What is it about smartphones that attracts you to them?

[batcave69]

The top smartphones in the market are arguably the iPhone 5, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note, and Nexus 4. To a lesser degree, the Razr Maxx line is obviously marketed for its exceptional battery life. But I'm really curious what draws people to the alternatives such as any Nokia, Sony, HTC, LG branded phones and other Samsung phones? Specifically, I'm concerned w/ people who browse tech forums, develop or understand software, and power users.

I'm not here to argue iOS v Android. To each his own. For Sony, HTC, and LG their products have hardly taken off. The knock on them has been that they are updated way too fast and older models are left in the dust. Sony is coming out with their Xperia Z line. But we know the Sony trend, and they have never really delivered w/ any Xperia product. So why, besides for the spec sheet, are people so interested? Similarly, HTC and LG are teasing their flagship products, and they are drawing a lot of buzz.

Knowing that products like the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note are the standard, Nexus 4 is the pure Google experience, and the Razr Maxx gets insane battery life, what about the alternatives drives tech consumers to the alternatives?

Also, Samsung has its line of Galaxy spawns. I see all too often, "I root/write/develop software blah blah iPhone sucks, my Galaxy S (Blaze, Exhibit, Captivate) is a much better phone, more customization, etc." It makes me cringe sometimes when people come on to the forums and start arguing that their Galaxy S (insert spawn name here) is the cutting edge phone of the market.

Anyway, end rant, I love choice, I think its great that no company has a monopoly on the smartphone market.

 

[maxosx]

A smartphone is absolutely essential for my lifestyle, workstyle.

I'm the exact type of user they were designed for. Highly mobile both by car and airliner, I travel frequently for work and pleasure. As a result having a single handheld device that allows me to process my email, maintain my web presence for work and personal, as well as offering a variety of ways to communicate with my contacts and friends, is ideal.

Using mine like a handheld computer, my iPhone 5 is limiting due to it's small screen. Therefore I bought a Nexus 4 to rely on until (and IF) Apple decides to offer a larger screen for increased productivity and ease of use.

I'd like nothing better than to have an iPhone that would do everything I need to do without being so cramped, with so much scrolling when on the web, just to get ones work done. Or in the case of email, having such a small window to work in.

I've had every iPhone including the 5, I have no complaints, just unfulfilled needs.

Maybe next year, or the year after. One can hope

 

[kylera]

This is just me speaking - my take is that it comes down to the unique features each manufacturer puts into their phones, like water resistance, stylus usage, etc.

 

[Fernandez21]

For android devices, it's the specs, screen quality, the way the device is built and feels, and how close to stock android that device is running. I've always really liked the feel of Sony and Motorola handsets, but Sony was always behind in specs, while Motorola had poor screen technology. Lately it's been HTC that's been surprising with their quality handsets, the one x, one x plus, and 8x all look and feel wonderful in the hand, have the best displays currently available, and have top of the line specs. And while I prefer stock android, sense isn't as bad as it used to be.

Really looking for ward to seeing what they bring out this year, Sony's already shown the Xperia Z, which looks like for once Sony may actually have the specs to back up their incredible design, of course that will depend on when it will actually release, while the rumored HTC M7 looks like it will continue the trend of great hardware from HTC. Haven't heard much about what's coming next from Motorola, but I look forward to seeing it, and hopefully it'll be available on AT&T too!

 

[thehustleman]

They allow me to feed my Internet addiction.


I love being able to do everything from my phone


Being able to transfer files and download music on the go.

With the best smartphones you can download music for FREE in the way to work or anywhere

 

[ChrisTX]

The iPhone changed the way we all view a smartphone today. I still absolutely love the iPhone, but wanted a larger screen designed for viewing more content. "Widescreen iPod with touch controls, breakthrough internet communications device, and a revolutionary mobile phone" Is what still attracts me to my smartphone. However I use less of the phone features these days, and more IM/E-mail.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I only carry a phone because I HAVE to. I don't ever use the phone features on my phone except to receive calls from my parents. The only reason I like smartphones is because they double as a PDA, and I'd rather carry around a device that I can write, draw, and do stuff on than I would a feature phone that does nothing for me.

 

[F123D]

Since its a device thats always with you whenever you leave the house, I wanted something does it all and does it well. Phone, web browsing, multimedia, work, play, etc..

I'm not loyal to any particular OS or manufacturer. If something better comes along this year that fits my needs, I'll upgrade to that. Apple, Samsung, Motorola, HTC, whatever.

At the time of my upgrade, I was going back and forth between three different phones and ended up with the Note.

 

[Saturn1217]

I have a smartphone because as others have mentioned I am addicted to the internet. I used to just be on my computer 24/7. When I was able to be online even when I couldn't have my computer it was a dream come true.

As to why I pick the particular smartphone that I do. One of the biggest issues for me is will my phone see support. I try to get phones that I know a critical mass of people will be using so that if there is a problem it is likely someone will fix it. Basically now I am stuck with Nexus phones because I like android but I hate carriers and I don't have time to root and rom everything. I really admire how free from carrier influence the iPhone and windows phones are. Maybe in the future I might try them if I can be sure I can still have a phone OS that I can make work the way I want to.

 

[maflynn]

A smartphone must do certain things well for me to be tempted by them.
Email, messaging, surfing and of course make phone calls. Integrating with my computer for contacts, music and other things are quite important.

For me iOS has a lot of that without any added work on my part.

I've used android and it offers the same level of integration provided you embrace the google apps.

I use email mostly on my phone so the email client has to be good and that's where I felt android fell down for me. I had a gmail email client, and stock email client and then I needed a third email client to access my work emails (due lack of security and incompatibilities). iOS' email client provided a simple application that satisfied my needs completely.

 

[Micky Do]

Nothing

I don't have a smartphone and I probably never will. The only reason I have a basic mobile phone (no camera, b/w screen) is that there is no phone line to my apartment. I seldom carry my mobile; it mostly stays at home on top of the fridge.

My internet connection to my Mac Mini is by "mobile broadband" too.

Who wants to be connected 24/7? A lot of people, it seems, but there a few of us old fashioned types who prefer do without it. I don't wear a watch and have never used GPS, but manage to get where I want to go, on time.

 

[Navdakilla]

The way the world had been evolving, with technology around us, its becoming more and more essential to being able to communicate with one another.

With that said I NEED my smartphone nowadays to communicate with others, send/receive emails for more important things. Check anything I need online (ex, store hours, locations, directions).
Yes I could get by without the phone, checking my email once a day, asking for directions if needed (like the good old days).
That has all changed these days tho. Having a smartphone is basically like having a computer at your fingertips.

 

[bembol]

It's the All-in-One that attracts me.

Besides Communication (Phone, Text & E-Mail) I have the Internet, Camera, iPod (Music & Videos), GPS and Apps.

The only time I use my Garmin is when we travel to the US otherwise it's store in the glove compartment.

Christmas Eve power went out and the "old folks" (LOL) where looking for the flashlight. We just used and turned ON our Super Phones.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

A smartphone is absolutely essential for my lifestyle, workstyle.

Said president John F. Kennedy on June 10, 1963.

 

[Stuntman06]

I originally decided to get a smartphone because I was about to go on vacation and wanted a GPS device. I decided to go with a smartphone because it was a GPS and more.

Once I got a smartphone and really played around with it, I was hooked on the fact that it was basically a hand-held, networked computer that enabled me to be connected virtually all the time. I was blown away that my smartphone could do so many things that my laptop could do and it was portable and much of the time, more convenient to use than my laptop.