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Hi all,
I ask this question now as I wait for a dev. of ICS for my phone to progress.
Before I bought my phone, I read a review saying that it was one Android version behind but to the reviewer, the version numbers are over-hyped and in reality the phone was great. I should say I bought the phone in August 2010 and it was released May/June that year.
Even reading this, being in this forum, we're a part of a very small per centage of people who understand anything that goes on here, or even the title of this thread. I don't mean that in a -we're brilliant- way, rather that most of us are a little tech-crazy. But do we take it too far? Does 4.0 make your mouth water but 2.1 bores you?
Are there some real benefits to the newer versions? Yes, sure. A few more features, sometimes faster UI, better battery times. I have heard of a few phones out there which had significant benefits and very popular new features e.g. tethering, some camera stuff etc. But beyond this? There is a LOT of gimmicks, crap people like to show off to their friends and all of that, which bored me beyond the age of 20. I got my first phone aged 11. I've been getting phones a few times a year almost every year since. One mega-problem I have with these 'smartphones' is that there have been largely missing basic features which were in the 'feature phones' before them. They've been selling us half-featured phones and dribbling back the rest on 'updates'.
I mean this in a philosophical way - not a critical one. I'm not questioning the validity of this forum (or I wouldn't be here ) and I hope that's clear. What do you all think?
Well?
your parents let you have a phone at 11? and then bought you more then one a year since? wow!
Now don't get the impression I'm desperately wealthy!!! My uncle worked in international business and gave me his old one. I remember even at 11 he mentioned things like 'it's not public yet but Ericsson and Sony are going to merge their mobile business' and I was already hooked on business. I bought I think every phone after that myself, no parents!
Every major release usually has an overall system performance improvement.
But other than that it seems to be a hyped up gimmick.
^^^^ That's precisesly what I've been coming to think. Who doesn't want slightly better memory management to improve battery, some features you use etc. but beyond that I'm afriad it's gimmick-central.
I have to add the psychological aspect of this and marketing particularly.
i agree since samsung swcred t-mobile with sidekick 4g with a subpar camera ,froyo , weak processor 1ghz(alot of lags), and no support , meanwhile 3 or 4 months later a bunch of phones comes with better specs at the 99 price range
Bought my phone with 2.1 installed. Used it like that for a week or so then updated to official 2.2. No difference at all.
Then came the 2.3.4. Everything is the same. Then 2.3.7. Same again.
I use my phone as a phone and a navigation device. So these updates do me no good. Release of Navigon for android was big news for me. I can't say the same thing for the 2.3.
Yeah that's pretty the same for me. The few updates I've had have at least speeded boot time and UI lag is less. It actually came with 1.6, upgraded to 2.1 and nothing since. There's a 2 year support for updates says Sony Ericsson, this was before the Google agreement. Like the guy above, an updated version of the phone was released 1 year later with incredible specs for much cheaper, but I paid a lot for it first time around.
I suppose people are used to upgrade their phones without really using them often.
Just wondering if anyone else is feeling like me, and getting tired of Android. Considering abandoning Android and moving to an iPhone or (maaaaybe) WP7.
Normally I would have never considered it. Like a year ago.
But two things happened...
1: I got an ipad2, and found out that I really enjoyed it.
2. My phone broke. Twice. First the motherboard, and then the touchscreen died. Ive had a total of 5 Android phones (mostly HTC and Samsung) two of those had minor issues, and this one, which basically became TWICE. it's not so much that the hardware breaks that bothers me. That can happen to any phone. What bothers me is the hours you spend on the phone, weeks you wait while it's being repaired, arguing with the phone company whether they should get you a new phone, and on and on and on. Contrast this with Apples customer service. You go to the Apple store, and many times they just give you a new phone if e problem is serious enough, or repeats itself.
And then there's Android itself. Don't get me wrong, I love Android. But there are some things that never really change. The occasional lag or choppy listview you still get with a dual core CPU (!) and mediocre battery life.
And the whole software and hardware upgrade circus...
I got a top of the line Evo3d phone last year, which was supposed to get upgraded to ICS relatively fast, and then a couple of weeks ago HTC all of a sudden made an announcement that pretty much said: "Screw you, Evo3D owners! We're updating other handsets first, so you'll have to wait at least till summertime to get an update!"
And nevermind that you can forget about software updates after a year (If youre very lucky, year and a half. Yes there are developer updates and ROMS, but really, I can't be bothered with it anymore)
The hardware situation is also frustrating. Your phone is outdated in less than a year, replaced by yet another faster flagship, that despite the higher specs only seems to be marginally faster.
Compare that to iPhones, that don't just work, but work well... And not only does a three year old iPhone 3GS STILL get updates to the latest version of iOS (Do you even remember the Android phone you had three years ago? Chances are the last OS update was 3 or 4 versions ago) and an almost two year old iPhone4 not only keeps its resale value really high, it still FEELS like a top of the line phone, able to keep up with today's flagships.
IOS and iPhones obviously arent perfect, and have their flaws too. And I'm still not sure if I'm going to jump ship (or maybe should try WP7) but has anyone else felt frustrated with the whole Android experience and have considered switching?
the occasional lag and stutter is due to the lack of hardware acceleration in gingerbread roms/apps. ICS should take care of that. Also you need to keep in mind that android is constantly improving. All these issues we have now will be corrected by google. Yes, i agree with you on our phones becoming outdated fast, but if that's an issue for you get a nexus phone.
I own an android tablet and an iphone 4 (company phone)
Maybe I would try win mobile but I would not get an iphone for personal use. To your point about the software updates you are not being fair. Ios updates are minor, largely bug fixes, and Ios is almost identical to its original form. Be careful what you wish for regarding 3 year old devices getting software updates. Ask someone with a iPhone 3g how ios 4 worked out for them. My wife had her iPhone 4 go back 3 times for major repairs and freezes occasionally needing to be hard rebooted so hardware problems are not just android issues. Battery life on the iPhone is horrible since ios 5.
