Best mobile phone in your opinion

Retired_member41 · Dec 1, 2013

I'm not looking to buy one, just looking for advice.

I'm looking for the mobile phone that would come out best in a comparison of all features. Like top trumps I guess, a phone that would be the best card, even though it may have a few features that are beaten.

From what I have read on here from knowledgeable members who's opinions I trust, it looks like the note 3, unless anyone else knows otherwise?

As always, thanks in advance.

Edwin · Dec 1, 2013

Impossible to answer, because it depends if you like Android, iOS or Windows. For many people that's the first choice, because they already have "investment" in apps and that operating system's whole "ecosystem".

If you like iOS, it's the 5S.
etc.

Magazines tend to gloss over the "Android/iOS/other?" question in their rush to find the biggest/smallest/fastest new mobiles on the market. But I'd say it's the #1 question to resolve first.

Otherwise, it's like comparing the fastest boat (iOS) to the fastest car (Android) (you can reverse the comparison - I didn't mean anything by choosing "boat" and "car" except to show that they're less interchangeable than reviews suggest)

Retired_member41 · Dec 1, 2013

Thanks Edwin, and yes you are spot on.

The investment in iOS music and apps is a killer, and I'm so glad you posted as it has saved me lots of time

I would like to move away from Apple myself, 5s to an average user like me just made it thinner and longer with little improvement.

With the likes of Deezer and others, I think the investment to Apple could stop people staying with them, and with in the main small storage, only the most used and newest apps are kept anyway, but time will tell.

Edwin · Dec 1, 2013

5S is very fast and responsive (having the camera take pictures "instantly" is especially nice) but it's otherwise no different from the 4 (which was my previous iPhone) except that it seems more comfortable with keeping lots of apps open at the same time. Oh, and it's the first time I've had a "good enough" camera on a phone to consider leaving my digital camera behind when going places.

But definitely evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

On the other hand, are there really any revolutionary phones coming onto the market these days? If you already have a recent(ish) smartphone, you're looking at more pixels, more speed, perhaps more storage, a better camera, etc. But how many of those features are revolutionary? I'd venture none at all.

Skinner · Dec 1, 2013

Absolutely have to decide on OS first, then Screen Size then go from there.

Apple maintain their position because they sell I guess a lifestyle, apple phone, apple music, apple computer etc, so once you get sucked into appleverse you're stuck there because your invested quite heavily since everything costs money. I also don't like the level of control they maintain and the features they restrict, which they open with each successive version, while most phones already have them, which us purely to rinse their customers.

Windows is making a big leap at the moment because of compatibility with windows 8, with tablets etc, all synched together with the cloud, finally made sense of Windows 8.

Edwin · Dec 1, 2013

I know it's slightly tangential, but worth bearing in mind that because the Android market goes from high end to super-cheap i.e. down to the absolute bedrock of what might charitably be called a "smartphone" there's more potential to see a benefit from upgrading within the Android ecosystem.

In other words, even the iPhone 4 isn't a "bad" phone. It's perfectly usable, good screen (a bit small), etc. However if you consider a low-end Android phone it could be very, very "bad" indeed, almost "unusably" so for the very cheapest bargain phones.

At the high end, Android probably has an edge on speed/features - but Apple have bent over backwards to make the iOS experience slick and polished from top to bottom, which forgives a lot of sins.

Edwin · Dec 1, 2013

Related aside: there's exactly the same problem in the tablet market... The iPad Air and the new iPad mini 2 look like extremely slick, powerful tablets (no argument there, I think, even from those who aren't Apple fans) but for example the new Kindle Fire HDX has the iPad Air beat on almost every spec. However because it's "Android" you also have to contend with the fact that people can buy a 50 quid wobbly plastic doorstop slapped together in a back alley in China that's nominally also an "Android".

In other words, the sheer breadth of Android devices tarnishes the whole Android concept, and also forces many developers to "develop down" i.e. ignore some of the best features of the latest versions of the Android OS in favour of building apps that are "portable" across the widest install base they can reach.

