Motorola Sucks..... So I got an S4

[88keys]

I'll be eligible for upgrade on 7/25 and I've been dealing with the buggy Droid X2 that it still stuck on Gingerbread, and I swear that I haven't seen OS rot this bad since Windows 98. Bluetooth, 3G, WiFi, and some apps will quit working for no reason and the only solution is to restart the phone. I probably end up rebooting several times a day or more depending. The touchscreen is getting really bad. It acts as if it needs to be re calibrated but there is no way to do so AFAIK.

My old iPhone 3GS was a less capable phone, but iOS is just alot more stable and I know my 3GS wasn't this bad after over 2 years of use. My 3GS had also been through alot worse. I even washed it and it still worked fine after being dried out.

I've been told that other Motorola Phones like the Droid RAZR and the Bionic have similar problems. This along with the fact that they decided to leave the X2 on gingerbread even though it is fully capable of operating more recent releases are the reasons that I will not buy another Motorola Phone for a long long long time.


So here are the phones that I'm looking at:

Samsung Galaxy S3/S4
Samsung Galaxy Note 2
iPhone 4S.

I know a few people who have the 3 Samsung phones that I have mentioned, and they all love them. I like the idea of the larger screen of the Galaxy Note, but I wonder if that would become burdensome after awhile. That being said, the S3 and S4 both have decent sized screens.
The main reason Im considering going back to iPhone is the stability of iOS. After my ordeal, I've realized, that it's nice to have a phone that works when I need it to work. The only thing about iPhones is that I think that the screen is rather small IMO. And I don't want an iPhone 5 because i think the idea of a panoramic phone is stupid and it offers almost nothing over the 4S.

 

[Jodell88]

S4

 

[WelshBloke]

IPhone 4S to the note 2 is quite a wide span of hardware!

I think you need to decide on your OS first. If you do go for the iOS option I'd really reconsider your aversion to the iphone 5. The 5 is much better set up for any updates and, as you may be aware, there's a big one on the horizon for Apple fans.
Android wise I can't see much reason to go for an GS3 if you can get an S4. Price may come into it but you're going to be using it for awhile, get the best one you can.

 

[Bateluer]

The GS3, Note 2, and iP 4S shouldn't be seriously considered. The 4S has no LTE and is old. The GS3 is old, last generation, the GS4 is better in every way. And the Note 2's powered by a two gen old quad Cortex A9 SoC, and will be getting refreshed in a month or two.

On Verizon, right now, go with a GS4, or hold off for the VZW HTC One or the Note 3. Though, given Verizon's poor handling of phone launches, I wouldn't hold you're breathe on either the One or Note 3.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

I just got an s4 this morning to replace my x2. Night and day difference. It is incredible how big of a leap forward it is.

Get away from the x2 asap and you will not regret it.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Despite your anger towards Motorola, don't ignore the Moto X Phone if you really want a pastel mauve colored phone.

The iPhone 5 surprisingly has the same 16:9 aspect ratio as the Galaxy S4 and most Android phones. It just looks odd because of the very thin side bezels and the very large bottom and top bezels. And the previous iPhones were 3:2 ratio.

I think the Galaxy S4 would be a really nice choice.

 

[shortylickens]

The RAZR's are plenty good, but I'd go towards an S4 anyway.

 

[s44]

If you're on Verizon, get a phone in some other way besides "upgrade". Unlimited LTE is worth everything.

 

[lopri]

4S or S4, haha.

(BTW, will iPhone 4/4S receive iOS 7? Out of curiosity.)

 

[poofyhairguy]

Get the S4. Jellybean is Windows 7 to Gingerbread's Windows 98.

 

[boomhower]

Assuming Verizon Android I'd go with the S4. For an iPhone get the iPhone 5. Not sure what a "panoramic" phone is supposed to mean. But LTE is enough of a difference alone over the 4S. The bigger screen is certainly not small feature either. Also twice as fast and a bit better camera among other upgrades. It was a massive upgrade over the 4S. I owned both and it's no competition.

4S or S4, haha.

(BTW, will iPhone 4/4S receive iOS 7? Out of curiosity.)

Yes. Likely have some features crippled, particularly on the 4 as it's quite old speed wise.

 

[ControlD]

^^

Agree with this. The Note 2 and S3/S4 are so much better than the 4S it isn't really a fair comparison. The iPhone 5 is the only Apple product you should be considering.

 

[88keys]

If you're on Verizon, get a phone in some other way besides "upgrade". Unlimited LTE is worth everything.

I don't have unlimited data.

IPhone 4S to the note 2 is quite a wide span of hardware!



