Android phone advice

[xShadow]

I've got my next AT&T upgrade on September 1st. Currently, I have an iPhone 3S. It's not that I dislike it too much or anything, but I have heard that the Android platform offers much more freedom. Basically, I hate iTunes and Apple's store system a lot. The phone itself has served satisfactorily.

I believe this is most of the list I'm looking at as far as choices go.

Currently, I'm leaning towards this phone (if I can get that refurb at my dealer; I don't know if it's an option for upgrades). My friend got a Samsung Galaxy S3 recently, but I'm not that eager to spend 200 dollars for a relatively small upgrade in actual functionality.

Basically I just need some info. I'm doing research on my own, too, but if anyone has some wisdom about current and future Android phones, I would like to hear it. Pretty much anything is fine (especially personal experiences with iPhones vs them).

This also isn't terribly time-sensitive; I don't mind waiting a bit if something new that's gonna drop prices is going to come out.

[Slysoft]

I'd rather get a google phone, but that's because I prefer the stock android experience. Shame google's latest phone is somewhat dated now. I hope they put a new one out soon because my contract is ending in a few months also. All I can say is android >>> iOS especially with android 4.1 (It's awesome). The Galaxy Nexus already has android 4.1, but like I said it's somewhat dated and the HTC one series is supposed to get 4.1 soon (although who knows how long that will take, third party carriers like to take forever to roll those updates out.)

[metro.]

If you can, wait until October. Around then, the new iPhone is coming out, Android is releasing a wack of Jellybean phones and Windows 8 mobile will be in full swing. Even if you're not interested in any of those things, the prices on other phones will go down.

If you need to get a new phone from that list before hand, I have to suggest the S3, although I'd actually suggest the Galaxy Nexus S2 if you can, it will get the JB upgrade due to it being a Google phone.

[Reesebiz]

It depends on what you're planning on doing with your phone. If you're just going to check Facebook and play a game from time to time then I would definitely recommend the HTC One X. If you're going to go all out with your new phone it will need the extra processing power so get the Samsung Galaxy S3.

I suggest getting the Samsung Galaxy S3 as it will be future-proof until your next contract. It will be able to handle the more demanding apps that are being added to the market and there's a good chance it will receive the Android 6.0 OS Key Lime Pie in the future.

[metro.]

Reese, the S3 won't get updates from Google, which was my point about Galaxy Nexus S2. The Galaxy's are Google's line of phones, so they give them updates that actually work most of the time.

[mrdkreka]

Reese, the S3 won't get updates from Google, which was my point about Galaxy Nexus S2. The Galaxy's are Google's line of phones, so they give them updates that actually work most of the time.

You are mixing up nexus(google) with galaxy(samsung) :S

[Reesebiz]

It doesn't matter if the phone is from Google or not, as long as it can run the OS the carrier can issue out an OS upgrade. My Samsung Galaxy Note got the ICS upgrade awhile ago.

[Slysoft]

They can but they usually don't. I know plenty of people (myself included) whose phones from 2011 are still running android 2.3 and no upgrades available (at least officially)

[metro.]

Yeah, that's my point. The Google phones, whichever they are, Nexus? Yeah.

They will get the Jellybean update, and it won't be a workaround/delayed/non-compatible.

[xShadow]

From what I've seen, it doesn't look like any of Google's phones are available from AT&T, though.

I might go check again sometime.


My iPhone is still using like 4.3 or something, though. Should probably get around to upgrading it sometime, but I'm of the "if it ain't broke, why am I fixing it?" mindset...

It depends on what you're planning on doing with your phone. If you're just going to check Facebook and play a game from time to time then I would definitely recommend the HTC One X. If you're going to go all out with your new phone it will need the extra processing power so get the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Let's get this out of the way: I don't use Facebook or any social networking sites.

Moving on:

They both have dual core processors and their screens are the same resolution. I take it the S3's is more powerful somehow (not a sarcastic question, honestly wondering)?

What I'm mainly planning to do is surfing the internet (I would like it to be useful for reading online manga), playing some games (probably not ones I would have to buy), reading some ebooks, and watching some anime. Good screen resolution is important, and the processor needs to be good enough to watch anime. That's about it.

I suggest getting the Samsung Galaxy S3 as it will be future-proof until your next contract. It will be able to handle the more demanding apps that are being added to the market and there's a good chance it will receive the Android 6.0 OS Key Lime Pie in the future.

What demanding apps are you talking about? Any that I would be particularly interested in?

I don't particularly make that much at my mini college job. I've got about 400 bucks built up from two weeks of work I did before the school week started (lots of heavy lifting and cleaning), and throwing half of it on a phone isn't something I'm eager to do, unless this thing is something I could use for a good 2-4 years, not just until the next upgrade.

My ideal price range for phones is ~50, with 100 being max. That phone is ~2-4 upgrades worth.

If you can, wait until October. Around then, the new iPhone is coming out, Android is releasing a wack of Jellybean phones and Windows 8 mobile will be in full swing. Even if you're not interested in any of those things, the prices on other phones will go down.

Is there any concrete ETA anywhere? I don't particularly mind waiting that long, but I'd like to know if it's something I can plan on for sure.

