iPhone 4 or Samsung Captivate (ATT)

[qwertyaas]

It's time I finally get a phone with a Data plan and these are the two I'm considering although I can't decide on which.

Sure, the iPhone is an iPhone... We all know what it is and what it can do. I will JB it once I get it. The Captivate on the other hand... while the Android market seems less mature at the moment, I am thinking it won't be for long.

Customization is a big thing for me and that is one of the major detractors of the iPhone for me. I do not like using W7 without Rocketdock, Rainmeter and so on. And I probably will not like looking at the same iPhone layout without being able to customize it.

Has anyone tried both and can comment on them - I mean, how are the apps on Androids compared to iPhone apps (for instance, I can't find a Facebook chat app for the Android which is something that I will want to get - but I am sure one will come out soon). I am worried about past complaints with regard to Samsung though and their response or lack-thereof. But the phone is very nice, yet feels a bit big. The phone was very snappy when I used it - mostly web browsing and Google Nav. But since it's ATT, looks like I would have to get around their 'restricted' apps settings. Although I'm not really sure if it's by Rooting or just installing the Sideloader.

 

[rudeguy]

if you want to customize, Android.

There are plenty of apps out there that include facebook chat.

I'm not sure if rooting on the captivate takes anything special since ATT locked out 3rd party apps.

I know nothing about the iPhone.

 

[zerocool84]

Customization hands down goes to Android, jailbreaking or not it wins that battle. I looked and there are various 3rd party Facebook chats in the Android market. The markets pretty much have most of the same stuff with each having their own exclusive things in them. iPhone market has more but just like the Android market, most of it is just multiple versions and colors of the same stuff. One big thing though is you can't sort through the Android market like with ratings and such which I hope get remedied very soon. iPhone is the iPhone, you pretty much know what you're going to get with it. It just really comes down to what you think fits you more. Oh and one you go bigger screen, you'll never want to go back to a smaller one.

Oh and this thread is going to turn into a flame war very quickly.

 

[qwertyaas]

Yes, these threads always turn into flamewars. Fact is, both these phones are great which is why I can't decide.

As for the FB issue, that was just an example. Are the overall apps on par with those to be had on iPhone (as many of those seem more polished or that's what I heard).

The ATT 'restriction' on the Androids is also throwing a flag up for me but I heard you can just sideload apps on it to get around it or just root the phone - although I'm no really familiar with the purpose of rooting (is it essentially the same as jailbreaking?).

 

[sciwizam]

But since it's ATT, looks like I would have to get around their 'restricted' apps settings. Although I'm not really sure if it's by Rooting or just installing the Sideloader.

Android Central Sideload Wonder Machine

No rooting necessary.

 

[gorcorps]

Both phones are great, and I don't see you being disappointed in either. The only deciding factor I'd consider is that if you were also going to use it as an mp3 player than the iphone would be the better choice. Otherwise it really is a tossup. Android is pretty customizable out of the box, plus you can root it. The iphone is pretty locked down until you jailbreak it, but IMO once it's jailbroken it's as customizable as anybody would want.

 

[Cobalt]

As someone who has used both extensively and almost daily (Captivate no but iPhone is my everyday, personal device), iPhone but not by a huge margin. It's the little things that sway my opinion.

 

[rudeguy]

rooting enables you to run custom themes and different ROM's. For instance, I'm running a heavily modded version of Froyo on my myTouch. It basically gives programs and ROM's access to every part of the phone.

 

[kaerflog]

I don't have either one but I have played with both of them as my friends have both.
Its a tough choice but the one deciding factor for me is that the iphone 4 has a better camera and has flash.
I hate carrying another device and my camera phone takes good enough pictures that I don't need to carry 2 devices.
I know people will jump in here and say flash is not important and thats fine. Its important to me so leave it alone.
To me, the captivate/vibrant is a perfect one hand usage phone.
The 4" inch screen is gorgeous and its light and thin.

My reason for buying a Captivate.
- 4" inch screen. Perfect size for me.
- Something different from being another iphone clone.
- Can be found for $99
- Way better customization of the UI.
- True multitasking.

