New Member and New to Android!!

[marine6212]

Hello All,
I am a new Member and new to the Android phones. I have sprint for a carrier and could some one help guide me in choosing a new android phone? I have a buddy that has the 1st HTC EVO and he likes it. I was thinking about the I phone but changed my mind pretty quickly!! Which phone in the android market is going to give me the most use as far as making and receiving calls, using the internet to browse, texting. Only have 3G service where I live.

thanks,
Marine6212

 

[EarlyMon]

Welcome to the forums and Android!

Nothing wrong with where you posted your question, but I've moved it here to the Sprint section because I think you'll get better answers.

We're an Evo family - I started with the Evo when it came out, but now have the Evo 3D and my wife has the Evo Shift. Both are great phones - the Shift has a smaller screen, but has a slide-out keyboard to compensate.

The top line Sprint phones will have 4G, but you're not missing anything using one as a 3G phone - that's what we do. And the prices are great, so you don't feel like you're paying for something useless to you when you price compare (same applies to the 3D feature - it's a novelty, I play with it, but that phone's 2D performance is really great).

I mention those because 1) I'm very satisfied, and 2) I think they're in the right price range given that you mentioned an iPhone.

Sprint has lots of other good choices as well, but those are my personal picks.

 

[marine6212]

Thanks EarlyMon,
I'm still learning where everything is in the Forums..
Still pretty new to the whole forum sites..

Semperfi,
Marine6212

 

[DonB]

+1 ^^^^ with EarlyMon agreed fully, but many also like the Samsung Galaxy S™ ll, Epic™ 4G Touch, click on image to view specs.

 

[joephoton]

The Motorola Photon is generally recognized as having better voice call quality (i.e., speaker) and battery life. I also had the original HTC Evo 3G and hated the voice quality from the get-go.

I just upgraded two days ago. I was pretty ignorant of which phone to buy but went with the Photon and love it.

There are some threads where users compare the Photon with other Sprint phones, so I recommend you had browse those. I think one of them is under the Motorola Photon subforum.

Cheers and happy hunting!

 

[BenChase7]

The EVO 3D, Photon, and Galaxy S II (Epic 4G Touch) are all great phones, really cant go wrong with any of them. It comes down to personal preference. However, the Galaxy Nexus will be released on Sprint next month, and is pretty awesome, if you can wait 4 weeks. It will be the first phone to support sprints new 4G LTE network that is being deployed now.

Where exactly do you live, Marine?

 

[KitsapAndroid]

I highly suggest the SGSIIET4G, it's a great phone. Of course, if you're not in a hurry you could always wait a little since the new Google Nexus is coming out sometime in the near future.

 

[marine6212]

The EVO 3D, Photon, and Galaxy S II (Epic 4G Touch) are all great phones, really cant go wrong with any of them. It comes down to personal preference. However, the Galaxy Nexus will be released on Sprint next month, and is pretty awesome, if you can wait 4 weeks. It will be the first phone to support sprints new 4G LTE network that is being deployed now.

Where exactly do you live, Marine?

I'm not due for a upgrade till June first of this year.

Perry, GA.
13yr Veteran
1992-2005

 

[marine6212]

What does the 4G LTE stand for. Sorry for all the dumb questions. I am trying to get up to speed quickly..

Semperfi,
Marine6212

 

[EarlyMon]

Thanks EarlyMon,
I'm still learning where everything is in the Forums..
Still pretty new to the whole forum sites..

Semperfi,
Marine6212

Oorah!

I've been here a few years and I'm still finding stuff here. We have over a 1000 forums.

To make it easier to get around, here's a handy tool recently completed by one of our guides, Yeahha - http://androidforums.com/faqs/511679-android-forums-faq.html

Hope that helps!

I think the number one thing to know is that Android is all about choice.

As you can see from the responses so far, Sprint has excellent phone choices and each one appeals to various people, and they all work so well that many folks will say that their choice is the best one - and we're all correct in that.

Do you have a chance to visit a Sprint store where you can just play around with various models? That's actually a pretty scientific test - these are handsets, and lot of ergonomics go into the design of each one. Often, you can just pick up an Android, and get a great feeling or a bad feeling about one, and I'd say to trust that 100%. The shapes, sizes and screens vary enough that you may not be able to put your finger on it right away, it'll feel like an instinct, but in many cases, the feel of the phone and the screen appearance will affect your comfort with it, and your overall happiness.