[metro.]

October Jellybean phones come out, and the iPhone 5. End of October Nokia Windows 8 phones will come out, sometime November other Windows 8 phones will come out.

Providing they don't push things back, that's how it stands.

[Reesebiz]

They both have dual core processors and their screens are the same resolution. I take it the S3's is more powerful somehow (not a sarcastic question, honestly wondering)?

Main differences is that AT&T Galaxy S3 has 2 GB while HTC One X has 1 GB, and the Galaxy has an expansion slot for your SD card while the One X doesn't. So for example you could move all your apps to your SD card and leave your phone with a lot more free space.

What I'm mainly planning to do is surfing the internet (I would like it to be useful for reading online manga), playing some games (probably not ones I would have to buy), reading some ebooks, and watching some anime. Good screen resolution is important, and the processor needs to be good enough to watch anime. That's about it.
...
My ideal price range for phones is ~50, with 100 being max. That phone is ~2-4 upgrades worth.

The HTC One X would definitely suit you. $50 and it was originally your preferred choice.

What demanding apps are you talking about? Any that I would be particularly interested in?

Final Fantasy III and GTA3 recently came out on the app market. Actual full console games are being added to the market now.

[mrdkreka]

their screens are the same resolution.

Well yes they are, but they are using two different screen technology. One X is using S-LCD, while S3 is using AMOLED(PenTile), both have their pros and con, but One X screen is considered the best for most people.

What demanding apps are you talking about? Any that I would be particularly interested in?

Doubtful, it is mostly games that are high demanding.

If you can, wait until October. Around then, the new iPhone is coming out, Android is releasing a wack of Jellybean phones and Windows 8 mobile will be in full swing. Even if you're not interested in any of those things, the prices on other phones will go down.

Is there any concrete ETA anywhere? I don't particularly mind waiting that long, but I'd like to know if it's something I can plan on for sure.

There aren't any precise date, but flagship phones (stuff like nexus and iphone) have been following an one year cycle, so it would be quite surprising if that suddenly changed. I doubt that it will lower the prices much on the phones you are considering, so you might as well get the One X now, if that is the one you want.

[xShadow]

There are a few things keeping me from that HTC, though:
1. Non-expandable memory (ie no SD slot)
2. Can't remove battery (something goes wrong with battery. I'm shafted).

Granted, I'm used to these with my 8 gig (lol) iPhone, and that thing has 16 gigs of space... but still.

Since I want that resolution, though, there aren't that many other choices that make sense (since the specs tend to only be worse,k and they rarely have removable batteries, too). Sigh.

I notice the first thing that tends to start going with phones is the battery, so this is kind of a turn-off for me.

[rostheferret]

Consider the Galaxy Note. It doesn't sound like you need the latest and greatest for your purposes, and they'll be bringing out the Note II soon (read: price drop). 5.3" screen makes it the largest out there short of a tablet, 32gig internal and space for a microSD, h264 support; ok, so it's not the fastest or latest but it's worth a look imo.

[GoGeTa006]

Who comes up with these code names?

[halfelite]

being you are on ATT go to radioshack you can get a brand new htc one x for 99$ or the samsung s3 for 149$ plus a 25$ gift card that you can turn around and use on the purchase and a 5$ gift card just for checking if you can upgrade. So the new HTC X would be 69$ and the s3 would be 109$

[xShadow]

I think you're 10 bucks off on the S3's price.

Consider the Galaxy Note. It doesn't sound like you need the latest and greatest for your purposes, and they'll be bringing out the Note II soon (read: price drop). 5.3" screen makes it the largest out there short of a tablet, 32gig internal and space for a microSD, h264 support; ok, so it's not the fastest or latest but it's worth a look imo.

That's an interesting choice. From what I've read online, the Note II is going to be released sometime in September, which isn't too far away. As long as it fits in my pocket, I won't mind... and if it ends up cheaper than the S3, it's definitely worth looking into. I'm hopefully trying for a screen that can actually fit one full page of an online manga on it while still being readable without zooming. It's definitely one step closer to that. It'll be better for everything else I try, and the processor is still dual core.

I don't think I'm interested in shelling out 200 dollars for a phone with way more horsepower than I'll (ever) need, so it looks like I'm narrowing it down Galaxy Note in mid-September, or One X right now. Leaning towards waiting for the Galaxy Note's price to drop, since its larger screen is appealing. If it drops down to 100 bucks or so I'm definitely gonna go for it.

Side note, looks like Android apps can be pirated pretty easily... my iPhone you can only do that if you jailbreak the thing. I never did it because no matter how low they claim the chance of bricking it is, it's still there (no backup). Android looks like it requires no jailbreak.

[metro.]

I kept wondering who the hell would ever want a Note, I guess maybe there is a market.
Interesting.

[xShadow]

I kept wondering who the hell would ever want a Note, I guess maybe there is a market.
Interesting.

I've read that it's a bit of a cult hit. I mean it's a little bigger than a cell phone but still way smaller than one of those tablets so you can fit it into your pocket (probably?). I don't see what's not to like. If you can give me some cons, I'll take those into consideration.