Smartphone newb: iPhone 5 or Galaxy S4?

[Jumpem]

The Galaxy S4 certainly seems nicer hardware wise.

As an aside, do those of you with smartphones find your selves browsing at home with them instead of a laptop?

 

[cyclistca]

I only use my smartphone for checking my email, Facebook updates, and to look up the occasional piece of information. For extended browsing I find the screen is to small. I do use my iPad for most of my browsing. I would say that 10" is the sweet spot for that.

 

[ew915]

Browsing on smartphone is kind of pain in the ass I'd get a table for that I own both the N10 and iPad and I find the iPad to be better off due to the ratio of the screen (personal preference)

 

[MD90]

You probably want to throw the HTC One into the mix too, along with other options.

 

[Jumpem]

I would just keep a basic laptop then for browsing on the couch. Plus I could run Excel on it. I wouldn't go spend the same amount on a tablet.

So many devices to keep current: PC, laptop, a smartphone or two, HDTV, home theater, digital camera, HD video camera. It never ends.

 

[krumme]

I Browse at least 1 hour a day on my s3 ,

20 minutes in the morning with coffee, 20 min before eating and 20 min in bed.

I would say i would never have thought of it. Many post i write on it too.

I dont use our 7 pad for it, because i like the lightness of the phone, and handling it easily with one hand. If i need more i grasp for my ultrabook 13.3. I dont use the tablet, and will never get there.

I you want to browse s3 is just the smallest imho, but the s4 should be far better here. Same size, even slightly lighter, and with far sharper screen. The last is also quite important.

I understand you question perfectly. The IP5 is a perfect phone if you dont use it for surfing (or video as some do). But as nice as the screen is, its simply to small for good browsing. My wifes s2 4.3 doesnt cut it either because its also to small, and the text lack very much sharpness.

The s4 have faster hardware, and so on regarding fancy functionality, but for me, even an s3 or 4s is fast enough. I dont think it really matters. The most basic question is the one you pose.

I would never, ever have thought i would end up surfing with my 4.8 inch phone, when i am litteraly 1.5 meter from 13.3 high res pls ultrabook, 7 pad, and 23 inch ips monitor.

I just love my big phone, even thought of getting the lg g pro at 5.5 , but then the size is just on the big side, and it weight just too much.

As a sidenote the ergonomics of the IP5 is not good enough for holding ir in your hands for that long time. Ofcourse it looks brilliant but thats another quality.

Btw. Dont consider the One, if its about surfing, you absolutely needs the screen real estate. And the one is even bigger and heavier than the s4.

Its a difficult choise. But look at it this way. If you get the s4 and get to love surfing with it just 15 mins a day, its a real win for comfort in your life. And you will really love it.

If you dont use it for it, well you have to carry a heavier and less nice looking phone. That probably will not make you hate it.

Go for the win i would say !

 

[Aristotelian]

I would just keep a basic laptop then for browsing on the couch. Plus I could run Excel on it. I wouldn't go spend the same amount on a tablet.

So many devices to keep current: PC, laptop, a smartphone or two, HDTV, home theater, digital camera, HD video camera. It never ends.

What do you want to do with your smartphone? I work a lot, and when I get home I set my phone to simply notify me re: exchange (work) e-mails and so on, and do the rest of my entertainment with the other devices you mention above.

 

[s44]

As an aside, do those of you with smartphones find your selves browsing at home with them instead of a laptop?

Yes. Heck, even instead of a tablet. Sometimes I'm too lazy to get up off the couch, or want to read lying down in bed instead of sitting up.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Me too. I am at about an hour of internet on my tablet and an hour on my phone everyday. Either one is way more convenient than any of my laptops or netbooks, those are all almost dead to me.

 

[ponyo]

iOS vs Android. You decide.

I browse about 1-2 hours on my phone daily. When I'm at home, I tend to do most of the browsing on the Nexus 7 tablet or Yoga 13 laptop. When I'm in the kitchen or bathroom, I watch live TV on the HP Touchpad running CM9 using XBMC app. TV is streamed from HomerunHD dual tuner connected to my network.

 

[Dulanic]

I'm /w the rest... I barely boot my laptop anymore. It is 80% Phone 15% Tablet, 5% Laptop.

I much prefer the android system so I'd go Galaxy 4 or HTC One. I'm switching carriers in May and am making that decision myself right now. I am leaning Galaxy currently, but it is close. Will see what the price is for each.