The same "feature" that has enabled Android to vastly outsell iOS (its ability to run even on super-meagre spec systems) is now holding the development of Android back.

Retired_member41 · Dec 1, 2013

Edwin you are a star, I thought the top trumps type of thing would work in the way I was writing something, but it clearly doesn't.

So unless you are an early adopter, as so many are on this forum, there is little need to change if you have a decent phone already.

I think you are right Skinner, Windows seems to be really taking off.

Shame there isn't a way there could be a shared element on all devices for music and expensive apps.

I always liked Nokia phones, shame they don't/cant have iOS, would make me feel better using it lol, saying that, Nokia had us all for years buying the latest ones, at least while we are being had over this time, the devices have lots of features, unlike snake games and titanium cases.

Skinner · Dec 1, 2013

Can you still get an iPhone 4 new ?

I was under the impression they only "field" 2 at a time, and currently I think that would be 5c and 5s, then will be 5s and 6x ?

Surely any normal person would say iPhone 5 - £600 or £42 a month contract, right compare £600 and £42 a month phones which would end up like

iPhone 5 - HTC One - Samsung S4 - Sony Z1

Rather than comparing a former top end phone to a current bargain phone, surely a more accurate comparison would be

iPhone4 vs Samsung S3 vs Sony X1 vs HTC XE

In other words, even the iPhone 4 isn't a "bad" phone. It's perfectly usable, good screen (a bit small), etc. However if you consider a low-end Android phone it could be very, very "bad" indeed, almost "unusably" so for the very cheapest bargain phones.

Edwin · Dec 1, 2013

Skinner said:
Can you still get an iPhone 4 new ?

I was under the impression they only "field" 2 at a time, and currently I think that would be 5c and 5s, then will be 5s and 6x ?

Surely any normal person would say iPhone 5 - £600 or £42 a month contract, right compare £600 and £42 a month phones which would end up like

iPhone 5 - HTC One - Samsung S4 - Sony Z1

Rather than comparing a former top end phone to a current bargain phone, surely a more accurate comparison would be

iPhone4 vs Samsung S3 vs Sony X1 vs HTC XE

You can get the 4s "free" on many contracts. That's the new lowest phone if you're going for an iPhone. I was using the 4 as a comparison, because that's what I had until a few weeks ago - the 4s is quite a bit faster than the 4.

So on the Apple front, the "real" choice is between 4s (cheapish) and 5s (more expensive). The weird in-between 5c choice isn't really a choice at all, because you're getting a much less sophisticated phone than the 5s for very little less money. Basically the 5c is the 5 in "pretty" colours, and more plasticky. But the discount you're getting for putting up with the "cheaper" 5c is microscopic compared to the total cost of ownership of the phone.

Once stocks of the 4s run out, then I guess it will have to be 5c vs 5s with no "cheapish" option left at all.

Can't comment on what the equivalent would be on the Android side, because there are hundreds of models rather than 3ish.

AssetDomains · Dec 1, 2013

Interesting thread you have started hear Caz thanks I've always been an android guy myself.
Getting to the smartphone party slightly later left me with a bit more choice started with a budget android around the time of the iPhone 2 I think. Moved mid range on my first contract. Now I've just got a HTC One with the latest contract. I never bought into Pay Apple loads of money for a phone with the same features as my cheap little android had.
Over the years I've converted quite a few people to the way of android and non have regretted making the switch most say they wish they had done it sooner.
Whilst I'm unaware of of any way to move your apps music shouldn't be a major issue the last friend just had iTunes convert stuff to mp3 with opened it up for use with everything.

Retired_member41 · Dec 1, 2013

The last two posts have phones that no one has a bad word to say about.

For £99 the one you posted Sean looks amazing, but with school nativity and music concert season here 8 or 16gb just isn't enough for me lol

My brother in law has an htc one and it does look like a dream to use, miles ahead of the iphone, but £400 more expensive than Sean's one, its a minefield.

