Moving from Apple to Android

[Chri592]

Hi Guys,

I've currently got an iPhone 5S (Since 2013) and it's done me really well but I'm seriously tempted to switch over to Android, partly for a change but also for the customisation and in some cases better spec phones. I don't understand the hype with phones with big screens, so I'm ruling out all 'Plus' model phones.

Could you recommend a good choice for a first time Android user please?. Not fussy on price.

Feel free to throw some of the plus points Android has vs Apple, I might take a bit of convincing! I'm really indecisive!

Appreciate the help,
Chris

 

[anon(238680)]

You might read this thread over: https://forums.androidcentral.com/b...rst-android-christmas-need-help-new-post.html

 

[Morty2264]

Hi Chris!

Well, since you've asked... *Rubs hands together*

I have a great many pluses for Android versus Apple. My boyfriend has the SE and he wants to switch to Android; and I tell yah, I am *this* close to showing him the world of Android.

Anyway, as you've mentioned, Android offers way more customizable options and features than Apple. You can totally change the way your phone looks and functions with just the addition of a new launcher, icon pack, or theme. And some phones can make you have an app drawer or not. The possibilities! I change up my experience every couple of weeks. It's that addicting.

And, since we're on the topic of customization and tweaking things to your own liking, let's talk about all of the options available to you! That's one thing I love about Android: choice. With Apple, you really only have two choices: the smaller one or the bigger one. With Android, you have a big variety! You can choose different brands: LG, Huawei, Samsung, HTC, and Motorola (to name a few); and you can choose them for different reasons! If you want a phone with a great battery, then the Motorola Z Play could be your choice. If you want a phone with a great camera, then the HTC U11 is your guide. And so on! There's a phone out there to match your preferences. That's one of the many things I love about Android.

And price! Apple devices are so expensive, and I hate how you need to buy Apple-specific accessories so they can pair with and work with your Apple phone. With Android, there are the expensive phones; but then there are more affordable choices and options that very often deliver similar specs to those of the expensive (flagship) phones. There's no need to spend top dollar for a stellar experience with Android. I love that.

Android offers so many possibilities and it's always fun to try something new! So if you're interested, hop on over to your nearest store - okay, now I sound like one of those dudes in an infomercial...

Anyway, phone choices! If I were to recommend a phone for a beginner, I'd want to go for a phone that would introduce you to the Android experience by giving you stock/pure Android: and nowadays, that would be the Google Pixel. Its small version is a good size too, so don't worry about that! It's a solid device that performs well.

Another device that I'd recommend is the OnePlus 5. Great (dual) camera, solid battery life, and a good size (5.5" - not too big and not too small). And it has the latest processor enabled, so it's super fast!

I also recommend devices from the Motorola brand. They have a good range of phones in different price categories; and last year's phones (the Z Play, for example) offer up great experiences.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out! Hope you find the device you're looking for!

 

[Chri592]

Hi Morty,

Really appreciate the reply. I have made comments to your reply but the spam filter won't let me send it, too long lol

I've found the Huawei P10 for £400 which looks like a brilliant deal IMO. What's your thoughts? The guy in store said its not near the performance of an iPhone 7 and upwards or the Samsung S8 but it is still really fast and can handle daily usage with ease, just not heavy business usage with documents etc. Obviously he's a salesman so took it with a pinch of salt. What are your thoughts?

Also, if I get the P10, Do I go blue or black? I'd think Black as I'll get a decent case but the blue looks VERY appealing....

I'm probs aiming to buy this tonight and collect tomorrow if its the best choice. Away to look at some youtube reviews. I leave to go on holiday in 2 days and don't want to miss a good deal!

Cheers
Chris

 

[worldspy99]

Chris,
The P10 is an excellent choice. I actually would also recommend last years Pixel which runs as good as new even after a year. Rarely does one say something about an Android a year after launch.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Chri592]

I'm actually just reading the review of this site and they've said there's no protective coating on the screen to prevent the screen looking all smudged and dirty. They've said its a 'fatal flaw' and will put many people off.

Will it really be that bad? I don't want to spend £400 on a phone that will have a constantly dirty screen when it has a great display! My experience of screen protectors is I always get bubbles and such, it looks awful!

​

 

[Morty2264]

Hi Morty,

Really appreciate the reply. I have made comments to your reply but the spam filter won't let me send it, too long lol

I've found the Huawei P10 for £400 which looks like a brilliant deal IMO. What's your thoughts? The guy in store said its not near the performance of an iPhone 7 and upwards or the Samsung S8 but it is still really fast and can handle daily usage with ease, just not heavy business usage with documents etc. Obviously he's a salesman so took it with a pinch of salt. What are your thoughts?

Also, if I get the P10, Do I go blue or black? I'd think Black as I'll get a decent case but the blue looks VERY appealing....

