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Help in deciding new phone

A

Adriel

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 13, 2014
5
0
It has come to this time of the year where I am getting my new phone. This time I'm stuck with the same problem I had a year ago. So just let me explain my story.

My first smartphone I had was the iPhone 4, which was the best smartphone ever I had at that point in time. After having the 4 for two years I finally upgraded to the iPhone 5. I enjoyed the eco-system and the way iOS works at that point in time. But then came "scuffgate" which alarmed me and I immediately sold my "Slate Black" iPhone 5 to get a Galaxy S4. After I got the Galaxy S4 I felt like I was liberated and enjoyed the freedom of having the option to customize lots of things, but at the same down I was also let down by the sluggishness and build quality of the device at that point in time.

About 9 months ago I switched to an LG G3, the software was so much smoother and I liked so many things about it. However, there were many times throughout the use of my S4 and G3 that I feel overwhelmed by the options and wished I just had something that would work and is simple. Unfortunately, I dropped my phone from a high place and it got completely destroyed.

Now I have the option to either continue with an android (Which at the time I have chosen the HTC One M9) or an iPhone 6. The reason I have looked into these two phones are because their UI (in this case also OS) are very simple while the HTC one allowing me to change things if I ever wanted to and also their build. I don't really use my phone for any heavy-lifting, just light media consumption, social media and productivity apps. The reason I also didn't choose the plus despite it having the same screen size as the LG G3 is because the bezels of the G3 are so thin that it's like a 5.2" phone and the Plus feels like a clunky phone.

I don't take many pictures either and I really don't care about the camera. My main priorities right now are: Build quality, Reliability, Display, Performance (in terms of day-to-day tasks like opening and closing apps)
I tend to be quite invested in both of the eco-systems but I find that all of the apps I use (Snapchat, Evernote and various social media) are on the AppStore too, so lets just say that we do not take the eco-systems into this decision.

I know most of the inputs are gonna be biased towards apple but I just wanna hear your reasonings and that because I also posted this on an Android forum so I get to hear both sides of it.

TL;DR I'm planning to switch from my LG G3 to iPhone 6, I have tried iOS before and liked it, but I like Android equally as much. Therefore, convince me to get the iPhone 6
 
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Adriel said:
It has come to this time of the year where I am getting my new phone. This time I'm stuck with the same problem I had a year ago. So just let me explain my story.

My first smartphone I had was the iPhone 4, which was the best smartphone ever I had at that point in time. After having the 4 for two years I finally upgraded to the iPhone 5. I enjoyed the eco-system and the way iOS works at that point in time. But then came "scuffgate" which alarmed me and I immediately sold my "Slate Black" iPhone 5 to get a Galaxy S4. After I got the Galaxy S4 I felt like I was liberated and enjoyed the freedom of having the option to customize lots of things, but at the same down I was also let down by the sluggishness and build quality of the device at that point in time.

About 9 months ago I switched to an LG G3, the software was so much smoother and I liked so many things about it. However, there were many times throughout the use of my S4 and G3 that I feel overwhelmed by the options and wished I just had something that would work and is simple. Unfortunately, I dropped my phone from a high place and it got completely destroyed.

Now I have the option to either continue with an android (Which at the time I have chosen the HTC One M9) or an iPhone 6. The reason I have looked into these two phones are because their UI (in this case also OS) are very simple while the HTC one allowing me to change things if I ever wanted to and also their build. I don't really use my phone for any heavy-lifting, just light media consumption, social media and productivity apps. The reason I also didn't choose the plus despite it having the same screen size as the LG G3 is because the bezels of the G3 are so thin that it's like a 5.2" phone and the Plus feels like a clunky phone.

I don't take many pictures either and I really don't care about the camera. My main priorities right now are: Build quality, Reliability, Display, Performance (in terms of day-to-day tasks like opening and closing apps)
I tend to be quite invested in both of the eco-systems but I find that all of the apps I use (Snapchat, Evernote and various social media) are on the AppStore too, so lets just say that we do not take the eco-systems into this decision.

I know most of the inputs are gonna be biased towards apple but I just wanna hear your reasonings and that because I also posted this on an Android forum so I get to hear both sides of it.

TL;DR I'm planning to switch from my LG G3 to iPhone 6, I have tried iOS before and liked it, but I like Android equally as much. Therefore, convince me to get the iPhone 6
Click to expand...

Get the phone that best fits your needs.
 
The thing is that, both suits my needs like I mentioned. Like I would be happy with either of them but I keep having second thoughts when I finally decide to buy one of them.
 
I'll get destoryed for saying this but maybe you should check out the Galaxy S6. The performance and build quality are on par with the iPhone 6 and has some extra features that iPhones are missing today. Touchwiz has been scaled back so it's not as overwhelming as it was in the past either.
 
rockitdog said:
I'll get destoryed for saying this but maybe you should check out the Galaxy S6. The performance and build quality are on par with the iPhone 6 and has some extra features that iPhones are missing today. Touchwiz has been scaled back so it's not as overwhelming as it was in the past either.
Click to expand...
That was actually on the list of my options but I just really don't like how the TouchWiz UI looks so cartoony (yes I know I can theme and install launchers) but I just cannot put up with things like this..
 
Well, I think I'm inclined to lean towards the iPhone, but I've never tried the M9 so I can't say with certainty. I think that they are probably both good phones, but I think that you should go to a cell phone store, and try them both out. Which one feels better in your hand?

