How does Captivate compare to iphone

[stepchild]

I have a iphone 3gs and thinking of getting a captivate.

For those of you coming from iphone or have both could you please give your thoughts on how they compare?

I really look forward to reading your thoughts.

Mike

 

[Simba501]

I just got a Captivate and it is amazing.

I owned a 3GS for a while and I think that the Captivate is better. The marketplace is just as good, slightly bigger screen, waaay more customizable, and you can transfer files/docs to it. The OS is refreshing as well. I would definitely recommend the change. You can always return it and go back to your 3GS if you want, but I don't think that'll happen.

 

[cobra302]

i'm still jumping back and forth. battery is kinda an issue right now, but i'm playing with the settings trying to get it just right. the other one is managing apps, as with the iphone this isnt really a problem. you can do so much more with android though with widgets and screens. and the difference in screen size and quality are amazing. i was very shocked. the speed is great, and the fluidity of the os is comparable to ios4. i say give it a try!

 

[Joeybear23]

I have a iphone 3gs and thinking of getting a captivate.

For those of you coming from iphone or have both could you please give your thoughts on how they compare?

I really look forward to reading your thoughts.

Mike

I like my Captivate much better than my wife's 3Gs, and her new iPhone 4.
But it is a really a personal preference. The Captivate is leaps and bounds better than the 3Gs, but I would say it performs about the same as the 4. But I like android much better than iOS.

 

[BigTex]

I just moved to the Captivate from the 3G (The iOS4 drove me away). I am very happy. Camera is better, screen is better. All but 2 apps I used on my iphone are avail to android. (only Words with friends is missing but I am told an android version is on it's way). Every bit as good and the Iprone4 I played with. I won't go back!

 

[stepchild]

Thanks for all your great replies. The info was very helpful.

I have a family plan with with 4 users. So I'm thinking about adding new line and get the captivate. Not sure I can give up iphone just yet. To much invested in apps.

I'm retired and love playing with gadgets. So being able to configure the captivate appeals to me. There is only so much you can do with a iphone.

 

[jblaze5779]

Transitioning to the captivate wasn't easy the first couple days. iOS is set up for ******s to be able to use immediately. Android takes some fiddling around with to figure out. After about three days I'm feeling much better about the switch from the Iphone 4.

 

[spenserj87]

Android does take fiddling, but the payoff is better - far more customizable. I think the input dictionaries alone are worth it. I'm trying out Swype, SwitftType, and the generic Android keyboards - SwiftType rocks. I think Swype is great, but it will take some practice.

My wife has a 3GS so I've played plenty with that. I think the Captivate is a bit harder to hold and use - but I think I'll get use to it. I hate having to unlock with the side button instead of a swipe on the screen, but I'm sure I'll get used to that. More than anything, I just hate that it has soft buttons across the bottom. It makes the phone look good, but the backlighting goes away really quickly and I don't find them easy to press. I wouldn't be bothered, but even simple things like composing a new email in the standard email app requires hitting the soft menu key, then compose. I guess I should be happy there are 4 soft keys (each with two functions depending on whether you press or hold), but I find myself wishing for the ease of the hard button on the 3GS.

Mind you, I'm coming from the Blackberry world - so this is a huge leap to get rid of 30+ buttons and shortcuts galore. But, I'm willing to trade efficiency for more power and better apps.

 

[rob989_69]

If you want a phone that does everything really well out of the box, but doesn't allow for any customization, go IPhone.

If you want a phone that does everything PRETTY well out of the box, but allows for virtually unlimited customization, go android.

 

[stepchild]

If you want a phone that does everything really well out of the box, but doesn't allow for any customization, go IPhone.

If you want a phone that does everything PRETTY well out of the box, but allows for virtually unlimited customization, go android.

This sounds right from what I have read.

Thanks for inputs.

 

[rob989_69]

I jumped from the 3GS to the Captivate and couldn't be happier. Mind you it has taken me a week to get it where I want and even now it's still a work in progress. But I enjoy that, so for me it's better. The IPhone just became my phone after the "newness" of it wore off.

