iPhone 4 vs. Android, Plus Early Review Round Up

[cj_online]

[citation][nom]drutort[/nom]i dont understand people at all, if you dont have a business or a job that requires you to connect to the internet and check things, there is no reason for you to have internet access on a phone, esp when you have txt and pix unlimited. Now if you have money to burn I could see video being fun but that would require both individuals with same deviceI think there should be a class action lawsuit against many of the cell phone carriers who are not 90% requiring you to sign up with a data plan when u want a nice phone that is just fast and u want a smart phone to use some of its features, wifi gets by a lot of times IMOit used to be that you could cancel the data plan after purchasing a phone and you would be fine now its part of the contract... this is a bunch of BSimagine going to the dealership and when your about to purchase a new car they make you sign up for all the repairs/maintenance to be done only at the dealership for say 5 years or something like what while the warranty was on the car... would you be too thrilled with that kind of service?[/citation]
That's their choice...what's ur problem?

 

[cj_online]

wow the iPad outclasses the others in terms of battery life. Must admit Apple Engineers are pretty advanced..

Regardless, I'd still take an EVO 4G over an iPhone anyday.

 

[dimcorner]

What pisses me off is that you HAVE to get a data plan. What if I just want the phone and all it's features, but will use it 98% of the time when I have wifi? I have wifi at work and at home. The rest of the time I'm driving to or from work.

 

[ukgooey]

[citation][nom]dimcorner[/nom]What pisses me off is that you HAVE to get a data plan. What if I just want the phone and all it's features, but will use it 98% of the time when I have wifi? I have wifi at work and at home. The rest of the time I'm driving to or from work.[/citation]
You're in the minority. Many applications require constant access. Sorry dude, but you need to get out more.

 

[kezix_69]

[citation][nom]sliem[/nom]Can't believe someone could spend $2k a year on a smartphone.Yes it's nice to have everything in your pocket... but guess what, I spend $100 a year on a oldie phone (razr with pay-as-you-go).What am I going to do with $1,900 a year? I'm all confused. Help.[/citation]

It's only $1,000 a year, not $2,000 per year.... Also these phones will do way more than your oldie phone, which is why they cost more. Personally the LAST thing I want a cell phone for is to talk to people. Only since smartphones have come out have I owned a cell phone. I used to own the old Palm Sony Clie (which I still have tho I lost the charger, doh!) and I used it for years. I currently own a Palm Pre and will probably move to the HTC EVO soon.

I love how PDA's and cell phones have combined because they have basically turned into small laptops which you can call people with. The price is worth it considering you don't really need a laptop for simple web browsing on the go anymore...

 

[jmemory]

I had an EVO for a week and I could Skype (with fring app) on it just fine in 3G area. What's more seems like even Sprint's 3G coverage area is bigger than ATT's. To top this off, their $79 plan is actually unlimited "to ANY mobile phone in US". 450 minutes apply only to land line use. I prefer a bigger screen because I found it easier to read and view media on it. It is a lot sharper than my 3GS. On the other end ATT coverage where I live is virtually non existent. It's not so much about phones anymore, its about service provider. Sprint is gunning for #2 spot in US now and they are aggressive about it. The most wonderful thing that happened is... we finally have options!

 

[rick_h]

What this cart did not mention is that the iPhone is only available on ATT. Service where I live (any large city at that) is so congested that it is totally unreliable forcing me to buy a land line. Dropping a call or a call going directly to voicemail is totally unacceptable. I would gladly take a Sprint EVo over an ATT Apple.

 

[Guest]

"450 Minutes, Unlimited Messaging, and 200mb data."

That is the issue that will keep me from buying an Iphone. If I am going to buy a smartphone I want to be able to really use its web capabilities on the go, and not be tied down to some tiny monthly limit like 200mb. What is that 1 30min long tv show?

 

[Gulli]

[citation][nom]applerocks[/nom]There is obviously something wrong with this information.... Apple must be 3-4 times more expensive than everyone else... I know from reading the posts on Tom's that Apple is always at least twice as expensive and has half the features. This seems to indicate they might actually be the lowest cost in total ownership, and with features that are superior in many areas! It shows longer talk time, more apps, longer standby time, and lower price?!? What is the world coming to![/citation]

I too am skeptical and as already has been pointed out Apple's data plans are more expensive and the android's hardware and software might be superior, there's also the question of how reliable the iPhone will be (maybe it gives you a weaker signal). I'm pretty sure there's a trade-off somewhere.