You'll adapt to whichever one you choose, and I feel that you will be happy either way.
 
I was in the same boat as you. Had an IP4 and 5. Jumped to the S4 for the screen. Then went to to the Lg G2 which was a great phone. However, I came back to the Ip6 and love it. The ecosystem is wonderful. The battery lasts all day and the slightly smaller screen and slightly less resolution don't really show up for me. The ability to easily back it up is great. I will probably stay in the Apple system. When I am on my MacBook and get a text message, it shows up and I can type an answer quickly. You can't go wrong with the Ip6.

Now, saying all that, if someone shut down Apple, I would be getting a Galaxy S6. My wife has one and I am very familiar with it. The screen is stunning. It is lightning fast and not crazy with Touchwiz. It is very very usable. The battery lasts just about all day with moderate use. My wife is in real estate and makes a lot of calls and texts. She starts her day around 7 and the battery is at about 20% in the evening. She has a wireless charger at her desk at work and can just place it in it and see messages come in while it is charging. The S6 is a fantastic phone.

Good luck with your decision. With either phone, you can't go wrong.
 
jimbo1mcm said:
I was in the same boat as you. Had an IP4 and 5. Jumped to the S4 for the screen. Then went to to the Lg G2 which was a great phone. However, I came back to the Ip6 and love it. The ecosystem is wonderful. The battery lasts all day and the slightly smaller screen and slightly less resolution don't really show up for me. The ability to easily back it up is great. I will probably stay in the Apple system. When I am on my MacBook and get a text message, it shows up and I can type an answer quickly. You can't go wrong with the Ip6.

Now, saying all that, if someone shut down Apple, I would be getting a Galaxy S6. My wife has one and I am very familiar with it. The screen is stunning. It is lightning fast and not crazy with Touchwiz. It is very very usable. The battery lasts just about all day with moderate use. My wife is in real estate and makes a lot of calls and texts. She starts her day around 7 and the battery is at about 20% in the evening. She has a wireless charger at her desk at work and can just place it in it and see messages come in while it is charging. The S6 is a fantastic phone.

Good luck with your decision. With either phone, you can't go wrong.
Click to expand...

I agree with your second paragraph. If apple were out of the picture, I would go with the S6. It does look quite nice.
 
I'd recommend an iPhone to most people. Android has some real dealbreakers for me:

- Hardware tends to get quickly abandoned by the manufacturer and no longer gets software updates. That's why so few Android users have the latest version.

- Security and privacy design is poor. You don't have malware on iOS—you have plenty on Android. I've recommended apps to Android friends and they've donwloaded what LOOKS like the real thing, and it's a trojan horse!

- Android resale value is poor. I sold my 2-year-old iPhone for so much it was almost like my 6+ was free! My friend with a year-old high-end Samsung got much less.

- Android hardware and software are made by different companies with contradictory goals, and it shows. You don't get Apple-style tight integration where the hardware and software together are a single product. Example: I love TouchID! Other companies can do "some kind of fingerprint thing," but can it be as pervasive across the system and different apps? Can it be as secure and safe? Can it be as easy and reliable? No.

- Lack of the best apps. Too many of my favorites just don't exist on Android, and the ones that do show up late. (Dark Sky, Overcast, Procreate, GarageBand, Vainglory, many other games.) Plus developers won't support specific hardware features (TouchID again!) because there is no commitment to that feature being on lots of devices and staying there for the future. Another example: Metal API for game graphics. Apple has the hardware AND the software to back that up and get developer support. No Android handset maker can do that—they'd need Google cooperation, AND a certainty of selling MASS quantities FAR in to the future, before most developers would look at it. And since Android doesn't make much money for developers compared to iOS, the incentive is low. Bottom line: many apps are huge successes without Android; very few are huge successes without iOS.

- I see my Android friends fighting their phones and getting angry so much—and running totally out of battery! iOS 8 has its bugs still, but when I see the other side of the fence, it's a lot worse over there! And my battery is going strong at the end of the day, while my Samsung friends are climbing under tables with bulging pockets of chargers and extra batteries. (This could vary widely based on apps installed: Android lets apps waste battery a lot more than iOS permits. iOS is very smart with power, and just installing the wrong app--without even using it--is not going to drain your battery.)

Plus, Google has a lot of great iOS apps, so you may not have to give up much of what you're used to with Android.
 
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Until two years ago I was android through and through. Loved it. Until it came to customer care, no real support and no real phone diagnosis in store etc. I went from a dying GS2 to ip4. Loved iOS as I'd only really got to have a go when setting up clients email accounts on them. I finally got to use the shiny os for real. Then came upgrade time so stuck with iOS and got the 5c. Fast forward to now. 6 months away from upgrade and toying with the idea if htc m9 however the ip6 draws me to it for two reasons quality apps and quality os. Not to mention the aforementioned service from Apple themselves.

There's part of me that's wants to return to android but I know I'd regret it. Staying on iOS would be less hassle and certainly would be getting (in my opinion ) a better phone.
 
Have you played with the M9? I found it to be quite unappealing in hand. The design is not as compelling as the M7 or M8 — it has a plastic frontplate, a strange "rim" around the edge, etc. (Plus, while I know you said camera isn't important to you, the camera is quite bad — as are other aspects of the phone. It seems like a step down from the M8 in most ways. Check out Anandtech's recent reviews/articles on it.)

Even if both phones are truly equal for you, I'd go with iPhone for resale value alone (assuming that factors in).
 
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