My reason for buying a iphone 4.
- Better camera + flash.
- Higher resale value.
- Better music player.
- Best looking phone
- Has the WOW factor when I travel to my country(Vietnam).
- Best app store

I think if the Captivate has flash, I would have to flip a coin.
And if the iphone had a 4" inch screen, I would have already had an iphone 4.

 

[TheStu]

Non-flammable question here, what is the difference between iOS 4 and Android (say 2.1 or 2.2) when it comes to multitasking? I have seen multitasking on iOS 4, and it seems to be like iOS 3, but better in that it allows for certain background processes to continue, and will save states in every app.

How is Android different? Is it more an issue of all apps being available for backgrounding?

 

[zerocool84]

One big thing the Android app store has that the Apple app store doesn't have is a "trial period" for all apps bought. There's a 24hr app return policy in the Android store for any app bought. Apple has nothing like that.

 

[tatteredpotato]

In my limited experience with a Jailbroken device (iPod Touch 2G), the rooted android feels much stabler than a JB iOS device. I did that a year ago so it could be a much more mature process by now, but I wasn't terribly impressed at that time.

 

[pm]

Oh and this thread is going to turn into a flame war very quickly.

I really hope this thread doesn't turn into a flame war. If it does, I will not hold back on the infractions.

It seems crazy to me that a bunch of rational intelligent technology focused people can't have a civilized discussion regarding the two (arguably) best phones available on AT&T.

 

[pm]

In my limited experience with a Jailbroken device (iPod Touch 2G), the rooted android feels much stabler than a JB iOS device. I did that a year ago so it could be a much more mature process by now, but I wasn't terribly impressed at that time.

As someone who has been jailbreaking since the very first jailbreak, I tend to agree. I have to say that the stability of jailbreaks and jailbroken apps on the iPhone is a mixed bag. Sometimes they work well, and a lot of other times they result in stability problems caused by memory leaks or poor coding.The 3.1.3 generation of jailbreak and jailbroken apps were pretty good. Before that... it was sometimes good, and sometimes flaky. I tend to think it's more of an issue with the jailbroken apps themselves (a lot of them are using undocumented calls and that causes stability issues) than the rooting method.

 

[tatteredpotato]

One big thing the Android app store has that the Apple app store doesn't have is a "trial period" for all apps bought. There's a 24hr app return policy in the Android store for any app bought.

This is actually much more useful than it sounds (I initially didn't think it would be THAT good of a feature). If you're on the fence with an app, you can DL it and give it a go for a little bit before deciding if you keep it. For $1 or $2 apps it's not a huge deal, but I'd be hesitant to drop any more than that on blind faith and a 250 word description.

 

[theeedude]

Depends on whether you want flash or Flash

 

[qwertyaas]

My reason for buying a Captivate.
- 4" inch screen. Perfect size for me.
- Something different from being another iphone clone.
- Can be found for $99
- Way better customization of the UI.
- True multitasking.

My reason for buying a iphone 4.
- Better camera + flash.
- Higher resale value.
- Better music player.
- Best looking phone
- Has the WOW factor when I travel to my country(Vietnam).
- Best app store

I think if the Captivate has flash, I would have to flip a coin.
And if the iphone had a 4" inch screen, I would have already had an iphone 4.

Pretty good breakdown. I agree with the lack of flash and for myself, the lack of a front facing cam (even though for me it's more of a novelty, it's one that I would prefer to have).

Sadly I can't get the Captivate for $99 though. Sites like Wirefly have it but since I am just renewing and upgrading one line on a family plan, it ups the price to $169 since I'm not choosing a new plan, and adds the $25 service fee and tax. But I do get a 28% plan discount on ATT so it makes the $199 price not as bad

The Music player on the Captivate is actually pretty good but it's tough to go against an actual iPod though. And as for resale value - that is very true. It's as if iPhones barely drop in value until they are a generation old. But it makes sense as there is pretty much just a yearly release compared to the Andriod series - which always have new phones coming out - harder to keep resale up on that.

I'm still torn!

By the way, is it just me or does the Captivate just feel... huge.

