Sprint phone upgrade time-Blackberry or Android better?

[frannn]

I'm going to upgrade my Samsung Rant today at Best Buy or Radio Shack. DH has a Blackberry 8530 (?) and loves it, but I think the buttons and screen are a bit small for texting and Sprint TV. The LG Optimus S looks interesting as an introductory Android phone. I don't want to spend over 100 because I don't use my phone a ton, so I'll probably stay away from the 4g phones. I like the touch screen on my ipod touch and Zune, so I think the Optimus may be the best option. I'm just concerned about the quality of the phone and if it would break easily. I don't need a ton of bells & whistles, but would love to be able to have apps (especially the WDW one with wait times and menus) and my ADR #'s on the phone. Any advice? I can only upgrade once every 2 years, so I want to get the best phone possible.

 

[thewesterberg]

In December I upgraded from a Blackberry Curve to the LG Optimus that you're thinking of at Best Buy. So far I love it and haven't had any problems. The hardest thing for me to get used to was the touch screen typing... The first couple of weeks I really missed the Blackberry keyboard and wondered if I had made a mistake, but as I spent more time texting and getting the hang of it, I'm loving it. This was my first experience using a touch screen.

Plus there's lots and lots of apps for it, way more than I ever found for my Blackberry. Hello Angry Birds, Good Bye doing anything constructive! It's fun to pull up the UT wait time app and see what's happening at the Parks... and you can see how for you are from any certain ride... right now I'm 2,454,466 yards from Soarin'... (although that makes me a little sad to be so far away!)

 

[woodkins]

We also have sprint and my dh has the Blackberry curve and hates it. We are counting down the days to his upgrade elgibility. I have the Evo and it is amazing, but it is on the 4G network. My dd has the Samsung Intercept and it is an awesome phone. It has a touch screen and a slide out keyboard so you can text using either one. It can do tons of apps, internet browsing etc and we were able to get it for free for her at best buy.

 

[elgerber]

I have Verizon, but I switched from Blackberry to Android and would never go back. I love my android phone, it is so much better than a Blackberry.

 

[Simba22]

I have Verizon, but I switched from Blackberry to Android and would never go back. I love my android phone, it is so much better than a Blackberry.

ITA! When we upgraded last November, I actually got the Blackberry Curve (the cute little purple one) at first and my BF got the Droid. I had my Blackberry for a week and traded it back in for the Droid. The buttons were ridiculously small and the phone itself was so small that my hand would cramp while trying to text. The Droid is a good size, and the touch screen is so much easier than a regular keyboard. I will never go back to a regular phone!

 

[Green Tea]

I posted this on another thread about Sprint as well. Before you upgrade and renew into a 2 year contract, look at Virgin Mobile. They use Sprint wireless, so your coverage won't change. It is $25 a month for unlimited data and texts, with 300 minutes. Their android phone is a Samsung Intensity, with a full touch screen and a pull out keyboard. It is a no contract plan, so you are not locked into 2 year cycles. I learned about it here and have been VERY impressed.

 

[caitty13]

I got a blackberry last fall for a trade in and had it for 2 weeks, traded it in for the LG Optimus. Best phone choice I have made in a long time...

 

[woodkins]

I posted this on another thread about Sprint as well. Before you upgrade and renew into a 2 year contract, look at Virgin Mobile. They use Sprint wireless, so your coverage won't change. It is $25 a month for unlimited data and texts, with 300 minutes. Their android phone is a Samsung Intensity, with a full touch screen and a pull out keyboard. It is a no contract plan, so you are not locked into 2 year cycles. I learned about it here and have been VERY impressed.

I agree, It is a great deal and they do use the sprint network. For my family of 3 smartphone users (and using 2 for business) it is actually cheaper for us to do a family data share plan, but it is something to seriously calculate prior to making another contract.

The Virgin mobile smartphone is the Samsung Intercept, not the Intensity. My dd has the Intercept and it is a great phone.

 

[tinker&belle]

DH and I both upgraded to the Epic. We had been with sprint forever and when I called Sprint before upgrading (we were considering Verizon) they offered us a free month's service if we kept Sprint.

We found a deal on the Epic for $99 the day after Thanksgiving at Sam's Club. They had deals on lots of phones so it might be worth checking there.

Although the Evo and Epic have the upcharge we thought it was worth it since we got such a great price on the phones and the phone is really spectacular. It almost is like having a little laptop.

 

[Green Tea]

I agree, It is a great deal and they do use the sprint network. For my family of 3 smartphone users (and using 2 for business) it is actually cheaper for us to do a family data share plan, but it is something to seriously calculate prior to making another contract.

The Virgin mobile smartphone is the Samsung Intercept, not the Intensity. My dd has the Intercept and it is a great phone.

intercept. Thats it! It is a great phone.

Coming from a Verizon family plan, no data, the VM is MUCH cheaper for everything combined.

 

[frannn]

I picked up my free purple Optimus today at Best Buy. I haven't had the time to play with it yet, so I don't know how to even make a call . Thanks for the less expensive suggestion about Virgin Mobile- couldn't go that route because we have a family plan with Sprint & DH just upgraded his phone a few months ago. Luckily, he gets an employee discount through NYPD. Also wanted to get the phone asap, since as of 1/30, all new and upgraded smartphone plans will be 10. more. I'll post this separately to try to help someone else who may be able to avoid the increase temporarily by upgrading now. Off to find accessories for my new toy!