Advice, considering Android

[Astroboy907]

It's time for my phone upgrade again, and I'm contemplating what phone I am going to get right now. I have used Apple products for the last few years so I am pretty well situated into their ecosystem, however, I've elected to get a PC when I move away from home this fall. I'm considering going all in and just leaving Apple completely as a brand, but I'm not sure if I should pull the trigger. Laptops were an easy choice because I don't like where Apple is going with their systems (plus I'm a strapped-for-cash student), but I'm not sure where I stand on phones. Is it worth it to switch away from Apple? I don't have a ton of content in iTunes that I would lose, so now would be the best time to switch if I were ever going to, but I'd lose all my apps and have to try to learn a new system. Any advice from android users who have made the switch?

 

[mpavilion]

There are so many variables, I don't know how to even start to address... it all depends on what's important to you; which specific Android phones you'd be considering; etc. I formerly was a big Android fan/proponent, until iOS (and iPhones physically) got "good" enough, and Android "unfavorable" enough (to me), that I made the switch.

At base, I'd say that if you like fiddling with your phone a lot, customizing it, etc., then you may enjoy Android. If you don't want to think about your phone too much, you may be better off sticking with iOS. Sorry, I know this isn't very helpful...

 

[Fernandez21]

I take it you'll be starting in the fall, so since that's still a couple months away, maybe try getting a cheap android phone, just to get your feet wet. Just realize a high end android phone will perform much better.

If you end up liking it, I would recommend trying to hold out until the Note 5 comes out around October, you'll only be 2 months into the semester when that happens and I think the Note series would be great for college students. You have the spen and included software, which includes an app where you can take a picture of the board and it'll save what's written to your phone, you can take notes, and write math problems and with a program like myscript calculator it'll do the problem for you, and you can also use the sound recorder to record the lectures and it does a great job of directional recording, so youll only get the professor and not nearby students chatting. Plus the large screen, great camera, and great battery life. If you can't wait that long, the Note 4 is still a good device though.

 

[ozaz]

Just get a used Moto G off eBay and use it for a few weeks. It will give you a good idea as to whether you'd like to use Android long term.

Unless you like to play demanding games, the only major issue with this phone is the weak camera.

 

[mrex]

i dont know why you should change the phone at all, or do you need to get a new phone? if you do, what is the budget? Just remember, if you buy a cheap phone, you will get a cheap phone and dont expect it to work as good as more expensive phone (iphone) and then be disappointed with the quality...

this is the common scenario:
"I bought a new android phone and it is terrible!" -which phone did you buy? "Some MegaXsuper with 99,99dollars but it lags etc.!" - did you really think that 99dollars phone would be as good as 899dollars iphone?

 

[pdqgp]

It's time for my phone upgrade again, and I'm contemplating what phone I am going to get right now. I have used Apple products for the last few years so I am pretty well situated into their ecosystem, however, I've elected to get a PC when I move away from home this fall. I'm considering going all in and just leaving Apple completely as a brand, but I'm not sure if I should pull the trigger. Laptops were an easy choice because I don't like where Apple is going with their systems (plus I'm a strapped-for-cash student), but I'm not sure where I stand on phones. Is it worth it to switch away from Apple?

Haven't owned a Mac PC myself since the 90's so I can't speak to that. Eco system wise, meh.....unless you're like really hung up on it, it's over rated IMO. I mean it's nice seeing text/iMessages on both an iPad and Phone, and YMMV, but I don't need to have them in both places. If I text someone it's usually from my phone.

I don't have a ton of content in iTunes that I would lose, so now would be the best time to switch if I were ever going to, but I'd lose all my apps and have to try to learn a new system. Any advice from android users who have made the switch?

content wise, I still use iTunes as could you. I don't buy stuff through it but it's a decent enough repository and player for my computer that I then use an app called iSyncr to seamlessly bring my music and play lists over to my Android Phone.

app wise, again, not a big deal. if it costs you $50-75 I'd be surprised. I have tons and tons of apps and I don't think it cost me nearly that much.

I think it's well worth it. For me it's great just having the ability to use my device the way I want to use it. Virtually everything is customizable to the way you want to do things. Very nice.

 

[uid15]

I take it you'll be starting in the fall, so since that's still a couple months away

Ermm... it's a bit more than just a couple, it's FIVE months away. A couple means 2.

 

[Astroboy907]

i dont know why you should change the phone at all, or do you need to get a new phone? if you do, what is the budget? Just remember, if you buy a cheap phone, you will get a cheap phone and dont expect it to work as good as more expensive phone (iphone) and then be disappointed with the quality...

this is the common scenario:
"I bought a new android phone and it is terrible!" -which phone did you buy? "Some MegaXsuper with 99,99dollars but it lags etc.!" - did you really think that 99dollars phone would be as good as 899dollars iphone?

