iPhone or Android?

[erincon23]

I'm seriously considering getting a smartphone. DS19 has an Android-based phone, which he loves, and he doesn't care for Apple products. But several friends have iPhones, which they also love. I don't have any specific apps in mind (although I've read some stuff about iPhone camera apps that sounds really interesting) -- just want to do email, music, some games, web stuff, camera -- the basics. At least a couple of weeks ago, AT&T was offering the iPhone3 for 99 cents, and I know I can get Android phones at Wal-Mart for a buck. What do you prefer and why?

 

[Friendofpluto]

I would wait till latest iPhone came out and pay for one you could really enjoy. I have a nice Droid and I am switching over to iPhone 4S. I personally would not get a Smart phone unless I liked the features.

 

[KigerKat]

DH has always had an android phone, but just got my iPhone 4 and LOVES it. It was kind of nice for us as a couple to have one iPhone and one Android, because we had the best of both worlds, but he seems pretty happy with the iPhone. The only thing he misses about his old phone is a free GPS app that would give turn by turn directions. We can't find one on iPhone that he likes as much as he liked that one.

 

[uva185]

I'm seriously considering getting a smartphone. DS19 has an Android-based phone, which he loves, and he doesn't care for Apple products. But several friends have iPhones, which they also love. I don't have any specific apps in mind (although I've read some stuff about iPhone camera apps that sounds really interesting) -- just want to do email, music, some games, web stuff, camera -- the basics. At least a couple of weeks ago, AT&T was offering the iPhone3 for 99 cents, and I know I can get Android phones at Wal-Mart for a buck. What do you prefer and why?

I wouldn't buy an outdated smartphone, even for a buck. If you can, I'd wait for the next iPhone as it should be 4G LTE. You may want to consider switching to Sprint as they still offer unlimited data while AT&T and Verizon do not. LTE phones consume a lot of data and it would be very easy to go over the limit.

My personal preference is iPhone over Android, though there are plenty of good Android phones out there. I have a iPad and iPhone so I like that all my media automatically syncs between my devices. I also find the iPhone interface much easier to use than Android phones. You should go to the store and play around with each device, practice typing, etc before actually purchasing one.

 

[Rhonda922]

Just my 2-cents. I had an iPhone 3 for a while and recently upgraded to the iPhone 4. I love my phone and Apple products in general!

 

[AshleeH]

I hate Droid. My husband used to swear by his and I got one because he loved it so much (he was the only person in our town to return an iPhone when they first came out). I loathed the Droid - heavy, clunky, awkward, and I wasn't impressed with it's SmartPhone technology. Granted, this was about two or three years ago, so they've probably created a lighter model since then. I switched to BlackBerry for a while and when my contract came up last summer, I got an iPhone 4 (My husband had also switched over to it and liked it much better than the one he returned a few years before that).

I personally love the iPhone - I like the sleek model, not having to worry about dropped calls, and there's really no feature I've been disappointed with. This is the first time since SmartPhones came out that I've owned a phone for almost a year and haven't been counting the days for my contract to be up so I can get a new one. This will probably also be the first time that I'll get the same phone (or newer model of the same phone) when my contract does come up for renewal.

 

[letsgoreds]

There is a HUGE HUGE range in capability, speed, design for android phones. Same with the iPhone. You are talking a decent chunk of change in monthly fees when you add a data plan on top of an existing talk/text plan. That is where you should make your decision, not in looking at $.01 or $1 phones. There is a REASON they are so inexpensive ; )

DH has an iPhone through work and I have an android (Motorola Milestone). Both are 3g phones (speed), but I like is iPhone 4 better.

 

[Best Aunt]

Love my iPhone. Hated my Droid.

I find that the iPhone is very intuitive to use.

The Droid was not.

You can just figure out how to do things on the iPhone. You have to google it to figure out how to do things on the Droid.

For example, let's say you want to know if there are any software updates for your phone.

To do this on the Droid:
Press the MENU button, which is on the bottom left of your phone
Touch SETTINGS
Touch ABOUT PHONE
Touch SYSTEM UPDATES

To do this on the iPhone:
SETTINGS
GENERAL
SOFTWARE UPDATE

Personally, I never would have figured out the Droid procedure by just playing around with the phone; I had to look it up. I figured out the iPhone procedure immediately.