Depends on whether you want flash or Flash

Well played

 

[kaerflog]

Have you played with one ??
I thought of the opposite.
Maybe its because I own a HD2. The Captivate/Vibrant feels perfect to me.
If theres one thing that keep me leaning toward the Captivate is the 4" screen.
After having a HD2, I tell myself I can never go back to a smaller screen so 4" is like the minimum for me.
3.5" is too small for me now but the iphone 4 is the only phone that I can accept the smaller screen. All the other 3.7" amoled screen, I won't even considered.

 

[secretanchitman]

captivate. im telling you this as a hardcore iphone user as well

 

[kaerflog]

captivate. im telling you this as a hardcore iphone user as well

But are you a hardcore iphone 4 user ??
Thats what hes debating. Captivate vs iphone 4....not old iphones.
There was very little improvement spec wise from 2G to 3G to 3GS but the 4 is a significant improvement.
The sleek design, the much faster cpu, double the resolution, better camera/video + flash, front facing camera.
Its only flaw is the 3.5" screen.(lets not bring the antenna into arguement).

 

[secretanchitman]

But are you a hardcore iphone 4 user ??
Thats what hes debating. Captivate vs iphone 4....not old iphones.
There was very little improvement spec wise from 2G to 3G to 3GS but the 4 is a significant improvement.
The sleek design, the much faster cpu, double the resolution, better camera/video + flash, front facing camera.
Its only flaw is the 3.5" screen.(lets not bring the antenna into arguement).

yes i am a hardcore iphone 4 user (see my sig ) believe me, his need for customization will make him love android a lot compared to the iphone.

higher resolution on the iphone 4, at 3.5" 960x640 vs the captivates 4" 800x480. personally i think 3.7"-4" is the sweet spot for phones

 

[kaerflog]

I stand corrected.
I can respect an opinion of someone that have used the product.

 

[zerocool84]

But are you a hardcore iphone 4 user ??
Thats what hes debating. Captivate vs iphone 4....not old iphones.
There was very little improvement spec wise from 2G to 3G to 3GS but the 4 is a significant improvement.
The sleek design, the much faster cpu, double the resolution, better camera/video + flash, front facing camera.
Its only flaw is the 3.5" screen.(lets not bring the antenna into arguement).

Well there's more flaws than just the 3.5" screen on the 4.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Here's the thing, you can just get one and try it out for at least 2 weeks , and then try the other for 2 weeks...

Decide on your own

The truly slippery path is to buy both and swap out SIM cards

Personally, I wouldn't want to be under contract with am Android phone for 2 years when Gingerbread comes out, especially with Samsung's track record of OS updates...

There's some pretty pissed off Behold users out there who have been told there will be no updates beyond 1.6, and they're not exactly pushing out 1.6 in any hurry.

Of course there's custom Android ROMs, but they're sometimes a PITA with some pretty irritating bugs, and you get locked into flashing your ROM a couple of times a week like me :awe:

Of course I have a great time doing just that, my HD2 is flipping beautiful with the current home screen and widgets.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

can you install custom ROMs on the Captivate?

I know a lot of the whole custom ROM phenomenon came from HTC phones like the N1, G1, as well as the Moto Droid, but I thought Samsung bootloaders are locked, much like the Moto Milestone and Droid X. If so then your chances of custom ROMs are shot. I know everyone holds hope for breaking it, but the Milestone has been out for 8 months and all attempts have been meh so far.

Edit: seems like the captivate isn't as locked down? That's good news though.

you know, everyone tlaks about customization for Android phones, and I come from Symbian. There's tons of customization, but honestly after you dive into it for a bit, you get bored. You either gotta keep up with it, or you end up doing it once and forgetting about it. I did some Dalvik-cache hacks and some stuff on my Milestone and even though we don't have custom ROMs, there's still plenty of root hacks here and there. I did it once and I really don't wanna jump through all those weird hoops again.

I know if I had custom ROMs, I'd be doing it left and right all day, you gotta use nandroid backups and titanium backups to keep apps and widgets and hacks in place and stuff. You will end up reapplying a lot of stuff and once you take a break and get a decently good setting, you're not really going to want to dive into it all again 6 months later. Customization is nice, but honestly I have a setup for my Windows desktop with the right themes, custom icon sets, etc. I don't really feel like revamping that every week or month. It's just too much work.