iPhone 4s or Galaxy S3?

[JeRmS]

Thinking about switching up my phone and I'm trying to decide between the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S3

Both phones are same cost so that is not a contributor but cost is the reason why I'm going with "last years models".

I currently have a Samsung Admire and have had NO issues with it at all, so I'm having a hard time justifying a switch to the darkside (iPhone). I am a bit partial to Android but again ... could be persuaded to change.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Thinking about switching up my phone and I'm trying to decide between the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S3

Both phones are same cost so that is not a contributor but cost is the reason why I'm going with "last years models".

I currently have a Samsung Admire and have had NO issues with it at all, so I'm having a hard time justifying a switch to the darkside (iPhone). I am a bit partial to Android but again ... could be persuaded to change.

I really like my Galaxy S3 which I have had for about 8 or 9 months now. One thing I really like is the larger screen--I use the Kindle app and read while I'm waiting for stuff.

What I don't like is not having the seamless integration with all my music and movies in iTunes. I somehow got most of my music onto the phone, but I don't know how, or if I even can, get a movie onto it. So when we last traveled, I took my old iPod for movie-watching. This is probably a problem that a person smarter than me wouldn't have.

 

[timmac]

Though I know it wasn't one of your options, but I'd highly recommend a Nexus 4. Price point is substantially lower than most other phones, and performance is current gen, rather than last year's.

 

[ssawka]

Who's your carrier, and where do you live? If you have access to a 4G network, I would go with the Galaxy. Th iPhone 4S does not have 4G support.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

I have always been an android fan and currently have the Galaxy S3 and like it. My DD and many friends have iphones and I have to say I am just NOT a fan. I prefer Android's operating system so much better. I try to navigate around DD's phone and I am just lost. Its great for her and the younger generation, but for me (mid to late 30's) I just find Android more user friendly. For example, to copy photos and music on and/or off the phone to a computer is just plug in and drag and drop. On the iphone all the music has to be purchased and go thru itunes which i find very annoying. And the camera on the S3 is great. Better than iphone 4s in my opinion. Great quality and easy to share, upload, etc.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I would vote for the iPhone just because I am an Apple nerd and I want everything Apple. If i was looking for a new phone, I would wait til the new iPhone came out and try to snag an iPhone 5.

 

[memy26]

Who's your carrier, and where do you live? If you have access to a 4G network, I would go with the Galaxy. Th iPhone 4S does not have 4G support.

My iPhone 4s has 4g

 

[ssawka]

My iPhone 4s has 4g

Sorry, I should have been more specific. The iPhone 4S does not support 4G LTE. It does support HSPA+, but HSPA+ is not "True" 4G but rather an enhanced 3G. Theoretically, HSPA+ speeds should be almost as fast as current 4G LTE speeds, but HSPA+ maxes out the 3G networks and thus will never quite reach 4G LTE speeds. Also, not all carriers support HSPA+. For most users it probably does not matter, but if you do a lot of streaming or you are on a network that does not support HSPA+ it does.

 

[luvdisney00]

My daughter smashed her iphone 4S screen and we have 2 upgrades available on our family plan. The guy at Verizon talked us out of using the upgrade for another 4S stating that 3G is becoming obsolete and that he wouldn't want to be stuck with a 3G phone for 2 more years. We ended up buying her another 4S from apple (her money) because that was what she wanted.

My point is I don't know if he's right or not but he was strongly cautioning us not to "waste" our upgrade on a 3G phone even though he knew we would buy it elsewhere and he would lose the sale. He did offer to show us an android, but she was not open to that. Galaxy S3 is a 4G phone even though it's not the latest model.

 

[kiki02]

My daughter smashed her iphone 4S screen and we have 2 upgrades available on our family plan. The guy at Verizon talked us out of using the upgrade for another 4S stating that 3G is becoming obsolete and that he wouldn't want to be stuck with a 3G phone for 2 more years. We ended up buying her another 4S from apple (her money) because that was what she wanted.

My point is I don't know if he's right or not but he was strongly cautioning us not to "waste" our upgrade on a 3G phone even though he knew we would buy it elsewhere and he would lose the sale. He did offer to show us an android, but she was not open to that. Galaxy S3 is a 4G phone even though it's not the latest model.

Iphone. and add to that iPad, iPod, iMac and another IPHONE. 9 years later and WE are still impressed with the iphone 4 and 5. Wow, is what we say almost daily. IMHO.

 

[DawnM]

You can use Flixter.

I hated Flixter at first because it wouldn't save the movies in my itunes account, but Flixter is an APP that actually you can get for Androids or iOS
, which is great because we have both.

My son can watch movies on his Nexux 7 and we can use our ipads and have the same app with the same movies.

You can also pay $2.50 to copy your DVDs to put in Flixter. Not all production companies are supported (can't remember which are and which aren't off hand but I found it a bit annoying.)

Overall it is good though.

I really like my Galaxy S3 which I have had for about 8 or 9 months now. One thing I really like is the larger screen--I use the Kindle app and read while I'm waiting for stuff.

What I don't like is not having the seamless integration with all my music and movies in iTunes. I somehow got most of my music onto the phone, but I don't know how, or if I even can, get a movie onto it. So when we last traveled, I took my old iPod for movie-watching. This is probably a problem that a person smarter than me wouldn't have.

 

[DawnM]

I MUCH prefer ios to android. I have friends who prefer android.

ios is just more intuitive to me. If I understand something techie, I better buy that one because I am pretty tech dumb.

I have an iphone 4 now and in about a year, which DH's company upgrades him for free, I will get his iphone 5 and he will get whatever the latest/greatest is.

 

[JeRmS]

Though I know it wasn't one of your options, but I'd highly recommend a Nexus 4. Price point is substantially lower than most other phones, and performance is current gen, rather than last year's.