I do love this forum though, Gems always come up in threads.

Have to say I was disappointed to not see a black friday thread like a year or so ago, maybe no one else could find anything of note to post

cm1975 · Dec 2, 2013

I'd recommend the HTC One. I'm not against Apple, but think you are paying for a label.

I probably don't use my phone to it's full capabilities, but it rarely lets me down for what I want. I was out at the weekend and was taking pictures with someone's iPhone 4s and then tried a Samsung Galaxy 4. I had to use my own to get a good picture in low light. Also, being able to take several pictures in seconds always helps when you have 3 kids!

The sound is great on it with BeatsAudio and the HTC Blinkfeed app keeps me up to date with most things I need.

monaghan · Dec 3, 2013

If you want something clean and crap free (as free as you can get with Google anyway but at least there's no other manufacturer skins and junk), then give the Nexus a try. Mine are sim free from the Google store, delivery was next day, Android updates have come through automatically so it has gone 4.1 to 4.4 since I've had it.

Battery life is generally quite good running all day with WiFi checking emails uses about 25% of the battery, in the summer away from home at a festival it still managed all day on a charge with mobile Internet access.

WalkinDude · Dec 3, 2013

s4 probably best all rounder. only phone that has successfully taken on Apple and won, and you are not locked into apple world. have an ipad mini, so i'm familiar with apps market in Apple and quite frankly the android apps market wins hands down as things stand.

I use a Galaxy Note II, and my only disappointment with it is the camera isn't as good as an iphone camera.

julian · Dec 3, 2013

Used to be a long time Nokia user. Moved to Galaxy S4, don't rate android interface that much, Samsung phones are totally over hyped imho. Build quality and battery life is poor, say compared to an old Nokia's (N series etc). Camera is shocking. Usability of the os is just very dumbed down - it like its made for 15yo kids.

I think Nokia lost their way and fell behind a few years back, but will make come back. The end.

Skinner · Dec 3, 2013

Have they sorted the random shut downs, force closes and freezes out ?

I upgraded my Dell Streak 5 to an S3 and it was by far the worst android phone I've had, and my money says it was mostly down to the bloatware and shit that samsung put on top of android.

When the S5 comes with the octocore, I'll have a look again at it, if you've had none of the problems I had with the S3.

WalkinDude said:
s4 probably best all rounder. only phone that has successfully taken on Apple and won, and you are not locked into apple world. have an ipad mini, so i'm familiar with apps market in Apple and quite frankly the android apps market wins hands down as things stand.

My other contract I upgraded to the HTC Beats XE around the same time has been a dream, auto over the air updates to both android from 4.0 when I got it, up to 4.3 I think now, I gave the phone to my mum so not sure but she said it updated a few days ago so either 4.2.x or 4.3.x, and updates to htc sense too. Excellent sound, good battery, good signal, and its essentially the predecessor to the HTC One.

I'm waiting to try the HTC One Max and the Sony Z1 Ultra side by side, the Z1 lacks a flash but is waterproof so you can take it to the pool and take underwater pics so good for when I'm in the gym. The One Max has a beast of a battery, lesser a camera but a flash and is slightly smaller (1/2 inch).

TinkyWinky · Dec 3, 2013

Sean said:
Best value for money phone currently is probably the new Motorola Moto G from Tesco for £99.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-mobile-motorola-moto-g-8gb-black/454-8906.prd

But out of stock because it's red hot and getting rave reviews

Ahh but it's Android and Motorola is G as well... so if you don't mind having all your personal life monitored to the minutiae then you'll be just fine...

Nokia Lumia series is great... quick and simple and I have had only one lock up in the OS from MS in about 2 years...

Choose your poison (os) and then your chalice (phone brand / screensize etc etc) because as others have said, once you've invested in one OS your pretty much stuck if you can't shoulder the cost of starting again!

TW