Trying to decide on a new phone

[thespyder]

So, it is that time for me. My old Droid is dying and I need to replace. I am generally in the Android camp and generally want to use my phone for email/facebook/web searching and movie/trailer downloads. Plus a little bit of music also.

My choices are:

Droid DNA. - currently my front runner. I like the fact that it is the latest and greatest. I am a little worried about being 'The test group' getting one at launch. I am also a tiny bit worried about size. I am used to being able to belt clip my phone, but the DNA (and the S3 below) is a BIG phone.

Galaxy S3. - I know several people who have them and love them. Although S-voice is apparently pretty flawed, i am not sure I would use it. Same as with the DNA, i am a little concerned about size. But not hugely so.

Iphone 5. - Never been much for Iphone in the past. And I am (conversely) concerned about the screen size (to small). And the battery life. I hear that the S3 is a good deal better on that count. But I do hear good things from people at work that have the Iphone 5.

I am not looking for a tablet. But I am looking for something that I can do some reasonable web surfing, some games and still have a decent phone. Oh, and I am on Verizonwireless, so that might limit other choices.

I appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

iPhone 5 has awesome battery. Completely kicks the crap out of any Android smartphone.

 

[thespyder]

I find that interesting. Several review sites I checked all list the Galaxy S3 at up to 2x the stand by and more than 2x the talk time of the Iphone 5. And that the DNA was 'Comparable'. Plus both the S3 and the DNA with better front facing cameras. And of course, the Iphone can't handle flash.

 

[XenIneX]

There's a lot of difference between talk time vs. standby time vs. data time. Judging by what you say you want it for (web/fb/email), you'll likely get half-again as much battery life out of the iPhone as the S3. Android devices tend to have such massive batteries to power their massive screens that they get good talk time as a gimmie.

Look at any of anandtech's recent smartphone reviews for a decent cross-section of battery life tests.

And nothing could do a decent job of handling Flash. That's why Adobe killed it on mobile.

 

[Jocelyn84]

And nothing could do a decent job of handling Flash. That's why Adobe killed it on mobile.

It's still side loadable for any android device

 

[thespyder]

There's a lot of difference between talk time vs. standby time vs. data time. Judging by what you say you want it for (web/fb/email), you'll likely get half-again as much battery life out of the iPhone as the S3. Android devices tend to have such massive batteries to power their massive screens that they get good talk time as a gimmie.

Look at any of anandtech's recent smartphone reviews for a decent cross-section of battery life tests.

And nothing could do a decent job of handling Flash. That's why Adobe killed it on mobile.

Thanks. This at least is a bit more quantifiable than the other poster.

I checked out what Anandtech and Gismodo had to say. Still on the fence, but at least i feel slightly more informed.

I feel that the graphics upgrade on the GS3 and the DNA are attractive features. And from what you said, doing things like web surfing and email (which aren't hugely graphics intensive) are maybe better on the Iphone 5. Yet, that seems to me to intuitively say that movies and video would be better on the DNA.

I am concerned about actually taking calls and doing stuff like facetime. So that is also a consideration. And that again seems to come out in the DNA's favor. Plus, as a rule, I enjoy Android better. Plus I don't have to find all of my apps again in the Apple store since my current phone is an Android. They should all just be there.

And the price point seems to be comparable across all three devices. So that doesn't help me.

It comes down to size and functionality in my mind. Hmmm... Gotta give it some more thought and investigation.

 

[XenIneX]

It's still side loadable for any android device

Well aware. Doesn't change the significance of what Adobe did.

Thanks. This at least is a bit more quantifiable than the other poster.

I checked out what Anandtech and Gismodo had to say. Still on the fence, but at least i feel slightly more informed.

I feel that the graphics upgrade on the GS3 and the DNA are attractive features. And from what you said, doing things like web surfing and email (which aren't hugely graphics intensive) are maybe better on the Iphone 5. Yet, that seems to me to intuitively say that movies and video would be better on the DNA.

