Android Virgin Curious About First Device

[jridgers]

I've never really owned an Android device. By "really" I mean I had the HTC Thunderbolt for 1 day before returning it and going back to my old iPhone. All of my smartphones have been Apple iPhones, but the most recent iOS release (iOS 7) just doesn't feel "right" anymore. Looking at my options I am willing to give Android a shot again. A lot of my friends have Android devices and they seem to like them a lot, but I also have friends on iPhones telling me to hang in there and I'll get used to the new OS design.

I think a lot of my issues with Android has been the un-user friendly UIs that various manufacturers have applied to the OS as well as the fragmented updates through carriers. I don't want to have to get a new Android device to get the newest OS features.

I hear a lot about "stock Android" devices suck as the Nexus line. Do you think this would be a good device to try or is there another device you would recommend?

 

[Central n ohios best]

Coming from ios I'll say either the nexus 4 or the new 5 or moto x would serve all your needs plus motos have excellent battery life.

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[craZDude]

Coming from ios I'll say either the nexus 4 or the new 5 or moto x would serve all your needs plus motos have excellent battery life.

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I agree with this. Depending on your carrier, either a Nexus or a Moto X would be your best options. Google is supposed to announce the N5 soon, so you might hold off until then.

The nice thing about Android is that you can make the device into something that will work for you; you aren't locked down into it looking and behaving a certain way.

 

[Haalcyon]

I think it depends on what you want your experience to be. You don't need a Nexus device but you may enjoy one. The HTC One is another very popular phone and so is the Note 3 (if the size doesn't scare you).

Nexuscillin. The cure for iOS.

 

[JonK]

I will back up the above. Nexus 4, Nexus 5, or Moto X. Nothing else. They will deliver the best all around experience. Enjoy!

 

[Tech First]

I would strongly advise you go to an AT&T store and try out the Moto X, its probably the closest to raw android you can get on a stock manufacturer phone, plus it has a few cool tweaks like the always on voice activation/control.

If you want to try out pure android the Nexus devices are great... the next one (N5 or N4 2013 nobody knows what it will be called yet) should be out in a month or so if you can wait.

 

[Rule9]

Take all of the above plusses to owning a Nexus phone and then add the ability to upgrade every year to the newest one for $400 without contracts or carrier interference and you have the most win you can get on any phone at all, not just Android.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[sonicresidue]

My previous experience was with iOS. Specifically an iPhone 3G. I do not change phones very often, but after 4 great years with the iPhone, that device was becoming unusable due to it's outdated technology. Initially I was going to get an iPhone 5, but gave Android a look while the fury for the new iPhone subsided, plus i had concerns when Apple ditched Google Maps (which I use a lot). I wound up going with a Nexus 4 and would highly suggest it, or the Nexus 5. For me, a Nexus device was my only option because I was very disappointed at how most Samsung, HTC and Motorola devices had a modified form of Android that included "bloatware" and junk added to the os that I didn't like. I also did not like the idea of having to wait for software updates. To me, the great thing about Apple is that they don't load up iOS with carrier bloatware and the interface is pretty simple. My only concern with the Nexus 4 was lack of LTE but T-Mobile has been fast enough in my area so that has been a non-issue.

I am more than happy with the Nexus 4. It's been a great device, and has performed solidly. Plus, I was happy to find that all the tweaks and modifications I wanted to perform to customize my phone were very easy. With my iPhone, I had to jailbreak it to get the functionality I wanted. With Android I do not need to do that. I could root my device, but have had no reason to yet. I really enjoy the flexibility of Android that does not compromise the efficiency and smooth operation of the OS.

You may want to wait until the Nexus 5 to come out. To me, a phone with a 5" screen is too big. The 4" screen of the Nexus 4 is about as big as I would like to go. Like others state, the Moto X is not stock Android, so there will be some carrier "bloat" but it looks very appealing and is close to Stock Android. Also, maybe look at the current HTC One. I previously wrote off HTC because their modified form of Android was just horrible to look at, but the new version looks interesting although it's fairly different from stock.

 

[Central n ohios best]

And if u want u can still use LTE on a nexus 4 if u live in a T-Mobile LTE market.

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[sonicresidue]

You can, but unless I'm wrong, I believe you have to be rooted, and do some modifications to get it to work. The stock band 4 LTE functionality was a slip-up on Google's part and was eventually patched.

 

[Aquila]

The difference in the screen size on the nexus 4 vs 5 is 1/4 inch diagonally, 4.7" vs 4.95".

XT1060. Through spacetime.

 

[Central n ohios best]

You can, but unless I'm wrong, I believe you have to be rooted, and do some modifications to get it to work. The stock band 4 LTE functionality was a slip-up on Google's part and was eventually patched.

All u have to do is root and install a new radio. That's it that's all. And if u wanna have LTE simpler than that just install cm 10.1 on it with native LTE support. It is a nexus after all.

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[CR6]

I've never really owned an Android device. By "really" I mean I had the HTC Thunderbolt for 1 day before returning it and going back to my old iPhone.
I think a lot of my issues with Android has been the un-user friendly UIs that various manufacturers have applied to the OS as well as the fragmented updates through carriers. I don't want to have to get a new Android device to get the newest OS features.
?

You've obviously read (and blindly believed) too much crap on the internet to think this "
un-user friendly UIs that various manufacturers have applied to the OS as well as the fragmented updates"
actually matters. Trust me, for the average user, it doesn't. You've admitted to using an Android device for 1 day. You can't judge or make ANY kind of decision about ANY product after 1 day. Give it an honest try and go in knowing that it's going to be a little different experience than an iPhone. Give it a little time and I can assure you, you'll enjoy what Android has to offer. Personally, I wouldn't go with Nexus 4. If you want a Nexus, wait on the 5....otherwise go with the Moto X. I think you'll really enjoy the "user friendliness" of the X. Good luck and let us know what you decide on. :thumbup:

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