Anyone considering giving up Android for iPhone 4S?

Bnice · Oct 11, 2011

psychotron said:
I am just tired of getting screwed by carriers and Android phones. The Hero missed two Android updates because Sprint didn't feel like putting them out and then I had to buy the Evo 4G at full price ($550) just to get Froyo. Then I upgraded to the Nexus S 4G which was a total POS with wifi and signal issues that Samsung blamed on Google and Google blamed on Samsung and no one fixed. So I had to pay full retail price AGAIN to get a phone that actually worked, the Evo 3D. Now ICS is coming out and God only knows if or when Sprint will ever get around to updating the 3D with it. I am just tired of all the crap and spending literally thousands of dollars.

The Hero was one of the first Android for sprint. It was just a mid-range device, you can't blame updates that was ment for a more powerful device, as a reason. You buying the EVO and nexus S was an individual choice, how is Android the blame.

Frisco · Oct 11, 2011

Let's remember to address the device/issues and not other members with our opinions about them, friends.

aysiu · Oct 11, 2011

There's definitely a certain appeal iPhones have that is tempting. The iPhone got the Zipcar app, a better Facebook app, and a Netflix app faster than my Android phone did. There are more accessories built around the iPhone. There tend to be fewer runaway processes that need to be force-killed on the iPhone.

That said, I enjoy using Android more (this is from a combination of playing around with my wife's iPhone and regularly using an iPad). I also appreciate having a fully integrated Google Voice app (no, the iPhone GV app is terrible). On my Android phone, I have turn-by-turn Navigation. I can send contacts straight to voicemail (my wife's solution on her iPhone is to have some of her contacts ring silently) or just block them altogether. I like the Android keyboard better. I have zero dependence on iTunes to use, initialize, or upgrade my phone's OS.

Android was a really terrible experience for me on the MyTouch 3G (unrooted or rooted) and also on the MyTouch 4G unrooted, but with the MyTouch 4G rooted, I have enough power (768 MB of RAM makes a difference!) and control to really have almost no complaints about my phone.

tommy_ed · Oct 11, 2011

psychotron said:
hmmmm, sounds like you have never played with an iPhone that has had a jailbreak applied to it. You can do pretty much anything you can do with any Android phone. I agree its not Google's fault for the most part but thats where Apple has been smart in doing everything their way. You start licensing out your OS to companies that make things poorly like Google has and it will have a negative effect on your product. I would say that probably 70% of the Android handsets out are garbage, especially the pre paid ones I just had the misfortune of using when a friend brought one over.

hmmm interesting! i'm gonna have to look into that, i guess i never thought about jailbreaking it (not sure why, i usually root my phones haha)

tipoo · Oct 11, 2011

Nope. Its the same, just faster. I was looking forward to an iPhone 5 with a larger screen, but its just an internal update.

aviboy97 · Oct 11, 2011

tipoo said:
Nope. Its the same, just faster. I was looking forward to an iPhone 5 with a larger screen, but its just an internal update.

That's an understatement.

The first user reviews are out, and people are amazed at what Siri can do. Much better than the voice commands from Android. I wonder if Google is paying attention? Knowing Apple, there are probably numerous patents pending and someone is bound to get sued...<cough> Samsung / HTC <cough>

tommy_ed · Oct 11, 2011

aviboy97 said:
Knowing Apple, there are probably numerous patents pending and someone is bound to get sued...<cough> Samsung / HTC <cough>

which is extremely ironic, considering their new notification system

tipoo · Oct 11, 2011

aviboy97 said:
That's an understatement.

The first user reviews are out, and people are amazed at what Siri can do. Much better than the voice commands from Android. I wonder if Google is paying attention? Knowing Apple, there are probably numerous patents pending and someone is bound to get sued...<cough> Samsung / HTC <cough>

Internal update plus Siri then. Still not excited. Not enough to hop over right away, at least, not that its a bad phone.

ardchoille · Oct 11, 2011

Bnice said:
No iphone for me. I prefer Android. I am waiting to see what the Nexus Prime looks like and what ice cream sandwich provides.

Same here.. I think I'll always be an androidian

psychotron · Oct 11, 2011

tipoo said:
Internal update plus Siri then. Still not excited. Not enough to hop over right away, at least, not that its a bad phone.

