iPhone 4S or Galaxy S2?

[ZBoater]

I've had the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4 and just got Sprint's Galaxy S II yesterday and I LOVE it! I'm not going to sit here and bash Apple and the iPhone because I have loved every moment with my past iPhones, but for me it was time for a change. In the end, for now anyway, I'll be sticking with my Galaxy S II.

I probably would be right there with ya had it not been for a super experience I had at the Genius Bar a few months back where they replaced my broken iPad 2 for free. She didn't have to do it, but she did. I was so mpressed I decided to give the MacBook Air a shot. Then the Thundrbolt display. Now Apple TV. So I have been sucked into the vortex that is Apple and have been assimilated. I'm ditching my Thunderbolts and going iPhone...

 

[slash21]

I've had the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4 and just got Sprint's Galaxy S II yesterday and I LOVE it! I'm not going to sit here and bash Apple and the iPhone because I have loved every moment with my past iPhones, but for me it was time for a change. In the end, for now anyway, I'll be sticking with my Galaxy S II.

I am in a similar trail, iPhone 1, 3G, 3GS and 4.

I'm seriously considering the switch to GS2, just for the heck of trying something different. Hope I won't regret the switch.

So... I'm curious to know reasons for your new love with GS2... ?

 

[Handsome Rob]

This is a very poor analogy given by many nowadays.

First of all, installing custom ROMs =/= hauling material.

Second of all, people use both phones the same way. Or for same end result. You may use a different method, but the end result is same.

For example, watching videos, listening to music, browsing internet, social networking, running apps, making apps, installing apps, navigation, planner, diary, document reading and making, email, IM, entertainment, time keeping etc.

Both iPhone and android phones do same things mentioned above. Do they use different ways or different methods? yes. But the end result is you get the same info out that you intended. I have no come across a single android phone, nexus or no nexus, that offers anything more. Yes there are widgets, yes you have drag and drop and yes there is LTE, bigger screens but do they do anything more than accomplish the above? No. Do they make me lunch, make my bill payments, do my work for me etc? No. So both OS work to do the same. It is not like one is a ford 150 and other is an audi a8, where both do different things (i,e. hauling groceries vs. pulling trailers or doing snow removal etc).

So it is in no way the same as "hauling material to a job site". This is such a big misrepresentation.

I don't agree. Sure they're both totally capable of doing the same thing, at the end of the day they're both portable computers, but they're engineered to do different things better.

IE: Google Voice guided GPS Nav is worlds more mature than anything mapquest or any other offers on the Iphone. On the other hand, Iphone syncing is worlds ahead of anything on Android. There are lots of differences.

If you want to get into uber-customization, of course they can both do the same thing if you can find software/apps or do it yourself, but if you're comparing the OS's then you compare what you buy from the manufacturer.

Sure a Bentley and a Ford Superduty can both haul parts, and you can customize the Bentley or fabricate a trailer, but the way they come out of the factory....

 

[PhoneI]

I have the iPhone 4 and the SG2. At first the SG2's screen really stands out. After a few days though, trying to use the SG2 on a daily basis gets old fast. I hate the keyboard (all of them), hate the email client, hate the text client, hate the battery life, missed a bunch of my apps, etc.

 

[Aquaporin]

I bought the SGII yesterday but I am returning it despite its tremendous speeds and gorgeous screen. The phone cannot pick up wifi signal, the keyboard is difficult to use, and the phone takes hours longer than it should to charge.

I am going to try to snag a 4S on Friday.

 

[OneMike]

I bought the SGII yesterday but I am returning it despite its tremendous speeds and gorgeous screen. The phone cannot pick up wifi signal, the keyboard is difficult to use, and the phone takes hours longer than it should to charge.

I am going to try to snag a 4S on Friday.

I returned the phone as well. It did take longer to charge but wifi was just as good as iPhone.

 

[lilo777]

I bought the SGII yesterday but I am returning it despite its tremendous speeds and gorgeous screen. The phone cannot pick up wifi signal, the keyboard is difficult to use, and the phone takes hours longer than it should to charge.

I am going to try to snag a 4S on Friday.

SGSII probably has the best. WiFi out there. It has dual band N (iPhone does not). However SGSII' WiFi signal indicator is calibrated differently than other phones. This was discovered and reported by Anandtech. The phones shows fewer bars than other phones but performs better than all of them.

