iPhone 5 or S3?

[RandBlade]

Phone came out of contract a few months ago but been waiting for the iPhone 5 announcement today before upgrading. New phone looks like a slightly tweaked version but hardly groundbreaking; then again the existing phone was good but still ...

The Samsung S3 looks like a pretty good phone for Android, probably the only one that could tempt me to switch rather than get my third iPhone. Got an iPad too so the iCloud functionality integrating them well is useful kind of locking in to Apple. Is there anything brilliant about the S3 (or any other) that makes it much better than the new iPhone? And no "it's not Apple" isn't a reason for me.

[earthJoker]

As I read, the iPhone 5 has only a higher display and not a wider. To me this would be the major reason to switch to a Galaxy. I have a Galaxy Nexus (now with Android 4.1 ) and I love the larger display. Before I had a HTC Desire and I can say I would never go back to such a small display. Despite Apple's concerns I have no problems using it one handed. And the extra width really helps when you reading stuff.

Personally I would buy the Galaxy Nexus again, you have the newest OS of all Androids and the soft buttons are also a very cool thing:


Nexus left SIII right.

[DecoyMilk]

iPhone 5's just been announced, right?

0.5 inch bigger screen and a unique connector, I can hardly contain myzzzzzz...

[Kazuha Vinland]

I say get the Galaxy S III. What Apple says about their iPhone having the perfect screen width, is rubbish. For small hands (children and women presumably), you might prefer using two hands while navigating the Samsung, but otherwise you're more than fine. And the advantages are apparent. Web browsing just gets that much better with a larger screen. Same with maps. Seeing how the Galaxy S III will likely retail for less with the announcement of its new rival, I hardly see any reason at all to pay out for Apple's diamond standard. Buying the Galaxy Nexus is not wise btw, it lacks way behind hardware-wise.

Oh, and I would wait for reviews before making up your mind. They usually uncover all the quirky advances (and weaknesses in comparative) of phones. I reckon Anandtech will have a nice one up, as well as TheVerge.

[RandBlade]

Having a tablet, not sure I need a bigger phone. On the other hand, the amount of 30-pin docks I already have in our house (surround sound in lounge, in-car cable, docks in kitchen and bedroom) the new pin is definitely a negative and not a positive. If it wasn't getting replaced with cordless charging (allowing it to be far more waterproof) that'd be a positive. To be 20% thinner? Err no.

[Timbuk2]

Indeed, am leaning more toward a tablet and reasonable-sized phone rather than a large-sized phone.

Waiting for more android tablets to come onto the market.

[Dreadnaught]

Big fan of my Galaxy Nexus. I saw an S3 for the first time yesterday and was reasonably impressed. In general, I don't think the Galaxy phones are huge. They are pretty light and not too big in the pocket.

Haven't seen any of the new iPhones yet obviously. But I've never been a fan of iOS. And, having gone slightly down the path of being locked-in to Apple's music infrastructure, I definitely regret it. Though it was the best legal choice at the time when I first dipped my toes in that water.

[Aimless]

Htc One X or the latest nokia windows phone.

[earthJoker]

Buying the Galaxy Nexus is not wise btw, it lacks way behind hardware-wise.

Of course it's a bit older and doesn't have the latest CPU generation inside, but I have yet to come to a situation where I run into a problem because of that. And now I have project butter so it's really running smooth.

Having a tablet, not sure I need a bigger phone.

I don't have a tabled (yet) but you might ask yourself if you have your tabled with you all the time. The Galaxy Nexus still fits in any pocket, so you actually don't have any disadvantages at all. As I said, I would never go back to a smaller phone.

On the other hand, the amount of 30-pin docks I already have in our house (surround sound in lounge, in-car cable, docks in kitchen and bedroom) the new pin is definitely a negative and not a positive.

That's defenitely one of the biggest pro's of any phone with a USB, you don't need to change adaptors when changing the phone, I can even use the same charger as my gf who is using my old Nokia (the phone I had before my last).

[Loki]

I prefer my $20 refurbished Samsung phone.

[Khendraja'aro]

I myself will have a hard look at the Nokia Windows Phone line.

[Hazir]

Not getting anything new this year anyway, but with all the muck I am dragging around, I could see myself buy a bigscreen phone. The iPad I have is all nice, and so is my iPhone, I but I'm sort of getting fed up with the extra weight I am carrying on pretty much every singly day. It's not just the devices that I carry, but I also need a bunch of cables since appearantly my kind of use means I drain the average battery in under 6 hours. I put my iphone in a mophie airpack, which design-wise already gives me a phone that is as big as the SIII.

What's going to complicate things more for me is that of course next year the entire playingfield and all the rules will have changed again. Still, I sort of decided I will absolutely not spend more than 600 euro' s on my phone. (I always buy unlocked, without plans and get a sim-only plan).

[Hazir]

Alternatively I could maybe go whole hog voip with a tablet. That of course would depend also on the availability of a GOOD bluetooth headset with excellent sound abilities.

[Kazuha Vinland]

Of course it's a bit older and doesn't have the latest CPU generation inside, but I have yet to come to a situation where I run into a problem because of that. And now I have project butter so it's really running smooth.

Primarily talking about camera, battery and display.

[RandBlade]

The new iPhone looks good for the new 4G LTE service the ridiculously named EE is finally launching in the UK soon. Not sure what the costs will be for a 4G service plan though or if I'll even be covered - Liverpool and Manchester are getting switched on this year and we're sandwiched between so depends how far coverage spreads. May hold off on upgrading until that's made clearer.

