Android or Iphone? buy phone outright?

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Maybe you guys can help with this. If not, please delete. My stepdad wants to get a new phone. He wants to buy it outright. Should he get Apple or android? And how do plans work if he wants to but it outright. The main feature he wants is for him to be able to speak into the phone and it accurately types what he says. Thanks!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

A lot of people who get an iPhone are "apple people". I have had several android phones in a row and have been mostly happy with the phones. The carriers are another story. Go with an unlocked model so you can choose/switch carriers at your leisure.

If you go android, you have to decide what brand of phone you want. I've had a couple Motorolas and a few Samsungs. I prefer the Samsungs over the Motos.

The main problem I've had with both is the USB charger port goes bad after a couple years of plugging & unplugging. If there's one with a wireless charger, that might be the way to go.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Well I really appreciate the advice. He is going in completely fresh, so it is a unique way to go in.. most people have an inkling at least of what they want.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Is he a techy sort of person? From what I've read about android, it has a lot more features than an iPhone. An iPhone is a bit more user friendly, in my opinion.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Well, no he isn't .. he has an iPad but uses it mainly to read the news in the morning.. yeah he's an old timer! But he did say that he wanted a good camera and talk-text..

 

[Kemaiku]

Both are easy to get to use more or less. Apple has a larger variety of apps overall and an easier to use interface. But Android has all the same essential day to day apps and the GUI isn't so terribly different really.

Android just has a more manual process of moving things to the phone from a PC, but comes with less issues of sync'ing that Apple devices might have if you plan to move things regularly or in bulk.

I have an Android tablet with a lot of onboard storage so I don't use any cloud system of theirs, I don't know how that works out compared to the iCloud, which I also don't use much.

As long as he goes with a mid-range model (low end Android is not a great option) it should be cheaper, but Apple will last longer (my 4S is going fine 4+ years on). Those often allow microSD cards if he or anyone else wants to enlarge the storage later.

Both have good call quality, acceptable keyboards (apps can be downloaded with better ease of use versions) and the touch screen on either is frankly nearly identical in your hands.

But the USB B/C on Android can damage easier and faster than the lightening cable, not so much a problem with the cable but the dock itself, you might find it problematic to connect after a while.

Android also tend to make a variety of sizes, you could find someone with a iPhone 5S to let him get an idea of it (those are still on sale for a good bit less now) or if he likes the size but not the GUI, go for a 4" Android phone.

 

[lurok]

Re: talk to text, I can't say whether Siri (iOS) is better than Google Now/text to speech as don't use either, but those I know who use Siri find it easy to use.

Buying outright: here in UK, Android phones tend to be cheaper than Apple. But plan prices (either monthly, etc or sim-only payg) tend to be marginal, with perhaps a slight premium on Apple.

Overall, I've tended to find those who aren't interested in tech or rooted/jailbroken phones that can allow you to do more tend to like Apple for, as Janeway's Girl says, it's perhaps more intuitive user-friendliness.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Regarding the camera, I can't speak for android but I have never found the iPhone camera to be of great quality. As a result, I don't really use it a lot.

I don't use Siri so I can't give an opinion on it. I'm not a tech-savy person so I don't bother with all the extra features.

 

[MacLeod]

There is of course the Windows phone, but it does have a weaker choice of apps than either Android or Apple.

 

[shivkala]

As an Android fan, I do have to say, if he has an iPod and he's not techy, an iPhone might be the way to go. It should be a pretty easy transition to the phone. iPhones are not cheap, but, while you can get cheaper Androids, they are usually problematic. I've been through the $100 range phones and finally jumped to a more expensive one, so I'm not buying a new phone every year.

Another advantage is that accessories are pretty easy to find for an iPhone. Some Androids, especially the cheaper ones offer fewer options and usually none that you can simply buy in a store. This is mostly important for phone cases, as chargers are pretty universal.

I prefer to pay outright for the phone. As with anything, if you buy it outright, you own it completely. With the death of contracts, companies are now relying on you buying the phone through their payment plan, keeping you with the same company until you pay it off.

 

[FPAlpha]

I don't know where you live but i assume basic business is the same everywhere in the world.

Back when i bought my smartphone i made calculations based on then available cellphone plans offered by the biggest carriers in Germany.

What they all had in common were 2 years bound to the contract (meaning you couldn't cancel it before 2 years were over), a subsidized smartphone (depending on the model either a token 1 Euro or up to 150-200 Euro for the newest models).

There were several levels of plans but even the cheapest one could run up to something like 30-35 Euro/month.

When all costs and discounts were factored in over the span of 2 years it was cheaper to buy the smartphone and then choose the cheapest, no frills attached plan from a secondary carrier (who nonetheless used the system of one of the big ones so same quality).

So if you have the money to spare buy the phone directly (either a new one or a used one in very good condition), it will be almost always cheaper in the long run.

As to Android vs iPhone.. get what the person may be most comfortable with. I'm absolutely no fan of Apple for several reasons but i admit that they are the best when it comes to ease of use and design.

However if you don't mind having to learn a bit yoursel the often enough technically superior Android smartphones might be a better choice (and many apps are free that you have to pay on Apple phones).

So it's a choice between ease of use and flexibility/better phones but in either case it's better to buy the phone yourself.