Do not click this Show button if offended by firearms -

Spoiler

Take the 1911 vs the M9 for example. If you have deep palm swells, you may find the unmodified 1911 (not the A1) less point-able because you'll have to consciously train to modify your grip until comfortable. That's the best analogy I can give. You don't want to train for a phone other than it's overall use - you want its sight and presentation in the hand to feel natural to you to get the most out of it. And even though on paper, we're talking minor differences - in reality, those differences can matter to many.

Each model's fans - and I'm no exception - will tell you which screen is best and why. Reality - we all see artificial color displays differently, and while similar, we all have different uses and preferences.

Your mileage may vary on this.

PS - No, wasn't a Marine, but many in the family have been. I was civilian science, weapons research.

 

[BenChase7]

What does the 4G LTE stand for. Sorry for all the dumb questions. I am trying to get up to speed quickly..

Semperfi,
Marine6212

Long Term Evolution.. its the new 4G tech Sprint is switching too. The older phones (EVO, Photon, Galaxy S II) use 4G WiMax.. Sprint is switching to 4G LTE.. the Galaxy Nexus will be the first phone to support this. With your upgraded date in June, I think you'll be in a good spot... there should be several new phones by then that will support the newest/latest technology that Sprint is deploying nationwide.

 

[EarlyMon]

What does the 4G LTE stand for. Sorry for all the dumb questions. I am trying to get up to speed quickly..

Semperfi,
Marine6212

1G - voice over analog radio, 2G - digital voice and SMS, 3G - digital voice and data (web, email, etc), 4G - high speed data and voice at the same time.

Sprint was the first to offer 4G in 2010 using a radio standard called WiMAX. For various reasons surrounding the partnership they had with the company doing the WiMAX towers, that didn't expand much. They're now talking about going with a different radio standard - LTE - for the 4G radios.

Not a new situation, conceptually. Sprint and Verizon use a radio standard called CDMA for 3G, while the other US carriers use a standard called GSM.

Each change in a radio standard means the phone has to have the right radio chips to accommodate it.

Big advantage of the Photon, for example - it's the phone that does both CDMA and GSM and therefore considered a world phone, because you can get it to work basically anywhere.

 

[KitsapAndroid]

Since your upgrade is in June, I would hold off and re-ask this question in June. Then I would go into a Sprint store or Best Buy or any other wireless retailer and just start handling all the phones. Only then will you truly find the one you want.

 

[EarlyMon]

Respectfully disagree in part. Good idea if new to Android to start questions and shopping early, so that there's more prep done come June.

That way, come June, you can decide if the new models are right for you, or if an older model at a discount will do as well or better - less last-minute confusion, in my opinion.

 

[iTzKPanda]

LTE is coming soon to Sprint. You might want to wait a bit to see if your city will be one of the first ones to receive it soon (apparently Sprint is giving some citites with no WiMAX a chance at LTE first. Just a rumor I've heard). If you don't neccessarily want to wait, check out the phones that are previously mentioned: Samsung Galaxy SII Epic 4G Touch, Motorola Photon, or the EVO 3D. All three phones are some of the best that Sprint has to offer.

SGS2: Newest out of the three. Very smooth and almost no lag. Battery life lasts about a day with moderate usage (web browsing, music, some youtubing). It seems to take a while to fully charge. The 8 megapixel camera takes very nice still pictures and the 1080p video is nice, although the sound capture quality isn't the greatest. The SuperAMOLED screen makes the colors pop. [Click for Phandroid's review]

Motorola Photon: The wireless signal on this phone is incredible. If you have no bars of Sprint service on the other phones, this one usually has a bar or two. The camera quality is very good (8 megapixels as well. Video is 720p). Still images are nice and the video quality is nice too. This phone takes a short time to charge (from what I've been told). Sound quality from the speaker is better then the SGS2 (again, from what I've been told)[Click for review on MoPho]

EVO 3D: I don't really know much about this phone, but I heard the camera quality isn't that great. [Click for review of EVO 3D]

All in all, just go to a sprint store and try out the phones yourself. And when you make your decision, buy off of AmazonWireless or Walmart. You can usually get your phone cheaper than you would directly through sprint.
Just my two cents. Love it or hate it

Oh, and I believe LTE phones will only work with. 3G and LTE and not WiMAX. So I would just get an LTE phone in June and hope that LTE comes soon

 

[EarlyMon]

I disagree with the Engadget review. Many of us report more than a day of use from the 3D, and it's factually wrong about the device having a disabled GSM radio.