Listen, if you like ios and the iPhone there is no issue with that. I do not find android lagier than ios, in fact my old Samsung captivate blows my iPhone 4 away speed wise. The iPad is a great device, I just can't warrent the cost for a device with no flash player.
Sent from my HTC Flyer P510e using xda premium
ive had 3 iphones. all together. and yes it is a great phone. just a quick summary. if the iphone drops, be prepared to spend lots of money. software wise i hardly faced much issues.IOS is very good and stable, but battery is realy bad.
im new to androids, and i like the fact that its constantly improving. and of course how everyting can be customized. on an iphone, its like apple owns the phone and not you. then u JB it, and still limitations will be there.
and IOS is kind of boring, hehe , android is a bit more fun.
im never sick of android. i would get an iphone but i don't really have the time to sit at starbucks and fake write stories on a macbook so i can look deep to women in their teens.
I see nothing that is the fault of Google's Android. Hardware issues are the fault of the manufacturer and should be covered under warranty. You can't blame an OS for hardware issues. Upgrades one again are the manufacturer's decision. You could make the argument that Android OEMs need to be let in earlier in development (similar to Windows) so that they can have upgrades out in a timely manner. But most of the upgrade stalling come from the stupid custom skins/launchers that OEMs feel the need to distribute. So don't get mad at Android when most of your problems are caused the the OEM.
vszulc said:
Just wondering if anyone else is feeling like me, and getting tired of Android. Considering abandoning Android and moving to an iPhone or (maaaaybe) WP7.
.....
2. My phone broke. Twice. First the motherboard, and then the touchscreen died. Ive had a total of 5 Android phones (mostly HTC and Samsung) two of those had minor issues, and this one, which basically became TWICE. it's not so much that the hardware breaks that bothers me. That can happen to any phone. What bothers me is the hours you spend on the phone, weeks you wait while it's being repaired, arguing with the phone company whether they should get you a new phone, and on and on and on. Contrast this with Apples customer service. You go to the Apple store, and many times they just give you a new phone if e problem is serious enough, or repeats itself.
....
And the whole software and hardware upgrade circus...
I got a top of the line Evo3d phone last year, which was supposed to get upgraded to ICS relatively fast, and then a couple of weeks ago HTC all of a sudden made an announcement that pretty much said: "Screw you, Evo3D owners! We're updating other handsets first, so you'll have to wait at least till summertime to get an update!"
And nevermind that you can forget about software updates after a year (If youre very lucky, year and a half. Yes there are developer updates and ROMS, but really, I can't be bothered with it anymore)
The hardware situation is also frustrating. Your phone is outdated in less than a year, replaced by yet another faster flagship, that despite the higher specs only seems to be marginally faster.
Compare that to iPhones, that don't just work, but work well... And not only does a three year old iPhone 3GS STILL get updates to the latest version of iOS (Do you even remember the Android phone you had three years ago? Chances are the last OS update was 3 or 4 versions ago) and an almost two year old iPhone4 not only keeps its resale value really high, it still FEELS like a top of the line phone, able to keep up with today's flagships.
IOS and iPhones obviously arent perfect, and have their flaws too. And I'm still not sure if I'm going to jump ship (or maybe should try WP7) but has anyone else felt frustrated with the whole Android experience and have considered switching?
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Click to collapse
Considered switching? No. I came from iPhone. I would never go back. Must address some things you said from my own personal experience...
RE: phone braking - I'm not sure what experience you've had with Apple, but I've *never* had them just replace a phone in the way that you are implying. Depending on the problem, you may have to send your phone away for repairs or possibly purchase a new one. Unless it is obvious that the problem is on their end, they don't just give you a new phone on the spot. You have to deal with the same discussions of why it's broken, what happened, multiple attempts to repair, blah blah blah. My *one* hard button stopped working for some time, and had to deal with going into the store 4 times and calling customer service repeatedly. It's every company. Can't avoid it.
RE: updates - Yes, they give updates to all phones... but they essentially only have ONE PHONE. Apple doesn't have the plethora of phone brands/types that Android does. So, yes, the iPhone 3 and iPhone 4 get updated with IOS 5. What happened with those updates? My iPhone nearly bricked. I was getting error messages that said that my iPhone "was not compatible" and could not update. It took my sister's iPhone 4 nearly 4 months to finally accept and install the update. Now that it's installed, her apps are FC'ing constantly, her phone freezes on a daily basis (and she can't just pull the battery, keep in mind), push notifications are not working (even though her settings are fine), and her phone dies within 4-5 hours. So... yeah. Not all sunshine and roses.
RE: phone outdated - iPhone 4 comes out, and months later Apple releases their "new phone," being the iPhone 4S. And yes, it's in quotes cause it's essentially the same phone with the addition of Siri. I was pissed at the time. My iPhone 4, which looks and feels and performs just like the brand new version, was now outdated because it didn't have a creepy chick that could talk. /bitterness. At least with Android, if your phone is outdated, it's because a truly new phone has been released - new look, new feel, new OS, new specs, new features, etc.
I get the Apple appeal. I do. I was there once. If you enjoy rooting, flashing custom roms, and having the opportunity to customize your phone, don't jump ship. Sure, you could jailbreak your iPhone, but then you'd just be able to change a couple of settings (ones that you can tailor on a Droid w/o rooting). However, if that stuff doesn't excite and drive you, and you just want a phone to stay stock, and just do basic functions, then maybe the iPhone is best for you. I thought it was fine until I realized I wanted to be able to do more. Just don't jump ship thinking that Apple is some magic company. You'll be disappointed. I was.
mcord11758 said:
I own an android tablet and an iphone 4 (company phone)
Maybe I would try win mobile but I would not get an iphone for personal use. To your point about the software updates you are not being fair. Ios updates are minor, largely bug fixes, and Ios is almost identical to its original form. Be careful what you wish for regarding 3 year old devices getting software updates. Ask someone with a iPhone 3g how ios 4 worked out for them. My wife had her iPhone 4 go back 3 times for major repairs and freezes occasionally needing to be hard rebooted so hardware problems are not just android issues. Battery life on the iPhone is horrible since ios 5.
