New ICS upgradeable phone now or wait for new ICS phone?

[twalkbox]

Reading some recent reviews of the Sony Xperia S, it came as a surprise to me (as a newbie I suppose) that many were making a big deal of the fact that Sony is releasing it with GB onboard instead of ICS even though an ICS upgrade was promised. Many would also then point out as if to criticise Sony alone that HTC would be releasing the One X a few months later with ICS.

I don't get it. What's the crime here?

Say you're now off contract and are looking for your next phone. Say you're not going to get a Nexus because you've heard strong rumours that other manufacturers will soon be releasing phones with the specs you want: a faster processor, better camera, more memory and or a bigger battery etc.

Now say 2 rumoured phones by two different manufacturers have caught your interest. Say both have the same hardware specs and that you don't mind the UI overlay of either manufacturer. Say one manufacturer (OEM A) decides to release their phone (Phone A) now with their latest UI even though it will be running on the GB but promises an upgrade not long after to ICS while the other manufacturer (OEM B) decides to postpone the release of theirs (Phone B) until their latest UI is ready on the ICS platform.

Would you get Phone A now or wait for Phone B? Is there anything wrong with what OEM A has done?

Given the choice I'd go buy Phone A now. Why wait?

 

[bear_lx]

why wait? because by buying a phone now, next month it is out dated, and the monthe after, that one is outdated... thats how android works. so buy a phone with decent specs , and hope you get the next update. but even if you dont, be happy with the one you have i guess. updates are like seasons, they will come every few months... and it is impossible to ensure your device will get every update. we all freak out over the next update, but what will ICS honestly bring you cant live without? gingerbread is fine for me... if your an update junkie, i would get a windows phone or an iphone and you will definately get every update with every phone...

 

[twalkbox]

An android smartphone's hardware gets outdated every few months for sure. But isn't that more reason to buy the new phone that's out now if it has the decent specs you're after? You have to bite the bullet / take the plunge eventually.

You're right, buy WP phones and the iPhone if you are concerned about staying up to date with the OS on your phone. But why can't or shouldn't we expect the same for Android? The latest os will bring with it a better user experience and more importantly greater security for all the personal information we keep on our phones. That's probably part of the reason why the iPhone is so dominant. The issue of fragmentation is basically non-existent so it doesn't even cross the minds of those who buy one because it's a non-issue - they'll be looked after for at least the 2 years that they are on contract. Why do so many accept fragmentation as a part of life on Android? Why do we accept lesser treatment?!?!

But to go back on topic, the only reasons I can see that you would wait for Phone B in the scenario I posed above is because:
* you dont' trust that the manufacturer will deliver on the update as promised (on time or at all)
* you prefer brand OEM B and or their UI overlay on top of stock
* you expect Phone B to have better developer support for ROMs (assuming the bootloader is unlockeable for both devices).

How long would you be willing to wait though? 2 to 3 months?

 

[adammcgovern]

There's gonna be sweet phones coming out all the time. the only question that really matters is whether or not you'll be happy with your current phone for a little while. In a few months someone else is going to have the same predicament you do now. I would say be happy with what u have because theres a good chance it's a solid phone
a phone

 

[whitenack]

I just posted this question in another forum, but in my (admittedly limited) observations, a phone doesn't get much more than one upgrade. So yeah, you may get a quick upgrade to 4.0, but will that phone get an upgrade to 5.0 next year? It might not. If you wait a few months and get a phone with 4.0, you are more likely to get that 5.0 next year.

Correct or not, that is the basis for my decision.

 

[Shadowriver]

I say wait too,there too much mess with ICS updates

 

[katie.miles]

why is it taking so long to post ics themes???