Help me decide...Iphone 5S 32GB or Note 3!

[Lyfer]

I haven't owned an Android device since my POS Droid X. I have been using iOS since my awful experience with gingerbread minus my Nexus 7 2013 which I absolutely love. My brother has the Note 2 and I absolutely love the form factor and feel the screen size is perfect for me. The issue for me is that I have anywhere from $500-$1000 spent on apps/music/movies from the Apple ecosystem. Between my wife and I, we own 4S/5/Ipad 2/Ipad mini vs. our Nexus 7 (as our only android device). However since I have my Nexus 7 for over a month now I have put a lot into the google ecosystem and with Spotify premium, I have all my music needs satisfied.

I'm torn between the Note 3's spec's and absolutely love the gorgeous screen (and the S-pen!) compared to the iOS ecosystem which I have invested so much in. Additional I know I will probably have the fastest CPU+GPU on the planet but I will end paying more since I want at least 32gb if I stick with Apple. I will need to purchase the device at retail to keep my unlimited LTE with VZW.

Help me dicide. KTHXBYE!

 

[Eug]

These are totally different classes of devices. Really, you'll have to decide yourself.

For me it's an easy decision because I don't like phablets in general, but obviously you do like phablets.

 

[Stuka87]

Two entirely different phones.

Both phones have good hardware under the hood. But one is more compact at 4", and the other is gigantic at 5.7".

For me its not contest as a 5.7" screen would make any phone unusable for me in my day to day routine. The phone HAS to fit in normal sized pockets.

So I think thats what you need to determine. Can you get by with a tablet for a phone?

And having so much invested in iOS is something you have to consider as well.

 

[WelshBloke]

These are totally different classes of devices. Really, you'll have to decide yourself...

This!!!

Hell the screen of the Note 3 is significantly bigger than the iPhone 5. :biggrin:

 

[ControlD]

That's a lot of money invested in the iOS ecosystem. I might have a hard time making the switch, especially if you plan to reinvest in a bunch of apps just to change platforms.

I moved from iOS (iPhone 4S) to a Note II a few months ago and I have no regrets at all. The Note II (for me) is such a better device it made the pain of changing ecosystems pretty easy to bear.

 

[WelshBloke]

That's a lot of money invested in the iOS ecosystem. I might have a hard time making the switch, especially if you plan to reinvest in a bunch of apps just to change platforms.

I moved from iOS (iPhone 4S) to a Note II a few months ago and I have no regrets at all. The Note II (for me) is such a better device it made the pain of changing ecosystems pretty easy to bear.

Musics easy to swap over.

 

[dma0991]

I've said it before, but lately my 4.1 dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait is slow as crap. And who knows when 4.3 and TRIM will come to this phone.

You ought to try out CyanogenMod 10.1 if its a GS2. It really improved responsiveness by a lot. I would dare say that its close to an iPhone 4.

Unfortunately, modern Android hardware still has problems with this.

That just means you have yet to try the Nexus 4. I have one and while it won't be similar to iPhone 5 in terms of responsiveness, its very responsive and the best I've seen on an Android device(not even the GS4, especially when Power Saving Mode is turned on). It wasn't till Project Butter than emphasis was given by Google to improve responsiveness, much like how thread priority for page rendering is done by Apple.

Yes, there were laggy and slow Androids back then. But that doesn't mean that they haven't improved.

 

[dawheat]

Frankly you'll use these phones substantially differently. One you can do a ton of one-handed stuff, the other you can do two handed work. What's your primary use case?

Like has been repeated many times over, most guys have little issues carrying a N2 in their pocket. It just takes getting used to since you feel something there (unlike an IP5). You should try it out or ask your bro to use his N2 for a full day so you know what it's like.

I've gone from the IP3 > IP3GS > IP4S > S3 > N2 > Nexus 4 > waiting for my N3. Personally the advantages of the N2/3 outweigh the loss of one handed use from my iPhone days.

 

[Oyeve]

Damn. Now i want a note 3.