Listen, if you like ios and the iPhone there is no issue with that. I do not find android lagier than ios, in fact my old Samsung captivate blows my iPhone 4 away speed wise. The iPad is a great device, I just can't warrent the cost for a device with no flash player.
Sent from my HTC Flyer P510e using xda premium
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Click to collapse
+10000... totally agree.
task650 said:
im never sick of android. i would get an iphone but i don't really have the time to sit at starbucks and fake write stories on a macbook so i can look deep to women in their teens.
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Click to collapse
Muahahaha this just made me LOL! Quite possibly one of the best comments I've read on XDA. I approve!
Sent from my Droid X2 using xda premium
Never get tired of Android . Came from WinMo to Android, and will never go back. As far as Apple and their precious Iphone . NO THANK YOU . Know several people ( Lots ) with everything from the original Iphone to the new Iphone 4S. Nothing but issues and situations. My one bud dropped his day old 4S from about three feet off the ground. Done . It practically shattered. But that's not a big deal take it in if you have insurance, and done. WRONG! Took it in and he got a refurb. Nothing but issues with it. Others I know treat their phones like it's made of crystal. they still have nothing but software issues. I'd say it was isolated, but I'm talking about 15 different people. Out of that group, only 4 have never had an issue with their phones. So IMO it's not worth it. But it's only my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions.
i love android and would never abandon it. if u think that iPhone is better than u are so wrong. with iPhone u pay 100% more for 20% less. 65% parts in iPhone are from samsung.
Just don't jump ship thinking that Apple is some magic company. You'll be disappointed. I was.
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totally agree with u m8
i came from iphone -> winMo -> Android i have been using android devices for about 2 years and i can say i will not look back. Android has a great community with great people and devs
Android is the only one for me.. I had I phone 4s......crap lol boring same as the past iPhone's great for people that just want a phone really that dose a few things on the side games ..internet ..fb.. lol but that's about it great for my wife that not technically minded. Android you can customize .. from UI straight down to hardware. As I say each time SHEEP.....copy after copy .....
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Android is better but...
I think android is better, cause i love to costumize my phone hardly, but u know.. it always unstable lorr..
Maybe i need secondary phone like blackberry just to calling and texting.
I have iPhone 4S, iPad2 a well as an android tablet (tf101) and phone, dunno about WP but iOS has it's merits. Definitely smoother (not necessarily faster). However the small size and lack of 4g/widgets/everything is a deal breaker. Since getting ICS on my tablet and my phone, it just seems to be a higher level of product that does more stuff than iOS especially once Cornerstone becomes more standard.
Also I think iOS crashes more http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomiogeron/2012/02/02/does-ios-crash-more-than-android-a-data-dive/ ,I've certainly had a few problems.
It looks like most of your annoyances surround the fact that iOS devices get updates much quicker. Can't really help that but you haven't said much about why android the OS bothers you. Is something terrible about your less-than-current OS? As for hardware, even iPhones have hardware problems and they break/crack much more easily. If you're going to complain about battery life, I hope you know the iphone's battery life isn't really better than the newer androids. Except on most androids you can use spare batteries if you want. If you like using your phone 100% without worrying about battery life that's an easy way. Choppy list scrolling is noticeable on most androids but rare on most newer phones, never really bothers me but that's hardly a deal breaker compared to the features variety that iphones lack.
Ics will amaze you with zero lag.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
I find more and more I love about my phone/android practically everyday. It has actually made life easier in many aspects. Wouldn't think about switching. Just my opinion. Cheers!
*signed
I love Android. I have Apple stuff at home like an iPod and to be honest, never liked it. Wife uses it mostly. I find my Android can do a hell of a lot of stuff and it's fast and there is just so much customization you can't do with an iPhone/iPod. Could not see me not enjoying this Nexus phone I got. I got it unlocked with custom kernel etc and it's way better than it was at stock. So in summary, not at all getting bored with my Android phone. I love it.
I came to android from Blackberry, and an old windows ce phone. I can honestly say that I LOVE my Motorola Atrix android phone. It works....works well....and is so much faster than the crackberry. My sig other, on the other hand, HATES her Samsung Galaxy Vibrant. It seems to get headaches all the time. (a combination of hardware glitches and user error, but I won't tell her that ) I just won't buy into the Apple empire, even if Stevo is gone.
Having plodded through years of Symbian 3rd on the Nokia E71 and E5, I am delighted on a daily basis by the newer, shinier, more customisable UI Android provides. My Galaxy Note is not, however, a better *phone* than the E5. It's a better everything else, though. I keep the E5 as a quickdraw backup.
Overall though, the reason I prefer android is the "wild west" feel of thousands of excellent applications and very few restrictions on how to arrange and use them on my device. Same as Windows vs Mac, really. People would all use Macs if the top 200 games on Steam were compatible with that and not PCs. We go where the mojo is.
It's your money and if you think you like iOS more then get the phone!!
For me, I like Android more now especially Android phones even though I have an iPad. And I had an iPhone before getting my first Android phone.
Will most likely never buy a android phone again. I switched a little over a year ago. I will buy android tablets though cuz i see no point getting an ipad wen i have a iphone. I don't have any problems with my or fiences iphone. No problems with updates like someone else said either. I just came back to Android when i bought my Transformer Tablet and installed ics. Android is still laggy with GPU hardware acceleration forced on or off and don't let me start on the laggy Netflix app compared to the ios version. I still love my Android tablet.
Hi everyone! First post so, very excited! This may be a bit long so please, bear with me.
I've been an iphone user for over three years. Love the thing, even though I'm still with a 3GS. It's time to upgrade, either by picking up the next iphone, or by switching to an Android flagship. My closest contact with an android phone has been with my sisters Galaxy mini, which I find unimpressive.
