Droid X or wait?

[z28forlife]

I have an iPhone 4 right now and I like it alot but as we all know AT&T service sucks and I hate the non customization of the iPhone. I tried the evo 4g on sprint a few months ago but the battery was horrible on that, I loved the phone though. My question is would you switch and get the droid x now or wait till next year, I'm hearing and reading about the "terminator" which might be out early next year. I don want to switch now and pay my early termination fee and all that get the DX and then in 2 months have this stellar phone that's leaps and bounds better then the DX and I'm stuck with it for 2 years. So what would y'all do? Thanks.

 

[Chaznsc]

There's always something just around the corner. That said, the Dx was just released, and I think its a safe bet. It has a high resell value as well.

 

[z28forlife]

^very true.

 

[apinkel]

My guess (and this is all speculation... so take it for what it's worth... not much) is that there will be new high-end phones announced at CES in january with general availability for some of the phones sometime around the end of the first quarter.

Upcoming features would probably be either higher clock speeds and or dual core processors based on the A9 ARM architecture and as well as faster GPUs. I'g guess these will all be running 2.2 out of the box with promises of gingerbread updates when available. Sounds like verizon may also announce 4g capabable phones (and sprint will probably announce phones with 2nd gen 4G radios with better reception, throughput and battery life then current evo/epic phones have).

Then there's obviously the rumor of the iphone coming to verizon.

It may be worth waiting until CES, that was my plan... but I couldn't do it. I'm not interested in 4G (for what I do 3G is more than good enough) and I find my X to be fast enough.

 

[BabyDoc]

I am very happy with my DroidX. Certainly, I can keep waiting for the next new great phone but I doubt that anything revolutionary is going to come out in the next 6 months. The 4G network will be available in some markets and the DRoidX won't work the 4G systems that will be rolling out. Still, I don't think the DroidX will be obsolete for a couple of years until the entire network is 4G. While the Iphone is probably coming to Verizon, currently I would rather own a Droid x. I like having the SD card and the easy replacement of battery that the Iphone lacks.

 

[raqball]

As stated above, there is always a better device looming... If you wait till CES then you might as well wait a few months after that because better phones will be released.... Then you might as well wait another 2 months because something else is coming out, ect, ect, ect...

It's a never ending cycle... Something better will always be looming on the horizon.... Get what you want and enjoy it... The X is a great choice!

 

[rehpyc]

Phones are like computers now.. they're coming out with better hardware so quick that it's not worth waiting around for what's just around the corner.. you'll just find yourself picking out a phone, about to jump on getting it, and then reading about yet another phone that's better that'll be released a few months later. The DX can do everything that is needed out of a phone/entertainment system; the only thing it may slack on compared to later phones would be heavy 3D gaming.

 

[apinkel]

I don't buy into that. That's a line salemen use when trying to make a sale to uninformed buyers. There are points in time when it's beneficial to wait. If you spend a little time looking at typical release timelines and gain an understanding of what's coming out in the near term, you can use this info to see if it's worth waiting.

That said, I wouldn't get too hung up on it. You can always sell it on ebay and buy the one you want.

 

[gr33nd3vil]

I don't buy into that. That's a line salemen use when trying to make a sale to uninformed buyers. There are points in time when it's beneficial to wait. If you spend a little time looking at typical release timelines and gain an understanding of what's coming out in the near term, you can use this info to see if it's worth waiting.

That said, I wouldn't get too hung up on it. You can always sell it on ebay and buy the one you want.

Amen to that one LOL. I buy and sell phones it seems like every 6 months...

 

[raqball]

I don't buy into that. That's a line salemen use when trying to make a sale to uninformed buyers. There are points in time when it's beneficial to wait.

Disagree.... You will always be waiting using your point of view.... And I would consider myself to be a very, very informed buyer....

 

[z28forlife]

So the batteries on the DX is good? The evo like I said earlier was horrible!

 

[rehpyc]

Tell me, apinkel, what is Verizon's timeline for Android phones throughout this next year? Should I wait until the xmas holiday season? Should I wait until after CES? Should I wait for summer? And then should I wait until the holiday season again?

z28forlife, the battery life is probably one of the best of any high-end Android phone. At the very least, your phone should last you an entire work day (and then some) of moderate-heavy usage.

 

[Odin3]

Tell me, apinkel, what is Verizon's timeline for Android phones throughout this next year? Should I wait until the xmas holiday season? Should I wait until after CES? Should I wait for summer? And then should I wait until the holiday season again?.

I agree. I've spent way too much time before waiting months untill "leaked" or "expected" release dates before, sometimes 5 or 6 for just one phone. I think the way to go is get the 1 year contract then get the new cool phone every 10 months and sell the old one for right at the 1 year price. Phones now are so good that you won't be missing much when the new ones come out.

 

[TheAlmightyDrew]

The only thing that is worth getting over the next few months is the Desire HD (or Incredible HD whatever you want to call it). And that is rumored to come out on November 23rd. Other than that, there is nothing else. Verizon tends to release their flagship phones in summer.

 

[Chaznsc]

Then there's obviously the rumor of the iphone coming to verizon.

It may be worth waiting until CES, that was my plan... but I couldn't do it.

I wouldnt trade my Dx for a FREE iPhone with FREE service. But alas, I think they are just a stringing everyone along!

CES will announce what will be, but it could be next summer before we see it.

 

[Fate0n3]

I wouldnt trade my Dx for a FREE iPhone with FREE service.

x2 lol

The only thing coming out in the near future is HTC Incredible HD which is something I have been really interested in. Not sure if it will be worth taking the X back for or not. Hopefully more will be known about that phone within the next few weeks.

