Note 5 vs iPhone 6s

[Wildo6882]

I have to disagree with lack of reliability. But then YMMV. I personally haven't experienced any issues with any of the last several devices I've used from the Android side of the mobile phone world including...

Nexus 6P
Droid Turbo
Nexus 6
Note 4
One M8

My Android phones have been overall reliable over the last year or so. However, I have had more "significant" issues with them. Mostly being unreliable Bluetooth or text message problems (which my wife seems to still have on her S6 edge). The other thing about Apple that I put in the reliability category is their customer service. No matter where you got your Apple device, they back you up. And it's so easy to go to a store and get help. Nothing in the Android world has that kind of peace of mind.

 

[mumfoau]

The other thing about Apple that I put in the reliability category is their customer service. No matter where you got your Apple device, they back you up. And it's so easy to go to a store and get help. Nothing in the Android world has that kind of peace of mind.

I will almost certainly never be able to dispute that one! LOL

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

When it comes to reliability, I think that varies dependent on the manufacturer. I usually don't have issues with Samsung devices. I have had some issues with HTC devices, but I have to admit that I haven't had an HTC smartphone since the Rezound.

 

[1901Madison]

I do miss my Note 5. I look at it sometimes. I miss Samsung Pay. I miss the s-pen. I miss that screen. I miss double tap on the home button for the camera. I still can't believe that I picked up an iPhone 6S Plus and iPad Air 2. But, the battery life on my iPhone is nothing less than remarkable. Lightning connector is still awesome. I have noticed some bugs in iOS, but they haven't been too bad. I'm still getting used to 3D touch.

I had an iPhone 6 Plus for awhile. I thought the battery life was very good, but not incredible. Standby was really good, but with the screen on anywhere above 40% brightness, you could just watch the battery percentage drop as you use the phone.

 

[1901Madison]

I have to disagree with lack of reliability. But then YMMV. I personally haven't experienced any issues with any of the last several devices I've used from the Android side of the mobile phone world including...

Nexus 6P
Droid Turbo
Nexus 6
Note 4
One M8

This 100%. I had more app crashes in 2 months with an iPhone 6 Plus than I've had with my LG G4 and Droid Turbo in the past 15 months combined. The myth of iPhones "just working" better than Android phones doesn't ring true anymore.

 

[GeneralDreedle]

My wife's iPhone 6s crashes and freezes a lot more than my edge+, And the cell reception isn't as good

 

[anon(9144744)]

Well ya'll today I went out in the pouring rain and picked up a Verizon iPhone 6S Plus rose gold 64 gb!!! I was sick of ATT had nothing but problems there. I'm now locked into the new iPhone every year program on Verizon!!! Sweeeeet!!

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

Well ya'll today I went out in the pouring rain and picked up a Verizon iPhone 6S Plus rose gold 64 gb!!! I was sick of ATT had nothing but problems there. I'm now locked into the new iPhone every year program on Verizon!!! Sweeeeet!!

By the way, I love AT&T.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

Well ya'll today I went out in the pouring rain and picked up a Verizon iPhone 6S Plus rose gold 64 gb!!! I was sick of ATT had nothing but problems there. I'm now locked into the new iPhone every year program on Verizon!!! Sweeeeet!!

So I'm guessing that you don't have that itch anymore for Android? And I completely understand it. My iPhone 6S Plus is really growing on me. Perfect companion to my iPad Air 2.

 

[anon(9144744)]

Nope I don't!!! I may be cured. Especially now that I've been enrolled in the new iPhone every year program on Verizon! Makes it real easy lol

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

Nope I don't!!! I may be cured. Especially now that I've been enrolled in the new iPhone every year program on Verizon! Makes it real easy lol

It sure does. I was looking at possibly not upgrading my phone every year but just alternate between iPhone and iPad every year.

 

[anon(9144744)]

That's a good plan

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

That's a good plan

It saves me a little money and kind of takes away the pressure of getting a new smartphone every year. But I planned on doing that before and it didn't work out. So we will see what happens this time.

 

[anon(9144744)]

I'm really content now. I'm pretty sure it's gonna last. Just imagine going back to android and then having to neglect your iPad. I have an iPad and I know if I went back to the Note it's an all in one device and my iPad would be collecting dust. I'm not about to let this expensive iPad sit on the desk. It kinda makes it easy to choose.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

I can say this, spotlight search has really changed the way I navigate my iPhone. I never really used it before but I use it all the time now. Couple that with multitasking on the iPad and it is a killer combination.

 

[anon(9144744)]

I love being able to watch a video in picture and picture mode whilst doing something else like reading tapatalk!!!

 

[Wildo6882]

I'm really content now. I'm pretty sure it's gonna last. Just imagine going back to android and then having to neglect your iPad. I have an iPad and I know if I went back to the Note it's an all in one device and my iPad would be collecting dust. I'm not about to let this expensive iPad sit on the desk. It kinda makes it easy to choose.