 

[Jumpem]

What do you want to do with your smartphone? I work a lot, and when I get home I set my phone to simply notify me re: exchange (work) e-mails and so on, and do the rest of my entertainment with the other devices you mention above.

Texting, internet browsing, as a portable camera.

 

[s44]

The more you browse, the more the S4 leads. Screen size is *the* killer feature for browsing -- so much so that if you (a) have big pockets or (b) are a woman with a purse, you really should be considering the Note 2. You wouldn't think there would be much difference between 5.5" on that and 4.8" on the S3, but the extra size just makes reading/browsing a ridiculous pleasure.

 

[saratoga172]

As others have said, internet browsing is more pleasurable on a larger device. I myself have an iPhone 5 and like the smaller form factor of the device. I came from a 4.8 inch Galaxy Nexus which I adjusted to and was fine with.

After using both I just like the smaller form factor from a sense of feel in my pocket, holding it in the hand and general use and lightness.

Go play with a Samsung Android phone (GS3) and the iPhone 5 and see what operating system you like best. That will be the best determining factor. For a phone I like the simplicity of the iPhone but find Android to be more robust. I also find some things on the iPhone to be more thought out and fluid as far as operation. Such as the mail app since I use Exchange mail and sync a couple other accounts.

I also find iMessage to be very useful.

 

[QueBert]

while browsing on a bigger screen can be better, screen quality is just as important to me. I went from a Note to a IP4, I honestly like the screen on the iPhone a lot better. I now have the iPhone and a Nexus 4. screen wise I'd say iPhone > Nexus 4 >> any Samsung phone.

 

[benbenben]

I seldom use the mobile phone to surf the Internet, but I use it to watch movies.

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

When you get home, do yourself a favour, put the phone on charge and leave it there. There's no reason to be using something so small when at home.

 

[krumme]

while browsing on a bigger screen can be better, screen quality is just as important to me. I went from a Note to a IP4, I honestly like the screen on the iPhone a lot better. I now have the iPhone and a Nexus 4. screen wise I'd say iPhone > Nexus 4 >> any Samsung phone.

"can be better"
Are you serious?
You are right now recommending an ip4 for browsing to an Nexus 4

Well thank you. But i hope no one lisnt to that nonsense. A nexus 4 have fine screen for browsing, while the ip4 dont. Yes the ip4 is a great screen if you dont use it for browsing, but 3.7 for browsing is just outright a pain. So it just dont work.
Get real.

 

[bearxor]

"can be better"
Are you serious?
You are right now recommending an ip4 for browsing to an Nexus 4

Well thank you. But i hope no one lisnt to that nonsense. A nexus 4 have fine screen for browsing, while the ip4 dont. Yes the ip4 is a great screen if you dont use it for browsing, but 3.7 for browsing is just outright a pain. So it just dont work.
Get real.

That is, of course, your opinion, just as its QueBert's.

My wife gets along just fine with her iPhone 4S and every time I try to show her a different device, she always remarks about how large it is and that its not for her, etc, etc. and she does 100% of her web browsing from the phone.

 

[PingviN]

The Galaxy S4 certainly seems nicer hardware wise.

Then there's the HTC One Roughly the same internals as the S4, but comes in a fancy aluminium body and a slightly smaller screen.

 

[krumme]

That is, of course, your opinion, just as its QueBert's.

My wife gets along just fine with her iPhone 4S and every time I try to show her a different device, she always remarks about how large it is and that its not for her, etc, etc. and she does 100% of her web browsing from the phone.

Except its heavier and fatter than an s4 or s3 for that matter.

Something is facts, something is brand value. Lets try to stay away from the subjective hell when possible.

Not every opinion is the same value. Giving the advice surfing on 3.7 is a plain stupid advice or opinion.

 

[Ashenor]

After going from the iPhone 5 to Note 2, i would say the S4 or Note 2.

I am the same i do a lot of surfing during the day on my phone and found the i5 just to small for it. I have a Nexus 7 and iPad 3 at home, and split the time between all 3 really at home.

 

[MrX8503]

I think you should get accustomed to the two OSs. You'll notice a bigger difference in software than the hardware between the phones.

Always pick the phone for its cell service first and then its OS.

 

[Jumpem]

Then there's the HTC One Roughly the same internals as the S4, but comes in a fancy aluminium body and a slightly smaller screen.

The 4mp camera is pathetic. That alone ruled out the HTC One.

 

[Jumpem]

I think you should get accustomed to the two OSs. You'll notice a bigger difference in software than the hardware between the phones.

Always pick the phone for its cell service first and then its OS.

This is why I would stay with Verizon.