Advice on getting my first smartphone

[m_p]

I've had a dumbphone (enV Touch) for way too long and I'm finally upgrading to a smartphone. I'm on Verizon, switching carriers isn't an option, I'm looking to get a phone on a 2-year contract, and I'd like to have a smartphone when the fall semester starts next week.

I really wanted the SGSII, but that's out now. The Bionic looks alright, but the specs don't blow me away. I'm really interested in the Nexus Prime or HTC Vigor, but I'm not sure if I can wait until (maybe) October for a new phone without my head exploding.

Is there any way I could pay a monthly fee for a smartphone for 2 months until the better phones come out and then get one of them on a 2-year contract or would I just have to tough it out until October? Should I just get the Bionic now? Are there other options I'm not thinking of? Help is very much appreciated.

 

[EliC]

Get something off ebay or CL to hold you over until Oct.

 

[asianguy335]

hey m_p, with the recent announcement of the Prime most likely landing on Verizon possibly in October i'm sure there's going to be a bunch of people here in the 'bionic forum' that will tell you to get something in-between to bide your time as you wait with many others through an as-of-yet in-determineable launch cycle.

but i'll just say this. the day i made that switch from an LG Chocolate 2 to the now OG droid 2 years ago on day1, fully excited, nothing prepared me for how gamechanging owning a smartphone would be. There was really nothing like it and it had forever changed how i'd think about what could be possible in the palm of your hand as well as forever making me wonder what's taken people so long to take the jump. the intimidation factor perhaps.

In any event, at this point, in 2011, i believe that your first smartphone SHOULD BE a superphone. And yes, the Bionic qualifies IMO even without the 720p screen/vga front camera/etc. The reason the purchase is validated IMO is that it would be really great for you to experience as i did the wonder that such a thing can bring you. Yes, even though the specs don't 'blow you away,' you absolutely WILL be blown away by the performance jump from your withering enV Touch. To jaded daily updaters in a field where mere hours can bring a revolution of changes to both product development and public opinion, there's ALWAYS going to be something better. But make no mistake the Bionic is non-the-less a BEAST for what it's capable of. Nevermind when it get's rooted (and it will), tweaked, and overclocked, what will be possible then.

I've been honesty kicking myself for not having gotten an LTE enabled phone all this time to take advantage of the heralded verizon speeds (which we're all paying a premium for and are entitled to). Meanwhile frustrating slogging through the nation's WORST 3g while consumed in the waiting game for the now-DCd GSII which i was completely enthralled with for the better part of the year as my OG limped on day after day.

In the end? After never having any interest in it until the loss of the GS2, i'm firmly committed to finally retiring my OG with a d1 purchase of the bionic from costco for what i consider a total steal with the accessory package at $299. i'm sure i'll love the hell out of it even if i have to charge it throughout the day or heaven forbid swap out with my FREE extra battery just to enjoy streaming netflix wherever i am. I mean, i do that daily with my OG brick as it is. and hey, if Prime really does drop at the end of october, right skippy 'on time' as hopeful future buyers have predicted there's always the option to trade back and up with costco at no additional charge or peddle the phone off on ebay for more than your money's worth or hey even keep it as a TERRIFIC backup.

Anyway, just thought before everyone starting throwing down on their opinions that i, a long time lurker, would offer mine to a newcomer in the smartphone scene. happy hunting m_p, and welcome!

 

[HanSolo]

Great writeup, Asianguy.

The Bionic is a super-phone, and I'm sure it will be awesome.

The Bionic looks alright, but the specs don't blow me away.

This might be the biggest factor in your decision. I suggest you walk in on Bionic drop day and take a look. Despite my well-known preference for Prime over Bionic, I'm planning on taking a look at it and see what's what.

Worst case scenario, if you really can't wait, is you buy the Bionic next week, take extra good care of it, and then if you want the Prime in October (hopefully it will drop in October), you just sell the Bionic. I'm sure there will be a huge market for it. The only reason I'm not doing that is because my OG Droid is in perfect working condition. But for a dumphone-user like yourself, it might be the best thing to do.