If you're talking battery life, then not really. With modern DSPs, video decoding is a nearly-free action -- the only real drain on the battery is the display. I think the iPhone is specced at 10 hours, and -- best as I can tell, as the reviews are crap -- the S3 should be comparable. As far as the DNA, I don't expect it to be any better -- probably worse, in fact, given the power drain of higher-density displays.

Unless by "better" you mean "bigger", in which case, more power to you. Personally, I can't stand the current trends toward phablets.

 

[Dari]

The DNA is better than the GS3 in resolution, graphics processor, CPU, screen size, color accuracy, battery efficiency.

The GS3 is better than the DNA in that you can change the battery and SD slot.

 

[bearxor]

It looks like you're on Verizon. Is the RAZR HD MAXX a consideration?

 

[VashHT]

Thanks. This at least is a bit more quantifiable than the other poster.

I checked out what Anandtech and Gismodo had to say. Still on the fence, but at least i feel slightly more informed.

I feel that the graphics upgrade on the GS3 and the DNA are attractive features. And from what you said, doing things like web surfing and email (which aren't hugely graphics intensive) are maybe better on the Iphone 5. Yet, that seems to me to intuitively say that movies and video would be better on the DNA.

I am concerned about actually taking calls and doing stuff like facetime. So that is also a consideration. And that again seems to come out in the DNA's favor. Plus, as a rule, I enjoy Android better. Plus I don't have to find all of my apps again in the Apple store since my current phone is an Android. They should all just be there.

And the price point seems to be comparable across all three devices. So that doesn't help me.

It comes down to size and functionality in my mind. Hmmm... Gotta give it some more thought and investigation.

The ip5 is a lot better graphics-wsie compared to the gs3, I'd say it's better than the DNA as well. As for battery life I've owned both the ip5 and gs3 and the ip5 has far better battery life in my experience. I'm a pretty heavy user and the ip5 lasts me easily over a day, while the gs3 needed to be charged every night.

 

[SpongeBob]

iPhone 5 has awesome battery. Completely kicks the crap out of any Android smartphone.

Razr Maxx HD battery is superior to iP5

 

[SandEagle]

i'd get the S3. removable battery and microSD.

 

[dougp]

Razr Maxx HD battery is superior to iP5

As does the Note 2, no?

 

[Paladin]

Look at the Razr Maxx HD, as others have said.
If the Note 2 isn't too big, consider that also.

 

[SpongeBob]

As does the Note 2, no?

Yes, but he's worried about the DNA being too large so no way he wants a note 2.

 

[sygyzy]

I would suggest you get the iPhone5.

 

[Ne0]

iPhone 5 has awesome battery. Completely kicks the crap out of any Android smartphone.

Took both my Note 2 and iPhone 5 on Sunday up on a trip to North Carolina, used both pretty evenly and at the end of the day the Note 2 had 58% battery life remaining and the iPhone 5 had 13% (both phones are set for auto brightness). Although there were pockets where the Note 2 reverted to Edge (T-Mobile) and the iPhone was on LTE the whole time (AT&T). The iPhone might look good in benchmarks but in my real-life usage I get a lot more out of my Note 2.

 

[Kenmitch]

With your intended uses I'd say go get some hands on experience with the devices in question. I'm sure they all would meet your needs.

 

[Kenmitch]

Took both my Note 2 and iPhone 5 on Sunday up on a trip to North Carolina, used both pretty evenly and at the end of the day the Note 2 had 58% battery life remaining and the iPhone 5 had 13% (both phones are set for auto brightness). Although there were pockets where the Note 2 reverted to Edge (T-Mobile) and the iPhone was on LTE the whole time (AT&T). The iPhone might look good in benchmarks but in my real-life usage I get a lot more out of my Note 2.

But, but....can you use it one handed?

Try typing supercalifragilisticexpialidocious with each device one handed and see which one is quicker!

Couldn't resist

 

[Ne0]

But, but....can you use it one handed?

Try typing supercalifragilisticexpialidocious with each device one handed and see which one is quicker!

