Buying Android phone soon--any suggestions?

[round.midnight]

Hello All:

I am about to buy my first Android phone and would like some advice. I am currently on the T-Mobile network in the US, and since I am serious about my gadgets, I am willing to spend up to $500 for a state-of-the-art smart phone. I have read virtually all online reviews on various phones, and I have narrowed the field down to a few candidates that are within $50-$100 in price:

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo
Samsung Galaxy S 4G
T-Mobile G2x
HTC Sensation

I have heard that a new version of Android (i.e. Ice Cream Sandwich) is coming out soon, so should I hold off until then?

I would welcome any advice, suggestions, etc. (Especially from current users of the above-listed phones.)

Thank you!

 

[Saltine713]

No smartphone will cost $500 if you are upgrading your contract.

Since you are on Tmobile, I say go HTC Sensation. The new Samsung honestly sucks, I hate all Samsung stuff anyway.

I have the HTC Inspire, which is the cousin of the Sensation, on AT&T.

It's up to you if you want to wait for Icecream. I say no, because manufacturers may get it, but that doesn't mean Tmobile will implement it into their phones immediately.

 

[chanchan05]

From whats available to you, I'd pick Sensation.

 

[Pepee63]

Samsung gs2 is brilliant. Do some research on the Galaxy note or the up coming galaxy s3

 

[pawdog]

Try and determine what the major use of the phone will be. For instance if you thing you will be playing the latest games you will probably need the most powerful phone you can get.

Do you live in a 4G or soon to be 4G area.
Are you a big or small screen person.

Don't wait for the latest and greatest soon to come phone because there will be another latest and greatest announced next week.

Make a choice so you can come back to the forum and complain like everyone else .

 

[Saltine713]

Go to the store and play with each one and maybe watch Youtube reviews of each.

 

[vikingjunior]

The problem with waiting is you will find yourself constantly waiting because there is always something new around the corner but future proofing is a good idea.

The Sensation while very nice has flaws like low volume and HTC sense can bog down at times.

The LG g2x seems to be hit or miss.

The AT&T and Sprint Samsung Sg2 is getting good reviews as I believe Samsung has polished it up from the international version.

Being released alongside the SGS2 is the HTC Amaze which looks to loaded with high specs.

I believe Android and manufactures have really turned the corner and any of these devices is miles better then the earlier Androids.

I think the one that might really stand out is the button less Nexus with ICS.

 

[uzee]

well the standard for phones is soon to be dual core processros, high ram (1gb). So i would go with the Galaxy S2 or the 4g version.

One thing that you should wait to consider is phones which will have 3D

 

[treb1797]

This might be a bit off topic, but I found this interesting about the true cost of phones.

Yahoo!

 

[Snow_Fox]

I'd go with the nexus s honestly.

Or the nexus prime if you can afford to wait.

I "thanked" one user above, because he is dead on about "the problem with waiting, is there is ALWAYS something else".

However, if you get the nexus s or nexus prime, your going to stay up to date without a question.

Nexus prime is slated to come out soon.. I would guess around december.

 

[round.midnight]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I do agree that it is futile to wait and wait for The Next Best Thing, but if a major upgrade is coming out within the next 2-3 months, I can afford to wait as I am in no rush.

I have dropped the Sony Xperia from consideration--it seems like a pretty but expensive phone.

Question (and a silly one): An unlocked phone should work with any carrier assuming it runs on the same band/frequency, correct?

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Snow_Fox]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I do agree that it is futile to wait and wait for The Next Best Thing, but if a major upgrade is coming out within the next 2-3 months, I can afford to wait as I am in no rush.

I have dropped the Sony Xperia from consideration--it seems like a pretty but expensive phone.

Question (and a silly one): An unlocked phone should work with any carrier assuming it runs on the same band/frequency, correct?

Thanks again for the advice.

Err.. this is a tricky subject.

I've found it is best to upright double check what phones work with what carriers.

While it may be 200$ on contract or 500$ when it comes out.. Nexus Prime is right around the corner. My guess is either in december or jan.

Since Nexus is the flagship phone of Google I would definitely wait for it.

Regardless of what hardware it is packing, it will stay up to date with the newest releases for quite some time.

It is gauranteed to have good rom support. (even if you don't want this to begin with.. by the time your phone gets old, your going to be glad you have it)

 

[Lombardi]

Experia arc, personal preference. Since its september, I would try to wait until december.

 

[round.midnight]

Experia arc, personal preference. Since its september, I would try to wait until december.

Xperia Arc, really? Any particular reasons for such a preference? I ask because everyone (including other posters) recommend a Samsung or HTC with Plain Vanilla Android. Thanks.

 

[huaping]

Thanks.

 

[Lombardi]

Its the form factor,I has the same shipsrt as the experia play. I just think its slick looking no other reasons...

 

[chanchan05]

Xperia Arc is just shit sexy. I'd wait for the Arc S though if I'd go Sony, shit sexy with a 1.4Ghz processor. Similar specs to Galaxy S Plus. I dont really need dual core anyway. I dont game much.

 

[Lombardi]

I game a lot with the samsung infuse 4g. 1.2 ghz keeps playing games that gs2 experia play, and thunderbolts play. GRAPHIX POP ON THE INFUSE. Just why I think the arc form factor will help with gaming control

 

[vlasveld]

if you want battery life the atrix 4g wins

 

[Guamguy]

Hello All:

I am about to buy my first Android phone and would like some advice. I am currently on the T-Mobile network in the US, and since I am serious about my gadgets, I am willing to spend up to $500 for a state-of-the-art smart phone. I have read virtually all online reviews on various phones, and I have narrowed the field down to a few candidates that are within $50-$100 in price:

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo
Samsung Galaxy S 4G
T-Mobile G2x
HTC Sensation

I have heard that a new version of Android (i.e. Ice Cream Sandwich) is coming out soon, so should I hold off until then?

I would welcome any advice, suggestions, etc. (Especially from current users of the above-listed phones.)

Thank you!

YOu got lots of phones coming in October.

The ones to watch for you would be the Galaxy S2 for T-Mobile or the HTC Amaze 4G.

 

[round.midnight]

YOu got lots of phones coming in October.

The ones to watch for you would be the Galaxy S2 for T-Mobile or the HTC Amaze 4G.

Hello All:

Thanks for all the suggestions. Since I am getting lots of recommendations for the Galaxy S2, I did some more research and discovered that T-Mobile has set a release date of Oct. 12th for the Galaxy S2. Given that that date is about two(!) weeks way, I think I will wait and assess the situation within the next month or so. I will also see how much an unlocked Xperia Arc S will cost when it is finally released.

Thank you all again!

 

[Droidtothemax]

The Galaxy S2 is a beast, no doubt from looking at youtube videos and what not. Problem with the S2 is it is a Samsung product and while I own a TV, I got it from Sam's Club and if I have something happen to it, it goes through them.

Now if ever having to deal directly with SS Customer Service, then god willing hoping you have better luck....than everyone else, lol! Their CS is horrendous. That and they take forever to send out updates, but if you root and install Custom Rom's, then that is no matter.

I personally use a MT4G and I looked at the Sensation, G2X and while they both had some positives, it wasnt enough for me justify the pricing on contract. I have been happy with the older mytouch4g thus far, but when I run into some monies February, I will be upgrading two more lines and I am hoping that Amaze, aka Ruby comes to Tmobile as that is going to be a killer phone.

Also the Sensation SE is coming out soon, which looks nice.