need recommendations for new smartphone

[ZippyDan]

I have been happily using an iPhone 3GS as my phone and mobile work station. My intention was always to wait until the iPhone 5 came out before I would upgrade. My 3GS was stolen, so now I need a new phone until the iPhone 5 comes out. I don't want an iPhone 4.

I'm thinking of picking up an Android-based phone for several reasons:

1. To try it out
2. Like the idea of a slide-out keyboard
3. Like that I can get "more for the money" (camera, processor, screen, etc.)
4. Like that it is Linux-based and easier to unlock

One thing that will be crucial is my ability to use the phone as a portable emergency workstation. I will be "on-call" some nights where I might not be able to easily get to a desktop. On my 3GS, I had an app that let me use Remote Desktop to get to my workstation, and this served me reasonably well. But I will be needed to do more in the future and I'd like more from my new phone:

1. Slide-out keyboard
2. Remote Desktop support
3. VNC support
4. SSH support
5. VPN support
6. Advanced browsing support (java and flash-based websites)
7. Decent screen size and resolution so that working on the phone is not such a pain
8. Apps that allow the phone to become a VOIP softphone a plus
9. Apps for jabber-based chat systems

(10. Good camera)

It seems to me that, again, the more technically oriented Android might be a better fit for these needs.

I need to pick up this new phone within the next 6 weeks. I am not up with what is available on the market, and there seems to be a lot more choices for Android-based phones. I will not be buying the phone with a contract. SIM-based is a must. Any recommendations on particular phones that are out now or coming out, or a source of information where I can catch up on all the pros and cons of the various options?

 

[Patranus]

Just buy another 3GS off ebay.
You are going to be paying 3x more for a new off contract phone and you know you already like the iPhone 3GS.

 

[ZippyDan]

Googling around: the Motorola Atrix 4G looks good: big screen, powerful system specs, but no slide-out keyboard. Perhaps I'll have to compromise on that.

 

[ZippyDan]

Just buy another 3GS off ebay.
You are going to be paying 3x more for a new off contract phone and you know you already like the iPhone 3GS.

Yes, but the 3GS was starting to feel its age. Especially in the screen resolution and camera resolution departments. Plus, Apple products come with a large price premium, even in the used market. I feel I could get a lot more for my money with a new Android phone. I also feel like it would be depressing to pay for something I already paid for once 2 years ago.

I also have the impression that for remote access to my work I will find an Android-based phone more useful than the more locked-down iOS. I was only using my iPhone 3GS for limited tasks, but those tasks will be increasing in frequency and complexity soon. So I may not be as happy with a 3GS in the future as I was in the past.

 

[dguy6789]

The Atrix doesn't make sense as something to hold you over for an iPhone 5. It's something you would get instead of an iPhone 5.

 

[s44]

The only T-Mo/AT&T Android slider worth considering is the G2 (T-Mo). As a holdover/experimental device, though, I'd get a secondhand Captivate.

 

[ZippyDan]

The Atrix doesn't make sense as something to hold you over for an iPhone 5. It's something you would get instead of an iPhone 5.

I know Apple is often criticized for being style over substance, but considering the Atrix is out NOW and the iPhone 5 probably won't be out for another 7 months and it hasn't had any specs released, I'm not sure how you could say that?

 

[Spoooon]

I know Apple is often criticized for being style over substance, but considering the Atrix is out NOW and the iPhone 5 probably won't be out for another 7 months and it hasn't had any specs released, I'm not sure how you could say that?

I think he means it in the sense that, if the iPhone 5 were out now, a person might choose between the Atrix and the iPhone 5.

 

[dguy6789]

I know Apple is often criticized for being style over substance, but considering the Atrix is out NOW and the iPhone 5 probably won't be out for another 7 months and it hasn't had any specs released, I'm not sure how you could say that?

It's going to be exceptionally hard(impossible) hard for Apple to produce a product spec-wise that significantly eclipses a Tegra 2 device with 1GB of RAM in 2011. There's nothing in the mobile market coming out this year that is capable of that with the exception of Tegra 3(assuming it comes out on time). There's no chance the iPhone 5 will have a Tegra 3 either. Also consider that the iPhone 4 launched with a 1Ghz processor, 512MB of RAM, and an average quality 5mp camera; something that was in at least two smartphones for 6 months already.

 

[zerocool84]

It's going to be exceptionally hard(impossible) hard for Apple to produce a product spec-wise that significantly eclipses a Tegra 2 device with 1GB of RAM in 2011. There's nothing in the mobile market coming out this year that is capable of that with the exception of Tegra 3(assuming it comes out on time). There's no chance the iPhone 5 will have a Tegra 3 either. Also consider that the iPhone 4 launched with a 1Ghz processor, 512MB of RAM, and an average quality 5mp camera; something that was in at least two smartphones for 6 months already.

