On the fence about switching from iPhone to Galaxy Note 4

[terobaje]

Adding to what I said earlier (I switched to a Note 4 from iPhones after using them since 2007). If I didn't care about customizing my phone, I would switch back to iPhone. I'm the only one in my family who likes to tinker with phones. Everyone else (my parents, my wife, and my sibling) just want a phone that works without any tinkering. To them, I still recommend iPhones. Even though I am liking my Note 4, occasional lags **** me off. Let's see what Lollipop does. If not, I can always consider the next iPhone that gets released.

 

[Premium1]

So I'm eligible for an upgrade at Verizon, and I have been looking at the Note 4 for a while. I was an Android user back when the best Verizon had to offer was the Droid X. It left a bad taste in my mouth and I wound up moving back to the iPhone when it became available on Verizon. I do miss some of the customizability and I do find iOS stale and boring. That being said, my iPhone is very reliable...it does what it's supposed to most of the time and without any glitchyness or lag. I don't know anybody with a Note 4 to get any first-hand feedback from a friend.

I was in the Verizon store today and going back and forth between the 6 Plus and GN4 and wound up walking out without anything. After becoming accustomed to iCloud, iMessage, photostreams, etc, I'm just worried that it will become a hassle for my family when they're used to me using these features to share things with them. I'm also hesitant because my headphones with mic / audio controls won't work with the GN4.

Any advice from people who have made the switch and are happy? Anybody who wishes they stayed with Apple? I'm having a hard time with this and I think the guy in the Verizon store thought I was nuts. Any help is appreciated.

You seem to be more comfortable and familiar with IOS related things so I say go with the 6+. No matter what others say, you have to choose whichever works best for you, because you are going to be the one using it for 2 years, and maybe others like x device better, but if you like y device, but got x device because others said they liked it and you hate it, you will just hate it for the next 2 years.

 

[worwig]

After becoming accustomed to iCloud, iMessage, photostreams, etc, I'm just worried that it will become a hassle for my family when they're used to me using these features to share things with them. .

You have answered your own question. Stick with the Apple system, it works for you and there really is nothing wrong with an iPhone 6. The only reason to switch would be if the Note 4 hardware does something that you really need, like the stylus features, switchable battery, or SD card. Beyond that, the hardware really isn't that different.

Me, I am deeply in the Android system and apps. I wouldn't touch an Apple product because it simply will NOT do what I need for work and play. I used to be deep into Windows CE. It has taken me years to almost get my Android devices to do the same jobs. In some cases, there are functions that I still can't do with Android (or Apple). But I am stuck deeply with Android, and the Note 4 is AWESOME, so I'm not about to change. Plus there is that stylus, switchable battery, and SD card that Apple doesn't allow, that are important to me. You did not mention these, so I suspect they are less important to you.

 

[Android D]

iPhone's can be jailbroken and are usually easier to jailbreak than an android phone is to root. Once jailbroken there's likely enough customization to keep one quite entertained.

Makes ur phone a Hell of a LOT slower!

 

[Haalcyon]

Makes ur phone a Hell of a LOT slower!

Never experienced that, perhaps I was just lucky.

 

[terobaje]

iPhone's can be jailbroken and are usually easier to jailbreak than an android phone is to root. Once jailbroken there's likely enough customization to keep one quite entertained.

I have jailbroken every single iPhone except for iPhone 6 Plus and had never experienced any slowdown. The only reason why it may slowdown is if you install a buggy tweak.

 

[thi]

I'm was a long time iphone user bf the nexus 5 and currently note 4. The only reason I use the N4 is the s-pen and multi window. I do miss the fluidity of ios.
Cons of N4: gps drops out. Bluetooth (lg tone) does not auto connect unless lg tone is power cycled. Messaging apps sucks all of them either lag when opening or while in use. I know others will disagree esp long time android users. Someone will throw the subjective experience excuse but if you haven't used ios for long periods of time you will never know the differences. Android is a cluster fk. What's sad is that even google apps are not unified.
Pros: replaceable battery, s-pen, multi window.

 

[Bordcla]

So I'm eligible for an upgrade at Verizon, and I have been looking at the Note 4 for a while. I was an Android user back when the best Verizon had to offer was the Droid X. It left a bad taste in my mouth and I wound up moving back to the iPhone when it became available on Verizon. I do miss some of the customizability and I do find iOS stale and boring. That being said, my iPhone is very reliable...it does what it's supposed to most of the time and without any glitchyness or lag. I don't know anybody with a Note 4 to get any first-hand feedback from a friend.

I was in the Verizon store today and going back and forth between the 6 Plus and GN4 and wound up walking out without anything. After becoming accustomed to iCloud, iMessage, photostreams, etc, I'm just worried that it will become a hassle for my family when they're used to me using these features to share things with them. I'm also hesitant because my headphones with mic / audio controls won't work with the GN4.

