Alternatives to Iphone

[4p]

I love the iPhone 4. But with every iOS update the phone gradually got slower, which was annoying. Apple are smart, once they have you they lock you in with their tech and software. My IP4 has died, three months before contract is up and I'm looking to get a new phone.

Now, what are reasonable options to the iPhone? Can i transfer over my iCloud/everything on the phone to say the Samsung Galaxy? My only issue with the Galaxy is it's plastic build quality, maybe the screen size (it has to be usable by one hand, don't want to be using my other hand to reach the top icons).

I don't have much experience with Android phones, is going from an iPhone to Android an easy transition?

Obviously the iOS is locked and it's all kept to run the way they want it to run, is there a lot more freedom with the alternatives?

Lots of questions, but don't fancy investing in another 24 month contract without research.

I'll be going into o2 to talk about this to them but I find the boards offer a much wider and varied opinion

Thanks.

 

[Uhtred]

Have you considered the HTC One? Apparently it is on par with the S4 and the build quality looks much better to my eyes. With most android phones you can find a half decent 18 month contract and your iphone 4 should still sell for £100+

Transferring away from icloud shouldn't be too hard. What do you store in there? gmail,dropbox, goolge play music can should be able to take care of it.

Of course, there's always the Windows 8/nokia route, or even the Blackberry Z10.

 

[Orcvader]

It varies, I had one friend who found the move from iOS to Android easy, and a relative who struggled and went back.

As for importing from iCloud to Android, not 100% on this, but I do know you can set iTunes to back up your contacts to Google contacts, which will automatically sync to your Android device.

Android is far more open so you can play around with more customizable options if you feel like changing the style and look of the software.

How about the HTC One? Kind of like the iPhone build wise so you may like that. It has a 4.7" screen as well so smaller than the S4's 5", and should be easier for one hand use. Personally I find Samsung's Touchwiz (their version of Android) too clunky.

 

[Nexus18]

1. Yes, sooooooooooo much more freedom with android, you can do whatever you want with android

2. the best android options are GS 4 and HTC one and your windows mobile option is the lumia 920, of course the iphone 5 is an option if you are happy with how iOS works

3. You might struggle to comfortably use the HTC one and even more so the GS 4 due to the huge increase in screen size, however, it all depends on your hand size

4. Not sure about the GS 4 but with the HTC one, you can transfer all your stuff easily

About setting the htc one up:

http://blog.htc.com/2013/03/htc-one-get-started/

5. Hard to say if you will like android, from what you have said there, you may find touchwiz/GS 4 a bit "too much" as they have crammed a lot into it and the entire thing just feels disjointed where as sense is more minimal and easier too use with a great unified feel throughout. It will take some getting use to, so don't expect to fully appreciate android within 1-2 days



As for GS 4 VS HTC one, they are both very good and in the end, it comes down to personal preference:

GS 4 main pros over the HTC one:

- SD slot
- removable battery
- RGB NLED
- 13MP (important if you crop/zoom in a lot, print photos out on large paper, have a very high res. monitor), better in bright landscape conditions
- some nice hardware features i.e. air view, being able to use the screen with gloves on

HTC one main pros over the GS 4:

- perceived quality
- camera overall (imo)

It might not take as good shots as the GS 4 when it comes to bright landscape scenarios and the HTC one has an ISO bug currently that makes a huge difference so once it is fixed amongst further improvements, the difference will be further reduced.

HTC one is better in low light/dark/indoor conditions. The one has a very quick shutter speed thus you have a better chance of getting a photo that actually has very little blur (a lot of review sites use tri-pods which help immensely) and also means you don't need as steady hands as you would with the GS 3, GS 4 etc. (this is a problem with phones when you choose to use HDR/night mode). Haven't seen many macro shots of the GS 4, but the HTC one is producing some of the best macro shots that I have seen from a phone. You also have a much wider FOV. And then the video recording is excellent overall especially in low light/dark conditions, smoother, more detailed and better colours etc.

The camera will improve further too as mentioned, there is an ISO bug, sharpening is too aggressive and the tech. is very new to HTC (only two phones currently use OIS), so it will improve with updates (nokia have brought two updates to the 920 [similar tech.] that made a huge difference) i.e. http://www.androidpit.de/htc-one-update-fotos. A lot of the early review sites got pre-production units with early software on them hence why results were poor)

Audio recording is better too (mainly noticeable in loud environments), however, HTC have to replace the mic. tech with something else since it is nokia's tech, this shouldn't happen for a month or so though and they have said that they will replace it with something at least as good, if not better (doubt it though ).....

- overall a better front camera

- speakers, not just in terms of loudness but the placement and quality


Performance is more or less the same although anandtech reported throttling with the GS 4, which will affect games only/mainly and the majority of review sites have said that the one feels marginally faster and smoother, GS 4 has micro lag when opening apps supposedly, of course this could/will improve with updates hopefully....

Battery life looks to be more or less the same, need to see user reviews of the GS 4 first though. Battery benchmarks have very little reflection on real world usage.