Anyway, I'm growing a bit tired of the lack of innovation from Apple. My current iOS experience is pretty much the same from 3 years ago and, to my eyes, Android has been speeding up incredibly. Apple is just sitting on its sucess, which I find annoying. And that's why I'm considering getting an S3. I know I'll be getting a new phone soon and it depends a lot on what is going to happen at the 11th of this month, with Apple's keynote. They should announce iOS6 and, if nothing seriously impressive comes out of it, then it's it, I'm selling all my istuff (ipad included) and I'm going Android!
That said, if Apple fails me (which I'm pretty sure it will), I'm gonna buy an S3. What I'd like to hear from you ios-to-android switchers is how is it going? Is that a meaningful improvement or just a different way to do the same awesome stuff? Are the apps equally better? Can I do the same stuff that I do on my iphone, or maybe even more?
Am I going to miss iOS? If so, what I'm going to miss more?
And finally, a more general question: Is the S3 going to last at least 2 years? I like to spend money on something as future-proof as it gets.
So yeah, this are my doubts. I'd say there's a 80% likelihood of me going Android in the next few weeks, so I need to get informed. Please inform me!
Cheers! And forgive my average English.
If you still holding on to 3gs, you will have the sgs3 with you when you get buried. It's a massive upgrade from that phone. My suggestions is that you get around and try one. The screen will be enormous when you are used to 3.5" . I always loved my iphone and it's a great phone but it's boring frankly . When your phone gets outdated and no more upgrades is available : you root. Cyanogenmod will make sure you are running latest software some years more.
I switched to an iphone 4 from my galaxy s2 because I missed the "smoothnes" but to my surprise it wasn't that smooth as I remembered .my sgs2 made stuff happen both smoother and faster so I had to switch back again, the sgs2 is a beast and still pretty future proof and sgs3 is that phone on steroids . I have had a lot of phones and tried a lot of different os, knowing now that no phone is perfect or close to bug free..this phone comes pretty ****ing close. It's The Hulk after you've made him really upset..like banging his girlfriend kind of upset.
Last, I welcome you to the world of android. Where you customize the phone to your needs, not settle or accept because it's restrictions .
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
You may miss iOS... all depends on what you are like as a person. Some people want to have a screen displaying a bunch of apps which they can launch. Simple, no fuss and it gets the job done. For simplicity iOS is a real winner.
Android has more options as I am sure you have heard. I look at this as a massive upside, others (like my mum) don't.
Whether you will miss iOS or not is such a personal thing that only you will know.
I've switched from the iPhone 3GS to the s3. Absolutely loving the android experience so far. I used iPhones since they were first released, and so this is my first Android experience.
Of course there is a learning curve, like with any new operating system. Everyday I'm finding out new things about what my phone can do. But as long as you have some patience the experience can be positive, exploratative one, rather than a negative, and frustrating one.
The only other thing I can think to mention is size. Handling the s3, after having only iPhones in the past is quite hilarious. It took me a while to adapt to the larger size, at first it felt quite cumbersome. However once your used to it, it's a pleasure to handle. I now get a rye smile on my face when I handle my wife's iPhone, because it feels so small and my hand looks giant.
To give you an impression on my current opinion here is my Facebook status from earlier today:
"apple will have to do something VERY special to ever make me use an iPhone ever again. So impressed with my S3 and a. Droid OS".
Hope this helps.
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Jikul said:
Hi everyone! First post so, very excited! This may be a bit long so please, bear with me.
I've been an iphone user for over three years. Love the thing, even though I'm still with a 3GS. It's time to upgrade, either by picking up the next iphone, or by switching to an Android flagship. My closest contact with an android phone has been with my sisters Galaxy mini, which I find unimpressive.
Anyway, I'm growing a bit tired of the lack of innovation from Apple. My current iOS experience is pretty much the same from 3 years ago and, to my eyes, Android has been speeding up incredibly. Apple is just sitting on its sucess, which I find annoying. And that's why I'm considering getting an S3. I know I'll be getting a new phone soon and it depends a lot on what is going to happen at the 11th of this month, with Apple's keynote. They should announce iOS6 and, if nothing seriously impressive comes out of it, then it's it, I'm selling all my istuff (ipad included) and I'm going Android!
That said, if Apple fails me (which I'm pretty sure it will), I'm gonna buy an S3. What I'd like to hear from you ios-to-android switchers is how is it going? Is that a meaningful improvement or just a different way to do the same awesome stuff? Are the apps equally better? Can I do the same stuff that I do on my iphone, or maybe even more?
Am I going to miss iOS? If so, what I'm going to miss more?
And finally, a more general question: Is the S3 going to last at least 2 years? I like to spend money on something as future-proof as it gets.
So yeah, this are my doubts. I'd say there's a 80% likelihood of me going Android in the next few weeks, so I need to get informed. Please inform me!
Cheers! And forgive my average English.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should find out what the return policy is with your provider. As an example Verizon in the US has a no questions asked 14 day return policy and cancellation of contract. If it's the same with whomever you're with that should be plenty of time to figure out what you want.
I can't answer most of your questions (it's down to taste, after all), but as for this one:
Jikul said:
Can I do the same stuff that I do on my iphone, or maybe even more?
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Click to collapse
stock android ≈ jailbroken iphone
rooted android ≫ any iphone
For example, on stock android you can already use a custom keyboard (swype, swiftkey come to mind) or a custom launcher (e.g. launcher7 for a windows 7 type "home screen", apex or nova for general improvements on stock, or even espier launcher for an iphone clone). And, of course, you can side-load apps.
With a rooted android, you can replace the rom/kernel itself.
Jikul said:
Hi everyone! First post so, very excited! This may be a bit long so please, bear with me.
I've been an iphone user for over three years. Love the thing, even though I'm still with a 3GS. It's time to upgrade, either by picking up the next iphone, or by switching to an Android flagship. My closest contact with an android phone has been with my sisters Galaxy mini, which I find unimpressive.
Anyway, I'm growing a bit tired of the lack of innovation from Apple. My current iOS experience is pretty much the same from 3 years ago and, to my eyes, Android has been speeding up incredibly. Apple is just sitting on its sucess, which I find annoying. And that's why I'm considering getting an S3. I know I'll be getting a new phone soon and it depends a lot on what is going to happen at the 11th of this month, with Apple's keynote. They should announce iOS6 and, if nothing seriously impressive comes out of it, then it's it, I'm selling all my istuff (ipad included) and I'm going Android!
