPhones. If they don't know how to work something, they can ask someone in the room, and someone else can help them. (all iPhones are essentially the same) One of my aunts got an Android based phone, and doesn't have the same luck. Many different types of phones run on the Android platform so the "How do I..." kind of questions are usually more complicated.

But as you can see from the bevy of replies, you really can't go wrong either way.

 

[disneychrista]

I got my first smartphone, an Android, in July & I HATED it. I switched to changed to an iPhone in November and LOVE it.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I have an android and love it. My service is with virgin. Have not had issues with my service. The camera on it is great. Got the phone at Best Buy.

I buy my top up cards at target and pay $33 for a $35 card when I make a purchase with my red card. At Christmas top up cards were discounted 10% plus the red card 5% and I got several cards for $29.75

 

[Judique]

My parents and some other relatives (age 60's-70's) have gotten iPhones. If they don't know how to work something, they can ask someone in the room, and someone else can help them. (all iPhones are essentially the same) One of my aunts got an Android based phone, and doesn't have the same luck. Many different types of phones run on the Android platform so the "How do I..." kind of questions are usually more complicated.

But as you can see from the bevy of replies, you really can't go wrong either way.

Not all us 60+ have to ask someone in the room. I think apple products are stuck in a rut. Maybe that's just me.

Android all the way here.

 

[TheNovice]

I suggest if you can get a Galaxy S4, get it. I myself had to make the decision between a Galaxy or an iPhone and wow I was not let down by the former. Better processor, more vivid colors produced by the camera, larger screen, slightly better battery life.

The only thing an iPhone is good for in my opinion is its uniformity and simplicity.

 

[mcraige]

I prefer Apple, as much for their "security" as for their products:

"FortiGuard Labs has found approximately five times the amount of malicious families on the Android OS versus what we've found on iOS," Axelle Apvrille, senior mobile anti-virus researcher at Fortinet, said in a statement. "We believe that this disparity can be attributed to the way Apple handles iOS application development and distribution. Unlike Android, which makes it fairly easy to place applications for people to download, iOS requires developers to undergo some strict screening from Apple before the application can make it to the Apple Store."

This quote was from a couple of years ago, and I think it has only gotten worse. If you are VERY careful where you download apps from, and what apps you install, you should be OK.

 

[sk!mom]

Iphone- never known anyone to regret an "I" anything. Apple products are intuitive making them perfect for those who aren't very tech savvy. My 70 year old mom switched over to one with no problem.