 

[FtrV8]

Maybe I can help since I've had the S2 since May or so and I've ordered a 4S...

Hardware wise, the iPhone just feels like it is a much nicer phone. More premium. The S2, and really every Samsung smartphone, and a huge chunk of Android devices are made out of plastic, so while it doesn't feel flimsy, it doesn't feel as solid as the iPhone. I also prefer the weight of the iPhone, the S2 is light, but almost feels too light.

Also, and this is more of a problem with Android, but even with the very powerful processor, the S2 feels fast for the first little while then starts bogging down and now it doesn't feel as fluid as it was when I first got it. I might have to do a restore to get it back to where it was.

Screen - The SAMOLED Plus screen is definitely the winner as far as contrast goes, but along with that it does come with over saturated colors. Seems very forced and trying to make the picture nicer, but instead it exaggerates the colors. The IPS display gives more natural colors and offers more PPI so text is sharper, which is noticeable, but really depends on if it matters to you or not.

Web Browsing - The S2 does render faster than the 4, but obviously with the A5, the 4S should be just as quick or even quicker. Android still has a long way to go compared to iOS in the scrolling department. It still feels choppy.

For me, the things I mentioned along with missing the iPod app and Apple integration are the reasons I am going back to iPhone. I really did want a larger screen, but part of me is still a bit happy with the 3.5" because I have smaller hands and reaching across the 4.3" screen of the S2 with one hand gets a bit uncomfortable. I'm stoked to get my 4S next week!

Hope that helps.

Well compared. I own a myraid of mobile devices; Androids, iOS devices, Honeycombs, you name it.... my favorite Android is the SGSII. Your assessment of it compared to iP4 is spot on. Can't wait for iP4S, as I ways end up using iOS as my daily cellular device after mucking around with Android.

Bobby

 

[Aquaporin]

SGSII probably has the best. WiFi out there. It has dual band N (iPhone does not). However SGSII' WiFi signal indicator is calibrated differently than other phones. This was discovered and reported by Anandtech. The phones shows fewer bars than other phones but performs better than all of them.
Image

I was not concerned about the speed of transfer. The phone could not pick up the Wifi while my 3GS could.

 

[Darthdingo]

My biggest beef, is a simple one, the years old 3.5" screen size, is just not up to today's standards. Surfing online with a tiny 3.5" screen just plain out sucks. The 4.3" screen on the Nexus-Prime with the same DPI as a "Retina" display is just so much nicer in my opinion. A larger screen is so much easier to read big news pages, without having to scroll left or right and double tap to zoom here and there like on the iPhone. And what about voice navigation ? For my business I use Google maps several times a day, five days a week, I LOVE it. I am surprised with Siri they didn't also have do NAV ?

I was really hoping for the iPhone5 per the mockup pic's going around the net, with a 4" screen, and razor thin. Oh well, maybe next year Apple will really up date the iPhone for once.

 

[trims]

I'm debating how to upgrade from a 3GS.

I don't want to get locked into a two year contract and find that the phone I really wanted, the iPhone 5, is released next spring. Its the contract, not just the phone, which counts.

The 4S is an impressive phone but here in the UK it would cost a lot to upgrade and I'd be left on a worse contract than my current contract, esp in terms of 3G access. And I'd be tied in beyond the IP5 launch.

Across the board, iPhone contracts offer worse value than those on offer for Android (and other) phones. But friends and colleagues with Androids report problems with hanging software, and there's the same contract lock-down issue.

Guess I'll stay put for now, and see how the IP5 rumours evolve . . .

 

[Jordan921]

Most of what rondz says echos my experience with the SGS2. I use the SGS2 at work as well as the iPhone 4. I have to charge the SGS2 about every 4 hours while the iPhone 4 can go a couple of days without needing to be charged. There is one thing that the SGS2 has that the iPhone 4 does not, is a removal battery. It comes in handy when an app crashes and locks up the Android OS. When that happens the only way to get the Android phone to recover is to remove and reinstall the battery.

Lol so the only thing Android has on iPhone is removal battery for when your app crashes or locks up? I'll pass on having to carry extra batteries around for when my phone locks up. With my iPhone all I have to do is restart it.