I think you need to decide on your OS first. If you do go for the iOS option I'd really reconsider your aversion to the iphone 5. The 5 is much better set up for any updates and, as you may be aware, there's a big one on the horizon for Apple fans.
Android wise I can't see much reason to go for an GS3 if you can get an S4. Price may come into it but you're going to be using it for awhile, get the best one you can.

Well the only reason I would consider an apple product is the OS. I'm ass-u-me-ing that Android OS has improved since gingerbread, but I have no way of knowing that because Motorola decided to not upgrade the X2. I know people have gotten ICS to work on X2 via workarounds and I'm fairly certain that people have gotten X2s to run Jellybean aswell. (not 100% positive about the latter).
I have only a few weeks til upgrade, so it hardly seems worth the trouble. I just SBF the damn thing once things get too nasty.

^^

Agree with this. The Note 2 and S3/S4 are so much better than the 4S it isn't really a fair comparison. The iPhone 5 is the only Apple product you should be considering.

I know alot of people with S3s, and only a few with S4s. They all seem to be pretty happy with them. My thing is that the s3 is significantly cheaper, and sometimes it's hard to spend $200 on a phone knowing that it'll be half price it about 6-12 months.
Would it be that bad if I got a 4g version of the s3?

 

[dlock13]

It wouldn't be bad. Most things can be done on the S3 as on the S4, but you're going to be rocking a year old hardware which of course isn't bad either. It'll definitely last you for 2 years, but by that time, you might have wished you purchased something better.

I would recommend the S4 just because it's so much more power efficient, the Google Experience S4 allows it to run stock nearly perfectly without any sort of bugs, and the hardware is just so very solid. The screen is gorgeous.

I wouldn't recommend the S3/4S/Note 2. In my eyes, the only devices right now that are worth it on Verizon are the S4 and the iPhone 5. Both of which I own, and both of which are extremely fantastic phones.

One more thing, Android's OS is amazing now. I mean it's extremely efficient and quick. It has maybe 1% lag difference between iOS and it (meaning iOS is 0% and Android is 1%). It's just so good. Ignore the gimmicks Samsung keeps marketing. They're useful in the most certain of times, but they're so very slow. I was using the motion wave to scroll, and it was just so exceptionally stupid. It was slower than dirt to use, and I would never understand the use.

The iPhone 5 is going to get updates for a while. It'll more than likely get everything from iOS 7 unless there are hardware updates in the new iPhone (but that's typical).

That's all I have right now.

 

[Lyfer]

Neither. Paper, envelopes, and stamps are all you need.

 

[hans007]

My RAZR m is the first moto phone I've had. And easily the best phone I've owned. First one I haven't felt the need to root or rom

 

[Joe1986]

The only iPhone you should consider is the 5, for the LTE alone is enough to throw out the 4s, if you're going for another 2 years, skip the s3, it'll be a 3+ year old design when you're done with your contract. The Note 2 and S4 are fine phones, I'd suggest waiting a bit for a Note 3 if you want a big screen though. Samsung has a pretty popular phone with the Note series and is putting some serious effort behind each generation. The Note 2 surprised everyone by seeming more like a 3rd gen device rather than a second gen.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I wouldn't even consider an iPhone 5 with the 5S about to hit.

 

[billbobaggins87]

I had owned a droidx prior to picking up my s4. It was a tough pick that i'm happy i made. My wife has a iphone5 and the s4 is a stronger device by a long shot. I would only consider a iphone for the multitude of cases available.

 

[jiffylube1024]

4S is pretty dated at this point. I'd get an S3/S4 or Note 2 depending on price sensitivity and whether or not you can tolerate the massive size of the Note 2.

 

[Bman123]

I've had my note 2 for about two months now and love it, but the new one will be out in a few months. If Iwere in your shoes I'd get the s4 and call it a day

 

[lothar]

4S or S4, haha.

(BTW, will iPhone 4/4S receive iOS 7? Out of curiosity.)

It will receive it an update called "iOS 7", no question.
Don't expect all(if any at all) of the iOS 7 features to make it however.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35226821&postcount=69

 

[Germanic]

Get the Galaxy S4 or wait for the Galaxy Note 3 or iPhone 5S.

Personally, I'd get a Galaxy S4 or Galaxy Note 3.

 

[ControlD]

If you're on Verizon, get a phone in some other way besides "upgrade". Unlimited LTE is worth everything.

Don't overlook this point. OP if you currently have unlimited data you might consider getting a second hand phone rather than using an upgrade and losing your unlimited plan when you move to LTE. Just browsing swappa, I see that you can pick up a S3 for just over $300 or a Note 2 for $400.

 

[A5]

He already said that he doesn't have unlimited data.

OP, out of those options get the S4. Saving $100 upfront on a $2000+ contract is silly when the $100 will get you a much better device.