That said, if Apple fails me (which I'm pretty sure it will), I'm gonna buy an S3. What I'd like to hear from you ios-to-android switchers is how is it going? Is that a meaningful improvement or just a different way to do the same awesome stuff? Are the apps equally better? Can I do the same stuff that I do on my iphone, or maybe even more?
Am I going to miss iOS? If so, what I'm going to miss more?
And finally, a more general question: Is the S3 going to last at least 2 years? I like to spend money on something as future-proof as it gets.
So yeah, this are my doubts. I'd say there's a 80% likelihood of me going Android in the next few weeks, so I need to get informed. Please inform me!
Cheers! And forgive my average English.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For sure you wouldn't miss anything with regards to the Apps. All are Same and will appear better in a bigger HD Screen.
You can never go back to iOS after using a great Android device unless you are forced to like I am from my work place phone with iP4S. Galaxy mini doesn't do any justice compared to any device ! Do not consider it.
Regarding the resale value of the device after its life time is a tricky question in current situation. Truly speaking a used 3GS now sells 2 times than the SGS and same goes with the iPhone 4 vs SGS2, at-least in Singapore its like that.
I currently use SGS3 and iP4S (Work Phone) and I can understand what you are saying, apple is still stuck with the same UI for the last half a decade and things are too complicated to do with iOS, example to switch on or off wifi/bluetooth /etc.. it takes like 7+ clicks and few scrolls which can be done in just 1 scroll and 1 click in Android ! Its that simple.
For sure you will be pleased and love Android like I did when I came from iOS. Point to be noted is, my complain is only about the ****ty iOS that is stuck with the same look and feel for long long time and not about the Hardware . I still consider iPhone 4/4S hardware as one of the best leaving out the tiny display
My Advice : Do not get addicted to flash ROMs every other day and become a flasaholic. The Stock ROM in SGS3 is super perfect that can run just fine any time than its predecessors.
Welcome to Android.
Well i went from an iPhone4 (32GB) to a Samsung Galaxy S3 and i must admit that i didn't do a bad choice it is so much better compared to the iPhone, i think it is a great upgrade had mine for 4 days soon and i love it.
Backsides of apple:
Unable to use the devide freely as you like to, and it is a closed operation system
to gain something out of it you have to jailbreak it, hated the iTuned and everything that begun with iXXXXX nothing bad about mac computers but that phone sucks.
What i liked about apple: was back in 2010 the retina display which still is pretty amazing and how many apps there is availble but it stops there.
The Samsung:
I like: the big 1280x720 hd ready amoled display and the real BLACK! i like the quick response from the UI (compared to the slow/lagging iPhone especially if you had 1500 pics/videos it got so slow) the freedom of being able to use the phone more freely and it is open source operation system and loads more it is worth every single $
Dislike: The limitations of the camera app, like below 15% you can not start the camera and if your in a call which i am often longer then 15-30min then you might
want to be able to use the camera if im in a call.
And what i hated the most about the iPhone is the antennas on the outside that meant if i held the phone in my left hand i lost the reception! and real issues with bluetooth.
So go and grab your self a new samsung handset you will not get disappointed!
This is some superb feedback, thank you very much!
norpan111 said:
... Last, I welcome you to the world of android. Where you customize the phone to your needs, not settle or accept because it's restrictions .
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is really something I am looking for. iOS just makes me do too many steps to accomplish some very simple tasks.
1234568 said:
You may miss iOS... all depends on what you are like as a person. Some people want to have a screen displaying a bunch of apps which they can launch. Simple, no fuss and it gets the job done. For simplicity iOS is a real winner.
Android has more options as I am sure you have heard. I look at this as a massive upside, others (like my mum) don't.
Whether you will miss iOS or not is such a personal thing that only you will know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like having options. Not having much options is what is making me change my mind. My phone is jailbroken, but still...
Starchini said:
... The only other thing I can think to mention is size. Handling the s3, after having only iPhones in the past is quite hilarious. It took me a while to adapt to the larger size, at first it felt quite cumbersome. However once your used to it, it's a pleasure to handle. I now get a rye smile on my face when I handle my wife's iPhone, because it feels so small and my hand looks giant.
To give you an impression on my current opinion here is my Facebook status from earlier today:
"apple will have to do something VERY special to ever make me use an iPhone ever again. So impressed with my S3 and a. Droid OS".
Hope this helps.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does help, thank you. Some days ago I went to a phone shop to see some Android devices up close and specially to check if the bigger size would be a problem. Well, it's not. I have big hands and only the Galaxy Note felt cumbersome. Everything else was fine, specially the HTC One X whose size I find perfect to my hands. The S3 seems to be about the same.
Hotobu said:
You should find out what the return policy is with your provider. As an example Verizon in the US has a no questions asked 14 day return policy and cancellation of contract. If it's the same with whomever you're with that should be plenty of time to figure out what you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is some excellent advice that I hadn't remembered before. After reading your post I checked with my provider and was happy to know that they have a 30 day return policy, no questions asked. This is fantastic for someone like me, who needs to use the device for some time in order to know if it's the right thing for me. Thanks!
thebobp said:
I can't answer most of your questions (it's down to taste, after all), but as for this one:
stock android ≈ jailbroken iphone
rooted android ≫ any iphone
For example, on stock android you can already use a custom keyboard (swype, swiftkey come to mind) or a custom launcher (e.g. launcher7 for a windows 7 type "home screen", apex or nova for general improvements on stock, or even espier launcher for an iphone clone). And, of course, you can side-load apps.
With a rooted android, you can replace the rom/kernel itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting is something I may look into in the future. I feel like I need to get my head around the android for a few months, and then... puf, maybe root the thing to get even more out of it. My iphone knows I did this very same thing with it.
<<Raj$>> said:
For sure you wouldn't miss anything with regards to the Apps. All are Same and will appear better in a bigger HD Screen.
