iPhone 5 versus Android

[jerofld]

I'm not getting this whole bit about iPhones being more expensive. Are the people saying that living outside the US, perhaps?

The latest iPhone subsidized by carriers (which is the usual way Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint do it here) is the same price as the high-end new Android phones. And the previous version of the iPhone is the same price as (or sometimes cheaper than) the low-end Android phones.

In countries outside of the US, those carrier subsidies either do not exist or do not subsidize so much of the device. So, to buy an iPhone in another country, you generally have to pay for more of it up front. Which is why Android is huge in China, as the handsets are not subsidized at all and most cannot afford, or refuse to pay for, an iPhone when Android alternatives are just as good and cheaper.

 

[rui-no-onna]

I'm not getting this whole bit about iPhones being more expensive. Are the people saying that living outside the US, perhaps?

The latest iPhone subsidized by carriers (which is the usual way Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint do it here) is the same price as the high-end new Android phones. And the previous version of the iPhone is the same price as (or sometimes cheaper than) the low-end Android phones.

Carriers in the US subsidize the iPhone more than they do their other handsets. I remember reading an article somewhere wherein a representative from Samsung mentioned the standard subsidy for phones is around $200 on average while Apple gets much higher subsidies. In most other countries, Apple does not get preferential subsidy. You either pay full price for devices or get a subsidy proportional to your plan so the price you pay for your phone is still dependent on market/retail price of that phone.

If subsidies didn't exist, retail pricing for the iPhone probably would have been much cheaper. The original iPhone was released at $499 for 4GB and $599 for 8GB. The price dropped quickly to $399 and $499 respectively with a 16GB model released for $599. That just goes to show how much the market is willing to bear. I reckon if the subsidy model didn't come into play, iPhone pricing will be much the same - $399/$499/$599 instead of the current $649/$749/$849.

 

[OfTheDamned]

How can anyone not like Apple unless they can't afford it? It's glass and aluminum. It's a beautiful thing and is revolutionary.

Pricing depends on where you are. In the US, the iPhone is no more expensive than most Android, Windows and BlackBerry phones. On Verizon's website the iPhone is the same price as most Android phones even at full retail.

As far as appearances go, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally prefer the look and feel of the Droid Razr to that of the iPhone. Kevlar and metal feel better and far more rugged than glass to me. I've actually always thought that so much glass was a design flaw for something that has such a great potential for being dropped.

Since you brought it up, I'm very curious about your (or other's) views on what makes it revolutionary.

 

[aysiu]

I know the carriers in the US subsidize the iPhone more than they do Android phones, but to the consumer, the price is the same, so I'm not getting the people (at least the Americans) in this thread saying iPhones are "overpriced."

 

[jerofld]

I know the carriers in the US subsidize the iPhone more than they do Android phones, but to the consumer, the price is the same, so I'm not getting the people (at least the Americans) in this thread saying iPhones are "overpriced."

Some people don't like being locked into a contract. Or they want to upgrade every year.

 

[Orion]

The iPhone 5 is probably going to be the most talked about phone, with the most sales, longest lines to buy, the most accessories, the most positive reviews, yada yada yada. Millions of people will line up to get their piece of the pie. And probably less than 20% will actually know if the iPhone is the best phone for them. They will buy it because their friends are buying them. This is what draws me to Android users the most. They had to actually make one conscious decision when they got their phone, which one to buy, which form factor. With android, at least on the outside, you got the phone YOU thought best fit you. Not the one that best fit your friend, or the head cheerleader, or class president (if it's even a fit for them). like all electronic devices, even the iPhone is a good fit for some, and maybe that is you. But for everyone else.... Get an Android.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[rui-no-onna]

The iPhone 5 is probably going to be the most talked about phone, with the most sales, longest lines to buy, the most accessories, the most positive reviews, yada yada yada. Millions of people will line up to get their piece of the pie. And probably less than 20% will actually know if the iPhone is the best phone for them. They will buy it because their friends are buying them. This is what draws me to Android users the most. They had to actually make one conscious decision when they got their phone, which one to buy, which form factor. With android, at least on the outside, you got the phone YOU thought best fit you. Not the one that best fit your friend, or the head cheerleader, or class president (if it's even a fit for them). like all electronic devices, even the iPhone is a good fit for some, and maybe that is you. But for everyone else.... Get an Android.