[earthJoker]

Primarily talking about camera, battery and display.

The displays have the same resolution, the SIII is a bit larger. I have not really problems with battery and I don't want to spend 200 bucks more just for a better camera. Of course I don't know what the prices in the UK are like.

[Hazir]

The new iPhone looks good for the new 4G LTE service the ridiculously named EE is finally launching in the UK soon. Not sure what the costs will be for a 4G service plan though or if I'll even be covered - Liverpool and Manchester are getting switched on this year and we're sandwiched between so depends how far coverage spreads. May hold off on upgrading until that's made clearer.

Why did you open this thread as it was clear from the beginning where you would wind up? You don't replace an iPhone with a phone from another brand unless you have a very good reason. The Apple Universum sucks you in and then doesn't let you go, lest you will leave behind all that nice content you bought since you first bought one.

[RandBlade]

LOL.

Ive heard good things about the S3 and was wondering if anyone knows anything about that (or other Androids) that make leaving the Apple Universum (nice term) a cost worth paying.

[Aimless]

How dependent/keen are you on the apps you've already bought that can't be replaced by android apps? If the answer is "not very", then you aren't very locked in! In that case give your phone to someone you love and hate and enjoy the switch.

[Aimless]

And the more comfortable writing

[Unheard Of]

Phone came out of contract a few months ago but been waiting for the iPhone 5 announcement today before upgrading. New phone looks like a slightly tweaked version but hardly groundbreaking; then again the existing phone was good but still ...

Unless your phone is broken, I'd suggest neither. Phones are one of those areas where it's easy to fall into the habit of consumption for it's own sake.

[Hazir]

Unless your phone is broken, I'd suggest neither. Phones are one of those areas where it's easy to fall into the habit of consumption for it's own sake.

Nowadays a phone doesn' t have to be broken to become obsolete. Though I doubt a well kept iPhone4 is already obsolete. If I would have to make a choice right now I'd probably stick with the old iPhone and buy a generous sim-only plan.

[Unheard Of]

Nowadays a phone doesn' t have to be broken to become obsolete.Though I doubt a well kept iPhone4 is already obsolete.

I think most of that perceived obsolescence comes from customers desiring the new shiny gadget, rather than any substantial improvements in functionality.

[Timbuk2]

Or.

The habit of putting one's phone in either one's left pocket along with one's keys, or in one's right pocket along with one's loose change.

The upshot being, after 12-15 months of ownership, one's phone is scratched to fuckery, and needs replacing.

[Unheard Of]

Or.

The habit of putting one's phone in either one's left pocket along with one's keys, or in one's right pocket along with one's loose change.

The upshot being, after 12-15 months of ownership, one's phone is scratched to fuckery, and needs replacing.

This is why we can't have nice things.

A high-end phone costs a few hundred pounds and shouldn't be seen as disposable. I find it mind boggling that anyone would allow it to get scratched up like that - it only takes a cheap case or a small change in habits to prevent this.

[Aimless]

Man, don't put them in the same pocket... it's less comfortable and destroys the resale value, one of the iPhone's greater advantages.

[RandBlade]

Or.

The habit of putting one's phone in either one's left pocket along with one's keys, or in one's right pocket along with one's loose change.

The upshot being, after 12-15 months of ownership, one's phone is scratched to fuckery, and needs replacing.

Yep mine's quite scratched but then I'd expect the new one to be too before long. My home button's fucked, broke just after phone came out of warranty, so for last 10 months or so been using an on-screen home button instead (an 'accessibility' option). Be nice to not have to though survived without it.


I think part of the problem is that as a new phone is generally 'free' on contract don't end up thinking about it being valuable/not worth replacing automatically when able to. SIM-only contracts would be cheaper but that's kind of hidden.

[earthJoker]

The habit of putting one's phone in either one's left pocket along with one's keys, or in one's right pocket along with one's loose change.

Yeah, I had that problem too, now I place my keys in that small pocket you have on the right front.

[Timbuk2]

Hmm interesting responses.

Though I'm precious about some things, a phone isn't one of them.

My phone - a HTC Desire - is in constant use. It's not an item I revere and treat with kid-gloves - it's a functional device that has a lot of use - and should therefore be durable in its original, standalone form. It's in my pocket as being the most convenient place for it - convenience being a fundamental component of any daily-use item.

Though I'm not clumsy or reckless, my phone has been dropped onto hard surfaces 3-4 times, which to my mind is normal for an object I have handled every day over ~ 15 months. That the metallic case has suffered is neither here nor there to me for a functional daily-use item- that the screen is 100% unscratched and the phone is operating as good as new is more important, and is certainly testament to HTC's durable design.

As Rand says, on a contract, after 18 months or so i'll get a free upgrade to the latest model of my choosing. By which time an older model through depreciation is certainly not worth the few hundred pounds it cost new, regardless of the condition of the case.

My old phones, if fully functional, I have in the past passed onto friends who are not on contract, or sold for their worth, which if in perfect condition may be 10 to 20 pounts more, if anything at all, to one in scratched condition - not a sum that's going to make me treat a phone any differently over an 18-24 month contract period.


EDIT: reading back to my original post then - I suppose my saying the phone needs replacing because it's scratched is a little bit inaccurate.

[Steely Glint]

My last phone - HTC Hero - I was dropping all the goddamn time. It only really gave up the ghost when I took a tried to cross a fast moving, swollen beck and forgot I had it in my pocket. My current phone is a HTC Sensation and it has this wispy, elfin look about it that makes me think if I dropped it it would smash into a million pieces so I'm much more careful with it.