Long time Apple fan looking to move...

[anon(8166924)]

I've been an iPhone and Mac user for the last 6 years (at home, I work with PC's and networks all day at work) but have grown weary of Apple and their controls so am looking to move to Android (and probably back to a PC and Windows as well).

I've been using an iPhone 4S for the last year or so and looking at the phones that are available at the moment the choice as I see it comes down to 3 options:

Galaxy S4 (which I can get for around $830 here in New Zealand)
HTC One (around $840)
Nexus 5 (who knows it's not been released here and the Nexus 4 doesn't seem to be around any more here)

In the eyes of those who have years of Android experience which phone would be the best choice?

The main use of the phone will be email (Gmail), phone calls, SMS, Viber, apps such as IMBD, and some light weight games such as 4 Pics 1 word, and some music, movies and TV (music and video will be from our iTunes library - until I replace our Apple TVs with Raspberry Pi's running XBMC and can use whatever format I like).

I'm looking forward to having widgets and being able to customise the phone in all the ways that I haven't been able to with the iPhone.

Any recommendations and guidance would be appreciated.

 

[dylanrod24]

I used to be an Apple fan and all I had were iPhone's until I switched to Android and I am glad I did the switch. I love Android. The HTC One and GS4 are great phones. The HTC One lacks in multi-tasking but not sure if that is a big deal for you. The GS4 is all around a great phone. I am not sure if the Galaxy Note 3 is available in New Zealand. If it is, the Note 3 is a great phone to look into too. Who knows when the Nexus 5 will be announced and released but you might want to wait for it. With the latest leak of the Nexus 5 on the Google Play Store, it is expected to be announced and released very soon but no one knows for sure what the released date is.

 

[Golfdriver97]

I've been an iPhone and Mac user for the last 6 years (at home, I work with PC's and networks all day at work) but have grown weary of Apple and their controls so am looking to move to Android (and probably back to a PC and Windows as well).

I've been using an iPhone 4S for the last year or so and looking at the phones that are available at the moment the choice as I see it comes down to 3 options:

Galaxy S4 (which I can get for around $830 here in New Zealand)
HTC One (around $840)
Nexus 5 (who knows it's not been released here and the Nexus 4 doesn't seem to be around any more here)

In the eyes of those who have years of Android experience which phone would be the best choice?

The main use of the phone will be email (Gmail), phone calls, SMS, Viber, apps such as IMBD, and some light weight games such as 4 Pics 1 word, and some music, movies and TV (music and video will be from our iTunes library - until I replace our Apple TVs with Raspberry Pi's running XBMC and can use whatever format I like).

I'm looking forward to having widgets and being able to customise the phone in all the ways that I haven't been able to with the iPhone.

Any recommendations and guidance would be appreciated.

The One and S4 are solid devices. You can even get Google editions of either that run vanilla Android. The Nexus is eagerly awaited, and hopefully will be released soon. As for your application needs, I think almost all of them are available in some way, shape or form.

 

[VDub2174]

Welcome to the forums!!

All devices listed are great in their own right. If you want a phone that gets quick updates (without having to root), go with the Nexus. I'm a Samsung fan myself though.

 

[Haalcyon]

Welcome to Android Central!

 

[App8ite]

Dabble in both camps. Biggest factor is how tied you are to Apple's services?

 

[UJ95x]

Welcome to Android Central
If you want something as simple or close to as simple as the iPhone I'd go for the Nexus, but since there's no info on when it's out in the U.S. I can't even guess when NZ will get it.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Fairclough]

Welcome, bang for buck I would go a nexus

- Android Central App. Remember courage is contagious.

 

[anon(8166924)]

Dabble in both camps. Biggest factor is how tied you are to Apple's services?

I used to be very wedded to iCloud for email, calendaring and contacts but moved everything to gmail a few weeks ago and have not had any issues.

 

[anon(8166924)]

Welcome to Android Central
If you want something as simple or close to as simple as the iPhone I'd go for the Nexus, but since there's no info on when it's out in the U.S. I can't even guess when NZ will get it.

Posted via Android Central App

Simplicity isn't really a factor. I want something I can thoroughly customise to make it a myPhone rather than an iPhone.

 

[gdmin]

You can't be wrong with all of those phones you mentioned. You may want to check the galaxy note 3 thread.. it is also an awesome smartphone.

Sent via Tapatalk 2

 

[UJ95x]

Simplicity isn't really a factor. I want something I can thoroughly customise to make it a myPhone rather than an iPhone.

That's the thing with Nexus devices, it can be really simple since it has no bloatware or useless features and it's easy to find anything you need, but you can customize a lot.

 

[anon(8166924)]

It may be that the S4 is my best option as I really want a phone that I can add an SD Card for storage to and my understanding is that neither the HTC One or Nexus 5 have this facility.

 

[UJ95x]

It may be that the S4 is my best option as I really want a phone that I can add an SD Card for storage to and my understanding is that neither the HTC One or Nexus 5 have this facility.

They don't but they have 32GB of built-in storage whereas the GS4 has 16. If you're a gamer and don't keep too much music/pics on your phone 32GB should be enough to hold a few high-end games/apps that use lots of storage

 

[anon(8166924)]

They don't but they have 32GB of built-in storage whereas the GS4 has 16. If you're a gamer and don't keep too much music/pics on your phone 32GB should be enough to hold a few high-end games/apps that use lots of storage

Good point I hadn't spotted that the memory on the HTC One was twice that of the S4. I had a look at an HTC some time ago and must admit that I was extremely impressed with it's build quality. Very tempting since an online retailer here in NZ has them on special this weekend for under $800

 

[UJ95x]

Good point I hadn't spotted that the memory on the HTC One was twice that of the S4. I had a look at an HTC some time ago and must admit that I was extremely impressed with it's build quality. Very tempting since an online retailer here in NZ has them on special this weekend for under $800

Damn, they're way cheaper here in the U.S...

Posted via Android Central App

 

[anon(8166924)]

Most (if not all) things are much cheaper in the USA than here in New Zealand

 

[skullfreak]

Welcome

 

[UJ95x]

Most (if not all) things are much cheaper in the USA than here in New Zealand

The U.S. versions aren't compatible? You could buy one online and get it activated there?

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Fairclough]

The U.S. versions aren't compatible? You could buy one online and get it activated there?

Posted via Android Central App

It works out cheaper to be on a contract which they come 'free' with rather than to buy it outright. Its similar to where I am (Australia) your only have outright or free on a plan its their little tricks.

- Android Central App. Remember courage is contagious.