Software (you choose to either have a feature full experience all round i.e. GS 4 or one with a nice/simple/refined, less bloated UI all round i.e. htc one), screen (SAMOLED 4.9" [not 5"!!) VS 4.7" LCD) and design are personal preference.


If you check in the GS 4 thread you will see a lot of reviews posted recently and there are plenty of HTC one reviews too.

The best reviews are by anandtech and android central.

 

[413x]

Back when I switched android was not very polished and it was quite a learning curve (iphone 1)

Now I expect its a lot easier. Bottom line it was worth it for the freedom.

I don't really play 3d games on phone and come upgrade time I have a wide choice of phones I can pick up, import my previous apps and settings and almost pick up my old phone with new hardware. You have more options in everything

 

[edscdk]

i went from ip4 to galaxy note 2... i have installed alternative address book and dialer, lock screen and launcher.. i have tweaked various bits... its still not as "just working" as an IP4 but after 6 months of usage I have the IP4 sat in a draw so the note must be better!

 

[loltim]

1. Yes, sooooooooooo much more freedom with android, you can do whatever you want with android

By freedom do you mean being able to change the battery icon?

 

[Tatsuki]

I went the other way back to iPhone after using android and windows for 18 months. Biggest reason was updates, apps, and apple service, so much easier to get phone fixed with apple.

If I was going back to android would be a Nexus 4 then a htc one or S4. Hate waiting 6 months to get the next android version.

 

[4p]

Thanks for the replies guys, some very detailed ones too

Went into o2 today and they weren't particularly helpful and their tariffs seem really high now. Their new o2 refresh means your discount isn't worth as much (as its only applied to the airtime not the phone as well)..

So what do you think about these online retailers (afforddable mobiles etc) are offering contracts with better minutes/data/texts at more than a £10 less...

 

[Myshra]

They are simply resellers, you'll be fine. For what it's worth I run an iPhone 5, 2 Androids and the occasional Windows Phone in sync (It's not greed I promise) and do the whole lot with dropbox for files, google for the rest of it.

There's no real big deal to move, multimedia mode is a huge pain in the arse (how Androids work when connected to a PC - it's like a Camera if you've ever done that) and I would prefer USB Mass Storage but eh, it's better than using iTunes. If you do enjoy itunes then double twist will probably port your music but I just drag and drop to be honest.

 

[dbmzk1]

They are simply resellers, you'll be fine. For what it's worth I run an iPhone 5, 2 Androids and the occasional Windows Phone in sync (It's not greed I promise) and do the whole lot with dropbox for files, google for the rest of it.

There's no real big deal to move, multimedia mode is a huge pain in the arse (how Androids work when connected to a PC - it's like a Camera if you've ever done that) and I would prefer USB Mass Storage but eh, it's better than using iTunes. If you do enjoy itunes then double twist will probably port your music but I just drag and drop to be honest.

Enable USB Mass Storage mode then

 

[Robbo]

If you "love" the iPhone 4, why not just get a 5? It stands up very well against everything as long as it fits your needs (which it sounds like it does).

 

[4p]

If you "love" the iPhone 4, why not just get a 5? It stands up very well against everything as long as it fits your needs (which it sounds like it does).

It's the fact my IP4 has slowly degraded with every update, essentially forcing you to upgrade to their new iphone through frustration.

Apps crash, phone crashes, etc etc all started happening in iOS6.

edit: AND iTunes fml do they intentionally make it buggy and slow for Windows ?! Again, forcing you to their much smoother Apple OS

 

[Robbo]

It's the fact my IP4 has slowly degraded with every update, essentially forcing you to upgrade to their new iphone through frustration.

Apps crash, phone crashes, etc etc all started happening in iOS6.

edit: AND iTunes fml do they intentionally make it buggy and slow for Windows ?! Again, forcing you to their much smoother Apple OS

The iPhone 5 will rectify all of that.

If you load up any Android phone from the iPhone 4 era it won't be great either. It's just how these things are. It shouldn't put you off. In fact it probably wouldn't have been updated anyway...

I use the latest iTunes and it's fast and works pretty much flawlessly (on Windows 7).

 

[4p]

They are simply resellers, you'll be fine. .

I want to see the contract and whatever small print that may be in it.

 

[Schizo]

Sorry to hijack the thread but im the same position as you.

Got a iphone 4 and it is getting close to 2 years old,got a upgrade coming in june and im 80% sure ill be getting the Samsung galaxy 4.

 

[4p]

Sorry to hijack the thread but im the same position as you.

Got a iphone 4 and it is getting close to 2 years old,got a upgrade coming in june and im 80% sure ill be getting the Samsung galaxy 4.

It's just half an inch too big for my hand to comfortably use Great phone though.

Got an ip5 here with t mobile £31 a month unlimited everything not baaaaaaaad

 

[Myshra]

Enable USB Mass Storage mode then

The requires root on Android 4.1+, MM profile is now default.

I want to see the contract and whatever small print that may be in it.

All contracts are online already (google em). You'll also be sent a copy anyway, you have 14 days to return it if online assuming you don't use the phone etc..
Phones are actually better bought online, you have more protection.