The only carrier I show that has this phone is T-Mobile. Might have to check it out as it is pretty "cheap".

Who's your carrier, and where do you live? If you have access to a 4G network, I would go with the Galaxy. Th iPhone 4S does not have 4G support.

My current carrier is MetroPCS, which just recently merged with T-Mobile. I'm in the Tampa area. I'm currently shopping T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint as I get discounts through my company for each of those carriers.

T-Mobile gives the best "contract" with unlimited everything but charges the most upfront money for phones.

AT&T doesn't offer an unlimited Data plan but I can get 10MB of Data for a decent price with unlimited Talk & Text.

Sprint Offers unlimited everything with free phones, but the monthly cost of the plan is higher than the others.

I have always been an android fan and currently have the Galaxy S3 and like it. My DD and many friends have iphones and I have to say I am just NOT a fan. I prefer Android's operating system so much better. I try to navigate around DD's phone and I am just lost. Its great for her and the younger generation, but for me (mid to late 30's) I just find Android more user friendly. For example, to copy photos and music on and/or off the phone to a computer is just plug in and drag and drop. On the iphone all the music has to be purchased and go thru itunes which i find very annoying. And the camera on the S3 is great. Better than iphone 4s in my opinion. Great quality and easy to share, upload, etc.

We are in the same age group and I hear what you're saying, I'm a bit more tech savy myself BUT that bolded part up there could be a deal breaker for me for iPhone ... so are you saying that the 1000 or so MP3's I have on my current Android could not be transferred over to an iPhone? I would have to "buy" music for the iPhone? I have all my music stored on a 32GB mini SD so I'd much prefer just to remove it from one phone and plug it into another!

My daughter smashed her iphone 4S screen.

I've heard this is a big problem with the 4 and 4S ... which is another reason I shy away. I have young kids who like to play with my phone and I would be Uber Upset if the screen shattered.

 

[DawnM]

If you get a good case, Otterbox defender or Lifeproof type, you shouldn't have an issue.

FWIW: I have a few friends with Androids who have cracked their screens just as easily.

Dawn

I've heard this is a big problem with the 4 and 4S ... which is another reason I shy away. I have young kids who like to play with my phone and I would be Uber Upset if the screen shattered.

 

[tinkgirl1984]

We are in the same age group and I hear what you're saying, I'm a bit more tech savy myself BUT that bolded part up there could be a deal breaker for me for iPhone ... so are you saying that the 1000 or so MP3's I have on my current Android could not be transferred over to an iPhone? I would have to "buy" music for the iPhone? I have all my music stored on a 32GB mini SD so I'd much prefer just to remove it from one phone and plug it into another!

You can't just plug it into the phone and go, but you also don't have to buy new music. You do have to transfer all of your current music into iTunes on your computer which is very simple, then iTunes will transfer it onto your phone. It really is whichever os you prefer. Personally, I would never switch to an android from my iPhone. I find android's os to be incredibly irritating and time consuming. I'm pretty good with tech stuff, it's not that I couldn't learn it, I just don't want to. I know where everything is on my iPhone.

Edited to add: I also wouldn't recommend the 4s though. This is my 3rd iPhone. It's the first one that I haven't liked. This is actually my 2nd 4s, apple replaced the first one. The battery life is horrendous. I can't wait to get rid of it. Personally, I would wait until the new phone comes out ( should be announced in June and out in July) and get the 5 if I were you.

 

[Jonathan Swift]

Galaxy S3 hands down. I suggest you go to a place that has both and try them side by side. There's no comparison. the S3 blows the iPhone away. And, Android is a lot less restrictive. You can root the S3 easily. No so for the iPhone.

Though I know it wasn't one of your options, but I'd highly recommend a Nexus 4. Price point is substantially lower than most other phones, and performance is current gen, rather than last year's.

I have the Nexus 4 and My Wife has the G3. I couldn't disagree with you more. The Nexus 4 has better specs for the processor, but the screen is smaller and less vibrant, there's no capacitive buttons, the phone gets hot, and is thicker.

 

[JeRmS]

The more and more I read I think I'm leaning towards staying with Android .... I'm familiar with the OS because I currently own an Android phone and 2 Android Tablets (Samsung Galaxy Tab 2) and have never had any issues with them. The iPhone has some intriguing features but I don't think those are enough to sway me from Android.

now I just need to make a decision on which carrier to go with ... I like the unlimited everything with T-Mobile but I assume AT&T is going to have better coverage in most places, the only bad thing about AT&T is the Data .... no unlimited package.

I have the Nexus 4 and My Wife has the G3. I couldn't disagree with you more. The Nexus 4 has better specs for the processor, but the screen is smaller and less vibrant, there's no capacitive buttons, the phone gets hot, and is thicker.

I also don't like that the Nexus doesn't have an SD slot. Like I posted above I have a SD card that has over a 1000 MP3's on it and I'd really like to be able to just plug and play.

 

[Jonathan Swift]

There is another option... There are smaller carriers that use the same network as AT&T and T-Mobile that offer lower monthly prices. Here's a list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_mobile_virtual_network_operators

For example: http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1265003/

All you need is an unlocked phone.

 

[wiigirl]

Galaxy S3 hands down. I suggest you go to a place that has both and try them side by side. There's no comparison. the S3 blows the iPhone away. And, Android is a lot less restrictive. You can root the S3 easily. No so for the iPhone.



I have the Nexus 4 and My Wife has the G3. I couldn't disagree with you more. The Nexus 4 has better specs for the processor, but the screen is smaller and less vibrant, there's no capacitive buttons, the phone gets hot, and is thicker.

 

[smitch425]

Just wanted to make sure you knew that there is now a Galaxy S4.