I've been on my iPhone 6s Plus since the week before Christmas. When I first got it I was just like you. Thinking I was cured. No more switching. Battery was a dream, camera really solid, no major issues at all. Then slowly over time I started to realize again why I didn't ever stay with an iPhone all that long. It just really does nothing to justify the price over a lot of Android phones. And I find myself looking at Android again. When I realized I can get a 6P and nice Chromebook for $500-1000 less than what I paid for the iPhone and Mac I have, I started to think about switching again. Don't get me wrong, iPhone, iOS, and Mac are awesome. I don't have any major issue with any of them at all. Just don't see where the premium price comes in. Especially for what I do.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

I've been on my iPhone 6s Plus since the week before Christmas. When I first got it I was just like you. Thinking I was cured. No more switching. Battery was a dream, camera really solid, no major issues at all. Then slowly over time I started to realize again why I didn't ever stay with an iPhone all that long. It just really does nothing to justify the price over a lot of Android phones. And I find myself looking at Android again. When I realized I can get a 6P and nice Chromebook for $500-1000 less than what I paid for the iPhone and Mac I have, I started to think about switching again. Don't get me wrong, iPhone, iOS, and Mac are awesome. I don't have any major issue with any of them at all. Just don't see where the premium price comes in. Especially for what I do.

I have to agree with you there. I think it was a couple of years ago when I posted something about the price of Apple products. For the price of a 64GB iPhone 5S I could get a Nexus 5, Nexus 7 tablet, and Acer Chromebook and have money left over for accessories. That was a problem for me. But that was then. Even the Nexus line is closer to the price of any iPhone now. Some Samsung models are more expensive. But I also believe that you are paying for customer service too. None of those other devices come with that.

 

[Wildo6882]

I have to agree with you there. I think it was a couple of years ago when I posted something about the price of Apple products. For the price of a 64GB iPhone 5S I could get a Nexus 5, Nexus 7 tablet, and Acer Chromebook and have money left over for accessories. That was a problem for me. But that was then. Even the Nexus line is closer to the price of any iPhone now. Some Samsung models are more expensive. But I also believe that you are paying for customer service too. None of those other devices come with that.

I still think it's true. You can get a 6P 128gb with protection plan for roughly $400 after taxes less than a 128gb 6s Plus with AppleCare. While I agree the customer support of Apple is incredible and worth a little more, the experience with my iPhone compared to a 6P isn't $400 different. And Google's customer support is really solid.

 

[Trees]

As much as some of the locked down aspects in iOS irritate me (especially when its known what is possible with iOS per all of the capabilities once jailbroken), some things keep tugging at me and pulling me back toward iOS. Probably the key reason is ability to AirDrop/iMessage/FaceTime with one of the kids who only has an iPad/iPod. Those who have pre-teens can probably relate to this.

The list below is what I'm contemplating, and if I do move back to iOS/OS X; want to make it for the long run as transitioning can be time consuming and not error free (migrating data from OS X to Windows apps, or the reverse). There are many equally compelling, and unique things I like about Android and the Google ecosystem that I think work just as well or better than iOS and the Apple ecosystem; and that's part of what is creating the challenge.

1. No bloatware
2. Guaranteed updates
3. Timely updates
4. Less security risks (Nexus devices not included)
5. Communications (iOS natively, of course, supports iMessage, Messages and SMS relay in OS X, FaceTime, and SMS; plus Hangouts, Skype...)
6. Battery life (excellent on the 6+, 6S+)
7. Good integration with OS X, iCloud and it's and overall ecosystem (if one has an OS X system)
8. Good app selection (same is true with Android in my experience, so consider those equal)
9. TouchID (same is true with Note 5 in my experience)
10. Apple Pay (all of our major bank cards are supported, not the case with Android or Samsung Pay)
11. Cloud storage (iOS natively supports iCloud of course, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive...and so does Android minus iCloud)
12. Productivity (Microsoft Office Suite, Google Office Suite)
13. Support (we are fortunate to have several Apple Stores in our metro area, and in my experience Apple online/phone Support has been quite good when needed)
14. Family Sharing (works well for approving/managing kid's iOS app purchases)
15. Entertainment (Apple TV is good, and the Remote App works well. I do like Google Play + Chromecast quite a bit though and use it frequently with Note 5)
16. Apple Watch (while not perfect, in my experience its the best so far for a smartwatch + general fitness tracker; and I've tried Tizen and and Android Wear based watches)
17. iTunes compatibility with the older radio in my truck (yes I could buy a new radio with Bluetooth and Android+iOS capability, but don't want to invest the hundreds of dollars on a 10+ year old vehicle when USB support works with the current radio, and I can charge the iPhone at the same time).