Are you looking forward to the Samsung Galaxy S5 coming out?

Like all decisions about which device to get, it all depends on your needs and expected use. What in particular has been rumored to be featured in the S5 that makes you feel you should wait? And what would that have over the pure Android experience of the Nexus 5 or the cool features of the Motorola X?

And more importantly, while Android is significantly more powerful (in terms of functionality) than iOS devices, if this is your first phone, you may not have any need or desire for any of that functionality. The iPhone might be a better choice.

Maybe you could provide some details on what you are looking to do with the phone, what carrier you are tied to (if any), and what are important features.

No – I am an iPhone person but I suspect that it is more laziness and familiarity on my part rather than solidly researched opinions. I’ve certainly heard good things about the Galaxies.

iOS vs. Android is an endlessly discussed topic here. Like @janbb, I’m an iPhone person. I did try a Samsung S3—bought an Android tablet, too—but wound up returning to the Apple fold after five months. I simply prefer iOS to Android. But as @tom_g says, it all depends on what works best for your needs.

I’m an Android person.

I currently have an HTC Evo V 4g – which is my prepaid carrier’s version of the Evo 3D.

I’d like to get something with a bigger screen. I’m not fond of thumb-typing, and I would like to keep handwritten notes when I’m out and about. My current phone has touch-buttons on the bottom that make stylus writing frustrating to say the least.

However, if I ever spend $400 on a phone, I give you permission to smack me in the head. Mine was $120, and if/when I eventually switch to a newer model, this one (like all of my phones these past 8 years) will go to my husband.

Nope.
I do not have a mobile phone, and I am not going to start anytime soon. I reject being reachable every minute of my day, especially when it would cost me hundreds of nazigolds to do so.
If someone wants something, use the land line when I am home.

My husband and I are android users. In fact, we both have the Samsung S4. Love it! My daughter is an iPhone user. She won’t switch to android. I’m on my third Samsung phone. I had the Rant and the Epic before getting the S4. My previous Samsung phones were a big part of the decision to get another. I’ve always had good luck with them. Almost 3 years on the Epic without a scratch or problem. Although some things change between models, most of the basics have stayed the same. It makes it much easier to adjust to a new phone. Too bad Samsung doesn’t offer a loyalty discount.

Since you have never bought a cell phone I feel iPhone would be the best choice. It is more reliable, simple and has a longer useful life. Moreover there are Apple stores everywhere to get professional help.

@Smitha: “It is more reliable”

Complete myth. This is just not true, although it was three years ago. Let’s keep things true here. She’s looking for help in her purchase.

@Smitha: “simple”

This is true. Simplicity, however, doesn’t necessarily translate into “simple to use”. Again, it all depends on what she needs this phone for. There are tasks that are completely automated in Android that require a ton of manual work in iOS. So again, it depends.

@tom_g I have an iPhone iPad and also android tab. Personally I found iPhone more reliable than android, other’s opinion may vary. I never gave any false information. I understand she was asking for help and she has also mentioned in the last sentence If you don’t agree with what I was told, what would you recommend instead?. So I just gave an opinion.

@Smitha: “So I just gave an opinion.”

Just as long as we’re clear that it’s an opinion as opposed to fact.
The only reason I mentioned anything is that the “iOS is more reliable” thing is a meme that spread pretty quickly in the early days of Android. When this stopped being the case, the idea never died. It just keeps getting repeated as though it’s true. But it’s just not the case.

Just felt the need to update:

I decided a long time ago that I do not want my first phone to be an iPhone. I don’t really know why, but iPhones just aren’t something that interest me. I have used other people’s phones with their permission… and I am quite fond of Androids, so I’m leaning more towards buying an Android phone…

I am a fast learner when it comes to technology, so I’m not really worried about messing up. And in this generation, even if I’m lost about something, pretty much everyone around my age (23) where I live has a phone anyway, so I can easily get help. Especially from friends who have begged me to get a phone for years…and family members who have cell phones, too. While I’ve never bought a cell phone before, I’m not a total stranger to them.

What I would want a phone for:

Texting…
Calls…
Pictures…
Videos…
Lots of things to experiment with (I love experimenting with technology)...
Internet access…
Easy access to sites like Facebook, Google+, YouTube, Gmail, etc…
GPS
etc

My preference is for a touch phone. And this may not be the best thing to look for, but I find Androids more attractive to look at in general…. I don’t find iPhones or Blackberrys that attractive to look at. May be weird, but we all have preferences, don’t we? And I know not everyone agrees. :)

I don’t want just a simple phone. I’d like a phone that can do a lot. I’d get bored of it if I could barely do anything on it.

