Can't Decide Between 4S or RAZR MAXX

[Typhoid]

The following is a post I made on MacRumors, and I figured to get both sides of the story I would post here too. That's not to say the people who have responded have been very biased. It's been kind of contrary to that. A few have suggested the MAXX, while others the iPhone....so here it goes:

So I currently have $670 on a gift card with Verizon (don't ask why or how), and so I decided I would buy a phone at Verizon. I figured that since their 3G is supposedly garbage in comparison to AT&T's, I'd go with an LTE phone so I got the MAXX. Well I'm in my 14 day trial period on what is about to be day 5 and while I think the Droid is cool, I kinda want the good ol' iPhone but I can't make up my mind about what to get. Here's some of the reasoning I have.

For keeping RAZR MAXX:
It's a nice change from the iOS that I'm used to with previous iDevices & my iPad
ICS is pretty cool on it and improves the browser greatly
LTE is freakin' amazing

To not keep it:
It's Android and I'm not used to it and don't see what's so great about it (despite previous comments)
It's rooted but I don't see what good it is besides ICS whereas jailbreaking is awesome
Market....I mean "Play" kinda sucks IMO


For iPhone:
Good ol' iOS
Siri, camera
App Store (and my apps)

Against iPhone:
I have an LTE phone in my posession
the 3G sucks (I think?)
I already have an iOS device (my iPad)

One of the deciding factors will be whether or not the Verizon store by me has any iPhones with 5.0.1 on it so I can jailbreak....if it's even possible to find that out...

So....yeah.....input please?

 

[euph_22]

The following is a post I made on MacRumors, and I figured to get both sides of the story I would post here too. That's not to say the people who have responded have been very biased. It's been kind of contrary to that. A few have suggested the MAXX, while others the iPhone....so here it goes:

So I currently have $670 on a gift card with Verizon (don't ask why or how), and so I decided I would buy a phone at Verizon. I figured that since their 3G is supposedly garbage in comparison to AT&T's, I'd go with an LTE phone so I got the MAXX. Well I'm in my 14 day trial period on what is about to be day 5 and while I think the Droid is cool, I kinda want the good ol' iPhone but I can't make up my mind about what to get. Here's some of the reasoning I have.

For keeping RAZR MAXX:
It's a nice change from the iOS that I'm used to with previous iDevices & my iPad
ICS is pretty cool on it and improves the browser greatly
LTE is freakin' amazing

To not keep it:
It's Android and I'm not used to it and don't see what's so great about it (despite previous comments)
It's rooted but I don't see what good it is besides ICS whereas jailbreaking is awesome
Market....I mean "Play" kinda sucks IMO


For iPhone:
Good ol' iOS
Siri, camera
App Store (and my apps)

Against iPhone:
I have an LTE phone in my posession
the 3G sucks (I think?)
I already have an iOS device (my iPad)

One of the deciding factors will be whether or not the Verizon store by me has any iPhones with 5.0.1 on it so I can jailbreak....if it's even possible to find that out...

So....yeah.....input please?

What exactly is so awesome about jailbreaking (compared to rooting)?
Also, what sucks about the market/play-store compared to the iTunes app store?

The primary advantage to Android is customization. iOS is setup according to Apple's vision. The users ability to change the look and feel of the device is limited, and if you don't like the way it looks out of the box, you're largely out of luck. With android you can change EVERYTHING. Don't like the look of the clocks that come with the phone, there are 1000 other choices on the market (err, Google play store) to chose from.

And you should know that there are apps that provide similar functionality to Siri for android, they just aren't packed as nicely. And while the camera on the Razr isn't particularly good, there are alternative camera apps that greatly improve functionality (I know alot of people use vignette).

 

[rushmore]

If I were at the point of getting a new device, I would not bother for a few months, since several options will be out. Buying devices now that are already on the downcurve for specs can be a "Doh!" moment.

Razr is nice, none the less (sans the firkkin' data drops).