 

[ZBoater]

Lol so the only thing Android has on iPhone is removal battery for when your app crashes or locks up? I'll pass on having to carry extra batteries around for when my phone locks up. With my iPhone all I have to do is restart it.

What? Dude, have you ever seen an Android phone? The removable battery comes in handy when you run out of juice and can't plug in. The iPhone becomes an expensive paperweight while the Android keeps on working.

You can reboot an Android just as easily as an IPhone without removing the battery too.

 

[TM WAZZA]

My biggest beef, is a simple one, the years old 3.5" screen size, is just not up to today's standards. Surfing online with a tiny 3.5" screen just plain out sucks. The 4.3" screen on the Nexus-Prime with the same DPI as a "Retina" display is just so much nicer in my opinion. A larger screen is so much easier to read big news pages, without having to scroll left or right and double tap to zoom here and there like on the iPhone. And what about voice navigation ? For my business I use Google maps several times a day, five days a week, I LOVE it. I am surprised with Siri they didn't also have do NAV ?

I was really hoping for the iPhone5 per the mockup pic's going around the net, with a 4" screen, and razor thin. Oh well, maybe next year Apple will really up date the iPhone for once.

A high PPI 4+" screen would be the best combination. But with the current phones with big screens and low ppi doesn't cut it for me. Bring on Nexus Prime / Galaxy Nexus!

 

[lilo777]

Lol so the only thing Android has on iPhone is removal battery for when your app crashes or locks up? I'll pass on having to carry extra batteries around for when my phone locks up. With my iPhone all I have to do is restart it.

Both Android and iPhone (and all other kinds of electronics) suffer from all kinds of failures. Disconnecting power source is a well known method for resetting the device. It's available on Android phones. iPhone users, on the other hand, have to drive to Apple store to achieve this.

 

[Jordan921]

What? Dude, have you ever seen an Android phone? The removable battery comes in handy when you run out of juice and can't plug in. The iPhone becomes an expensive paperweight while the Android keeps on working.

You can reboot an Android just as easily as an IPhone without removing the battery too.

And if you had read what I quoted you would have seen what I said. Just because it has a removable battery doesn't make it better. We all know anything Android has horrible battery life. With my iPhone 4 I can go all day and not have to worry about my battery.

An Android might be just as easily to reboot. But as the poster said he removes he battery to reset his phone when it locks up or crashes.

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Both Android and iPhone (and all other kinds of electronics) suffer from all kinds of failures. Disconnecting power source is a well known method for resetting the device. It's available on Android phones. iPhone users, on the other hand, have to drive to Apple store to achieve this.

I've never had to go to an apple store to reset me device.

 

[Young Spade]

I am in a similar trail, iPhone 1, 3G, 3GS and 4.

I'm seriously considering the switch to GS2, just for the heck of trying something different. Hope I won't regret the switch.

So... I'm curious to know reasons for your new love with GS2... ?

Just do it; you have a 30 day window in which you can simply take the phone back and get your upgrade back.

I'm switching to the 4S after using Android for 2 years, just to try something new as well. Switch to the SGS2, within a month, take it back, and you should be able to get an iPhone 4S if you wanted that same day or the next week, when they start having them available in stores.

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And if you had read what I quoted you would have seen what I said. Just because it has a removable battery doesn't make it better. We all know anything Android has horrible battery life. With my iPhone 4 I can go all day and not have to worry about my battery.

An Android might be just as easily to reboot. But as the poster said he removes he battery to reset his phone when it locks up or crashes.

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I've never had to go to an apple store to reset me device.

I used Android for 2 years and could make it through an entire day of heavy use, no matter what I did.

I'm willing to assume you've never owned an Android device before have you?

But anyway, a lot of people just recite hearsay about battery life and whatnot, without actually using the phone. It isn't bad at all. You can easily go an entire day with 1 charge.

 

[ZBoater]

We all know anything Android has horrible battery life. With my iPhone 4 I can go all day and not have to worry about my battery.

Again I have to ask if you've used or owned an Android phone. My Tbolt gives me 6-8 hours on 4G, but when I set it to 3G I can get 24 hours easy. My original Droid would also last me all day. This bad rap with battery life is 4G lte related, and since the iPhone doesn't do 4G I guess that's why it seems to be an Android issue. It isn't.