I'm probs aiming to buy this tonight and collect tomorrow if its the best choice. Away to look at some youtube reviews. I leave to go on holiday in 2 days and don't want to miss a good deal!

Cheers
Chris

Hi! Sorry about the delay in reply!

You're right - sales reps will often push you towards more expensive phones because a) they're more expensive, and b) if the sales rep gets commission off of the sale, they'll make more commission off of a more expensive device. And then there's brand loyalty and biases.

I think the P10 is a great phone! The blue sounds like a good option, but with black, you'd have more matching options with cases.

 

[Chri592]

Hi! Sorry about the delay in reply!

You're right - sales reps will often push you towards more expensive phones because a) they're more expensive, and b) if the sales rep gets commission off of the sale, they'll make more commission off of a more expensive device. And then there's brand loyalty and biases.

I think the P10 is a great phone! The blue sounds like a good option, but with black, you'd have more matching options with cases.

No worries! I'd probably go black.

Whats your thoughts on the lack of screen coating? Have you tried the phone without a protector?

I'm maybe going to buy it in the next half hour if I decide the lack of coating isn't an issue, so I can collect it tomorrow....eek!

 

[Morty2264]

No worries! I'd probably go black.

Whats your thoughts on the lack of screen coating? Have you tried the phone without a protector?

I'm maybe going to buy it in the next half hour if I decide the lack of coating isn't an issue, so I can collect it tomorrow....eek!

Hmm, I don't know much about the screen coating or lack thereof. Does every Huawei device have a coating of that kind? I have an Honor 8, which is Huawei/Honor branded, but I didn't notice any more smudges than normal before I got a screen protector.

Don't let the smudge thing deter you from buying the phone if it's what you want to buy! I recommend a tempered glass screen protector - you can even let the phone sales rep install it for you, so there's less chance of bubbles or inaccuracy (I've installed my own, which didn't always end well lool). It will still give you a premium, smooth glass feel and it will give you more protection than plastic.

 

[Chri592]

Hmm, I don't know much about the screen coating or lack thereof. Does every Huawei device have a coating of that kind? I have an Honor 8, which is Huawei/Honor branded, but I didn't notice any more smudges than normal before I got a screen protector.

Don't let the smudge thing deter you from buying the phone if it's what you want to buy! I recommend a tempered glass screen protector - you can even let the phone sales rep install it for you, so there's less chance of bubbles or inaccuracy (I've installed my own, which didn't always end well lool). It will still give you a premium, smooth glass feel and it will give you more protection than plastic.

I believe its the only Huawei phone without one which is very very strange!

It actually comes with a screen protector but I wasn't sure if that was easy to clean itself and if it'll stay on in the long term.

I could easy live with one if the screen still looks brilliant, if its not noticeable and its easy to replace if need be.

You actually get some places in the market that put the protection coating on I think, not sure how reliable they are though

 

[Morty2264]

I believe its the only Huawei phone without one which is very very strange!

It actually comes with a screen protector but I wasn't sure if that was easy to clean itself and if it'll stay on in the long term.

I could easy live with one if the screen still looks brilliant, if its not noticeable and its easy to replace if need be.

You actually get some places in the market that put the protection coating on I think, not sure how reliable they are though

Does it come with a glass or plastic screen protector? I'm sure like with most displays, some fingerprint smudges may look worse in bright light or in brighter conditions.

I'm not sure about installing a screen coating on the phone; only because it may void your warranty or phone insurance should you decide to apply for such things.

 

[Chri592]

Does it come with a glass or plastic screen protector? I'm sure like with most displays, some fingerprint smudges may look worse in bright light or in brighter conditions.

I'm not sure about installing a screen coating on the phone; only because it may void your warranty or phone insurance should you decide to apply for such things.

I think its just a plastic film. I'm not sure how much it would bother me but the fact I know about it now it'll probably bother me more!

This is quite gutting, it looks like a fantastic phone with great spec! Why would they NOT put this stupid coating on the phone?! Its literally the only phone that doesn't have it and every single other phone from other brands does! FFS.

Feel like I'm back to square 1.....

 

[Morty2264]

I think its just a plastic film. I'm not sure how much it would bother me but the fact I know about it now it'll probably bother me more!

This is quite gutting, it looks like a fantastic phone with great spec! Why would they NOT put this stupid coating on the phone?! Its literally the only phone that doesn't have it and every single other phone from other brands does! FFS.

Feel like I'm back to square 1.....

I'm so sorry! I get that that kind of information would be damaging to your opinion of the phone. My recommendation to you is to go to a store and play with a P10 in your hand. Have the rep turn it on for you and play with it yourself, and see if you notice the lack of coating.

 

[Chri592]

I'm so sorry! I get that that kind of information would be damaging to your opinion of the phone. My recommendation to you is to go to a store and play with a P10 in your hand. Have the rep turn it on for you and play with it yourself, and see if you notice the lack of coating.