Any advice from people who have made the switch and are happy? Anybody who wishes they stayed with Apple? I'm having a hard time with this and I think the guy in the Verizon store thought I was nuts. Any help is appreciated.

Fully understand where you are. I was there myself a few months ago. Being a 6-year iPhone user, with iCloud, iMessage, Facetime and everything, a Macbook Pro as a computer, etc.

That said, I got fed up when my $700 iPhone 5 clunked out after 1.5 year (and, of course, then out of warranty...) and thought to myself: there's no way a device this expensive should have such a short lifespan. Given the much increased price for the new iPhones (the 6 Plus 64 gb I was contemplating would have cost me a whopping CDN$1100...), I thought: no way am I paying this much money in light of my recent experiences. I though Apple had gone one too far and that I at least owed it to myself to try alternatives.

After a brief stint with an LG G3 (not the best for me, as my Macbook Pro never even recognized the device, even with latest drivers installed...), I then had the option to pick a Note 4 for the equivalent of $180 or an iPhone 6 Plus 64 for the equivalent of $580 on contract. I thought about it for a long time and decided $400 was enough to at least warrant giving the Note 4 a serious try. Been on the Note 4 for a couple of weeks and I'm very happy with my phone.

As to your conundrum, your contacts and info you can import and sync with Google just the same as with iCloud. There is no obvious direct replacement for Facetime, but Skype works well. As for iMessage, I use Hangouts, Whatsapp or Facebook messenger, depending on the people I'm talking to, and so far I haven't missed iMessage.

This is a really full-featured phone compared to an iPhone and the features come in very handy, especially the pen and note-taking abilities. The customizations you can do to the interface are also great and, as far as build quality, the phone feels every bit as "premium" as an iPhone.

I don't consider myself a "fan" of any particular brand or operating systems (you will find die-hard Android or Apple fans out there) and, so, may eventually go back to an iPhone at some point in the future. However, given the present state of things, comparing the features of the Note 4 vs the iPhones and considering the substantial price difference, I feel that the Note 4 is great alternative to an iPhone. It is at least "as much" phone (if not more, actually), for less money.

If you can live with the replacement apps instead of your usual Apple apps (was no problem for me, despite the initial concern), then I think you won't regret trying the Note 4 and will probably get hooked to how well it works, and how useful it is. Add to this the ability to swap out a battery for minimal cost if and when it starts to fade in a couple of years, and that's icing on the cake...

Best regards,

 

[robinhelenehebert]

Purchased the Note 4 on Friday. It refuses to connect to my wi-fi at home. I originally connected to it but didn't know it disconnected it because it views my own home wi-fi as a security risk. So in two days I used up over 70 percent of my data. My messages are still going to my old iphone (you get a new sim card) In contacts there is no option to merge ME with the actual me in my contact list. The list of frustrations goes on and on. If you purchase this phone be prepared to spend hours learning it and setting it up. I wish I had stuck with iphone!

I havent dealt with that....

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[jovan1256]

I bought an iphone for my girlfriend and a note 4 for me. long story short Iphone is boring compared to note 4 and note four takes better pics. she is always asking me to use my phone to take pics. #16mp gives greater detail. There is no lag on the GN4 and battery life is superb. I currently have 72% after charging 6 am this morning. its currently 8:15pm. And the multitasking is off the chain. total beast!!!!! Samsung is the best Android OEM. Anything else is a substandard android or (boring) iphone. Iphone only offers u apps. On samsung u get Apps and a greater user experience because of the many features. U can even turn them off you choose to. And besides, with lollipop on the market, android is just getting better. Android now has 17% more apps than IOS. I tort id be borrowing my girlfriend phone often but ilI was so wrong. I love the GN4. Sorry for the long post
I got excited.

 

[FireChrome]

I really thought that iphone is better than samsung. Have you seen the apps that they have preinstalled?

 

[Haalcyon]

I really thought that iphone is better than samsung. Have you seen the apps that they have preinstalled?

Depending on what you want iPhone may be 'better than samsung'. For me it's not but for some it will be.

 

[altec135]

Been a long time iphone user. I jumped ship and got a Note 4. Actually more like I escaped the prison of apple. This is how I best describe iphone vs note 4. With iphone, it's like a spoiled rich kid. Never knows what they have and never appreciate it cause you are force fed and never had a chance to explore. Now for the Note 4, it's like a humbled kid that is so appreciative and knows what they have. Because you can customize and make your phone the way you like it, you have a greater appreciation cause you actually had to over come a learning curve.
The first week I got the Note 4 I was blown away of what this phone can do. I've been so brainwashed by Apple that what you get is what we give you that I felt sort of free. Now I've discovered themes and I hated the fact when I had an iphone that the next person next to me with an iPhone basically had a phone that looked just like mine. I discovered this theme which I love. It's simple and it's so far from apples.

 

[Aaron Burns]

I switched from ios to android with the Note 4. The learning curve of android is well, there exists things to learn to android where ios is just smooth and works so well. Android is more fun and the Note 4 is one of the greatest devices I have owned.