You can never go back to iOS after using a great Android device unless you are forced to like I am from my work place phone with iP4S. Galaxy mini doesn't do any justice compared to any device ! Do not consider it.
Regarding the resale value of the device after its life time is a tricky question in current situation. Truly speaking a used 3GS now sells 2 times than the SGS and same goes with the iPhone 4 vs SGS2, at-least in Singapore its like that.
I currently use SGS3 and iP4S (Work Phone) and I can understand what you are saying, apple is still stuck with the same UI for the last half a decade and things are too complicated to do with iOS, example to switch on or off wifi/bluetooth /etc.. it takes like 7+ clicks and few scrolls which can be done in just 1 scroll and 1 click in Android ! Its that simple.
For sure you will be pleased and love Android like I did when I came from iOS. Point to be noted is, my complain is only about the ****ty iOS that is stuck with the same look and feel for long long time and not about the Hardware . I still consider iPhone 4/4S hardware as one of the best leaving out the tiny display
My Advice : Do not get addicted to flash ROMs every other day and become a flasaholic. The Stock ROM in SGS3 is super perfect that can run just fine any time than its predecessors.
Welcome to Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! About the apps, I always had this feeling that android apps were ugly. Now I'm starting to see some truly beautifully designed apps, which makes me happy. I like pretty stuff.
The resale value is one thing I always liked about Apple. Somehow I can sell my current used iphone for about 200€, when I payed 250€ for it 18 months ago, used but as new.
Hagis2k said:
Well i went from an iPhone4 (32GB) to a Samsung Galaxy S3 and i must admit that i didn't do a bad choice it is so much better compared to the iPhone, i think it is a great upgrade had mine for 4 days soon and i love it.
Backsides of apple:
Unable to use the devide freely as you like to, and it is a closed operation system
to gain something out of it you have to jailbreak it, hated the iTuned and everything that begun with iXXXXX nothing bad about mac computers but that phone sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm totally with you on this, I hate the damn itunes. It may be great on macs, but on windows? jeez, stupid, ugly thing. If I'm really going Android, something I'm really going to be happy about is finally getting rid of itunes.
This feedback has been great and I have to thank you all. I'd like to hear some negative feedback, something like "oh I had an iphone and got an S3 and I don't like it because of this and that" but, given how this is an android forum, I may not get something like that.
Anyway, for those who are interested, I'll make my decision on the 11th and, upon finally making the purchase, I'll keep updating this topic with my personal experiences. I feel it may be useful for the potential ios-traitors... which is something I am about to become. ahah
So, I've owned only Android devices since I began buying smartphones and tablets, but I really feel like very little has changed with regards to Android's performance ever since the Snapdragon 800 in 2013. Even the addition of more RAM and higher-spec processors hasn't really changed much about the AOSP experience, and my old (GPE-converted) Galaxy S4 still feels like I could throw most anything at it.
With the Nexus 6P finally bringing the last few things I really wanted in a mobile phone (the fingerprint sensor, metal, 1440p AMOLED, pure Android without compromising the camera, USB-C), I'm really thinking that this may be my last Android phone for a long while. I feel like, while equally unnecessary, the N6P will offer the pinnacle of stock Android, while rounding out the feature set of all I look for. I was debating whether to cheap out and buy a N5X for dev and general mucking about, but I think I will instead commit to getting the 6P for the above reasons.
My last upgrade to the G3 was almost unnecessary, even though I love the phone. I only upgraded, since my S4's power button broke and headphone jack got a bit wonky. Had that not happened, I think I'd be still using it today as my DD. I didn't even feel the itch to upgrade to any of this year's devices (except the Nexus phones and the buzz around the fp sensor and camera), and I've already had the device for more than a year.
While it may be an unpopular opinion around these parts, I think I may switch to an iPhone (probably the 7+) when my contract is up just to see how that platform improves over the next couple of years. A second GB of RAM totally changed that phone, which shows just how behind they are in some aspects, and where potential lies. I just don't see Android making any earth-shattering changes, mostly because it doesn't need to anymore. OEMs drive their own crap update cycle by bogging down their updates and the like, a problem which never existed on my GPE-converted S4, and won't exist on the Nexus.
Don't really know why I felt like making this post, but I did. :silly:
I agree with you on certain points.
But remember,
my old (GPE-converted) Galaxy S4 still feels like I could throw most anything at it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did something to your phone in order to be fast / smooth / etc. While we as a community continue to do this and find ways to improve everything.. Android (stock) has come a long way.
I'm really thinking that this may be my last Android phone for a long while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You reasoning for this is there is nothing really new on Android and Android phones haven't really evolved much but the same goes for iOS. This coming from someone who keeps going back and forth from Android to iOS. iOS is much more polished and needs less specs to run smooth, but you also have to remember they only have to worry about support their own hardware. And while yes, there has been phone upgrades from Apple (bigger screen, etc.), this is stuff Android has been doing for a long time.
It's kind of hard honestly.. after a certain point.. development / upgrades happen slower.. when jumping from phone to phone now, things don't seem like much of an upgrade. I think that's because we upgrade phones so often now, we don't notice the differences as much. But say you had to keep your S4 for another year without the ability to root / install a custom ROM, I'm sure you'd be all over the N6P.
While XDA has made Android development much bigger and contributed in a positive way, it has also kind of spoiled us and made us think the way you are.
For me the big things that keep me on android are customization and the ability to do what I want with the phone (not what Apple or anyone else wants me to do). I would love to say this would be my last phone for a while but 2 things will prevent that....
1. I'm a tech junkie
2. Android support is 2 years
Well, the LG G3 isnt the best phone... you'll probably like the Nexus 6P a LOT!
I said that with the Nexus 6. I might still keep the Nexus 6 but I'm at least going to give the 6P a shot.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
I'm not far behind but not because Android vs Apple but because my life centers around MS products. I work in IT, exclusively with MS products. Why is my mobile device on a different ecosystem?