My aunt recently switched from a dumb flip-phone to a smartphone (iPhone 4) and frankly, I wouldn't have been comfortable recommending Android for her. As you said, the iPhone is what most people buy. That means an instant tech support network just in case she needs to do something on her phone and can't figure out how to do it. Her son (who lives with her) has an iPhone as do most of her friends and countless nephews and nieces. Not everyone would be willing to hop on forums such as this to ask for help troubleshooting or even just using their phones. With the iPhone, if she can't figure out how to do something, there'll be plenty of people who could help or teach her.

It also doesn't hurt that there are plenty of accessory options for iOS devices including Michael Kors and Coach cases.

 

[jova33]

What I've said before us iUsers like simplicity with their devices. Any iPhone user can pick up anyone else's iPhone and pretty much use it. And transition from iPhone to iPad is easier.
Android phones are cheaper, sometimes have better hardware than the latest iPhone, and there's a huge variety to choose from. I think this confuses people too because every manufacturer has their own brand of android, and no two android phones are alike. Why investigate which device looks and works the best for me when I can just grab an iPhone?

 

[Rxpert83]

What I've said before us iUsers like simplicity with their devices. Any iPhone user can pick up anyone else's iPhone and pretty much use it. And transition from iPhone to iPad is easier.
Android phones are cheaper, sometimes have better hardware than the latest iPhone, and there's a huge variety to choose from. I think this confuses people too because every manufacturer has their own brand of android, and no two android phones are alike. Why investigate which device looks and works the best for me when I can just grab an iPhone?

People like choices. Want a phone with a slide out keyboard? You got it. Want a large screen? No problem. There's a phone for everyone.

Androids hardware specs have been years ahead of iPhones. It's really about time apple catches up. LTE, larger screens, NFC, multiple cores, the list goes on and on. Granted, when apple finally gets these it will be "revolutionary"

Some people prefer to follow the herd, but that's not me. If I'm going to pay for a premium device it better be cutting edge software and hardware and not repackaged crap with a large marketing budget to make up for it.

An informed user is apple's worst nightmare. And their solution is to stock up on lawyers to sue anyone who's phone is rectangular and has rounded corners

 

[aysiu]

Some people don't like being locked into a contract. Or they want to upgrade every year.

Definitely, but that's some people. Unless you have a pay-as-you-go phone, most US smartphone owners sign up for a two-year contract with a subsidized phone.

I'd probably not go the contract route if Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile all used the same technological standards. Given that I can't take a 4G phone on one network and take it to another network and also get 4G, I'm pretty much locked in... or wasting my money on a really expensive phone I'll have to sell to switch networks.

 

[Hengel]

The iPhone 4s is a great phone. It's well engineered with an great eye for detail, not to be found on any Android hand set. It's still one of the fastest phones around in real world use. And the iPhone 5 will be even better. IOS is great to, as is the app store. It is a so much better experience compared to the amateuristic google play store.

Stil I bought a Xperia P, in silver to match my MacBook Pro. Simply because it's a great phone, even with Android 2.3. Like I said before the google play store is not in the same league as the iTunes store, but most apps are available on both platforms.

The bottem line is that you can't go bad for choosing an iPhone or an Android phone (avoid the cheap ones tough). Choose whatever YOU prefer.

And if people say iPhones are overhyped crap or Android sucks, don't take them serious. They are called Fandroids, apple fanboys or just loosers.

 

[rui-no-onna]

Definitely, but that's some people. Unless you have a pay-as-you-go phone, most US smartphone owners sign up for a two-year contract with a subsidized phone.