 

[tehsusenoh]

Don't forget to take in the account that:

1. You'll have to wait 2 more months.
AND
2. If you have a Costco membership, they're going to have a wonderful deal.

I have the same phone as you do.

I'm torn with getting the Bionic now from Costco with all of the stuff, or just waiting until October for the Prime.

 

[m_p]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I figured that eBay would be an option, but I can't find a ton of solid info about buying/selling phones online so I'm a little confused how that works.

If I bought a phone off eBay or CL to hold me over until October, would I be able to add a data plan to it? What should I be looking for when buying a phone online? Is there a particular phone that I should look at buying?

 

[messenger13]

The Bionic looks alright, but the specs don't blow me away.

You're coming from a tired old raggidy lame freakin' enV Touch, and the Bionic's specs don't "blow you away"??? I think you might just be an iPhone candidate.

 

[tehsusenoh]

You're coming from a tired old raggidy lame freakin' enV Touch, and the Bionic's specs don't "blow you away"??? I think you might just be an iPhone candidate.

As compared to other phones about to come out?

I have an enV Touch as well, but anyone can see what he means. 1GHz vs 1.5, qHD vs 720p, pentile vs rgb stripe.

The best thing that the Bionic has on everyone else is the battery life.

 

[m_p]

You're coming from a tired old raggidy lame freakin' enV Touch, and the Bionic's specs don't "blow you away"??? I think you might just be an iPhone candidate.

I know the Bionic is going to be a great phone and every phone eventually becomes outdated, but for as good as the phone will be, I think the Bionic will start to feel a little old faster than most.

The Bionic's display will be outclassed very quickly by upcoming phones and even the current SuperAMOLED Plus screens are really nice to look at. There are phones out right now that knock the socks off of the Bionic's VGA-quality front-facing camera. Considering both the Nexus Prime and HTC Vigor are rumored to have 1.5 GHz processors, the Bionic's 1 GHz processors look a little weak right now too. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on this info, but to me it seems like the Bionic's specs are pretty good, but not amazing.

Since I'm getting a phone on a 2-year contract, I want to get a one just after smartphones take a big leap in quality and IMO the Bionic isn't a big enough leap.

 

[HanSolo]

I know the Bionic is going to be a great phone and every phone eventually becomes outdated, but for as good as the phone will be, I think the Bionic will start to feel a little old faster than most.

The Bionic's display will be outclassed very quickly by upcoming phones and even the current SuperAMOLED Plus screens are really nice to look at. There are phones out right now that knock the socks off of the Bionic's VGA-quality front-facing camera. Considering both the Nexus Prime and HTC Vigor are rumored to have 1.5 GHz processors, the Bionic's 1 GHz processors look a little weak right now too. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong on this info, but to me it seems like the Bionic's specs are pretty good, but not amazing.

Since I'm getting a phone on a 2-year contract, I want to get a one just after smartphones take a big leap in quality and IMO the Bionic isn't a big enough leap.

I agree with you on almost everything. Except that WVGA front-facing camera isn't that big a deal, unless you are streaming your face to a huge screen somewhere, which you most likely won't. Also, I think that the higher MP, the more battery drain.

But you're right on with everything else. Tehsusenoh says battery life is superior on the Bionic, but that remains to be seen. It's rumored to be a 1735 mAh, while the Prime will be sporting an 1850 mAh.

 

[messenger13]

I just LOVE the way everyone's throwing out specs for the Prime ... as if they're "facts". It's actually quite entertaining. And when's that bad boy getting released??? Christmas, or Easter? I keep forgetting.

 

[m_p]

I just LOVE the way everyone's throwing out specs for the Prime ... as if they're "facts". It's actually quite entertaining. And when's that bad boy getting released??? Christmas, or Easter? I keep forgetting.

Considering that I used the word "rumored" when referring to the only spec I linked to the Prime (the 1.5 GHz processors), I'd have to disagree that I'm throwing around specs like they're "facts". I came here looking for advice on getting a new phone. Tips or GTFO.

