iPhone to Android: S4, One or Nexus 4?

[niko_orsini]

Hi all!

This is my first topic and, as the title says, I'm going to be a new Android user.
Right now I have an iPhone 4S and I would like to switch, but I'm a bit confused and overwhelmed about which one of these phones would be the best for me.

I like the S4, the One and the Nexus 4 for different reasons, but I can say that what I want from an Android phone (or a phone in general) is:
- a decent camera: I like taking photos;
- a decent battery life: I'd like to have a full day (or close to a full day) battery life;
- updates: unfortunately, I don't have the possibility to change my phone every 6 months. Instead, this phone has to last me for about two years, so I need to know that it'll be updated (software updates) in this period.
- stock Android is a plus. I don't like TouchWiz that much and I think that Sense is "just ok" (I live in Italy, so I can't buy Google Play Editions).
- LTE isn't a "must have feature", since here in Italy isn't so well supported.

It's my first Android phone and I'm really excited!
I really hope that you can suggest me the best phone, at least for my needs.
I want a phone that works and makes me enjoy the Android experience.

Oh, sorry if my English isn't perfect, as I said I'm Italian!

Thank you!

 

[nickgalaxys4]

Hi all!

This is my first topic and, as the title says, I'm going to be a new Android user.
Right now I have an iPhone 4S and I would like to switch, but I'm a bit confused and overwhelmed about which one of these phones would be the best for me.

I like the S4, the One and the Nexus 4 for different reasons, but I can say that what I want from an Android phone (or a phone in general) is:
- a decent camera: I like taking photos;
- a decent battery life: I'd like to have a full day (or close to a full day) battery life;
- updates: unfortunately, I don't have the possibility to change my phone every 6 months. Instead, this phone has to last me for about two years, so I need to know that it'll be updated (software updates) in this period.
- stock Android is a plus. I don't like TouchWiz that much and I think that Sense is "just ok" (I live in Italy, so I can't buy Google Play Editions).
- LTE isn't a "must have feature", since here in Italy isn't so well supported.

It's my first Android phone and I'm really excited!
I really hope that you can suggest me the best phone, at least for my needs.
I want a phone that works and makes me enjoy the Android experience.

Oh, sorry if my English isn't perfect, as I said I'm Italian!

Thank you!

Hi there and welcome to the Android family... from what you said about touchwiz GS4 might not be for you,but keep in mind the GS4 has everything else on this list great battery,photos,camera,and nice features (and there maybe an app to download or you can root the phone to disable touchwiz.) If I were you I would see what each phone has to offer look up youtube videos to see them next to each other and make your chose. I think you should go more towards the Nexus 4,this phone has everything you are looking for. Just do more research about each phone before hand to make sure you have the right pocket buddy.

 

[spawndoodling]

Since you plan on having this phone long-term, I would absolutely advocate for the GS4 over the One and Nexus 4. Battery life/reliability and storage are two big factors that can make a phone obsolete before you're ready to replace it. Point is, with a removable battery and expandable storage, you're never limited in these areas with the GS4 and replacements are very cheap. Yes, the One is beautiful and the Nexus 4 has the advantage of faster updates, but if your battery goes, you're going to be shelling out hundreds of dollars for a new phone much sooner than you'd like. And batteries are often the first thing to go on older phones.

The beauty of Android is that if you don't like something, you're not limited to it. So I thought I liked TouchWiz at first but now I'm not too hot on it, so I use NOVA Launcher now. I can change my theme and wallpaper as much as i want, all without a custom ROM or anything that risks my warranty. Yes, you are restricted with being unable to uninstall Samsung bloatware if you don't want it, but the expandable storage option means you can get back lost storage fast and for cheap.

That being said, I don't think this is an easy choice. The Nexus 4 is a zippy phone without bloatware that feels faster than the GS4 and One in many regards. The One is indeed very beautiful and feels, in my opinion, more premium than the other two. But the GS4 offers the longest lasting option in my opinion, based on the two most accessible future proof features - battery life and expandable storage - it offers right out of the box, meaning you'll have a top tier technology device that will still keep pace in the future.

This is just one perspective and im sure someone will come along and discount the importance of these features, but for me, they were a big factor in choosing the Galaxy over anything else on the market.

(Disclaimer: I have the GS3, not the GS4)

Sent from my SPH-L710 using AC Forums mobile app

 

[garublador]

- a decent camera: I like taking photos;

I'm not super familiar with the camera on the Nexus 4, but from what I understand the camera on the S4 or One will be be better.

- a decent battery life: I'd like to have a full day (or close to a full day) battery life;

I'd guess you'll get this from about all of them. It's hard to really gauge how a phone will perform for a specific user.

- updates: unfortunately, I don't have the possibility to change my phone every 6 months. Instead, this phone has to last me for about two years, so I need to know that it'll be updated (software updates) in this period.

I think this is really a lot less clear than it seems. In the past it was a big deal on whether or not you got the latest version of Android becasue they were, in general, big improvements over one another. However, running 4.2.2 myself I can say that getting the latest version of Android for my S4 isn't as big of a deal because of how much better JB is than Froyo. I'd guess that the S4 and One will get one or two OS updates during their time, so you may not have the latest at the end of your 2 years, but you will have better hardware than you would with the Nexus 4. If you're super worried about it then the Nexus is the only one that will fit this criteria, but my opinion is that it won't be that big of a deal.

- stock Android is a plus. I don't like TouchWiz that much and I think that Sense is "just ok" (I live in Italy, so I can't buy Google Play Editions).

It depends on what you don't like about TouchWiz and Sense. As another poster said, if it's the look and feel you don't like you can always just install a different launcher. There's no rooting required, and the performance and battery will be comparable (anywhere form a little better to a little worse depending on what you have running). I think the benefits of stock Android are greatly exaggerated compared to the extra features you'll see with OEM Android skins. It's more of a "geek cred" thing than an actual benefit for a vast majority of users, IMO.

I'll also agree that storage is worth considering as well. The Nexus 4 has, at most 16GB internal storage with no micro SD card support. I don't know about availability, but the S4 has 16GB, 32GB versions available (I haven't heard of any 64GB versions for sale anywhere but I could be wrong) all with micro SD card support (mostly only really useable for media). The One has 32GB and 64GB available at the same price as the 16GB and 32GB S4's but no SD card support. So you get the least with the Nexus, more for your money with the One and more potential storage for music, pictures and videos with the S4.

My guess is that the One or S4 would be better for you depending on your storage, camera and sound needs unless you're dead set on guaranteed updates.

Oh, sorry if my English isn't perfect, as I said I'm Italian!

Your English is excellent. I would have guessed you to be a native speaker.

 

[Rule9]

I'd advise you to either wait until the Nexus 5 comes out or buy whatever you want now and sell it for a nexus 5.