Its faster, has a brand new OS with over 200 new features, a new 8MP camera with upgraded optics that can also shoot 1080p video, a higher resolution screen, they added tabbed browsing and gestures in Safari, all new notification system (stolen from Android IMO) iCloud etc....there are tons of things the 4 doest have. Go watch the video on Apple's site. As I said, I have never cared for the iPhone and love the Android OS but this is the first iPhone I personally feel has not only caught Android but surpassed it.

B2L · Oct 11, 2011

psychotron said:
Its faster, has a brand new OS with over 200 new features, a new 8MP camera with upgraded optics that can also shoot 1080p video, a higher resolution screen, they added tabbed browsing and gestures in Safari, all new notification system (stolen from Android IMO) iCloud etc....there are tons of things the 4 doest have. Go watch the video on Apple's site. As I said, I have never cared for the iPhone and love the Android OS but this is the first iPhone I personally feel has not only caught Android but surpassed it.

Don't take this as rude, but the 4s does not have a higher resolution screen than the iPhone 4. They both have a 3.5" IPS display with 960x640 resolution.

To most people there isn't much of a difference between the two. Sure there are some cool new features, but it seems like a lot is missing when it took a year and a half to release the 4s.

mstyle88 · Oct 11, 2011

I will be switching in the next 3-4 months when availability improves. I've had Android since almost the beginning and Im starting to grow real tired of the OS. I need a phone that simply works, gets me through a full day and that isnt littered with bugs. I've had almost every Android phone on T-Mobile and each phone has its own problems. I have tried custom ROMs but have a tendency to screw something up and brick it, being without a phone while they replace it. However, I give Android credit - slowly they are improving and i think ICS could end up being a really good update provided its pushed to phones soon enough.

I wish Android manufacturers would just slow down a little and take their time releasing these phones. They should also release less models and focus on making them better. Spend more time testing the phones out and you wouldn't see so many obvious bugs that everyone complains about instantly on these forums. Thats where I think Apple does better. Their products go through a much more rigorous testing process. I know, here is where we talk about attenna-gate but half the Android's that I have shared the same problems if held incorrectly.

Just my 2 cents.

tipoo · Oct 12, 2011

psychotron said:
Its faster, has a brand new OS with over 200 new features, a new 8MP camera with upgraded optics that can also shoot 1080p video, a higher resolution screen, they added tabbed browsing and gestures in Safari, all new notification system (stolen from Android IMO) iCloud etc....there are tons of things the 4 doest have. Go watch the video on Apple's site. As I said, I have never cared for the iPhone and love the Android OS but this is the first iPhone I personally feel has not only caught Android but surpassed it.

I get it, I really do, all I'm saying is that there's still nothing that has me wanting to switch right away. I'll probably keep my Android phone for another year, and by then the next iPhone will be out too.

sleewok · Oct 12, 2011

Considering my HTC Inspire 4G has performance on par with the 4S (in the browser department) it seems kind of silly to even consider switching. You'd have to pay me to go back to iOS. If someone gave me an iPhone, I'd sell it.

Chaosdingo · Oct 12, 2011

Most probably going for the 5.

My galaxy SII is my first android and it will most probably be my last. Only thing keeping me from changing to 4S is due to its better specs.

Changing largely due to the fact that I have no interest in rooting my phone and I understand a large part of the fun comes from doing that. but nahhhh no interest nor the time to do it.

Which leads me to the next point: android updates. seriously, how many different flavors of android are out there? why is there a need for so many? why do I have to root my phone to enjoy the latest update? And if I don't, why the eff do I have to wait for the update while some random dude in some other country gets it first??

when Apple says a new iOS gets released on day xx, ALL iPhone users get their updates on day xx. I prefer that, thank you very much.

and the consumer base, it's sickening to see all the cool iphone casings and accessories while all you have is plain looking stuff in limited varieties.

And lets not forget, in terms of apps - most of them comes fast for the iPhone while we android users are stuck with the 'coming soon' treatment.

Tiny tower, anyone?

and the countless force closes/crash to home screen/hanging problem. urgh. I mean, I dont know, but I had no such experience when I own an ipod touch back then.