 

[HanSolo]

People were frequently citing the 1GB RAM on the Bionic before it was ever reported to have been upgraded from 512MB.

It just gets a little tiring to keep saying "reportedly" or "alleged".

Different sources have indicated a screen of 4.5", HD, and ICS. I don't put much stock in GHz, I suppose, or camera specs, or even LTE (although it is unimaginable that it wouldn't have LTE), but I'll believe the OS and screen stuff until it's proven otherwise.

 

[asianguy335]

honestly, i have 3 upgrades to burn so i'm getting both bionic and prime at a minimum. for all of you with life support OGs that are planning on sustaining the long haul, more power to ya. my wait, however, is over come sept 8th (?). oh glorious LTE, i will soon have thee.

good to hear you're at least ur going to go take a peak at it on launch 'bluefire'

 

[HanSolo]

honestly, i have 3 upgrades to burn so i'm getting both bionic and prime at a minimum. for all of you with life support OGs that are planning on sustaining the long haul, more power to ya. my wait, however, is over come sept 8th (?). oh glorious LTE, i will soon have thee.

good to hear you're at least ur going to go take a peak at it on launch 'bluefire'

Wait a second. You’ve got THREE upgrades to burn? Sheesh. You could wipe your butt with the Vigor, flush it down the toilet, and have a nice, restful sleep with the Bionic on one side and the Prime on the other!

 

[tehsusenoh]

Wait a second. You

 

[johnlgalt]

me 3 (<-- see what I did there?)

 

[HanSolo]

Well, so do I.

me 3 (<-- see what I did there?)

Well, aren't you special?

 

[Lars]

Careful about buying ebay phones. Some are stolen. Some have balances on their accounts.

 

[tehsusenoh]

Well, aren't you special?

The churchlady was halarious. Too bad I wasn't alive when the act was on the air.

 

[HanSolo]

The churchlady was halarious. Too bad I wasn't alive when the act was on the air.

Tehsusenoh, 6 weeks ago.

 

[asianguy335]

Wait a second. You&#8217;ve got THREE upgrades to burn? Sheesh. You could wipe your butt with the Vigor, flush it down the toilet, and have a nice, restful sleep with the Bionic on one side and the Prime on the other!

Right. I could conceivably run all over town with my Bionic and it's supposedly excellent battery life, install Vigor with it's 720p screen and likely shitty battery into my car dashboard, and make sexy time with Sammy 'NexSex' Prime.

 

[tehsusenoh]

Right. I could conceivably run all over town with my Bionic and it's supposedly excellent battery life, install Vigor with it's 720p screen and likely shitty battery into my car dashboard, and make sexy time with Sammy 'NexSex' Prime.

Nailed it.

 

[HanSolo]

Right. I could conceivably run all over town with my Bionic and it's supposedly excellent battery life, install Vigor with it's 720p screen and likely shitty battery into my car dashboard, and make sexy time with Sammy 'NexSex' Prime.

Revolutionary Samsung NexSex Prime to be unveiled at IFA 2011:

Me love you long time, with 3000 mAh battery

 

[johnlgalt]

Well, aren't you special?

Wouldn't be prudent....

The churchlady was halarious. Too bad I wasn't alive when the act was on the air.

Youtube. 'Nuff said.

Tehsusenoh, 6 weeks ago.

ROTFLMFAO..uh, I mean, hell, that's one smart fetus!

WTF is this post supposed to be?

Right. I could conceivably run all over town with my Bionic and it's supposedly excellent battery life, install Vigor with it's 720p screen and likely shitty battery into my car dashboard, and make sexy time with Sammy 'NexSex' Prime.

Heh - Or, you could hold one in reserve for an upgrade next year when everyone else is moaning about their {insert phone here} not getting the next big upgrade after ICS...

Nailed it.

Nah, can't use all three - then you'll be stuck for 18 months....

Revolutionary Samsung NexSex Prime to be unveiled at IFA 2011:

Me love you long time, with 3000 mAh battery

Batteries not included