First Smartphone (Android): Recommendations

[beginner99]

So my old normal mobile is finally slowly dying and I guess I will jump on the smartphone train.

AFAIK only android phones can be used as navigation system? is that true? Since I don't own one but do drive to new places now and then that would be a great plus. So we can exclude any non-android phone and Apple is out of the question, by principle.

My concerns for most top-off the line smartphones is their size. However smaller ones tend to have crappier hardware. In terms of size the galaxy sIII mini seem nice or HTC One SV.

From specs the new HTC One seems great and it looks pretty nice IMHO. But it's big and rather heavy. Other suggestions? Is my concern about size unfounded? I really need to carry it in my pocket and I don't wear XXL baggy pants....

 

[dagamer34]

I don't get people who complain about screen size if a phone is below 5" and the bezel is small (most modern high-end phones). Unless you're wearing some tight jeans, any smartphone should fit in your pocket. Heck, I can fit 3 smartphones in mine!

As far as Android phones, here are your options if you buy in the next 3 months:

1) HTC One (recently announced)
2) Samsung Galaxy S IV (announcement March 14th)
3) Samsung Galaxy Note II (5.5" is a bit big, but it has a stylus)
4) Nexus 4 (extremely cheap, stock Android)

A lot depends on the carrier you have, as the HTC One won't be coming to Verizon, and the Nexus 4 doesn't worth with Sprint or Verizon, and no hope of LTE on AT&T (maybe T-Mobile, but their network isn't live).

 

[ImDonly1]

Any smartphone has a navigation app... iPhone, android phones, windows phones.

As for size, coming from a non-smartphone any smartphone will seem big to you at first. After a while I would imagine you will get used to it. Some of the 5" phones are huge, IMO. But still manageable.

If you are buying off contract, well then, Nexus 4 is the most obvious choice. $300-350 new.
If on contract, then get the HTC One or Galaxy S4. Don't really know much about the mid-range or low-end phones (which most 4" phones are now). If getting a windows phone, then Lumia 920 (ATT only for now).

The HTC One weighs 147g, while a Galaxy S3 weighs 133g. Not much difference? And you get a aluminum phone instead of a plastic phone.

 

[WelshBloke]

As your coming from a (presumably) small dumbphone I wouldn't right off the S3 or HTC One as too big yet.

Youre going to be using a smartphone in a very different way to your old dumbphone and screen real estate is very useful on a smartphone. You do tend to get used to the increased size quite quickly.

The HTC One is a lovely looking phone thats brand new and still pretty pricey. The S4 is coming out soon so the S3 is likely to be available second hand for cheap.

Apple, Android and Windows phones all have pretty good nav apps installed as stock or available in their respective markets. Personally I think Google maps is the gold standard of free nav apps but theres plenty of god alternatives.

 

[shortylickens]

If you want something compact and convenient: RAZR M

If you want all the bells and whistles: Note 2

 

[s44]

You have to tell us your service. Are you in the US? Abroad? Carrier subsidized? Buying full price? Out of contract so you can switch? Locked into a contract?

The most important thing to remember, however, is that the difference between where you are now (no smartphone) and having any smartphone is bigger than the difference between any two decent smartphones. So if someone tells you to wait a few months for the S4... forget it. What you're on now doesn't cut it.

 

[gevorg]

if you can, wait for 2013 models based on ARM15 arch

Galaxy S4 should be announced next week

 

[sportage]

Nexus 4 on AT&T is or seems as fast as 4g. I didn't notice any speed/download diff between iPhone 5 on AT&T 4g and the lg nexus 4 with AT&T. Nexus is not 4g but you wouldn't notice. Not in the real world experience.
Nexus 4 is one hell of a nice phone. Pure android. Much better on AT&T than on t-mobile, which you wouldn't want to go the t-mobile route no way no how. You would painfully regret that.
Try a nexus 4 on AT&T. Find out for yourself why the nexus 4 is such a desirable pierce of phone-tech pleasure.
I gave up my iPhone 5 for the nexus 4 on AT&T and haven't regretted the switch for one second.

The HTC windows based phones have one deal breaking flaw, compatibility.

 

[wirednuts]

get a 4.3" phone. that is the size you will likely eventually settle on. might as well cut to the chase.

nexus 4 would be a great choice.

 

[beginner99]

You have to tell us your service. Are you in the US? Abroad? Carrier subsidized? Buying full price? Out of contract so you can switch? Locked into a contract?

The most important thing to remember, however, is that the difference between where you are now (no smartphone) and having any smartphone is bigger than the difference between any two decent smartphones. So if someone tells you to wait a few months for the S4... forget it. What you're on now doesn't cut it.

abroad and as far as I can tell it's more flexible here. I will create a new contract (with current carrier) and hence get the phone cheaper. Downside is the available choices are limited.

 

[beginner99]

I build myself a "model" out of cardboard the size of the HTC One. Most similar phones like the GS3 have about the same size. After sitting down the first time wearing jeans with this thing in my pocket it was obvious it is just too big for my liking (the height mainly).

My current favorite is the Razr i. The M does not seem to be available here, but it's the same size and weight. It's just a lot smaller, even smaller than the GS3 mini.

 

[Zstream]

Apple, Android and Windows phones all have pretty good nav apps installed as stock or available in their respective markets. Personally I think Google maps is the gold standard of free nav apps but theres plenty of god alternatives.

seriously? Nokia drive is the best GPS map application available to date.