I can assume by that comment you've never actually used or even seen reviews of the iPhone 4. It currently still has one of the best cameras in any smartphone but yes, no phone will have hardware better than what's getting released right now until next year. Screens, cameras, and other aspects of the phones will probably get better but internals, not much will change until next year.

 

[kaerflog]

It's going to be exceptionally hard(impossible) hard for Apple to produce a product spec-wise that significantly eclipses a Tegra 2 device with 1GB of RAM in 2011. There's nothing in the mobile market coming out this year that is capable of that with the exception of Tegra 3(assuming it comes out on time). There's no chance the iPhone 5 will have a Tegra 3 either. Also consider that the iPhone 4 launched with a 1Ghz processor, 512MB of RAM, and an average quality 5mp camera; something that was in at least two smartphones for 6 months already.

Its these type of nonsense statement that make me scratch my head.
Have you used an IP4 vs any Android phone right now ??
The camera on the IP4 is one of the best.
No Android phone can match the IP4 as far as UI smoothness.
Doesn't matter how good the specs are, if it can't produce a fluid UI, its useless. Its a fault with Android not having graphic accelaration.

 

[shortylickens]

Sounds to me like the OP should just hold out for the iPhone 5.

And I recommend against getting one smartphone while waiting for another smartphone. Unless you are made of money, then go ahead and get whatever you like. Wont matter much.

If you arent made of money then get a Tracfone for temporary use. Thats what I do between contracts.

 

[boomhower]

For a cheap holdover Android phone pick up an LG Optimus. Yeah, they are lower in end but their internals are rather solid. For the price you aren't going to get more for your money off-contract.

 

[dguy6789]

Its these type of nonsense statement that make me scratch my head.
Have you used an IP4 vs any Android phone right now ??
The camera on the IP4 is one of the best.
No Android phone can match the IP4 as far as UI smoothness.
Doesn't matter how good the specs are, if it can't produce a fluid UI, its useless. Its a fault with Android not having graphic accelaration.

Of course I've used it. I've benchmarked it against several Android phones extensively. You can't really discuss the two in depth without having done so.

There's many Android phones that take pictures that are just as good or better than the iPhone 4, the camera quality the iPhone 4 provides isn't something an Android user would be amazed at, they would see it as something they are used to.(Droid Incredible, Droid X, Nexus S, Evo 4G, any of the Galaxy S, are all in the same ballpark as the iPhone 4. You could take a picture with any of them and nobody could tell you which one the iPhone 4 took). The iPhone 4 UI is indeed a bit smoother than the stock UI on most Android phones but this is a non issue. Install Launcher Pro or a custom rom and you can make any Android phone as smooth as the iPhone 4, this is really easy to do. Not to confuse smoothness with speed, there's at least a dozen Android phones that are faster than the iPhone 4 in real world performance.

 

[zerocool84]

Its these type of nonsense statement that make me scratch my head.
Have you used an IP4 vs any Android phone right now ??
The camera on the IP4 is one of the best.
No Android phone can match the IP4 as far as UI smoothness.
Doesn't matter how good the specs are, if it can't produce a fluid UI, its useless. Its a fault with Android not having graphic accelaration.

So a phone being able to do less but having a more fluid UI makes it more useful??? Well people are entitled to their opinions.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Of course I've used it. I've benchmarked it against several Android phones extensively. You can't really discuss the two in depth without having done so.

In case you are basing your assessment on the only benchmark that is cross-platform right now, which is Sunspider benchmark, then please excuse me, but that's not a valid metric for anything at all.

And in case you are basing it on something else, I would love to know what the benchmark suite you used was because... there is nothing that I can find that will give solid iPhone 4 vs any Android phone performance figures.

There's many Android phones that take pictures that are just as good or better than the iPhone 4, the camera quality the iPhone 4 provides isn't something an Android user would be amazed at, they would see it as something they are used to.(Droid Incredible, Droid X, Nexus S, Evo 4G, any of the Galaxy S, are all in the same ballpark as the iPhone 4. You could take a picture with any of them and nobody could tell you which one the iPhone 4 took).

I'm sorry. This is merely wrong. There is a significant difference between a picture taken by an iPhone 4 and a picture taken by any Android phone. I can testify to this with my Samsung Captivate. There is a signature sharpness to all pictures taken by the iPhone 4, and the colors are a lot deeper and over-saturated on the iPhone 4 shots. Not to mention HDR shots.

Not to say those are necessarily good points, but just to say that the iPhone 4 does take pictures that look a lot different to what any Android phone can take.