But then, Engadget gets so few facts correct.

 

[Method760]

Thank you all this thread is also very helpful to me too, is there a price range on the Galaxy nexus?

 

[BenChase7]

Thank you all this thread is also very helpful to me too, is there a price range on the Galaxy nexus?

Nothing is confirmed, but I would guess 150 to 200 bucks. But, If your're starting a new line, AmazonWireless often sells the phones for less. Official word on price should be coming soon, I would imagine.

 

[iTzKPanda]

Nothing is confirmed, but I would guess 150 to 200 bucks. But, If your're starting a new line, AmazonWireless often sells the phones for less. Official word on price should be coming soon, I would imagine.

Hopefully Sprint doesn't pass the $200 border with the LTE phones. I won't be bothered that much by it at the moment, but imagine if the companies eventually work their way up towards the phone's retail price with a new contract... That'll be like Europe minus the cheap plans.

 

[BenChase7]

Hopefully Sprint doesn't pass the $200 border with the LTE phones. I won't be bothered that much by it at the moment, but imagine if the companies eventually work their way up towards the phone's retail price with a new contract... That'll be like Europe minus the cheap plans.

I hope Sprint keeps the $200 dollar price point, too... Verizon has been launching most of their phones at $300 for a while.

 

[BenChase7]

I'm not due for a upgrade till June first of this year.

Perry, GA.
13yr Veteran
1992-2005

If this speculation holds true, and since your upgrade date is in June.. This is the phone I would highly recommend.. The next EVO (HTC ONE X). I have had nothing but good things to say about the EVO line of phones. (and I've owned the Photon, Galaxy S II and the EVO 4G & EVO 3D). I have liked the EVO's the best. The EVO 3D is the one I ended up going with/keeping.

The EVO's are great, and the one coming this Summer looks Amazing! The timing with your June upgrade works out great too!

HTC EVO successor to "Jet" onto the scene June 10th - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

 

[joephoton]

A thing to consider with the "Jet" and I think the Galaxy is that they will both have larger screens. Which is a plus--and a minus, if you prefer not to have to hold a behemoth-sized phone in your hand and carry it where? Anyway, just another reason to see and test these phones in store.

And, by the way, I have bought my last two or three phones at Best Buy. They offer all the new phones and great prices--equal to or better than amazon wireless, for example. And a cell phone to me is one thing that I would prefer to buy locally than online.

Sent from my MB855

 

[EarlyMon]

My local Radio Shack has taken good care of me. You can find better deals by waiting and shopping Amazon but a local store is easy. I like easy.

 

[KitsapAndroid]

As mentioned above, Best Buy is a great way to go for purchasing. I don't work there, or even like them all that much, but they have by far the best protection plan you can get for a phone, and their buy back program is superior as well. Shop around and you will see what I mean. Price was the same as anyhwere else for me (except the internet, it's always cheaper on the internet). Anyway,the two reasons stated above made me go to stick with Best Buy, even after I had a bit of a hassle actually getting the phone into my hands.

 

[joephoton]

As mentioned above, Best Buy is a great way to go for purchasing. I don't work there, or even like them all that much, but they have by far the best protection plan you can get for a phone, and their buy back program is superior as well. Shop around and you will see what I mean. Price was the same as anyhwere else for me (except the internet, it's always cheaper on the internet). Anyway,the two reasons stated above made me go to stick with Best Buy, even after I had a bit of a hassle actually getting the phone into my hands.

I haven't looked closely at Best Buy's "protection plan," as I never buy those things from retail stores. But maybe I'll read the details on it. Also, I have never bought any of the Sprint protections plans: paying $8 or more a month plus a deductible in case you need to use the insurance doesn't sound cost effective. Any comments on the above two plans appreciated.