What should I do?

[Tibbers]

I currently have an iPhone 4. It's in bad shape, though. I've replaced the back glass twice now, and it's in need of replacement yet again. I have a reputation for being rough with my phones and unfortunately I've pushed this phone too far and now there are pieces of glass that even fall out of the phone when I shake it (with the back cover off). I won't even charge it when I'm asleep- I'm afraid it may catch on fire. Oh, and I should mention that it seems to overheat quite often too. The only thing holding my poor phone together is the case. :/

So here's what I'm wondering:

Should I upgrade to a new phone now? If I do, it will be the HTC One X. I like the phone a lot, but I've always used iPhones so changing over is a bit intimidating.

Or, should I just replace the back glass on my current phone yet again and try to find a decent case- essentially waiting for the new iPhone?

Option 1 is $199 and obviously I get a new phone out of it- but no iPhone this Fall.

Option 2 is ~$80-$160 depending upon if I choose the cheap iFixit transparent back or the actual white glass one.

Thoughts?

 

[404 tech junkie]

I currently have an iPhone 4. It's in bad shape, though. I've replaced the back glass twice now, and it's in need of replacement yet again. I have a reputation for being rough with my phones and unfortunately I've pushed this phone too far and now there's pieces of glass that even fall out of the phone when I shake it (with the back cover off). I won't even charge it when I'm asleep- I'm afraid it may catch on fire. Oh, and I should mention that it seems to overheat quite often too. The only thing holding my poor phone together is the case. :/

So here's what I'm wondering:

Should I upgrade to a new phone now? If I do, it will be the HTC One X. I like the phone a lot, but I've always used iPhones so changing over is a bit intimidating.

Or, should I just replace the back glass on my current phone yet again and try to find a decent case- essentially waiting for the new iPhone?

Option 1 is $199 and obviously I get a new phone out of it- but no iPhone this Fall.

Option 2 is ~$80-$160 depending upon if I choose the cheap iFixit transparent back or the actual white glass one.

Thoughts?

It sounds to me that if you're that rough on a phone, an iPhone really is a bad phone for you anyway. Rough on phones + glass phone = broken phone (which I'm sure you're already aware of). The One X is very durable and should be able to better stand up to the abuse you are dishing out to your phone. The iPhone just isn't nearly as durable with it being made of glass, so if you're replace the glass now, you'll eventually be doing it again later. You might as well get a phone that will stand up to your use. Not to mention, it's a better phone anyway. So it's a win across the board for you.

 

[sulpfiction]

Or maybe become just a little more responsible and take care of your phone.

 

[rotobadger]

EDIT: ^
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What he said.


I agree that the iPhone is not for you if you're rough on cell phones. My question is why are you so rough on your phones? I carry my phone with me at all times (except in bed of course) and I travel a great deal. It is still in mint condition. I'm careful but I certainly don't baby it or obsess over its safety.

Frankly, I don't get it. I think the simple answer is get the phone you like and just BE MORE CAREFUL.

 

[Tibbers]

It sounds to me that if you're that rough on a phone, an iPhone really is a bad phone for you anyway. Rough on phones + glass phone = broken phone (which I'm sure you're already aware of). The One X is very durable and should be able to better stand up to the abuse you are dishing out to your phone. The iPhone just isn't nearly as durable with it being made of glass, so if you're replace the glass now, you'll eventually be doing it again later. You might as well get a phone that will stand up to your use. Not to mention, it's a better phone anyway. So it's a win across the board for you.

Thanks I just hope I don't regret it when the iPhone refreshes. Then again, if I'm happy with the One X, there would be no reason to want another phone anyways.

Or maybe become just a little more responsible and take care of your phone.

Everyone treats their devices differently. I never asked you if I should change my behavior, thanks.

 

[aPple nErd]

my advice: get an iPhone 5 when it comes out and get the most ridiculously strong case you can find. defender otter box, life proof, etc and keep it in there at all times!

 

[404 tech junkie]

Thanks I just hope I don't regret it when the iPhone refreshes. Then again, if I'm happy with the One X, there would be no reason to want another phone anyways.



Everyone treats their devices differently. I never asked you if I should change my behavior, thanks.

No problem. Honestly, you don't necessarily have to be rough on the iPhone for it to break. My coworker broke the back glass on his 4S when he had it in his pocket and hit his thigh on the corner of a desk. The result was a crack in the glass. The iPhone is not fragile, but it certainly is not durable. Hopefully the next iPhone is made of a better material. I'm of the mind that build quality also encompasses durability.

 

[Tibbers]

No problem. Honestly, you don't necessarily have to be rough on the iPhone for it to break. My coworker broke the back glass on his 4S when he had it in his pocket and hit his thigh on the corner of a desk. The result was a crack in the glass. The iPhone is not fragile, but it certainly is not durable. Hopefully the next iPhone is made of a better material. I'm of the mind that build quality also encompasses durability.

Exactly. It's definitely not fragile, but you don't have to be that rough with it to break. My problem is mainly dropping it. I can never seem to keep it in my hands, especially after a night out.

I never had a problem with my iPhone 3G, and it looks like the One X is made of the same materials- so I'm hoping it works out much better for me.

Thanks again for your input.

 

[404 tech junkie]

Exactly. It's definitely not fragile, but you don't have to be that rough with it to break. My problem is mainly dropping it. I can never seem to keep it in my hands, especially after a night out.

I never had a problem with my iPhone 3G, and it looks like the One X is made of the same materials- so I'm hoping it works out much better for me.