I've been into the store and already had a play about but I don't think I noticed the fingerprints on the screen tbh, then again that was before I knew about it existing! You'd think the finger prints would be noticeable on a display phone if anything! I didn't even notice if it had a screen protector on it.

I genuinely don't know what to do now, especially when its such a good price.

 

[Morty2264]

I've been into the store and already had a play about but I don't think I noticed the fingerprints on the screen tbh, then again that was before I knew about it existing! You'd think the finger prints would be noticeable on a display phone if anything! I didn't even notice if it had a screen protector on it.

I genuinely don't know what to do now, especially when its such a good price.

If you have this much hesitation over the P10, perhaps look into another device just in case! Or, you can buy the P10 and use it for a day or two and see if you notice anything about the display! And then return it and exchange it for another device if you do.

 

[Chri592]

If you have this much hesitation over the P10, perhaps look into another device just in case! Or, you can buy the P10 and use it for a day or two and see if you notice anything about the display! And then return it and exchange it for another device if you do.

I thought about the whole use it and return it but apparently once the box is open its exchange only, and I can't guarentee I'd want a replacement from the Carphone warehouse and if they'd have the best price for the phone I wanted......told you I was indecisive, i was so keen for this phone until they put me right off! Maybe I'll re-visit the store tomorrow and try purposely putting fingerprints on it. On another note, can you recommend alternatives at roughly the same spec & price?

 

[Morty2264]

I thought about the whole use it and return it but apparently once the box is open its exchange only, and I can't guarentee I'd want a replacement from the Carphone warehouse and if they'd have the best price for the phone I wanted......told you I was indecisive, i was so keen for this phone until they put me right off! Maybe I'll re-visit the store tomorrow and try purposely putting fingerprints on it. On another note, can you recommend alternatives at roughly the same spec & price?

Haha, I'm indecisive too! But if you feel like you won't be satisfied with it, you need to trust your gut.

I looked up the price of it - it's $500-ish in Canada. The OnePlus 5 is maybe 150-ish dollars more but it has top specs and runs great! Or the Honor 8, also Huawei-manufactured (made by Huawei's subcompany, Honor) is also pretty good, with a great dual camera. The battery on the Honor 8 isn't as good as the P10 (3000 mAh) but I get decent life regardless. It retails at around 400 dollars-ish! Has great display too.

Also, Black Friday is around the corner so you may get a good deal on more expensive flagships.

 

[Chri592]

Haha, I'm indecisive too! But if you feel like you won't be satisfied with it, you need to trust your gut.

I looked up the price of it - it's $500-ish in Canada. The OnePlus 5 is maybe 150-ish dollars more but it has top specs and runs great! Or the Honor 8, also Huawei-manufactured (made by Huawei's subcompany, Honor) is also pretty good, with a great dual camera. The battery on the Honor 8 isn't as good as the P10 (3000 mAh) but I get decent life regardless. It retails at around 400 dollars-ish! Has great display too.

Also, Black Friday is around the corner so you may get a good deal on more expensive flagships.

Thing is, my gut was this was the phone for me, now I'm just really worried that I won't like the screen. I'm a negative person though so I'll always think/expect the worst.

The OnePlus phones are too big for me, and I have big hands, just not a fan. Its also only available on O2 in the UK. I see the Pixel 2 is announced on Oct 4th, & I wondered if the original pixel would be worth buying if its reduced dramatically. Saying that I'm not so keen on the back fingerprint sensor....haha!

I'm half tempted to chance it on the P10....

 

[Morty2264]

Thing is, my gut was this was the phone for me, now I'm just really worried that I won't like the screen. I'm a negative person though so I'll always think/expect the worst.

The OnePlus phones are too big for me, and I have big hands, just not a fan. Its also only available on O2 in the UK. I see the Pixel 2 is announced on Oct 4th, & I wondered if the original pixel would be worth buying if its reduced dramatically. Saying that I'm not so keen on the back fingerprint sensor....haha!

I'm half tempted to chance it on the P10....

Maybe you should chance it on the P10 - who knows, you may not even notice the screen smudges! Plus, a cloth wipe here and there is totally cool. I gotta wipe my screen every once in a while!

Yup, the Pixel should drop in price around that time. It's a really good phone and provides a great stock Android experience. Maybe go to the store and play with one to see how it feels in the hand!

 

[Chri592]

Not many reviews of this phone actually notice the lack of coating, so perhaps its only people who watch movies, play games etc on their phone? I was really keen, it can't be that big of deal. I've played with a Pixel before, its nice but its not going to drop down to £400, the Huawei seems like a bargain, perhaps I could just leave the screen protector on. I don't think it would peel off itself with day to day use would it?