Help Me Decide Between Android or iOS

Ryubusa

Ryubusa

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Sep 11, 2013
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*I know this is a dangerous question, but it's honest, so please try your best not to turn this thread into a fanboy/troll/flame war*

I've never owned a smartphone before, so I don't have much prior context.

I want to get one now though, but I can't decide whether I should go Android or iOS.

Could you guys please help work me through the pros and cons of both?

At this point I'm leaning towards iOS because, as far as my limited understanding goes, it has more/better Apps. Also I think most of my friends use iOS, so I want to ensure my phone will be able to interact/use the same features with theirs (BUT I'm not sure if this is even a real factor? I am just worried about being cut-off from certain things if I make the wrong choice...).

Or shoot, what about Windows phones? If I'm already using a Windows PC, aren't I best off getting a Windows phone and having an entirely cohesive PC/Phone ecosystem? (that's assuming Windows Phone OS is basically the same thing as Windows 8, which it probably isn't... but I guess what I'm mainly wondering is, can I use a Windows phone to download and run the same programs that I am right now on my PC? or would I still have to download special 'mobile app' versions of those programs? Essentially, are Windows Phones just like having a Windows PC in your pocket or nah?)

For some background as to what I'll be using it for; just totally casual, regular, everyday stuff. No business or anything super technical. Just as a regular phone, browsing the web, listening to music, watching movies/Netflix, playing games... that kind of stuff.

Bonus question -- currently, my entire MP3 library is meticulously organized in iTunes. I don't want to lose all of the track/artist/album info I've manually entered for my all MP3s over the years (they are NOT iTunes store bought). My question is, if I were to go Android, would my MP3's information transfer completely over to the new media player, or is that info stuck exclusively to iTunes now? Anyone know? That would be a huge factor in my final decision, i.e. if the info DOESN'T transfer to the Android media player, then I'll have to stick with iOS/iTunes.
 
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WP is nice,we have a thread going on it if you wanted to peruse it. Apps are a personal thing so you would have to see who has the most apps for your needs. WP aren't like Windows 8, it's a phone OS, I'd suggest trying to play with a phone of each OS.

WP8 also can use iTunes to sync music, android might be able to as well.
 
I say, if you want apps, go with iOS. It's the safest, probably best bet. If you want coherent experience across platforms and between services, go with WP. If you want to mess with bootloader, go with Android.
 
The reason I would chose android over ios,Is because you have full on root access to your phone tweak the cpu performance and overall its just a better oz.Too many things to name
 
I'd stay away from Windows. Had one and absolutely hated it. You can't go wrong with iPhone or a high android device really. Both have their plus negatives. Ios is a very smooth experience overall, but android let's me do more. I personally prefer android because it's literally like having a pc in your pocket. After three iPhone I began to find ios way to restrictive for what I wanted.
 
D-V-ANT said:
I'd stay away from Windows. Had one and absolutely hated it. You can't go wrong with iPhone or a high android device really. Both have their plus negatives. Ios is a very smooth experience overall, but android let's me do more. I personally prefer android because it's literally like having a pc in your pocket. After three iPhone I began to find ios way to restrictive for what I wanted.
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why did you hate windows
this time I will be trying windows.. tired of android.. no desire for iphone
 
starlight777 said:
why did you hate windows
this time I will be trying windows.. tired of android.. no desire for iphone
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Just found it awful to use. I like the tiles concept and some of the integration (like with Xbox for example), but it was such a pain in the ass to use. For me, I definitely would not recommend it to anyone based on my own experience.
 
iOS is what I've used and I won't be changing. There's WAY to much fragmentation on Android and you're at the mercy of the carrier to upgrade your phone's OS. I don't believe anything from iTunes will transfer over without workarounds.
 
I currently own a Galaxy S3 but will be getting an iphone when its time to upgrade, ios is just much snappier, android is too sluggish.
 
SevenDead1ySinz said:
WP is nice,we have a thread going on it if you wanted to peruse it. Apps are a personal thing so you would have to see who has the most apps for your needs. WP aren't like Windows 8, it's a phone OS, I'd suggest trying to play with a phone of each OS.

WP8 also can use iTunes to sync music, android might be able to as well.
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It costs $100 but if you have an Xbox music pass it.works on a W8 phone also . You basically get every song ever made. On your Xbox(if you have one) and your phone for a year. Switched the thread to include all things using W8. I hope you both will visit that one. The X1 is going to change everything, and I though that other devices were getting left out.
 