 

[Kemaiku]

Yeah, these days buying a phone outright if you can is fine.

The build quality and longevity is pretty uniform now and they will last years, battery life may be an issue at some point, but not for a while. Upgrading every year is pretty pointless, my first iPhone is still going as my second phone, my 6S should be around until about, 2018/19?

Buying upfront means you can shop for any SIM deal you like, and if you find a good short term PAYG tariff, you can switch sooner than on bill-pay.

I know in the USA you have two main networks, but there are bound to be a number of deals available for different SIM plans.

Let him use Android 5.1 and iOS 9.2 now, and see which one is easier to use, because the GUI is what you'll be looking at and using for the life of the phone.

After that, look at SIM plans, battery life, memory storage and build quality, pick the best option out of that.

 

[Spot's Meow]

This is really so hard to give concrete advice on, as it depends entirely on what the user finds most intuitive. Many feel that Apple products are more user friendly and intuitive, but I have never found that to be the case. Even though the first computer I used was a Mac, I always found it awkward and things were never quite where I thought they should be...I later used a Windows machine and it was like a miracle, everything was exactly where I expected it! Even all these years later I have the same trouble with a iPhone vs. Android. Half my family have iPhones and I have used them and just never really felt comfortable with it. I find my Android phones to have been much more intuitive. Right now I have a Samsung Galaxy S6 and I love it.

There is one good piece of advice I can give, and that is to have your dad go into a store and play around with some of the phone models. I couldn't decide between a couple of different models when I purchased my phone, so I went into the local Best Buy and played with them for a bit and almost immediately it made clear what I preferred. I would have your dad compare an iPhone and a Samsung, including their different UIs, and see what he prefers.

Also, the talk-to-text feature on my phone is really amazing! I upgraded from a Samsung that was 2 years old and I wasn't too impressed with it on that one, but it seems like the newer models have really improved in this area!

 

[shivkala]

This is really so hard to give concrete advice on, as it depends entirely on what the user finds most intuitive. Many feel that Apple products are more user friendly and intuitive, but I have never found that to be the case. Even though the first computer I used was a Mac, I always found it awkward and things were never quite where I thought they should be...I later used a Windows machine and it was like a miracle, everything was exactly where I expected it! Even all these years later I have the same trouble with a iPhone vs. Android. Half my family have iPhones and I have used them and just never really felt comfortable with it. I find my Android phones to have been much more intuitive. Right now I have a Samsung Galaxy S6 and I love it.

The lack of a back button on iOs is my biggest gripe. I used an iPad for a while at work and after 2 years of doing so, I still kept looking for a back button. In some instances, I had to leave the app and go back to it in order to work around that.

I much prefer Android, as it's second nature now to me.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I just noticed a lot of responses to this. i was away for the new years eve thin g but I'm going to read them all.. thank you!

 

[Leviathan]

iPhone has its pros and cons. They are: you must be in the apple cult.

Android has its pros and cons. They are: you must be a huge tech nerd.

HOWEVER the choice is simple:

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

On New Years Day, of all days, my previous phone (Galaxy S4) decided to take a crap. It had been acting up for several days before that, and finally lost all ability to make any sound.

At least this one lasted a few months past the 2 year payoff, but that makes 3 that haven't lasted much more than 2 years.

I can't speak to iPhones, but Samsungs apparently aren't built to last more than 2 years. Though, the "next" model usually comes out yearly, so a lot depends on your need to be up to date.

My 2 previous Droid Charges both died due to overuse of the micro-USB port for charging. The new one is a Galaxy S6 Edge+ with wireless charging, so hopefully that wont be an issue this time.

 

[Kemaiku]

^My 4S is perfectly fine 4+ years on, a lot of people are still using them. Even one working 3GS I know of.

 

[Naira]

I do not believe it makes a difference. Both operating systems are more or less the same. My only advice is this: If you buy an Apple, you only have one choice. If you buy an Android, be sure to check the specifications of the phones to get a value-for-money deal and do not just go for the brands that spend the most on advertising. (Some times these brands are a very good choice indeed. Most of these times, you can get equally good choices at half the price.)

 

[farmkid]

This is really so hard to give concrete advice on, as it depends entirely on what the user finds most intuitive. Many feel that Apple products are more user friendly and intuitive, but I have never found that to be the case. Even though the first computer I used was a Mac, I always found it awkward and things were never quite where I thought they should be...I later used a Windows machine and it was like a miracle, everything was exactly where I expected it! Even all these years later I have the same trouble with a iPhone vs. Android. Half my family have iPhones and I have used them and just never really felt comfortable with it. I find my Android phones to have been much more intuitive. Right now I have a Samsung Galaxy S6 and I love it.

I have to agree with this. I didn't really have any strong feelings regarding Apple either way until we got an iPad. Now, every time I use it I like Apple less and less. The interface just doesn't make sense to me. Whenever I try to do anything other than simply open an app and use it, I feel that Apple believes their users are idiots and can't be trusted not to screw things up.

However, (regarding the OP) if your father has an iPad already and is comfortable with it, I would go with an iPhone. iOS doesn't work for me, but in this case, it's just the opposite. If he's not techy at all and is familiar with iOS, he will probably be happier with an iPhone.