 

[taxiron1]

I was a 3 version iphoner, and went to Android via Thunderbolt, now Maxx. I switched because where i live now, AT&T has poor coverage. Verizion iphone wasnt out yet. Having switched, I wouldnt go back. I like the bigger screen, 4G is awesome. Android methods are super easy to learn. Similar to going to mac from PC. The Play store has everything I was looking for, and like the custom options.

However, I have no need for Siri, or taking amazing pictures, so thats not a factor.

But the one blow away factor is battery life. The Maxx blows away any iphone in battery life, and believe me, that is sweet.

 

[Nateonator]

This is an interesting comparison. First I'll start with the Maxx. I got the maxx about a month ago. Overall, I love it. The battery is awesome. It has great reception and call quality as well. Moto's blur is not overbearing and has great functionality. I can't wait for ics. The screen size is perfect and could never go back to a smaller screen. Finally the phone has a great weight balance and feels really solid. The versatility of Android is a huge factor. I use swiftkey as an example. Negatives: the camera is subpar compared to some other phones. LTE has a tendency on occasion to drop coverage. The maxx does a good job of handling coverage change, but it's a LTE issue.

My mom recently got the 4s and she loves it. I used it a bit and it is a good phone as well. The camera is amazing and the call quality is great too. However, the screen feels TINY after using the maxx. The phone feels heavy and bulky, especially with a case. It also seems really boring to use everyday. I wouldn't have a need for suri so that's a non-factor for me. The battery is decent, but can't compete with the maxx.

My choice is the maxx between the two at this point. The 4s seems old and dated. Iphone 5 may be a different story.

 

[Typhoid]

Thanks for the interesting opinions thus far. If I can get an iPhone on 5.0.1, I'm gonna go for it, but my chances of that happening are rather low so I think I might stick with the MAXX.

 

[The_Superhoo]

Widgets/personalization > iphone.

 

[seVer]

ios outdated for sure.

 

[kool kat2]

Just sold 2 android phones to people with 4s's

It was like they just saw sunlight for the first time in their lives

 

[Adauth]

This shouldn't even be a compairison.

Razr Maxx> iphone4s

And its not even close.

 

[VoidedSaint]

This shouldn't even be a compairison.

Razr Maxx> iphone4s

And its not even close.

thats actually not even true adauth

there are 2 things the razr maxx has over the iphone
the larger than normal battery
and LTE

other than that the iphone4s is still a heavy handed hitter.
i love messin with siri, its just loads of fun

there are far more, and better apps for the ip4s
the quality of the iphone is superior with fewer bugs than the android ecosystem
but as stated before android is the option to customize how you want it. but the maxx is also a moto phone with a locked bootloader, so rooted customizations are kinda not an option.

i wouldnt go for the ip4s, considering the iphone5 will (should be) released this year around october. i would hold off, by then you will see quad core phones, and you may want to stick with android, or you may go back to ios.

 

[Adauth]

thats actually not even true adauth

there are 2 things the razr maxx has over the iphone
the larger than normal battery
and LTE

other than that the iphone4s is still a heavy handed hitter.
i love messin with siri, its just loads of fun

there are far more, and better apps for the ip4s
the quality of the iphone is superior with fewer bugs than the android ecosystem
but as stated before android is the option to customize how you want it. but the maxx is also a moto phone with a locked bootloader, so rooted customizations are kinda not an option.

i wouldnt go for the ip4s, considering the iphone5 will (should be) released this year around october. i would hold off, by then you will see quad core phones, and you may want to stick with android, or you may go back to ios.

Siri is a gimmick. There are ways around a locked bootloader. Have fun with your super duper retina display. What good is it if the screen is so small you can hardly notice. No expandable memory on the iPhone also. As for customaztions there are countless launchers that can be used to customize the maxx. Also as i mentioned there are ways around the locked bootloader and i have a feeling it wont be locked forever. Also the maxx will be getting ICS, and battery life isnt even compairable. Also correct me if i am wrong but the iPhone doesn't have hdmi out , or does it? As for far more and better apps. Last i heard android has over 500,000 apps. I know apple has some apps only for iphone but as android keeps getting bigger that will change. Not to mention you would be hard pressed to find an apple only app that does not have an android equalivent.
Your right the iPhone is a solid phone but when compared to the razr maxx , the maxx can do just about anything the iPhone can do and more.