 

[Subyman]

Wow, no thanks on the Note 3. I already have a small tablet. I wouldn't want to carry around that behemoth. I already dislike the iPhone 4 in my pocket. I'd need cargo pants to stow the Note haha.

 

[mikegg]

Go with the iPhone 5S. I think the new finger print feature is killer and the phone allows you to use the phone without using both hands. Plus, you get support for much longer from Apple than Samsung.

 

[robvp]

to me the note 3 is a no brainer, having used a note 1 in the past i can say that the big screen is amazing, after a few days you dont even notice the size of the phone

 

[BladeVenom]

Damn. Now i want a note 3.

I know, doesn't that look awesome.

 

[Zaap]

I know, doesn't that look awesome.

Note 3. It's not even a fair contest for me.


My experience with the Note 2 is similar to others: the first few days your thinking is like "other phones are normal sized, and this thing is hey-huge!" But it quickly shifts to: "This phone is normal sized and other phones are teeny tiny little playthings."

You quickly get used to the viewing experience being at a size you can truly be productive at and then small screens seem like too much compromise. I'll probably wait until early next year and upgrade to an N3.

But of course make your choice from hands-on with each device.

 

[Radeon962]

Note 3. It's actually slightly smaller than the Note 2 due to the reduced bezel around the screen (like they did with the S4 as compared to the S3). Best thing to do would be to borrow your brother's Note 2 and try it out. The N3 is better and essentially the same physical size with a slightly larger screen.

And the Note 2 or 3 fits comfortably in a regular pair of jeans, dress pants, jacket pocket whatever. I never had an issue carrying it and after using it you really don't think of the size as the extra screen real estate is much appreciated.

If you spend more time browsing the web, playing games, etc. then it really provides an awesome experience. If you spend more time using it as a "phone" and talking, you might be better served with the IP5S.

 

[gorcorps]

For you OP, stick with Apple. They have you right where they want you being so invested in their ecosystem, and it's not like the 5s is a BAD device... so go for it. If you weren't so invested I may say otherwise but your family seems pretty set with Apple

 

[openwheel]

unless you have freakishly small hands, I say Note 3.

don't let an ecosystem tie you down.

 

[Chrono]

Only iPhone I've had was the iPhone 2G... and that was back in 2008... I've had a Note 2 since last December I believe and it's been a great phone. I really want the Note 3 but I need to sell the Note2 I have first. The Note 2 w/ Jedi X custom rom is amazing.

 

[Ns1]

Do you need Stylus, Android, or bigass screen? If yes, then Note3

If no, then iPhone5s. IMO

my almost identical thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2331581

 

[Lyfer]

For you OP, stick with Apple. They have you right where they want you being so invested in their ecosystem, and it's not like the 5s is a BAD device... so go for it. If you weren't so invested I may say otherwise but your family seems pretty set with Apple

Its my safe choice lol. I do use notes a ton at work and would love having the S-pen. My 4S is just tiny for that. However having the 5S would allow me to use all of my current apps but none of those are critical to have. I have used the note 2 for a bit and yes, my 4S feels tiny compared to it. The finger scanner is pretty useless for me considering how I use my phone.

I think my brain says 5S, but my heart says note 3.

 

[Ns1]

Its my safe choice lol. I do use notes a ton at work and would love having the S-pen. My 4S is just tiny for that. However having the 5S would allow me to use all of my current apps but none of those are critical to have. I have used the note 2 for a bit and yes, my 4S feels tiny compared to it. The finger scanner is pretty useless for me considering how I use my phone.

I think my brain says 5S, but my heart says note 3.

So I was literally in that exact same boat, and I went another direction.

Buy iPhone to stay in iOS ecosystem. Buy microsoft surface to get into windows ecosystem.

Then you'll have the "entertainment" side (apple tv + ipads + iphones) and the productivity side (microsoft surface w/ stylus + windows 8 laptop + xbox if desired)

When I wrote it down like that, didn't really make sense to only have 1 android device...