 

[joebob2000]

The chart authors picked the ATT plan with unlimited messaging but only 200mb data, and then the verizon plan with unlimited messaging and unlimited data. Not particularly fair. A Verizon plan without txt messaging is 15 bucks a month cheaper, putting it in line with the Iphone plan if you would rather have data than txt messages. How much is the ATT unlimted data plan so there can be an actual direct comparison?

 

[joebob2000]

[citation][nom]applerocks[/nom]There is obviously something wrong with this information.... Apple must be 3-4 times more expensive than everyone else... I know from reading the posts on Tom's that Apple is always at least twice as expensive and has half the features. This seems to indicate they might actually be the lowest cost in total ownership, and with features that are superior in many areas! It shows longer talk time, more apps, longer standby time, and lower price?!? What is the world coming to![/citation]
If you want your iPhone to get 2GB of data it will be an extra $10 a month, pushing the number up to $84.99 or 5 bucks cheaper than the VZW plan and 5 bucks more than the T-mo and Sprint plans. For the money, I would rather pay the 5 bucks and be on the network that reaches everywhere I go.

 

[hellwig]

I don't think it's appropriate to include ANY entry in the "unlimited plans" for the iPhone. AT&T has a 2GB data cap, that's certainly not unlimited, and with the supported technology and apps, that's easily surpassable. No one uses the iPhone primarily as a phone, so don't try to work-around the fact that its severe handicap is AT&T's data plan.

I also don't think its fair to compare built-in memory to expandable memory. The iPhone has 16GB built-in (compared to MUCH smaller built-in storage for the Android phones). But the Android phones have micro-SDHC expansion slots (iPhone cannot be expanded). It's kind of hit-and-miss, but at least people wanting to move from 16GB to 32GB don't have to buy another phone. The iPhones battery life is good, but the battery (like all Apple products) is not replaceable. If you plan to keep your phone for the full 2-year contract, the non-replaceable battery might come into play.

Still, its good to see otherwise nearly equal competition amongst the phone brands these days.

 

[brando56894]

The Android devices don't lose a signal when you hold it in your hand, end of story. Android wins.

 

[Guest]

It's not possible to get unlimited data with the new iphone. Back on, I think, June 7 they switched over to the new DataPlus and DataPro plans for all new accounts / upgrades. The closest equivalent would be $25 a month for 2 GB of data. If they had the old $30-for-unlimited-data plan, that would put verizon and at&t neck-and-neck for total cost over 24 months. The "minimum" plans are a bit off because they include the unlimited-text-messaging package. This is $20 a month on both verizon and at&t I believe, so it would leave them with similar differences in price. The main difference between those two providers, however, is that at&t gets away with 200 MB of data a month whereas verizon gives you unlimited data. To me it's such a large difference that to even compare the two is pointless. To then, imo, play it down by putting the details in small text seems intentionally misleading.

 

[Haserath]

The Hardware specs look really good on the iphone, but AT&T sucks. Apple also won't let you download whatever you want, so much of the content on the internet isn't accessible due to it being flash. I want flash to die, but Apple really needs to learn when to push a new tech to replace the old established method. Sprint sounds like a much better deal with the Evo 4G, I just need 4G in my area

 

[JOSHSKORN]

[citation][nom]TunaSoda[/nom]Droid X?[/citation]
This is the comparison with the iPhone 4 that I actually care about.

 

[christopherknapp]

[citation][nom]djtronika[/nom]just had my first Facetime with my iPhone 4. brought a smile to my face seeing my little guy at work. yes, yes, videochat has been out for ages. but apple has made it so easy to do. even if you're an iPhone hater you have to realize and see they have something very special here. hate me if you will, but it felt like a totally different experience than the usual, "hi honey hows it going? hows the baby?"i have an iPhone. i love it. couldnt be happier. just my 2.[/citation]


Same. It's amazing! I don't care how many people knock my post down, the iPhone4 is a revolutionary piece of equipment.

 

[Guest]

So I guess no one has noticed that the unlimited and the minimum plan for the nexus one are the exact same... You could easily get a $60 a month plan for the nexus one... idiots... so biased...

 

[Rhodesee]

[citation][nom]restatement3dofted[/nom]Hi, I'm the Tom's Guide / Tom's Hardware comments section. Have we met?[/citation]

I don't believe we have. A/S/L?

[citation][nom]Smochina[/nom]Lol, now let's see stupid Android lovers come up with stupid reasons why the Droid is 'better'. Pff, and your stupid AT&T network doesn't apply to me, I don't live in the States and never heard of dropped calls.[/citation]

I had a friend that dropped a call once.

There. Now you've heard.

 

[war2k9]

I love to have an iphone 4 but, atandt really SUCKS. The limited data plan tell me i don't need one just yet.