 

[gspeed]

Wow, glad to see so many people make the switch and enjoy Android. Not that I would have any doubts you would like Android, more about making the switch.

My brother who invested time and money into his iphone4 actually gets upset when I present my captivate. I don't even try to show off the phone but I could see in his eye the displeasure of me pulling out a phone that does much more.

Who the hell wants rows of icons. Get an app drawer. I'd rather customize my homscreen and place customizable widgets there.

Android has so much to offer that I won't even get started. Captivate does everything even the newest iphone4 does and even more. Game over.

Even people who used iphone in this thread are extremely happy with their new captivate. That speaks volumes. I love these threads from former iphoners who made the switch and are happy for doing so.

 

[know1]

Where it's not as good as the iPhone:
Lag
GPS doesn't seem to work (I went to the store yesterday and couldn't get their demo unit to lock on either - this will be a deal breaker for me)
Can't turn off 3G to save battery

Where it's better:
Screen
OS
Google Integration
Customization

 

[RetiredJedi]

Yahoo Story

Here's the story on Yahoo about the phone vs iPhone:

galaxy-phones-rival-iphone: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

 

[BuddyLee]

Here's the story on Yahoo about the phone vs iPhone:

galaxy-phones-rival-iphone: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

Sounds like an apple fanboy ... ill gladly use every other program to sync other than itunes.

 

[Lyanheart]

Where it's not as good as the iPhone:
Lag
GPS doesn't seem to work (I went to the store yesterday and couldn't get their demo unit to lock on either - this will be a deal breaker for me)
Can't turn off 3G to save battery

Keep in mind that these are YOUR experiences...
So far I have had no lag issues, and my GPS has been working great since tweaking the settings according to the suggestions found in the GPS thread in these forums. I didn't know being able to switch 3G on and off was a big deal; it's just never effected me, I guess. I've even seen excellent functionality over 2G/EDGE. I would have to agree that battery life is mediocre at best, but it lasts an entire day of heavy use for me since I've been playing around with the phone quite a bit. If battery life is an issue, spend 5 bucks and pick up an extra charger or micro-USB cable and charge it in the car or off your computer at the office when you can. You've got a $500 phone, you should be able to afford an extra charging cable (if you can afford a sports car, you can afford premium gas)!

Compared to the iphone, the captivate is amazing. Easily worth the trade off of no iTunes and the larger App Store, even though I really like both of those. I'm loving everything I can do with Android. There really isn't any way an iphone can match it. The iphone is great for my mother, she loves hers, but if you want the power to do pretty much anything you want, go Android.

 

[stepchild]

Well you have convinced me.

Just being able to customize it seems like a lot of fun.

I'll be off to the store as soon as they open. Will let you know what I think, after I get it.

Thanks for all your input. It was really helpful.

 

[Joeybear23]

Well you have convinced me.

Just being able to customize it seems like a lot of fun.

I'll be off to the store as soon as they open. Will let you know what I think, after I get it.

Thanks for all your input. It was really helpful.

And, don't forget, if it's not your cup of tea you still have 30 days to return it and go with something else.

 

[know1]

Keep in mind that these are YOUR experiences...
So far I have had no lag issues, and my GPS has been working great since tweaking the settings according to the suggestions found in the GPS thread in these forums. I didn't know being able to switch 3G on and off was a big deal; it's just never effected me, I guess. I've even seen excellent functionality over 2G/EDGE. I would have to agree that battery life is mediocre at best, but it lasts an entire day of heavy use for me since I've been playing around with the phone quite a bit. If battery life is an issue, spend 5 bucks and pick up an extra charger or micro-USB cable and charge it in the car or off your computer at the office when you can. You've got a $500 phone, you should be able to afford an extra charging cable (if you can afford a sports car, you can afford premium gas)!