That's just one example, but I think it clarifies my main issue with the phone.

 

[singitalto]

I have a droid2, my kids have Iphones. There phones are much better, just take the camera, the picture is so much better. When I have an upgrade available, IPhone here i come!!!

 

[1Princess1Prince2006]

I don't own any Apple products and honestly, I don't get the hype, but that's just me. I have Sprint, and was able to upgrade about a month ago, and went with another Droid. I was able to compare the iPhone and the Droid in-store and I love the phone I picked out (Samsung Galaxy S II)...bigger phone, better screen, and I found easier to use than the iPhone

 

[geffric]

I have a DROID2 Global.. my sons have a Droid3.. we love them. Fast, efficient..no problems

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I had an android for a couple of years before Verizon got the iPhone. It was good at first but after a short while it started pissing me off right and left. Once Verizon got the iPhone I switch and I have been very, very happy.

If you do get an Android phone, make sure it has a large internal memory. Not all apps and extras can be saved to the SD card so when you run out of internal memory, you are out of luck. Mine was giving me a low memory message every couple of days toward the end and I would have to delete things that I wanted to keep on it even though I still had a lot of room on my SD card.

 

[clh2]

DD has an iphone 4S; DH has an android. I cannot get the android to anything - it just doesn't like my touch. I do not have the 'touch" problem DD's iphone.

So - when I upgrade my blackberry - maybe sometime this summer - I will probably go with an iphone.

 

[mistysue]

With the iphone, there is only one maker and one software to get.

With an android phone, every manufacturer has a different interface. I HATE the motorola droid phones. I LOVE the HTC phones. They are as intuitive as iphones. The new HTC phones coming out have better hardware, specs an to me a much better operating system than the iphone.
Plus, since your concern has a lot to do with money, I get all my apps for free. Not only do people release great quality apps for free, but Amazon picks one paid app to offer for free every day- I've got tons of apps that cost money for free. With the iphone I would have to buy my apps.

 

[rluey29]

Love my Iphone....

 

[MolonLabe]

I find that the iPhone is very intuitive to use.

The Droid was not.

This is less of an issue with newer releases of software that help to make the Android platform more friendly to the non tech savvy.

For example, my parents would need a Iphone, not a droid.

Personally I couldn't be happier with my Android phone. It's a Galaxy S2 with Gingerbread OS.

The Android Market (now called play for some stupid reason) surpasses apple's by leaps and bounds at this point. Especially for quality free/open source apps.

Navigation is just one example. Being able to have micro SD cards...

If you like to have options, Android is the way to go. Iphone, not so much.

I will say the windows phone I had before this (HTC) was crap. Windows makes the worst mobile software. It's horrible. I was soooo wishing I had an Iphone when I 'upgraded' to it, lol.

I'd rank them Android, Apple and microsoft a very, very distant third.

 

[fab5friend99]

I'm going to switch soon so I too am very interested in opinions of the iphone vs android. I currently have an AT&T gophone and like the prepaid plans. Thinking about getting the iphone and using staightalk to connect to AT&T. I won't use the web to stream video and just want the web to occasionally check email etc. I'm also not a big talker so I really hate to pay for tons of minutes I won't use. Anybody use straightalk? Or have experience using the iphone with any other prepaid plans?

 

[erincon23]

Thanks for the good information,everyone! Looks like I've got some research to do. I don't have any other Apple products (Touch or iPad) to worry about synching. DS already has an Android phone, so I'd have help if I need it (and I know I will). I'll have to check out the apps both offer.

 

[ssawka]

If you are in an area that h 4G coverage, I would not even think about getting a current iPhone. Apple really dropped the ball by not supporting 4G yet. If you can wait until the fall then it might be worth waiting for the new iPhone. That being said, I have an HTC Thunderbolt. My only complaint has been the poor battery life.

 

[aprilgail2]

I've had an android and an iphone- I would never go back to android! To me android is like the Betamax compared to the VCR.