My opinion is that if you are ready to drop the comfort and smoothness of ios and make a big change AND you want the most powerful phone, make the switch. Just be prepared to spend some time learning the ins and outs of this device as well as android. If you're a techie, it'll be fun. If this sounds like a chore, I'd recommend sticking with ios. Ios is the superior ecosystem, but android is the more powerful ecosystem and certainly less restrictive.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Jason Cockerham]

I struggled with the same decision. I had an android and really debated for months between the 6+ and the Note 4. Yesterday, I went with the Note 4. I'm still trying to decide if I love it, but honestly one of the biggest deciding factors for me was ecosystem. I've had an Android for years and I'm so invested in Google's mothership (music, photos, messages, apps) that the switch for me would have been a major hassle and would have incurred more cost as well (having to re-buy apps adds up). It's even a bigger hassle for iOS users because Apple does not put their apps on Google Play. Google users can still get a lot of their apps on iOS, but that doesn't go the other way.

So far (about 24 hours) I have enjoyed the Note 4. The design is beautiful, fantastic screen, very fast (so far) and the S Pen does add some pretty cool features.

My suggestion, unless you can find a very compelling reason to change, stay with what you know and what you're already invested in. You really can't go wrong either way.

 

[TornadoQuake]

I made the switch back in October and honestly I'm a little bit home sick, for the very reasons you stated. My girlfriend and I used to communicate through iMessage and since I boarded the Android train I've had nothing but problems, in terms of communicating reliably. We use Google Hangouts now, but it lacks the ability to send video messages, something we used a lot. On a side note, I've had more problems using my Pebble Smart watch on Android than iOS, too. Android is also pretty slow with pushing out updates, unlike iOS. iOS might feel pretty locked down and closed, but in my experience it's a more stable and better overall experience.

This is all coming from someone who's been on Apple devices since 2007, so keep that in mind. I've had a few android devices back in 2010 on Boost Mobile, and a kind of crappy Acer android tablet. All were replaced by Apple devices the next year.

Posted via the Android Central App,
AT&T Note 4!

 

[Haalcyon]

I made the switch back in October and honestly I'm a little bit home sick, for the very reasons you stated. My girlfriend and I used to communicate through iMessage and since I boarded the Android train I've had nothing but problems, in terms of communicating reliably. We use Google Hangouts now, but it lacks the ability to send video messages, something we used a lot. On a side note, I've had more problems using my Pebble Smart watch on Android than iOS, too. Android is also pretty slow with pushing out updates, unlike iOS. iOS might feel pretty locked down and closed, but in my experience it's a more stable and better overall experience.

This is all coming from someone who's been on Apple devices since 2007, so keep that in mind. I've had a few android devices back in 2010 on Boost Mobile, and a kind of crappy Acer android tablet. All were replaced by Apple devices the next year.

Posted via the Android Central App,
AT&T Note 4!

It may be worth getting a low price Apple device as well. That's what I did so that I can still use Facetime when I want. Even an old Ipod Touch would do.

 

[garakhan]

I made the switch when my iPhone 4S started to freeze after iOS update early last year. There is a learning curve no doubt, but it is such a freeing experience. It's kind of like how people used to describe Soviet Union to USA. State does not take care of you. You are on your own. But what a freedom to explore and have all the best of best , while stumbling along the way.
For example, NFC near field communication. Apple bad mouthed NFC like it will never happen, ummm ApplePay is limited NFC.
Another example, iPhone6Plus with only 8MP camera? Are you kidding that is what Samsung had back in GS3, almost 3 generations ago. What about all the camera apps... I can go on.
I went on an extended vacation with just my Note3 (at the time) as my camera, and camcorder. SD memory card has all my pictures and videos. can Apple do that?
Automation with Tasker app, NFC automation, Waze navigation, custom ROM capabilities...
iCloud and Facetime may be the only thing that may make family (more like significant other demanding you be connected through them) communication little limiting. But there are so much choices in cloud and apps...

Choose Freedom, if Samsung fails in few years then there will be another LG? Nexus? Motorola? Ara? Xiomi??? But you can have same freedom.

 

[Scott Bradshaw1]

I have booth. I've been a long-time iPhone user and recently upgraded to the 6+. I've always been curious about Android, so I got an S5 a while ago and upgraded that to the Note 4.
I really love both (they're on different carriers), but I could never live without my iPhone (have a Mac and an iPad), and I love the way they all sync via iCloud. At the same time, though, I love my Note 4, and usually use it to make calls (T-Mobile, so calls via WiFi), plus I have a cool note app that allows me to make notes after (or during all calls). I like the way Android allows one app to contact other apps. Plus, I've just discovered launchers.
If I HAD to choose just one, I'd go with the iPhone, but that's just to syncing between my different iDevices.

 

[fragologist]

Depends on heavily vested you are in the Apple ecosystem. I don't think you Can go wrong either way.

I am in the process of making my Note 4 self aware.