I've never been a Mac guy until I got my first iPhone. What I love about it is the focal that it just works and there is only one released version of it (currently 7) vs all the different versions released of the Android OS. For me, IOS just works and is the most full featured and stable of the two. Google always seems to the playing catch up IMO.
 
The main issue I have with iphone is the display size.
 
Get an android and the nexus 5, unless you're on verizon. I ordered one on launch day and it's the first time I've ordered any new tech on launch day and can't wait till it comes next week!
 
This is going to ruffle feathers, but here goes...

If you like fragmentation, poor phone resell value after only 6 months, cheap plastic build, and poor battery life... then go with Android.

If you want Uniformity, extensive app ecosystem, upgrade support, great build quality... iOS!

You wont believe how many people I have converted to the iOS ecosystem who were previously using Android and got fed up with the Operating system fragmentation.
 
GIDEONkjv said:
This is going to ruffle feathers, but here goes...

If you like fragmentation, poor phone resell value after only 6 months, cheap plastic build, and poor battery life... then go with Android.
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I thought it was iPhones that were notorious for poor battery life?

BTW thanks for all the replies so far guys!
 
Ryubusa said:
I thought it was iPhones that were notorious for poor battery life?

BTW thanks for all the replies so far guys!
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A lot of people would like to make you think that the iPhones are worse when it comes to battery, but that's because there are a lot of Apple haters. Takes a lot of battery to power those big screens! I will admit that my iPhone 5 battery was not as good as previous phones, but that was their first move to a bigger screen. Problem has been rectified with the iPhone 5s. My battery lasts all day long. (Not saying they're all like this) but I have seen many androids that do not get more than a few hours.
 
Nervusbreakdown said:
Google
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Yeah, why don't we all just Google everything instead of starting and engaging in discussions on this discussion board. Great idea man.

Your reply is even more useless than VaLLiancEs up ^ there, lol. Next time, just don't bother.
 
Ryubusa said:
Yeah, why don't we all just Google everything instead of starting and engaging in discussions on this discussion board. Great idea man.

Your reply is even more useless than VaLLiancEs up ^ there, lol. Next time, just don't bother.
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Maybe he was saying Google as a response between Android and iOS instead of as a suggestion for searching?
 
SevenDead1ySinz said:
Maybe he was saying Google as a response between Android and iOS instead of as a suggestion for searching?
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I already considered that as a possibility, but I still wrote what I wrote because, either way, it's a completely useless response.
 
As someone who's used all three, I would honestly tell you iOS. It's really has the best of everything in my opinion. It has speed, responsiveness, and apps galore. Only downside is...I can't think of any from a average end user perspective.
 
To make decision bit more easier, ask any of your friends with different smartphones to give it to you and play with it for good 15 to 30 minutes (if they don't mind as long as nothing bother their personal stuff or something) to give you the idea what it feels like. At least, that's what I'd do if I was in your shoe. And then it all comes down with price and phone plans with Company (AT&T/T-Mobile, etc.).
 
Plainview said:
iOS is what I've used and I won't be changing. There's WAY to much fragmentation on Android and you're at the mercy of the carrier to upgrade your phone's OS. I don't believe anything from iTunes will transfer over without workarounds.
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Android is available stock from Google. There is also far less fragmentation these days. You dont need a music manager like iTunes. You can just drag and drop mp3s to your phone's filesystem and off you go.
 
Ketto said:
As someone who's used all three, I would honestly tell you iOS. It's really has the best of everything in my opinion. It has speed, responsiveness, and apps galore. Only downside is...I can't think of any from a average end user perspective.
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Yep. For the average end user ios is top dog. It's slick and intuitive. I've been android for about two and a bit years now and as good as 4.3 is, it's still not quite as refined as ios. However the freedom I get from Android tops the refinement of ios for me.
 
D-V-ANT said:
Android is available stock from Google. There is also far less fragmentation these days. You dont need a music manager like iTunes. You can just drag and drop mp3s to your phone's filesystem and off you go.
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But he has his set up in iTunes with playlists and a lot of organization. He's not going to be able to transfer that.
 
Plainview said:
But he has his set up in iTunes with playlists and a lot of organization. He's not going to be able to transfer that.
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Well, a good collection of mp3s will already be tagged correctly so they'll be organised but yes, play lists may need to get recreated. Some apps will allow you to import play lists as well. I used one moving from iPhone. I think it was win amp.
 
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