I'd probably not go the contract route if Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile all used the same technological standards. Given that I can't take a 4G phone on one network and take it to another network and also get 4G, I'm pretty much locked in... or wasting my money on a really expensive phone I'll have to sell to switch networks.

*sigh* This is one of the things I find most annoying in the US. In other countries, you can easily buy an unlocked phone and just pop in different SIM cards (practically free) to switch carriers. Another thing I dislike is the one-size fits all solution to rate plans and subsidies. I'd much rather have carriers give us options like:

$30/month 1-year contract: $50 phone discount
$40/month 1-year contract: $100 phone discount
$50/month 1-year contract: $150 phone discount

$30/month 2-year contract: $100 phone discount
$40/month 2-year contract: $200 phone discount
$50/month 2-year contract: $300 phone discount

Moving to a model like the one above should level the playing field instead of the current one where Apple is given preferential treatment.

People like choices. Want a phone with a slide out keyboard? You got it. Want a large screen? No problem. There's a phone for everyone.

I personally prefer shock- and water-resistant phones more and Android happily delivers. Currently have an Xperia Active and would be getting an Xperia Acro S (that or the Xperia V) when they become available through a trusted seller. Wish the Acro S/V were as tough as the Active but the dual-core CPU, 1GB RAM and 4.3" 1280x720 display is enough make up for it.

 

[Rxpert83]

IOS is great to, as is the app store. It is a so much better experience compared to the amateuristic google play store.

. Like I said before the google play store is not in the same league as the iTunes store, but most apps are available on both platforms.
.

That is as long as apple let's your app into its walled garden. If you make something that competes with a service apple is offering you get flat out denied.

So much for a free market and competition

 

[jova33]

Simplicity. So easy a baby could do it

 

[EarlyMon]

What I've said before us iUsers like simplicity with their devices. Any iPhone user can pick up anyone else's iPhone and pretty much use it. And transition from iPhone to iPad is easier.
Android phones are cheaper, sometimes have better hardware than the latest iPhone, and there's a huge variety to choose from. I think this confuses people too because every manufacturer has their own brand of android, and no two android phones are alike. Why investigate which device looks and works the best for me when I can just grab an iPhone?

Can't argue with that, but would like to point out that much of what you describe is an issue of familiarity.

I can pick up virtually any Android device, regardless of appearance and ui differences from my own, and use it right away and be fully productive.

A lot of Windows users find OS X hard to use, but that's the same thing - lack of familiarity.

Android may present a learning curve to some, not others. For those who have gotten past the learning curve, a great many have found that they prefer Android and the time spent more than well worth it.

To the poster claiming that the the iPhone 4s was ever the fastest phone out there - I respect your right to your opinion, but that's simply not a fact at all. Far from it, sorry.

 

[KENNECTED]

The iPhone 4s is a great phone. It's well engineered with an great eye for detail, not to be found on any Android hand set. It's still one of the fastest phones around in real world use. And the iPhone 5 will be even better. IOS is great to, as is the app store. It is a so much better experience compared to the amateuristic google play store.

Stil I bought a Xperia P, in silver to match my MacBook Pro. Simply because it's a great phone, even with Android 2.3. Like I said before the google play store is not in the same league as the iTunes store, but most apps are available on both platforms.

The bottem line is that you can't go bad for choosing an iPhone or an Android phone (avoid the cheap ones tough). Choose whatever YOU prefer.

And if people say iPhones are overhyped crap or Android sucks, don't take them serious. They are called Fandroids, apple fanboys or just loosers.

The HTC EVO 4G LTE and the Mortorola photon are considered ugly? No eye for detail? Hell I have kickstand on my phone? What iGizmo has that? They will never have that so they can make you buy an accessory!

Itunes at one point had a greater number of app than all manufactures. They had a huge head start, but that doesn't mean that apps are better. By all mean please explain to me what you mean by "amateuristic" (is this a word?)? You're definition of this product, most likely is different from mine.

 

[Joelgp83]

Kevlar and metal feel better and far more rugged than glass to me.