I'm excited for what MS has in store for their APIs that allow ios and Android apps to behave as if they're in their natural environment. I think this approach is going to flatten the playing field and OS will no longer matter.
Now if they could just make tech without built in obsolescion the market will start filling with devices that have purpose instead of purely consumerism. There WILL be a threshold of device waste that will force our hand.
Excel made some good points. And I too felt the same about not seeing much improvement from my phone but the continuous development thru ROMs makes it seems like the progress is small but it not....if you tally up the progress over the 1 year iPhone life cycle it is a lot of progress.
Google has too many things going on and unfortunately doesn't take the time to perfect their products except their search engine. They rather create a new product versus refining an existing one.
Imagine if google only had drive, no gmail, no G+, a tablet, one PC, and Android that ran on a single phone from one manufacturer....say LG. And Kept that same phone and just improved the hardware each year and the software as well....and diverted all other efforts towards perfecting that single device. That phone would be light years ahead of apple. Instead google has close to 200 products and services they wear themselves thin with. And tackling the immense task of attempting to make android run seemless and smooth on
Almost 19,000 devices instead of on just a handful of devices plus one phone is the difference between google and apple.
With that said and even with google continuing to expand like they do....I still think Google's android os running on top tier android devices will surpass IPhones in all aspects in couple years.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Exel said:
You did something to your phone in order to be fast / smooth / etc. While we as a community continue to do this and find ways to improve everything.. Android (stock) has come a long way.
You reasoning for this is there is nothing really new on Android and Android phones haven't really evolved much but the same goes for iOS. This coming from someone who keeps going back and forth from Android to iOS. iOS is much more polished and needs less specs to run smooth, but you also have to remember they only have to worry about support their own hardware. And while yes, there has been phone upgrades from Apple (bigger screen, etc.), this is stuff Android has been doing for a long time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Partially correct on the first point. It is fundamentally still "stock" (no kernel mods/custom features) on GPE firmware, but yes, I haven't tried stock since the original shipping firmware. I haven't rooted my phones since putting GPE on the S4. My Nexus 9, the G3, and the S4 all run unrooted, the former two of which are on stock firmware. The biggest pain about Android is debloating carrier crapware, a problem nonexistent on Nexus devices.
I feel like Android has matured to the point that there is little left to give. As far as supporting their own stuff, that's why I feel like the N6P would be the ultimate.
WoodroweBones said:
For me the big things that keep me on android are customization and the ability to do what I want with the phone (not what Apple or anyone else wants me to do). I would love to say this would be my last phone for a while but 2 things will prevent that....
1. I'm a tech junkie
2. Android support is 2 years
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, but customisation is so easy to do on Android without mods or root. The only other phone I was considering was the S6 edge +, which is also comparably restrictive. I just haven't felt the need to root since the S4.
An iPhone, on the other hand, I would be keen to jailbreak instantly. Quite a lot of interesting tweaks come out of Apple's "crack R&D team" (like swipeselection....), and jailbreaking is the only way to stay on that edge and get appropriate customisation.
I would also be using pretty much solely Google apps there anyway, since the default apps are kinda terrible.
bsg411 said:
Google has too many things going on and unfortunately doesn't take the time to perfect their products except their search engine. They rather create a new product versus refining an existing one.
Imagine if google only had drive, no gmail, no G+, a tablet, one PC, and Android that ran on a single phone from one manufacturer....That phone would be light years ahead of apple. Instead google has close to 200 products and services they wear themselves thin with.
With that said and even with google continuing to expand like they do....I still think Google's android os running on top tier android devices will surpass IPhones in all aspects in couple years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But the diversity is the beauty of Google. The fact that they move the ecosystem forward and have a constant stream of novelty across their business is what helps them succeed. Android itself doesn't really need more improvement, is my argument. It's already there, and their job is to create new services to drive the platform.
Android as an OS already far exceeds that of iOS IMO, especially with Google Now. What I want to see is how Apple catches , since their platform seems to still be in flux (as far as performance and service delivery goes).
You'll change your mind when they release the Nexus 14z, which will project it's 16k display directly to your brain, and be able to read your thoughts instead of having to speak "OK Google".
I'm serious, because Google will have perfected mind control by then and we'll all be drones.
All hail Masters Page and Brin, our merciful overlords!
---------- Post added at 09:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 PM ----------
Seriously though, I admire your pragmatic upgrade preferences on smartphones.
TemporaryTester said:
But the diversity is the beauty of Google. The fact that they move the ecosystem forward and have a constant stream of novelty across their business is what helps them succeed. Android itself doesn't really need more improvement, is my argument. It's already there, and their job is to create new services to drive the platform.
Android as an OS already far exceeds that of iOS IMO, especially with Google Now. What I want to see is how Apple catches , since their platform seems to still be in flux (as far as performance and service delivery goes).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you the software is better but implementing all the services via the OS on a multitude of devices is a difficult task. However starting with this 6P nexus devices I think are on par with iPhone (hardware and software) and I bet will surpass the iPhone 7 next year.
I just wish they worked with one manufacturer to help perfect the hardware and built on a good hardware design instead of going back and forth with with hardware features and designs .....kinda like the 5x with 6P features.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
If the 6P lives up to the hype, the improvements left are physics stuff: battery life, moar camera, lighter/thinner/stronger, waterproof, sapphire display.
That said, iPhones have been such a bitter disappointment since the Gingerbread days. I'm on Apple for the most part (MBr, iMac 5k) and would consider switching to iOS but the differentiators that custom Androids offer simply aren't there, or even possible. The current crop of crippled hardware is missing too much. When Apple makes a real retina display (eg AMOLED 2k) and loses the oversized HTC-ish bezels it'll be worth another look. Assuming Apple gives out widgets, call recording & MinMinGuard too.
WoodroweBones said:
2. Android support is 2 years
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For a Nexus device the support window is 3 years. N5 is 2 years old and just recieved Android 6.0. It will continue to get updates for atleast another full year. Unfortunately that is likely to end when android N comes next fall.