Totally understood. I am coming from the 5 right now, and mine is having a few issues with the earpiece and battery life that I could fix, but I think at this point it would just be easier to switch phones. If I do switch, I would most likely get the 5S and not a 6 due to price. Otherwise a LG G3 is in my price range and has an SD card slot and would most likely be what I got.

I'm not looking for a very powerful phone - I mostly use my phone for browsing the internet, checking email, and streaming music, so a lot of phones will fit the bill.

Edit: if you are looking for numbers, I can go for about $200 on a 2-year contract plan.

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There are so many variables, I don't know how to even start to address... it all depends on what's important to you; which specific Android phones you'd be considering; etc. I formerly was a big Android fan/proponent, until iOS (and iPhones physically) got "good" enough, and Android "unfavorable" enough (to me), that I made the switch.

At base, I'd say that if you like fiddling with your phone a lot, customizing it, etc., then you may enjoy Android. If you don't want to think about your phone too much, you may be better off sticking with iOS. Sorry, I know this isn't very helpful...

It actually is - I used to jailbreak my iPhone, but then with the addition of the control center stuff there really was not much point to it after that. I probably won't spend days customizing everything to what I want (not even sure what there is to customize anyways), so I think I am looking for something that works.

 

[albertfallickwa]

Best thing is that with iSyncr I can load up all of my iTunes music on my Android phone.

So bye bye iPhone indeed.

 

[ozaz]

At base, I'd say that if you like fiddling with your phone a lot, customizing it, etc., then you may enjoy Android. If you don't want to think about your phone too much, you may be better off sticking with iOS.

I think this is a bit misleading. Android phones work fine out of the box and don't require customisation or constant maintenance (thinking about).

Some users may appreciate some customisation options not available on iOS (e.g. widgets, 3rd party launchers, ability to remove icons from home screen) but all of this is simple to do (i.e. does not involve rooting).

 

[pdqgp]

I think this is a bit misleading. Android phones work fine out of the box and don't require customisation or constant maintenance (thinking about).

Some users may appreciate some customisation options not available on iOS (e.g. widgets, 3rd party launchers, ability to remove icons from home screen) but all of this is simple to do (i.e. does not involve rooting).

^^ Agree. I think you will find that once you see how much you can do with Android to make it function the way you want it to, you'll make the changes and leave it.

I've forgotten what my phone would be like left to the stock configuration as the interface on the changes are to the point they are so well done they look baked in like the standard iOS. Look up Tasker as it's one of the can't live without apps I think. Automates a lot.

 

[mpavilion]

I think this is a bit misleading. Android phones work fine out of the box and don't require customisation or constant maintenance (thinking about).

On Android, I was constantly monitoring app CPU usage (to look for battery drain culprits), managing weekly backups via MyBackup Pro (as there was no native global backup equivalent to iCloud), etc. I know these things aren't absolutely necessary, but they were a fact of life.

I still have a soft spot for Android -- and I haven't used it for 1.5 years, so some things may also be different now -- but I would be hard pressed to think of a reason to "recommend" it over iOS for basic functionality... as opposed to the customization options I mentioned above, or technical things Android can do out of the box which aren't so easy on iOS (though it didn't sound like the OP was necessarily asking about that angle). The only thing I really miss from Android is having a calendar widget on the homescreen.

 

[Flow39]

I picked a a Moto X during Moto's valentines day sale, Pure Edition 32GB for $400. I really had an itch to try Android, so I bought it. Needless too say, I really like Android a lot. It is so fun to play with and customize, and the new animations in Lollipop are amazing. I wouldn't hesitate to use it as a daily driver if I didn't use an iPhone.

That said, as much as I like Android, I still use an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch as a daily driver. They work best for me and my needs/uses.

I would say if you really want to try Android, buy a Moto X or a Nexus 5 if you can find one. The Moto X goes on sale like once a month, and Nexus 5's that you find on eBay or Amazon are very cheap as well.

 

[Robisan]

On Android, I was constantly monitoring app CPU usage (to look for battery drain culprits), managing weekly backups via MyBackup Pro (as there was no native global backup equivalent to iCloud), etc. I know these things aren't absolutely necessary, but they were a fact of life.

I agree Android lacks a single, global backup and restore option (+1 for Apple/iOS), however with a Google account (mail, contacts, calendar, sms, apps) and Google Drive or Dropbox etc. (docs, media, photos) your content can be automatically backed up. What's lacking is a settings/setup backup and restore.