Wait, seriously? Kevlar?! I guess Android does bulletproofing

 

[OfTheDamned]

The bottem line is that you can't go bad for choosing an iPhone or an Android phone (avoid the cheap ones tough). Choose whatever YOU prefer.

And if people say iPhones are overhyped crap or Android sucks, don't take them serious. They are called Fandroids, apple fanboys or just loosers.

I agree completely with the first statement, but must disagree with your second.

There are plenty of people out there that have experienced both operating systems and multiple phones that can and do prefer one over the other. With some it is as simple as not being able to complete a certain task with one OS that they can with another. Others simply prefer the feel of one device or OS over another. Having a preference doesn't make someone a faboy/girl, it simply means that they have the product that they need/want or that suits them the best.

After using an iPhone for only a few days I can say that, IMHO, it is an over-hyped product. I was frustrated with some of the simple things it was unable to do that I was able to do with a 3 year old Android. The small screen was very irritating and sharing anything was a joke. I consider myself a fan of tech in general and appreciate a good device no matter the company that makes it, but Apple will most likely never get my business in the smartphone market. They simply haven't been willing to keep up with what ever other manufacturer has been doing.

Wait, seriously? Kevlar?! I guess Android does bulletproofing

 

[ravenas]

They've made a point about they don't have much fragmentation because there's only one size for developers to deal with. Now, they'll have a 4" iPhone and 7" iPad.

A 4" screen is a big deal for them since they've been stuck with 3.5" for so long. I do not know how they'll get all those apps and games to work with the new size. They addressed the low res of previous iPhones by doubling up the pixels for the iPhone 4 to keep everything the same for pixel perfect apps. This new rumored size is also taller so everything will have to stretch.

Forgive me for the dumb POV but I don't get this hype about Android lacking in tablet apps and having badly laid out apps. I've used a 3.2" phone, 4.3", 4.8", 7" and 10" tablet with the same set of apps. They all scale beautifully for my devices. At least as beautifully as my eye can tell.

When I compare that to my iPod Touch (same 3.5" size as iPhone) and iPad, there's a dramatic difference between iPhone vs. iPad apps. That 2x magnification is a joke. And that's for every app in the store marked "iPhone only".

I would have hated buying an iPad1 on release date (I waited about 8 months) because of the lack of apps. But when I bought my first 10" Android tablet (Asus Transformer TF101), I had no issues with apps looking bad. The worst thing I've ever seen is an app that refuses to be run landscape, but it's nothing compared to Weatherbug magnified 2x on an iPad.

 

[ravenas]

I like to use my sister as an "average consumer" experience example. She got her first smartphone this summer.

I thought she would go for an iPhone. She'd been talking about getting one for months. She has an iPod Touch and iPad. She likes the smaller form factor of an iPhone. So I was reconciled to her getting one (we share a family contract). My only recommendation was that she wait until the iPhone5 came out so she had the latest hardware.

But then I let her play around with my Galaxy S2. She thought the phone was a little big to hold comfortably in her hand. Yet she could read the screen better. Then she tried texting a message. She used Swype for the first time and fell in love.

When I told her there were other keyboards available and only Android allowed you to install other keyboards, she was instantly sold.

She doesn't do half the stuff I do on my phone, but for her Android just offers a better user experience because it's customizable. Her work also uses Google Apps for mail & calendar so the easy integration is a major plus for her. (Yes I did point out she could import that stuff on her iPhone, but Android makes it so much easier.)

The one thing she misses is all the accessories on the local store shelves. Because there are so many Android phones, you won't find racks of cases for your phone at Target like you do iPhones.

From her experience, I'm guessing the non-techie consumer will chose an Android over iPhone because they (a) like a bigger screen or (b) like the little customizations you can do (keyboards, widgets, lock screens). For most average consumers those customizations come in the form of manufacturer UIs: HTC Sense, Motoblur, Touchwiz. It's those UIs that give Android a unique look for consumers.

 

[Stuntman]

What I've said before us iUsers like simplicity with their devices. Any iPhone user can pick up anyone else's iPhone and pretty much use it.