The iPhone 4 UI is indeed a bit smoother than the stock UI on most Android phones but this is a non issue. Install Launcher Pro or a custom rom and you can make any Android phone as smooth as the iPhone 4, this is really easy to do.

Nope. This is simply... not true. Again, it doesn't make just any Android phone as smooth as the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4's smoothness goes beyond the launcher. And if you compare stock Android browser to iPhone 4 browser, there is a stark difference in smoothness and usability.

Not to confuse smoothness with speed, there's at least a dozen Android phones that are faster than the iPhone 4 in real world performance.

Now, this, I can agree to.

 

[zerocool84]

I'm sorry. This is merely wrong. There is a significant difference between a picture taken by an iPhone 4 and a picture taken by any Android phone. I can testify to this with my Samsung Captivate.

Any Android phones does not mean Samsung Captivate. iPhone has one of the best cameras out there and many of the newer Android phones are almost on par with the iPhone 4 camera. Not significant difference.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Any Android phones does not mean Samsung Captivate. iPhone has one of the best cameras out there and many of the newer Android phones are almost on par with the iPhone 4 camera. Not significant difference.

I apologize in advance for stating anything misleading, but really, you have to take an iPhone 4 out and take pictures with it to really see what I and many others are talking about.

The iPhone 4 takes pictures that are a lot sharper than anything else in its class. There are more noise in those shots as well.

I was basing my Captivate as an example. That doesn't mean it's the exception. I've gotten a chance to play with the Atrix 4G, the Nexus S, the Vibrant, and the Fascinate as well, being close to San Fran last night (and you know what happened), and really, the iPhone 4 shots are still uniquely different from the other ones. Especially more so when HDR is on.

GSM Arena has a camera comparison tool in case you want to verify a bit of what I just said:

http://www.gsmarena.com/vidcmp.php3?idType=3&idPhone1=3275&idPhone2=3252&idPhone3=3115

 

[ponyo]

Any Android phones does not mean Samsung Captivate. iPhone has one of the best cameras out there and many of the newer Android phones are almost on par with the iPhone 4 camera. Not significant difference.

Name those Android phones. Because HTC and Motorola both have subpar cameras. HTC phone cameras might be the worst of the bunch. Samsung actually has pretty decent cameras and software on their phones but it's still inferior to iPhone4 camera quality. I dont think using Samsung Captivate as an example was bad since the camera on that phone is quite good. Just not as good as the IP4.

 

[ZippyDan]

Sounds to me like the OP should just hold out for the iPhone 5.

And I recommend against getting one smartphone while waiting for another smartphone. Unless you are made of money, then go ahead and get whatever you like. Wont matter much.

If you arent made of money then get a Tracfone for temporary use. Thats what I do between contracts.

I can't be without a smart phone for 6 months. I need something that will perform all the tasks I listed in my OP.

 

[shortylickens]

I can't be without a smart phone for 6 months. I need something that will perform all the tasks I listed in my OP.

Well then you'll paying an awful lot for that 6 months. Either a cancellation fee or full price for the iPhone 5. Which is probably gonna be about 6 or 7 hundred.

 

[runawayprisoner]

If you can't be without a smartphone, then I'd suggest that you pick up an older Android phone for cheap. Dual-core Android phones can't utilize their 2nd core until an update to 2.3 is provided. Likely 2.4. That means it'll be a waste getting a dual-core phone now.

I've seen some Galaxy S phones in the FS/T forum for $250 or less. You can resell them with a $50 to $100 loss when the iPhone 5 comes out, and it won't be a big blow to your wallet. Plus it'll give you a good look at Android, and you can see how it will work out for you in the long run, too.

 

[sciwizam]

If you can't be without a smartphone, then I'd suggest that you pick up an older Android phone for cheap. Dual-core Android phones can't utilize their 2nd core until an update to 2.3 is provided. Likely 2.4. That means it'll be a waste getting a dual-core phone now.

I've seen some Galaxy S phones in the FS/T forum for $250 or less. You can resell them with a $50 to $100 loss when the iPhone 5 comes out, and it won't be a big blow to your wallet. Plus it'll give you a good look at Android, and you can see how it will work out for you in the long run, too.

Not true.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4144/...gra-2-review-the-first-dual-core-smartphone/7

 

[AstroManLuca]

Used Captivates are probably pretty cheap and should give you a decent introduction to Android. Samsung sucks sometimes, but they do have awesome screens and fast processors, especially for the price.

 

[shortylickens]

Oh, crap! I shoulda made the obvious suggestion. Go with Virgin Mobile and get one of their Blackberries or their LG Android. Month to month is the cheapest way to go.
Keep a hold of it if you ever need a smartphone again for short term.