Interesting that this phone has everything you ever wanted. Did you know you wanted a 1440p phone with a fingerprint scanner 2 years ago? Probably not. I'm sure innovation will continue, though maybe slowly. I'd like to see better battery tech.
This is how the technology cycle is. You cant have the same level of developments every year throughout the products/os cycle.
I believe many of the features we see added are already developed. They just hold back so they can have a balance of Big n small changes each year & also market couple of features as exclusives for the latest version.
It is the same with iOs as well. You will not see a lot of big changes. Many of them will be hardware based. As os's get more refined hardware dependency will reduce. Today you can get excellent performance from a mid range android device. Tomorrow it will spread to lower end devices aswell. In principal its a good thing.
Right now the top most focus for any R&D of software or hardware company is battery life. The company that cracks it will play a major role.
CrashTestDroid said:
If the 6P lives up to the hype, the improvements left are physics stuff: battery life, moar camera, lighter/thinner/stronger, waterproof, sapphire display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? People are still hung up on sapphire? Sapphire is brittle. I want foldable screens. I still believe Nokia's concept of a phone that trifolds and then bends to fit as a watch is the future. No more carrying a giant brick in my pocket.
Spaderess said:
For a Nexus device the support window is 3 years. N5 is 2 years old and just recieved Android 6.0. It will continue to get updates for atleast another full year. Unfortunately that is likely to end when android N comes next fall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True... I guess for me I mean 2 years of getting a new android version but yeah technically 3 years support I suppose.
warplane95 said:
Well, the LG G3 isnt the best phone... you'll probably like the Nexus 6P a LOT!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A G3 running BlissPop ROM is truly a thing of beauty! It's incredibly compact and lightweight for a 5.5" phone, and it flies without the LG software on it. It has a great camera (a step behind the current best, but I've had very few pictures I wasn't very happy with), and the screen as much better than it's reputation indicates it should be ... mostly, I think, because the default brightness is quite low. And the battery life is quite good ... I end most days with 50% after about 1.5 hours of SOT.
I'm mostly upgrading to the 6P because I usually buy a new phone every 6-9 months, but it's been 14 months and I need a new shiny object to fondle. I'm honestly not expecting it to be a whole lot better than the G3 for me ... better screen, better speakers (I hope) and a fingerprint reader may or may not be enough to compensate for the substantial increase in bulk. I had a Note 5 for a week, and it just didn't feel like much of an improvement so I sent it back, which I have never done before.
And my G3 has a replaceable battery, and I could probably be happy with it for 5 more years, if I wasn't such a gadget whore.
Of course I certainly don't think an iPhone is the answer .... that's just ridiculous!
Whoops double post
Here's an idea...try to find a friend with an iPhone who would be willing to trade with you for a week or something. Wipe the phones, trade your SIMs and see how the other side lives.
Sent from my LG-V410 using Tapatalk
Though it had it's issues, the Nexus 6 strong enough in all the categories that I stuck with it for a full year. The only thing strong enough to pull me away now is the 6P. I fully expect it to keep me locked in for the next year as well. However, it could be good enough that I don't feel the need to upgrade to next year's nexus. Only time will tell.
Now that cm13 is close I am considering making the jump to this phone from current iPhone 6.
Anyone here who have jumped from iPhone to oneplus x that could tell if it's "ok" or that they regret it etc ?
Thanks in advance.
I personally don't have an iPhone, but other than camera I think OPX can beat iPhone 6, because OS is as fluid as iOS, day to day performance is good and stable and yess it needs some optimizations ( gaming, camera) but it will be fixed with future updates. And Android 6.0 will make this phone trully amazing. Just some patience. It's really unique phone from unique company.
I was about to buy either iPhone or one plus 2 but went for this like this better than 5s which was the previous phone i was using
I came from an iPhone 5 (used other Android Phones before as you can see in my signature) and I am pretty statisfied with the OPX, except for the Camera, which barely use, so it's not a game changer.
If you don't really want to have a OPX and use Android I would stick with the iPhone because of it's overall better hardware.
I switched to android this summer after 8 years of using iPhone. It was just not worth it anymore. The premium price you pay, the closed apple universe, etc... android is much more open, so many devices to choose from, CUSTOM ROMs^^, way cheaper to get good performance, etc. I got used to android by now and I don't have much to complain about.
I decided to buy the OPX because I liked the size and screen (5" Full HD AMOLED) and the dual sim capability. However, Oxygen OS was a big let-down. Luckily, there are some CM based ROMs already. Works well for me.
Another word about the storage: I always got the 16GB iPhone because it was the cheapest and I didn't store any music or movies, games on it. But still, with iPhone I ran out of space quickly. On my OPX I have several GB free!
I would say get youself the phone now and try it out, it is not expensive and has great hardware performance. After just a few months for me with android I couldn't imagine going back to iPhone now. (still loving my macbook air though)
Happy Holidays!
I bought this as my first android phone after using Iphones for 6 years, 5s being my last one.
Since I hate the iphone 6 design and I couldn'T wait for the 7
I instantly flashed a custom ROM and I'm loving it.
I have to admit I miss how well my iphone worked with my macbook compared to this.
But I'm sure I'll find workarounds for it.
I'm running this phone for 20 days now and I haven't touched my iphone anymore.
This device might not have the high end specs of the iphones but you have to ask yourself the question: do i need those specs?
Once I properly asked myself that question I came to realise mid range specs are already really good nowadays.
I'm not a hardcore mobile gamer, I'm not a photographer nor am I a music addict that needs the best of the best.
If you think the same like me, just go and buy the phone.
You won't regret it
yeah the specs! who needs high end, expensive hardware for texting and browsing?
not me
bs android said:
Now that cm13 is close I am considering making the jump to this phone from current iPhone 6.
Anyone here who have jumped from iPhone to oneplus x that could tell if it's "ok" or that they regret it etc ?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I picked up one at the retail store on while I was in Shanghai last week and don't regret it. The default font size is larger than the iPhone 6, and overall it is lighter and nicer to use. This is my first Android phone as I have had almost every iPhone model since the 3GS came out. I am very happy with it.