Couldn't resist

Yup, even though you're being facetious I can use it with one hand and with swype I can type that as well without much issue.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Took both my Note 2 and iPhone 5 on Sunday up on a trip to North Carolina, used both pretty evenly and at the end of the day the Note 2 had 58% battery life remaining and the iPhone 5 had 13% (both phones are set for auto brightness). Although there were pockets where the Note 2 reverted to Edge (T-Mobile) and the iPhone was on LTE the whole time (AT&T). The iPhone might look good in benchmarks but in my real-life usage I get a lot more out of my Note 2.

I regularly use my SGS2 and iPhone 5 together. The iPhone 5 wins. It goes far past the first day. Not sure what you have to do to get it to 13% in one day. You'd have to do a lot of browsing. I sit on the toilet and browse at work and waste time and sit at a place with 0-1 bars where my SGS2 will die by 6pm, but my iPhone will sit at 50%. Sure i use my SGS2 a little more by using Whatsapp, but the iPhone 5 to me is a champ. On the weekends I let it go for 2 days and itll survive til Sunday night. I might be using my iPhone 5 pretty lightly, but there's no way with the same usage pattern my SGS2 will even do that well. Overnight it's a GIVEN my SGS2 will drain like 10-15% battery. The iPhone will do like 3% or something. It's ridiculous. I also turn off Twitter and Facebook notifications on my SGS2 while my iPhone goes nonstop all notifications on.

To be honest I think in standby, the iPhone 5 wins. It's when you start talking about regular use with the screen on that the Android phones catch up. Otherwise, the nature of Android phones to sync, pull data, works at a disadvantage. The difference becomes even wider when you deal with data congestion because your phone can easily eat up 2-3% an hour if it has trouble trying to connect. I think this is how my SGS2 will die in low reception areas because it probably tries to connect nonstop for hours before dying.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Look at the Razr Maxx HD, as others have said.
If the Note 2 isn't too big, consider that also.

yup, the note 2 is the best phone out there. if you dont like the size, razr maxx is second best, definitely preferrable to gs3

 

[Skurge]

I regularly use my SGS2 and iPhone 5 together. The iPhone 5 wins. It goes far past the first day. Not sure what you have to do to get it to 13% in one day. You'd have to do a lot of browsing. I sit on the toilet and browse at work and waste time and sit at a place with 0-1 bars where my SGS2 will die by 6pm, but my iPhone will sit at 50%. Sure i use my SGS2 a little more by using Whatsapp, but the iPhone 5 to me is a champ. On the weekends I let it go for 2 days and itll survive til Sunday night. I might be using my iPhone 5 pretty lightly, but there's no way with the same usage pattern my SGS2 will even do that well. Overnight it's a GIVEN my SGS2 will drain like 10-15% battery. The iPhone will do like 3% or something. It's ridiculous. I also turn off Twitter and Facebook notifications on my SGS2 while my iPhone goes nonstop all notifications on.

To be honest I think in standby, the iPhone 5 wins. It's when you start talking about regular use with the screen on that the Android phones catch up. Otherwise, the nature of Android phones to sync, pull data, works at a disadvantage. The difference becomes even wider when you deal with data congestion because your phone can easily eat up 2-3% an hour if it has trouble trying to connect. I think this is how my SGS2 will die in low reception areas because it probably tries to connect nonstop for hours before dying.

I don't know if it's a fair comparison, but my GF has a 4S and her phone would always be dead at the end of the day 8pm (she's a doctor) my Gnex would be dead by 10pm. She makes a ton of phone calls and her medical apps, I used tapatalk and surf the web a lot, facebook, g+. If I don't use white text on a black background. my Gnex would die in the middle of the day and we know how poor the Gnex was.

From what people say about the iPhone 5 and SGS3 and from what I've seen. I doubt the iPhone 5 would have much better battery life than an SGS3. You are using CM10 so we don't know how that would affect battery life. I know for sure my friends SGS3 would outlast an iPhone 4S when doing the same tasks.

 

[gorcorps]

yup, the note 2 is the best phone out there. if you dont like the size, razr maxx is second best, definitely preferrable to gs3

Too bad they aren't all available on all carriers.

 

[Jocelyn84]

Too bad they aren't all available on all carriers.

OP is clearly using Verizon and they will have every phone being talked about in this thread by Nov. 27