 

[ozaz]

On Android, I was constantly monitoring app CPU usage (to look for battery drain culprits), managing weekly backups via MyBackup Pro (as there was no native global backup equivalent to iCloud), etc. I know these things aren't absolutely necessary, but they were a fact of life.

I disagree that iPhone is significantly better than Android when it comes to battery life issues (I get similar with both iPhones and Android phones)

However, I do agree that iOS is far better at back and restore. iOS's superiority on this was probably my top concern when initially switching to Android. But I've come to the opinion that it's actually not a huge deal - most people switch phones only every 1-2 years and spending a couple of hours setting up your new phone (compared to no time at all with iOS) is not going to bother the majority of people if they only do it once every 1-2 years. Also, phone Backup/restore has apparently been improved in Andrioid 5.x, although I have have not had reason to try it yet.

 

[Robisan]

I picked a a Moto X during Moto's valentines day sale, Pure Edition 32GB for $400.

I've had mine (VZW version) since the CyberMonday sale last November and couldn't be happier. Pure Android (no skin), fast and buttery smooth. No problems at all with Lollipop. Really like the Moto Drive app, which when you're driving announces all incoming calls and texts, and enables hands-free calls/texts. With rumors already floating about the 2015 edition coming this fall, the 2014 should see sales prices again soon.

 

[mpavilion]

But I've come to the opinion that it's actually not a huge deal - most people switch phones only every 1-2 years and spending a couple of hours setting up your new phone (compared to no time at all with iOS) is not going to bother the majority of people if they only do it once every 1-2 years.

Yes, though an exception is if you keep needing to reset your phone to resolve issues, and/or for warranty swaps -- both of which were the case with my last Android phone. But that may have been a dud.

 

[Natzoo]

I agree, the next smartphone i get is defiantly a samsung phone. It looks so cool and that and i just want a change, I'm tired of my 6+. So easy to use, barely any customizing. I just want change as i said and samsung looks like it would be fun for me to use, since i really like smart phones but for the next 2 years I'm stuck with apple.

 

[Saturn1217]

I think that switching phones JUST because you will be using a different desktop OS is kind of silly. I don't use an iPhone but I'd assume it works perfectly fine with windows. I know I have zero trouble using my android phone with OSX.

That being said if you genuinely do want to try something new I would suggest (as others have) that you start with a smaller investment rather than going for an expensive flagship right off the bat. If you can find a used Nexus 5 (one where the battery isn't completely used up) that would be a great place to start. The Nexus 5 is a no frills smartphone but performance is still great and it will let you see the simplicity of android before you begin contemplating the add-ons that OEMs add (which are not all bad but can be overwhelming).

Are you actually displeased with your iPhone though? An ipod touch was my first smart device and I knew within the first 6 months that I needed more control so I went with Android. It suits my admittedly OCD/micromanaging nature with electronics. But it isn't all roses on the other side. There are some very real benefits to staying in the iPhone ecosystem (software updates, consistent hardware, no bloatware etc.) that I would gladly have if I could get over the limitations of iOS on a phone (I can't). But if you don't mind the lack of control and staring at a grid of icons all day long you might want to stay where you are.

 

[Astroboy907]

I think that switching phones JUST because you will be using a different desktop OS is kind of silly. I don't use an iPhone but I'd assume it works perfectly fine with windows. I know I have zero trouble using my android phone with OSX.

That being said if you genuinely do want to try something new I would suggest (as others have) that you start with a smaller investment rather than going for an expensive flagship right off the bat. If you can find a used Nexus 5 (one where the battery isn't completely used up) that would be a great place to start. The Nexus 5 is a no frills smartphone but performance is still great and it will let you see the simplicity of android before you begin contemplating the add-ons that OEMs add (which are not all bad but can be overwhelming).

Are you actually displeased with your iPhone though? An ipod touch was my first smart device and I knew within the first 6 months that I needed more control so I went with Android. It suits my admittedly OCD/micromanaging nature with electronics. But it isn't all roses on the other side. There are some very real benefits to staying in the iPhone ecosystem (software updates, consistent hardware, no bloatware etc.) that I would gladly have if I could get over the limitations of iOS on a phone (I can't). But if you don't mind the lack of control and staring at a grid of icons all day long you might want to stay where you are.

I don't mind an iPhone all that much, that being said, a little bit more OS freedom would be appreciated. I'd mostly be doing it for change's sake, and because I could get so much more with the price of an android than an iPhone. Right now I am contemplating a Galaxy S5 vs an iPhone 5S - for the same price, I can get the S5 which has a larger screen, and an SD card slot, two things that I think I could benefit from a lot.

I checked my iTunes library, and I do have a few songs that are DRM locked still. I need to figure out what's going on there, but at any rate most of it isn't stuff I would have on my phone all the time.