Need advice on best smart phone to buy

[Block Island]

I don't even want to admit what kind of phone I currently use (pantech flip - w keyboard) and I need a new phone. Honestly, I would have used this one until it failed but I want a smart phone for the WDW trip. ATT carrier. What phone would you recommend?

 

[Robo]

I don't even want to admit what kind of phone I currently use (pantech flip - w keyboard) and I need a new phone. Honestly, I would have used this one until it failed but I want a smart phone for the WDW trip. ATT carrier. What phone would you recommend?

iPhone.

 

[DizDaD7]

Opposite of Iphone...LoL

I'm an android lover...Currently Driod Razor...But there are better ones out there..

 

[Angiea1114]

Galaxy s3!!
I'm not an iTunes lover, and I like the fact that on android you can get apps from Amazon , Google play store and Samsung. More versatile!

 

[chessie]

My first smart phone was a droid. I loved it but my carrier was doing free iphone upgrades so I went with that. It's OK, although I can see why people love it. It is much more user friendly for non computer types.

 

[11290]

Galaxy S3 or the new S4 coming soon. User replaceable batteries (see 2nd paragraph), can use MicroSD cards for additional storage, large screen, already has large key keyboard (for big fingers) and ability to use "3rd" party keyboards, home screen user customizable, on & on.

Can't tell you how many times I'm approached while setting up for night parade and getting the question from iPhone users about where they can charge their phones in MK, I HAVE to charge my phone, it's almost dead and we're still going to be here 3 more hours. (no charging stations - you can't imagine how many people rant on us about why there aren't any)

 

[lobsterslayer]

Love the iPhone. Its easy to use and always works. I've had the 3, 4, and now 4s and have been very happy with them all. Battery life could be better but I don't know if any smart phone can run apps all day at the parks. Last year we would use my iPhone in the morning then my wifes in the afternoon. This year we bought an external battery, it wasn't very expensive and will fully charge a phone 3 times. I think this is going to work well and some of the newer apps look really useful.

 

[chartle]

iPhone.

Robo didn't know you were a member of the dark side.

 

[chartle]

Love the iPhone. Its easy to use and always works. I've had the 3, 4, and now 4s and have been very happy with them all. Battery life could be better but I don't know if any smart phone can run apps all day at the parks. Last year we would use my iPhone in the morning then my wifes in the afternoon. This year we bought an external battery, it wasn't very expensive and will fully charge a phone 3 times. I think this is going to work well and some of the newer apps look really useful.

Anything with MAXX in its name with a 3.3 Ah battery. I think my RAZR MAXX could start a car.

 

[MSSANDRA]

love love love our iphones. We have Verizon and get amazing signal in the parks. Love the camera and often use just that unless I want special pictures.

 

[chartle]

OP you should get a phone that suits your overall needs. Pretty much anything will work in WDW. Like I posted above you could get a RAZOR MAXX and it should last through the day but you may not want to carry around the little extra bulk all the time and it also costs more.

If you go to you tube you can type in phone x vs phone y and get head to head reviews of all the new phones versus the other new phones. Just read them and make your own decisions. One issue my wife just had picking out a new phone was size and if it would fit in her pocket. It sounds trivial but if its too big you now have to carry it around and set it down someplace and maybe lose it.

This is just like asking whats the BEST ride or what is the BEST resort or On Site vs Off site. There is no right answer.

 

[gcoolie]

iPhone

 

[DisneyB]

I have been an android user from the beginning and wouldn't get an iPhone if it was free. I currently have the Razr Maxx and the battery life is amazing. If I were buying one today I would go with the Razr Maxx HD or the Samsung Galaxy S III. The S IV will be out soon but if you don't need the latest cutting edge the S III's will be cheap as they try and clear the stock for the S IV.

If you end up going with an iPhone make sure you have an external battery charger with you in the parks. If you plan to use it for wait times, character locations etc... my guess is it will be dead before dinner. That is easily remedied with something like the Anker Slimtalk 3200. It is slightly smaller than an iPhone and should recharge the phone fully a couple of times. You can get a larger capacity battery that would be good for charging more than one device but they will be bulkier. I have one of these I carry whenever I travel and it works great. Although since getting the Maxx I haven't really needed it.

http://www.amazon.com/SlimTalk-External-Embedded-Micro-USB-Flashlight/dp/B0054VNHSW

 

[amfie928]

I have a droid bionic...love it! I have the extended battery and it lasts all day. If I just use it normal...little bit of data, some pics, etc I can get over 24 hrs of battery.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

iPhone

 

[Dan Murphy]

iOS vs Android. iOS is very structured, they set things the way they want. Android is more fluid, you set it the way you want. My son has an Apple 5, I have a Galaxy S III. When we are together, he tells me he wishes he was able to set his phone and do some of the things I do. But he is sort of stuck in an Apple environment...the tunes, a Mac, a pod, a tablet. Hard to switch. I on the other hand, have no Apple stuff, much more flexible.

And if you are interested in using your phone in the parks, be aware of the battery situation. I see phone battery threads every few weeks on the board here. The Apple people are always recommending various external chargers to bring to the parks and recharging the phones over some period of time. For me, I take two extra batteries (about the size of a credit card) and put in my pocket. If my battery runs low due to a lot of use in the park, I just pop in a new battery (10 seconds) and on my way. In normal, everyday use, I never need a spare battery, battery life is fantastic.

If you are close to buying, wait a bit until the S IV is announced. Get that, or an S III for a reduced amount if you find none of the new features and improvements to your liking or need.

In the end, personal preference, unless you were sort of stuck like my son.

 

[hawkeyesparks]

I called apple the "evil Empire" for years. I have used android technology and really liked. My company gave me a iPhone 5 for company use, and all I can say now is I have embraced the dark side. The operating system is so much easier to navigate, and its the little things that I'm sad to say make iPhones better

 

[pickles]

I wouldnt get another samsung again..I have had about 3 over the years, my ex also had them and my friend just got one in dec..and all of them had similar glitches with getting texts and downloading emails and lack of coverage and dropped calls and forget battery life it had none.

I switched in the fall to motorola electrify 2 and LOVE it!! I miss my slider keyboard that the samsung had, but I always have a signal when others dont, battery lasts all day..In fact, cant think of one problem I have had with it

I HIGHLY would recommend it, and would get another if I needed one

 

[2Tiggies]

As nobody on here seems to have warned the OP so far, I will: Keep away from BlackBerry! It was my last trip to WDW that had me wondering if my insurance would cover an "accident" with it!

I don't think you can go wrong with either iPhone or Android. The question is: what suits your needs best - and answer you need to figure out for yourself. You may not use the features of a smart phone now because it's not part of your life, but once you have one, you will start to use the apps etc more and more. You need a phone that suits YOUR personal needs. Remember, a Disney trip may have prompted the change to a smart phone, but the phone is going to be with you for a lot longer than just your trip so choose carefully