Why investigate which device looks and works the best for me when I can just grab an iPhone?

I don't think that it is about simplicity. I think that many people just grab an iPhone because it has the best brand name recognition. This is the one huge advantage that Apple has over anyone else. My wife and in-laws wanted iPhones because they never heard of anything else. They don't even know what an iPhone can or cannot do compared other competing products out there.

 

[McBuzz]

Yes simplicity is great. Less headache. If you're "bored" of your phone then I feel bad for you...go out take a breath of fresh air, say hello to your neighbor, go volunteer, read a book, study history, start a meaningful conversation with a real person and not Siri or S Voice, take a break from the virtual world of Facebook and live a fuller richer life. In other words - be happy. The end.

 

[adaaaam]

While the majority of Android users do not root, overclock, or flash custom ROM's, we have the ability to do so.

I used to be under the impression that iPhones couldn't be hacked, but my younger relatives all have "jailbroken" theirs to access a secondary market of apps (Cydia) not approved by Apple. They can also be overclocked, but like Android users, most people just don't do it

Androids hardware specs have been years ahead of iPhones. It's really about time apple catches up. LTE, larger screens, NFC, multiple cores, the list goes on and on. Granted, when apple finally gets these it will be "revolutionary"

It is true that all iPhones are behind the latest Android hardware specs currently. But the thing is the iPhone 5 is almost certain to be getting what you just listed (lte, larger screens, nfc, multiple cores). So it will finally be caught up to all current-gen Androids with one swift release, and I think Tim Cook is playing it smarter than Steve Jobs, who tends to discount the benefits of complexity in hardware specs in favor of simplicity. I expect each subsequent release to be similar in prioritizing hardware upgrades like in Androids

 

[jhtalisman]

I used to be under the impression that iPhones couldn't be hacked, but my younger relatives all have "jailbroken" theirs to access a secondary market of apps (Cydia) not approved by Apple. They can also be overclocked, but like Android users, most people just don't do it

You do know Apple tried to sue users that jail broke their phones? Android manufacturers haven't to my knowledge done that. In fact the law allowing rooting or jail breaking your phone will be coming up again here soon.

 

[chanchan05]

I used to be under the impression that iPhones couldn't be hacked, but my younger relatives all have "jailbroken" theirs to access a secondary market of apps (Cydia) not approved by Apple. They can also be overclocked, but like Android users, most people just don't do it

Well a lot of things stock Android can do can only be done on jailbroken iPhones, so still, it really depends on a person's tastes.

It is true that all iPhones are behind the latest Android hardware specs currently. But the thing is the iPhone 5 is almost certain to be getting what you just listed (lte, larger screens, nfc, multiple cores). So it will finally be caught up to all current-gen Androids with one swift release, and I think Tim Cook is playing it smarter than Steve Jobs, who tends to discount the benefits of complexity in hardware specs in favor of simplicity. I expect each subsequent release to be similar in prioritizing hardware upgrades like in Androids

Even with iPhone5, I'd feel they'd still be left behind unless they use a Dual-core Krait (which I doubt given the battery hog-iness of Krait AFAIK). Also, LTE would get them well in the radar of Samsung who owns LTE patents. They could only get around this by buying a Samsung chip along with the rights to activate LTE on it. And for all the past iPhones, chips have been supplied by Samsung.

They'd still have a smaller screen than top of the line Androids, and as usual will use a sightly non-top of the line chip to preserve battery life. Can't remember which one it was (4S or 4) which used an A5 chip so that they can save battery life. However the A5 chip was actually a mid-range chip design for battery saver and could not handle the same level of processing as an A8 and A9 chip.

What makes an iPhone fast is the level of optimization the OS has for the hardware given. However it still points out that the OS has certain limitations when compared to Android. All in all it depends on the person, but I would still prefer Android.

Oh yeah, I lack the faith in Tim Cook you have. With Jobs at least I could always expect something, even if I didn't like Apple. With Cook all I could see he did was slap retina screen everywhere.