 

[Young Spade]

Guess I'll stay put for now, and see how the IP5 rumours evolve . . .

Probably the same way they always do, everybody saying different things and nobody really knowing what's going on.

 

[joshwithachance]

I am in a similar trail, iPhone 1, 3G, 3GS and 4.

I'm seriously considering the switch to GS2, just for the heck of trying something different. Hope I won't regret the switch.

So... I'm curious to know reasons for your new love with GS2... ?

The large display, widgets, notification LED, 4G support, and the total control you get over the phone right out of the box. Touchwiz 4.0 isn't bad at all, so the UI is pleasant to look at and use as well. I think you should go for it! You can always go back to the iPhone if it's not for you.

 

[Young Spade]

Again I have to ask if you've used or owned an Android phone. My Tbolt gives me 6-8 hours on 4G, but when I set it to 3G I can get 24 hours easy. My original Droid would also last me all day. This bad rap with battery life is 4G lte related, and since the iPhone doesn't do 4G I guess that's why it seems to be an Android issue. It isn't.

People are ignorant and will just recite what they've read on this forum or somewhere else without actually testing the device. I haven't ever used an iPhone 4 as my PRIMARY phone, so I don't talk about them.

However, people will jump at the chance to talk about Android's "horrible battery life" every second they get, and then base their argument about the insignificance of specs and whatnot.

This forum is being dragged under by ignorant teenagers, to be blunt.

 

[Jordan921]

People are ignorant and will just recite what they've read on this forum or somewhere else without actually testing the device. I haven't ever used an iPhone 4 as my PRIMARY phone, so I don't talk about them.

However, people will jump at the chance to talk about Android's "horrible battery life" every second they get, and then base their argument about the insignificance of specs and whatnot.

This forum is being dragged under by ignorant teenagers, to be blunt.

Lol quick to call people names aren't you. I know tons of people that have androids that cant make it through half the day on an Android. No need to have one myself to experience it when I have close friends who tell me. They also plan on switching to iPhones when their upgrades are up. You don't know me so don't try to assume what I know and don't know.

 

[ZBoater]

The large display, widgets, notification LED, 4G support, and the total control you get over the phone right out of the box. Touchwiz 4.0 isn't bad at all, so the UI is pleasant to look at and use as well. I think you should go for it! You can always go back to the iPhone if it's not for you.

After being an original iPhone 3G and 3GS user, I jumped ship to the Motorola Droid and now the Thunderbolt. I just preordered a iPhone 4S.

With my experiences with both platforms, I have to say Android has better hardware. They have more variety pushing the spec envelope harder, and the newer Android devices are things of beauty. Sorry, they are just superior hardware to the iPhone 4 and 4S, Retina Display notwithstanding.

The Android platform I think is also superior, with greater flexibility and customizations. Widgets and live wallpapers are just two things that make ios5 seem dated. I've been playing with ios5 for a few days, and it's nice to see Apple catching up with notifications and split keyboard. But then they do something like sticking Newstand in your face, and all I can do is

So why did I get the iPhone 4S?

I bought into the whole Apple ecosystem thing. I've been a lifetime Windows user and recently took the plunge with a MacBook Air. I've been an iPad user since day 1, and I'm eyeing an Apple TV. Adding an iPhone 4S to my gadget stable just opens up so many cool possibilities that Android doesn't have.

But I'm a techie at heart and seeing the Bionic and the SG2 just makes me drool. I may still get a wifi Galaxy Tab or something Android because I believe in the potential, I love gadgets, I love having access to a real file system, I love widgets and live wallpapers, and I HATE being stuck with icons I DON'T WANT.

But then I'll just swallow hard and pull my iPhone out of my belt holster...

 

[Captain America]

Well, after much deliberation with myself, I decided to pre-order the 4S through AT&T. The website simply says that it was received, and hasn't been processed or anything like that. Any idea of when that will go down? And will I receive it on time?

 

[iBram15]

I think Android is getting really good. My brother has a HTC HD2 and I like android, not as much as iOS, but thats maybe because I have a Mac and iPad too. Android phones are great phones, and many friend of mine have the SGII and it's a beautifull phone! But I stay with iPhone.