I’d love to just not have a cell phone at all, but with a babysitting job now with a family that doesn’t have a landline and lives in an apartment… I’d find a phone very, very convenient…. Not that I plan to use it a lot on the job. It would just be nice to have a way to be contacted and a way to reach others in case of an emergency. The only way I have to contact the girl’s Mom and stepdad is via Facebook on her stepdad’s laptop while I’m at their apartment. Things like GPS/maps would help if we decide to go out and about as well in the city to go to places like museums I haven’t been to or forget how to get there… and etc as well. It just seems like the perfect time to get a phone for me soon.

As for what features the S5 has that make me think about waiting, it’s more of an assumption than anything. I just assume that since a friend of mine who is a huge tech geek and whose opinion I trust told me that the S4 is the best phone out there right now, the S5 will be even better. And I overheard a couple of my siblings talking about it who expressed an interest in getting that after it comes out.

Ok, so you definitely sound like you should go Android (“Lots of things to experiment with (I love experimenting with technology)...”). You’ll love being able to make your phone do anything you want.

That said, the variables you should probably consider are…
– removable battery
– sd card
– vanilla, stock Android (Nexus) or some other flavor (Samsung’s touchwiz, HTC’s sense, etc).
– screen size
– stylus/no stylus
– hardware button(s) or not
– carrier restrictions (not all phones are available on all carriers)

So, when you are researching and considering these things, you will want to see how important they are. For example, going with the Nexus 5 will give you the pure Google experience (KitKat, Android 4.4) and will guarantee that you’ll get updated right away when the next version arrives. Samsung and other hardware manufacturers modify Android to give their phone some proprietary nature and to stand out. But the consensus is that you never actually gain anything. It’s not good. The plain, vanilla Android experience is always best in my opinion.

But then there is the question of sd card and removable battery. I love having a removable battery because we will lose power here and I will travel/camp, and I love the ability to just drop in a new battery whenever I’m low. As for the sd card – I bought a 16GB phone and for $12 I bought a 32GB sd card and loaded it up with music. But for some people, it doesn’t really matter. They use Spotify or some streaming service and they don’t really want a ton of storage.

Screen size is a personal preference. I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and love the size (5.5 inches). But the good thing about Android phones is that you have many options. I haven’t heard the rumored S5 size, but the Nexus 5 is 5 inches.

Stylus is a less-common concern, but I thought I’d mention it. The damn Samsung Note series (which I have) has a stylus. You can write hand-written notes all day, it’s extremely accurate and has a very fine point (it’s not like a tablet think stylus, it’s like a very sharp pencil). I didn’t want a stylus, but I have it and hardly use it. I got the phone for other reasons. Just happened to come with the stylus. Some people (artists, etc) really like it.

Then there is the hardware button(s). Again, I bought the Note 2 for other reasons, but I’m having to live with the physical iPhone-style home button that drives me crazy. My recommendation is to go straight virtual (or at least those soft buttons on some phones). Android’s back button is essential and really sets it apart from other platforms. You might also consider the placement of that button (virtual or not) – you’ll be using it all the time.

And then there are the carrier issues. Since the Nexus 5, for example, isn’t available to be activated on Verizon, you might be limited to the phone if you need to stay with a particular carrier.

Then there are other considerations, such as Motorola X’s “always on” functionality, which allows you to interact with it while it is “off”.

Good luck with the decision, and feel free to pm me if you have any specific questions. Also, you might want to also google “Tasker” if you want to drool over what you can do with whatever Android phone you end up with.

I have the S3 and I love it, and had the HTC Incredible prior to the S3. And I purchased it AFTER working as an AppleCare iOS Technical Advisor, ranked #1 at my site and #37 out of 6800 Apple advisors worldwide supporting all iOS devices. I do not care for the Apple control and manipulation.

Never wait for the next update because you’ll never end up buying anything. There’s always an update just a little bit further away… Most smartphone makers update their flagship devices once a year. If I’m not mistaken, the S5 is not due until March or April of next year. Why wait so long for a phone?

What I’ve been doing for the past few years is buying last year’s model as soon as this year’s model comes out.There are many people out there who upgrade immediately and that is your chance to get a sweet deal on a device that functions pretty damn well. Next year, sell your phone and get the new last years model!

Example:

S5 comes out – you go buy the S4 from someone.
1 year later, S6 comes out – you sell your S4 and buy the S5.

The great part about this system is that you get a decent amount of money back from selling your now two-year-old model (usually in the range of 50% of what you paid for it, if not more).

I have one and It is a horrible phone it wasn’t worth waiting for, the screen saver goes on too fast, and I still don’t know how to download apps. I got locked into a $120 a month 2 year plan with Rodgers. All I do it talk and text. The ringtone is broken I have been missing calls… The phone Is free but you get stuck on a two year plan.