Thanks again for your input.

lol I think many a person has dropped their phone during or after a night out . The problem is the iPhone isn't really built to handle drops very well (glass). A case can only do so much. As for the One X, there's a drop test video out there that shows the One X doing great falling on concrete. I'll post the link if I can find it.

 

[labman]

No problem. Honestly, you don't necessarily have to be rough on the iPhone for it to break. My coworker broke the back glass on his 4S when he had it in his pocket and hit his thigh on the corner of a desk. The result was a crack in the glass. The iPhone is not fragile, but it certainly is not durable. Hopefully the next iPhone is made of a better material. I'm of the mind that build quality also encompasses durability.

the 4s is pretty durable it could always be tougher but it does pretty good in drop test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=K7e9ebi41Wc#!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg85V5dyucg

 

[404 tech junkie]

Here you go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBo3W6HdPbM

----------

the 4s is pretty durable it could always be tougher but it does pretty good in drop test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=K7e9ebi41Wc#!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg85V5dyucg

It did well in the drop test she showed, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it durable. I don't think it's fragile by any means, but it certainly is more susceptible to damage than many other phones (due to what it's made of). For example, the fact it has a front and back panel of glass, means it has two times the opportunity for broken glass to occur in a drop. On another durability note, the aluminum is easily scratched...even by a case.

 

[KentuckyHouse]

Tibbers, my advice is to forget the One X and go for the GSM Galaxy Nexus straight from Google for $350. Just pop your sim in and go. You'll still have your upgrade available and it's a wonderful phone. But, of course, you probably want to order before Monday since Apple has decided they can't compete and got their cute little injunction in place. I've got a 4S, but I'm done with Apple until they stop with the frivolous lawsuits and paying off judges and actually try and innovate.

Oh, and in the interest of full disclosure, I've had the iPhone since the 3GS. I now have the aforementioned 4S and also the GSM GNex and One X, in case people want to call me a troll.

Oh...and this post was submitted from my new iPad. So, as you can see, I'm anything but anti-Apple (until they started these stupid lawsuits).

 

[Indy21]

My advice would be to fix what you have for as cheap as possible and hold out until Fall.

If you can only afford to get the One X now and not afford the new iPhone when it's released I think you may regret it.

I've been an iPhone fan since day one and I baby my phone as much as possible, hell, I don't know what I did without it before, it's an extension of ME! LoL, sad I know.

Anyways, I dropped my 3GS while trick or treating with the kids last fall and it hit just 'wrong' and shattered my screen.

Took it to the Apple store and they said all I could do is replace it for $99 dollars, which I thought was pointless because I could just get a brand new 3GS for 99 bucks so I opted out of paying anything. The genius took it to the back and placed a couple of pieces of tape across my screen to keep the glass from falling out and that's how it's been since.

I'm patiently awaiting the new iPhone this fall, which will go straight into the most protective case I can find.

Wait.

 

[noteple]

Fix it, you'll get some use out of it and increase its resale value.

Then wait awhile for what you really want.

 

[404 tech junkie]

Tibbers, my advice is to forget the One X and go for the GSM Galaxy Nexus straight from Google for $350. Just pop your sim in and go. You'll still have your upgrade available and it's a wonderful phone. But, of course, you probably want to order before Monday since Apple has decided they can't compete and got their cute little injunction in place. I've got a 4S, but I'm done with Apple until they stop with the frivolous lawsuits and paying off judges and actually try and innovate.

Oh, and in the interest of full disclosure, I've had the iPhone since the 3GS. I now have the aforementioned 4S and also the GSM GNex and One X, in case people want to call me a troll.

Oh...and this post was submitted from my new iPad. So, as you can see, I'm anything but anti-Apple (until they started these stupid lawsuits).

I'm with you. I would have recommended the GNex to him, but from the sound of it, he could use something as durable as he can get. Also, I'm with you on the Apple lawsuit thing, it has gotten beyond out of hand.

My advice would be to fix what you have for as cheap as possible and hold out until Fall.

If you can only afford to get the One X now and not afford the new iPhone when it's released I think you may regret it.

I've been an iPhone fan since day one and I baby my phone as much as possible, hell, I don't know what I did without it before, it's an extension of ME! LoL, sad I know.

Anyways, I dropped my 3GS while trick or treating with the kids last fall and it hit just 'wrong' and shattered my screen.

Took it to the Apple store and they said all I could do is replace it for $99 dollars, which I thought was pointless because I could just get a brand new 3GS for 99 bucks so I opted out of paying anything. The genius took it to the back and placed a couple of pieces of tape across my screen to keep the glass from falling out and that's how it's been since.

I'm patiently awaiting the new iPhone this fall, which will go straight into the most protective case I can find.

Wait.

He's already shown that fixing his iPhone just leads to him having to fix it again in the future. By the time he keeps paying for repairs, he could have used that money to just buy another phone. From what he described, the iPhone is not going to stand up to his particular type of use. It would be in his best interest to go to something that is more likely to stand up to it, than to be in a perpetual repair cycle.

 

[blackhand1001]

the 4s is pretty durable it could always be tougher but it does pretty good in drop test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=K7e9ebi41Wc#!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg85V5dyucg

The 4s is not durable in comparison to other phones. Its one of the worst in durability tests. All it need us a small drop that hits the back or the front and it shatters. They dropped from higher than it needs to be to crack. The galaxy s3 would survive a smaller fall while the iPhone would still crack. Look at how at much the iPhone cracked in comparison to the s3. The s3 barely cracked.

I have seen so many cracked iPhone 4/4s's its not even funny.