 

[apinkel]

I just get sick of hearing the "oh just buy it or you'll always be waiting" line. If you can't tell it strikes a nerve with me. It just bothers me because that response doesn't provide any info that actually helps the OP make a decision.

If I can wait two months and get a better phone for the same money, why wouldn't I spend a little time and research when the next phones will be released?

And yes, some of it is based off rumors and speculation but some of it is based on documented history of phone releases and chipset timelines.

It's a good possibility given HTC's prior history of making announcements at ces that they will do that again in 2011 (they announced the HD2 snapdragon at last years show).

The 2nd gen snapdragon chips were released to manufacturers in 2nd quarter of this year, the phones with those chips appeared at the end of the 3rd quarter. The 3rd gen dual core snapdragons were released to mfr's in the 3rd quarter... I'd say that CES right about in line for phones to be announced with those chips.
Qualcomm ships first dual-core Snapdragon chipsets clocking 1.2GHz -- Engadget
Snapdragon (processor) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yes this is speculation and it may not happen in that timeframe but I don't think it hurts to have the info.

 

[eraursls1984]

If I can wait two months and get a better phone for the same money, why wouldn't I spend a little time and research when the next phones will be released?

Because if you can wait 2 months for that new amazing phone then when that phone comes out you can wait another 2 months for an even better phone. I think it just depends on what you want, if theres nothing out now that your really loving then wait but don't wait just so you can have the best phone available because whenever you get the latest greatest phone it will be outdone in a couple of months. I like the Droid X because of the screen size. To me there will be no phone better than the X until another phone with a screen as big or a little bigger is out and has a dual core processor.

 

[MikeAce00]

I'm not buying the endless waiting loop theory either. For myself I have a patience window of about 3-4 Months.

It was around April that I decided to buy a new phone for my wife. I decided to wait and eventually bought the Droid X, on launch day. Maybe its corny but whatever, I get a kick out of buying a phone on launch day and roughing through the faux beta phase of a new launch. If I hadn't waited what would she have? The Droid 1? Storm 2?... I'm glad I waited to pull the trigger.

Could I have continued waiting? Not a chance, she was do for an upgrade over Storm 1 and we waited long enough.

Time to upgrade my BB Tour now... Yup, I'm waiting for the next great release. Though it is admittedly different because I have her DX to fiddle with and keep me entertained.

Just my .02

Mike

 

[Outlaw71]

I'm glad my Curve was up for being replaced when it was, because it just so happened to correspond with the launch of the Droid X. I've had a great couple of months tinkering with this phone and seeing it get rooted (twice), OC'd, custom ROM'ed, and all that good stuff. But I'll be completely honest with you... if I was in your shoes right now (that is, having a phone that's not up for an upgrade as yet, which means you'd have to take a hit to upgrade to something else), I think I would personally wait until the 1st of the year to see what the dual-core processor phones coming out look like. I certainly wasn't going to wait for 6 months for them, but at this point, I think instead of having to pay a penalty to get the best phone of 2010, I would probably wait to see what the first great phone of 2011 has in store for us. If nothing in January wow's you, you can always go ahead and pick up a DX then... probably for about $50 bucks by then, and without having to pay the penalty to do so.

Now then, for anyone who's contract is up right now and is looking for a phone, I would say you are probably safe going with a DX now... but if you're willing to wait, then it MAY pay off for you. I stress MAY because we have not yet seen what is coming out, so it's hard to say if they are worth waiting for or not. They might be absolutely insane, but then again they might be more along the lines of what is just now getting ready to be released. The new phones coming out really do nothing for me other than the Motorola Defy... not that it would talk me out of my DX, I just think the Gorilla Glass and element resistant nature of the phone are two steps in the right direction for smartphones. But if I were on the market for a phone right now, I would still choose the DX over any of the new offerings in a heartbeat.

I was really expecting to see at least a few really kick ass phones up for grabs when they announced the new releases, but the options were pretty underwhelming IMO. And that makes me wonder if the new phones coming out in early 2011 will be completely off the hook, or if they're saving the real show stoppers until next summer again. Perhaps the cellphone industry is going the way of Hollywood... hold on to all the Blockbusters until summer!

 

[ashykat]

There are definitely cycles these products seem to come in. For instance, everything right now is 1GHz. I'm sure soon the next big thing will be 1.3 or something like that. Who knows? I think that if you're okay waiting, why not wait and see? If it's unbearable, switch. There's always a couple great things looming with a few months after Xmas. Are you willing to possibly wait 5 months? What you could always do (which Verizon offers, luckily) is pay a little extra and get a 1 year contract rather than 2. I think through Verizon the Droid X is 199.99 for a 2 year and 269.99 for a 1 year. Might be worth it. As Chaznsc said, the X does have a high resell value. If you get it now and keep it in good condition you should have a good amount to put towards something new if you just gotta have it.

 

[TheAlmightyDrew]

-Deleted-

Why so hostile?

 

[ashykat]

-Deleted-

So you clicked on a thread that was obviously a question about what phone the OP gets, then signed up for an account just to post that? Wow what a valuable contribution to our forum.

 

[Outlaw71]

-Deleted-

Best 1st post ever. Looking forward to many more insightful posts to come!

 

[HadouGhost]

There is a benefit to waiting, for i wouldnt say much longer than maybe a month or two but by then theres more and more scuttle butt that will most likely have surfaced. Wait but dont wait too long. Technology is an ever advancing thing. I had the vibrant, gave it to the wife, tried an HTC G2..decided to get a droid x. while it has the weaker powervr SGX 530 gpu, it still is a screaming phone. Plus in a year to a year and half the phone will be replaced and it will have lived its life.

But if the Desire HD/Droid incredible HD does come out end of november, you bet your lucky boxers i'll be using the 30 day buyers remourse on my droid x to get it.