But hey it's just me. I guess I'm just the generic/common/less tech-savvy/don't really care as long as you give me a simple working smartphone consumer.

BlakkMajik3000 · Oct 12, 2011

I find it funny people talk about signal issues with the Galaxy phones, when the iPhone 4 had similar problems.

Anyway, I've toyed with the "switch to iPhone" idea for at least the last 6 months. My OG Droid is showing it's age (still solid though), and I do like the ease of use that comes with an iPhone (owned an iPod Touch 3rd Gen for a period). The iPhone 4s just didn't wow me at all. I want at least a 4-inch screen, and I demand LTE. Do I need LTE right now? No, I can get everything I do (streaming music, Youtube) done quite well on 3G. However, there is no guarantee that Verizon will continue to "grandfather" users into unlimited 4G data, so I want to use it as much as I can, whether I actually "need" it or not. I'm also interested in the whole NFC thing, and know of several places around town I can use it.

Also, it's the little things that keep me on Android. Case in point, when I purchased my Xoom, I found using the standard keyboard a chore. I thought, I'm always holding it on the sides. Go to the Android market, BAM!, thumb keyboard. If I had an iPad, I couldn't do that.

So, like I said before, I'll probably end up sticking with Android. The Nexus Prime (or whatever they're calling it) seems to be the perfect upgrade for me, so I'm excited about that device.

aviboy97 · Oct 12, 2011

B2L said:
Don't take this as rude, but the 4s does not have a higher resolution screen than the iPhone 4. They both have a 3.5" IPS display with 960x640 resolution.

To most people there isn't much of a difference between the two. Sure there are some cool new features, but it seems like a lot is missing when it took a year and a half to release the 4s.

You have to take into consideration some time was spend developing a CDMA iPhone 4. If Apple was to wait to launch an iPhone on Verizon until the 4S was available, I bet it would have come out sooner.

Mostly Harmless · Oct 12, 2011

psychotron, you asked in your original post about who is switching then spent every other post telling us (all the people who aren't switching) about how great the 4S is. Are you looking for us to agree with you or tell you that you are doing the right thing? If you want the 4S then go get it.

BTW: I just recently upgraded from my N1 to a SGS2 and it is an awesome phone, I mean really an awesome phone. I was never impressed by Samsungs track record, but the SGS2 just blows my mind and restored some hope back into Samsung.

psychotron · Oct 12, 2011

Chaosdingo said:
Most probably going for the 5.

My galaxy SII is my first android and it will most probably be my last. Only thing keeping me from changing to 4S is due to its better specs.

Better specs on the S2? Doesn't mean much. Not only did the 4S beat it in benchmarks, look on YouTube for the dogfight with the 4S against both versions of the S2. The 4S did everything faster.

uminchu · Oct 12, 2011

Mostly Harmless said:
psychotron, you asked in your original post about who is switching then spent every other post telling us (all the people who aren't switching) about how great the 4S is. Are you looking for us to agree with you or tell you that you are doing the right thing? If you want the 4S then go get it.

+1
It's not that his reasoning is unsound; like you said, if he wants the 4S, go for it. To each his own, I hope it's everything he hopes for and more. But this thread has devolved into his own personal trolling ground. He (the OP) poses the question, then argues with most every opinion that differs from his own, ad nauseum, instead of simply accepting that we all have different opinions, expectations, purposes, or requirements of our phones. Again, to each his own, OP please give it a rest.

BTW: I just recently upgraded from my N1 to a SGS2 and it is an awesome phone, I mean really an awesome phone. I was never impressed by Samsungs track record, but the SGS2 just blows my mind and restored some hope back into Samsung.

+.5
I agree the SGS2 is blazing fast and buttery smooth, terrific screen even at 800x480, and restores *some* hope. At the same time, Samsung's track record for support is suspect, the E4gT has a documented loss of signal issue, and to date we've seen a grand total of *zero* updates to address the problem. I wonder how long it will take to get ICS, while Epic owners are still hoping/waiting/pleading for GB.

uminchu · Oct 12, 2011

psychotron said:
Better specs on the S2? Doesn't mean much. Not only did the 4S beat it in benchmarks, look on YouTube for the dogfight with the 4S against both versions of the S2. The 4S did everything faster.