Compared to the iphone, the captivate is amazing. Easily worth the trade off of no iTunes and the larger App Store, even though I really like both of those. I'm loving everything I can do with Android. There really isn't any way an iphone can match it. The iphone is great for my mother, she loves hers, but if you want the power to do pretty much anything you want, go Android.

The GPS is not just my issue. You may be one of the lucky ones, but it seems pretty obvious a lot of people are having serious issues with the GPS on this unit.

For the battery, I'm talking about a comparison to the iPhone. Bear in mind I had an older 3G iPhone and its battery lasted considerably longer between charges than this one does right out of the box and 2 years newer. I've always turned off whatever I can turn off on any phone I've had to save battery, so it's not just that I'm burning it up with something.

 

[BoBoCaptivate]

My own view and response -- and GPS Fix

The GPS is not just my issue. You may be one of the lucky ones, but it seems pretty obvious a lot of people are having serious issues with the GPS on this unit.

For the battery, I'm talking about a comparison to the iPhone. Bear in mind I had an older 3G iPhone and its battery lasted considerably longer between charges than this one does right out of the box and 2 years newer. I've always turned off whatever I can turn off on any phone I've had to save battery, so it's not just that I'm burning it up with something.

You are right the GPS issue is not just your problem. However, there is a quick fix already posted even before you posted that it was a "problem" for you. Just take the 5 minutes to fix it and I wouldn't complain. What 5 minute fix does the Iphone 4 antenna issue have? (OHHH - cheap shot by me) Link below for the GPS fix:

http://www.androidcentral.com/quick-fix-gps-issues-your-new-samsung-galaxy-s-series-phone

Lag -- I don't know what you are talking about. It is SUPER fast.

Screen -- Iphone 4 pixels are better ... you can't see them as advertised ... galaxy S you can (if you have your eye an inch away from the screen -- I don't use it like that) I personally think the colors and vibrancy of the galaxy is better (maybe preference) ... and it is BIGGER (but not too big - Droid X).

3G -- ok, valid ... but I don't think I need that feature ... plus, I am sure this is not the "phone" so a future update or Rom might take care of it ... keep in mind this is potentially a two year purchase.

Battery -- ok ... but I think you are comparing an older Iphone to it ... and keep in mind the bigger screen. Galaxy S probably has shorter battery time (too lazy and don't care to do a huge test) ... but I think the Galaxy S battery is sufficient. I have not run out yet (in a day -- charge it every night by my bed).

My gripes ... I don't like the capacitive buttons (yet at least). I am also a former Blackberry user. I don't like how the lights of the buttons go away so fast ... and often I have to push twice, or I accidentaly push the wrong button, or there is lag (the ONLY place I have seen lag) ... maybe just make the screen bigger and make these fixed buttons on the screen (I never have problems with any lag on the buttons on the screen). The light issue should be an easy fix with a software update (I hope!) - maybe responsiveness too.

Also a technical gripe ... I can't get "PC Internet" to work when the phone is connected to WiFi -- oh YEAH ... this is a comparison to Iphone ... which can't do tether out of the box anyways ... nevermind (still a gripe though -- SOFTWARE UPDATE for that please!)

BIG Gripe -- the Samsung computer software for the Galaxy (Kies) ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are HUGE BUGS for it, especially with Windows 7. VERY unprofessional software. That being said -- keep in mind that you don't HAVE to have it ... the phone still connects and I have been able to do everything without the software ... but it definately has some huge issues to resolve. This is by far the BIGGEST and most RIDICULOUS problem ... but not the one that I would change first ... I would change the capacitive buttons first because this causes me the most real trouble on the most frequent basis (not THAT often).

Something else different (not a gripe) ... but the WEIGHT! SO DIFFERENT! The Iphone 4 feels like it is solid metal because it is SO HEAVY ... WHAT did they PUT IN THERE! Up to your preference -- to me, Iphone 4 (weight wise only considered) feels like a sexy tank while the galaxy feels like a sexy "carbon fiber" race-car -- it is MUCH lighter. I thought the battery was missing or something.

ALL of that being said -- I am definately a Galaxy S guy.