*EDIT* As for build quality the iphone is not near as solid as a razr. Razr has gorilla glass, yes I am aware that it can still be scratched and broken. However honestly ask yourself, compare the amount of motorola broken/scratched/fractured screens to the amount of broken iPhone screens. Alsoo the razr is made of aluminum and is built very solid. Motorolas build quality has always been great going back to the first droid. Those were tanks. Now I am not saying the razr is as durable as the original droid, but it would be near impossible to do considering the razr is the thinest 4g lte smartphone on the market, yet is still built very solid. To say the razr and razr maxx are not up to iphone build quality standards is just plain not try. I would be willing to bet it surpasses the iphone in build quality.

 

[VoidedSaint]

I had a dx, locked/encrypted boot loader, we thought of the day when we could get around it and load custom kernels, the day never came, will it come for the razor Maxx? Maybe, but let moto find out, and then an update later it is patched. I don't own an iPhone btw, or an iPad, I own a galaxy nexus, would I own an iPhone? Hell yes, its a great piece of hardware, and an amazing phone.

Not many people want a phone bigger than their hand, its why most girls are seen w the small iPhones instead of the nexus, thunderbolt, razr/maxx, rezound, etc, etc. But to say the maxx outdoes the ip4s? Well that's an argument that is best put to the test, would the blur of moto get in the way of user functionality and speed? Or would it help it out more? Only testing can prove this

 

[Typhoid]

I had a dx, locked/encrypted boot loader, we thought of the day when we could get around it and load custom kernels, the day never came, will it come for the razor Maxx? Maybe, but let moto find out, and then an update later it is patched. I don't own an iPhone btw, or an iPad, I own a galaxy nexus, would I own an iPhone? Hell yes, its a great piece of hardware, and an amazing phone.

Not many people want a phone bigger than their hand, its why most girls are seen w the small iPhones instead of the nexus, thunderbolt, razr/maxx, rezound, etc, etc. But to say the maxx outdoes the ip4s? Well that's an argument that is best put to the test, would the blur of moto get in the way of user functionality and speed? Or would it help it out more? Only testing can prove this

True stuff.

 

[Adauth]

I will try to find the thread on XDA where they are almost finished a process to goo "around" the locked bootloader.
Also I feel this phone will get lots more devolpment than the DX, considering it's a dual core device, it's upgradeable to ICS, it's 4GLTE, and It probably sold a hell of alot more units than the DX.

 

[VoidedSaint]

I will try to find the thread on XDA where they are almost finished a process to goo "around" the locked bootloader.
Also I feel this phone will get lots more devolpment than the DX, considering it's a dual core device, it's upgradeable to ICS, it's 4GLTE, and It probably sold a hell of alot more units than the DX.

this is true, if the bootloader is bypassed you will see more development for it.

but just remember the dx was the stepping stone for your new developed roms.

2init wouldnt have been possible without cvpcs working very hard on his dx, but i am sure the razr/maxx will see much more development than the dx will, but dont forget the dx had multiple roms, with the encrypted bootloader, so imagine if it was unlocked at that time as well.

 

[Adauth]

this is true, if the bootloader is bypassed you will see more development for it.

but just remember the dx was the stepping stone for your new developed roms.

2init wouldnt have been possible without cvpcs working very hard on his dx, but i am sure the razr/maxx will see much more development than the dx will, but dont forget the dx had multiple roms, with the encrypted bootloader, so imagine if it was unlocked at that time as well.

Mostly agree.

 

[Matesims23]

I have had iPhones before, and trust me.. the razr maxx is the way to go... I have a regular razr and I love it... I am trying to get a MAXX

 

[TG1]

The one thing I miss on my Razr coming from the iPhone is the retina display. Wondering if the rumored Razr Maxx HD would be the uber-phone to rule them all.