Why post this without a link?

Edit: Absent a link from you, to be fair, I searched YouTube for the comparison you cited. Using "galaxy sgs2 vs iphone 4s" in the search box, I could find nothing comparing an iPhone 4S with anything, which, if you think about it, makes a lot of sense, since we don't yet have an iPhone 4S to compare (or do we?).

I did find a few comparisons of an iPhone 4 vs an SGS2 (galaxy sgs2 vs iphone 4s - YouTube). There was a camera comparison, which to me looked like the SGS2 came out on top. There's an MKV playback comparison, which looks like the SGS2 wins. Browser speed definitely went to the SGS2. There's a generic UI comparison, which in terms of speed and smoothness looks like a wash. But it's an iPhone 4, not a 4S, so it doesn't really count.

I tried again using the term 'dogfight' from your post, and searched "iphone 4s vs galaxy s2 dogfight" (iphone 4s vs galaxy s2 dogfight - YouTube). All I found were comparisons of an iPhone 4 with a Galaxy S running Froyo, which is a completely different animal and an invalid comp. I thought I'd hit it with iPhone 4S vs. Samsung Galaxy S II - WHO WINS?!but that turned out to be a 15 month old iPhone 4 - Evo 4g comparison, I've no idea what happened there.

I have no bias toward either phone, I'm just trying to locate whatever it is that you've chosen to offer as fact, absent any kind of support or link. Frankly, the whole thing leaves me with the impression that you have some kind of agenda or insecurity issue going on. I mean, hey, they're just phones, what's the big deal?

Slug · Oct 12, 2011

psychotron said:
The 4S did everything faster.

Except it can't run my Android apps. Or give me a hardware keyboard (like my Desire Z) for when I have to do serious terminal work. Or provide a community half as friendly as Android Forums. When it can do those then I might consider giving up my Android handsets.

I presume that your answer to the OP's question is "yes". Others have replied the opposite. Both are equally valid responses.

Stuntman · Oct 12, 2011

I didn't get the iPhone 3GS or the iPhone 4 because I wanted a physical keyboard. The iPhone 4S doesn't have a physical keyboard, so I'm not interested in it. If Apple makes an iPhone with a physical keyboard by the time I want to get a new phone, I will give it some consideration.

psychotron · Oct 12, 2011

uminchu said:
I have no bias toward either phone, I'm just trying to locate whatever it is that you've chosen to offer as fact, absent any kind of support or link. Frankly, the whole thing leaves me with the impression that you have some kind of agenda or insecurity issue going on. I mean, hey, they're just phones, what's the big deal?

Here is a link to the tests on several benchmarks with the iPhone 4S coming out ahead of the Android phones as well as a browser test video. In fact, the only Android device that came close to matching the A5 chip in the 4S was the Galaxy Tab. You can look at the related videos from this one for more.

AnandTech - iPhone 4S Preliminary Benchmarks: ~800MHz A5, Slightly Slower GPU than iPad 2, Still Very Fast

Iphone 4s Browser faster than Samsung Galaxy S II.mp4 - YouTube

Mostly Harmless · Oct 12, 2011

psychotron said:
Here is a link to the tests on several benchmarks with the iPhone 4S coming out ahead of the Android phones as well as a browser test video. In fact, the only Android device that came close to matching the A5 chip in the 4S was the Galaxy Tab. You can look at the related videos from this one for more.

AnandTech - iPhone 4S Preliminary Benchmarks: ~800MHz A5, Slightly Slower GPU than iPad 2, Still Very Fast

Iphone 4s Browser faster than Samsung Galaxy S II.mp4 - YouTube

Then go get your iPhone, what is the point here? You have all these people telling you they do not want to switch. You aren't going to convince anyone. I will enjoy my larger screen, my widgets, the friendly community, all the things I can do with my phone. Go buy your iPhone and enjoy it but you aren't going to convince anyone to switch.

Plus your video shows how much nicer the SGS2 screen is. The 3.5 inch screen doesn't cut it anymore. I rather have the real estate to view my websites then for it to come up faster.

Anyone considering giving up Android for iPhone 4S?

Bnice

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