iPhone or Android?

[Mike Sixel]

We need to upgrade our plan, which usually means we can get a deal on a new phone......and my wife might add a hot spot device (yes, she can use her phone, but she is basically making in person sales calls most days, and a dedicated hot spot would help her for reasons)......

 

So, what phone do you have/like/not like, and why?

 

I'm passing on worrying about 5g for now......and my family is half android half apple.....Currently have an S7.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I have an iPhone 8. I have had good durability with my Apple notebook, iPads, and iPhones, as well as it all syncs seamlessly without need for intervention.

 

I know there are more cutting edge or cheap options, but I’m lazy and don’t have to think about maintenance or third party sharing or messaging apps.

[Musk21]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S9 and love it. Have always had them (S3, S5, now S9). Never had any Apple products, so Android seemed like a good choice whenever the smartphone trend started 12-15 years ago. With that said, I know plenty of people who swear by Apple, have iPhones, and love them.

 

[Vanimal46]

I'm currently debating between the Google Pixel 4 and latest iPhone. Haven't had apple products before but I'm getting really tired of no one having a type C charger when I'm out and running out of battery. Seems like everyone has apple chargers to go around...

[Squirrel]

Apple for me. But then I’ve never done any comparison shopping. I’m not so techno savvy, so it’s easier for me ... computer, iPad, phone ... all Apple

[Mike Sixel]

I'm currently debating between the Google Pixel 4 and latest iPhone. Haven't had apple products before but I'm getting really tired of no one having a type C charger when I'm out and running out of battery. Seems like everyone has apple chargers to go around...

I have that same problem, which is fascinating given more people own Android....

[Squirrel]

 

I have that same problem, which is fascinating given more people own Android....

You guys could just get in the habit of carrying your own chargers with you instead of relying on others carrying theirs ...

 

Just sayin'

[Vanimal46]

You guys could just get in the habit of carrying your own chargers with you instead of relying on others carrying theirs ...

 

Just sayin'

There's only so much space in my pockets!

[Squirrel]

 

There's only so much space in my pockets!

Carry a purse! Or start wearing cargo pants!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

There's only so much space in my pockets!

I keep a charger in my car, brief case, and desk. If I’m not near one of those three objects and need to charge, I’m probably not by a source of power anyways.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I stick with Apple products because my trust in Google's data mining practices have been swirling down the drain for years.

 

But there are lots of good Android products out there, I simply no longer trust Google.

 

Apple has divested itself from advertising (years ago, actually), so they have no real interest in our data beyond improving their own products, which means they don't sell our data.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I stick with Apple products because my trust in Google's data mining practices have been swirling down the drain for years.

 

But there are lots of good Android products out there, I simply no longer trust Google.

 

Apple has divested itself from advertising (years ago, actually), so they have no real interest in our data beyond improving their own products, which means they don't sell our data.

 

Like my life has any privacy at all......but it is an interesting perspective.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Carry a purse! Or start wearing cargo pants!

 

hahahahahaha. 

[Vanimal46]

I stick with Apple products because my trust in Google's data mining practices have been swirling down the drain for years.

 

But there are lots of good Android products out there, I simply no longer trust Google.

 

Apple has divested itself from advertising (years ago, actually), so they have no real interest in our data beyond improving their own products, which means they don't sell our data.

Yeah Google gets weird with their push notifications and especially Google maps... It reminds me on my ride home I didn't make a stop at the liquor store and says there are other options on the way home.

[Vanimal46]

Like my life has any privacy at all......but it is an interesting perspective.

We gave up privacy long ago... Nice to know that Apple somewhat cares about your data privacy. I'm going to check them both out in person tomorrow. If I have a new signature - Sent from my iPhone - you'll know what I picked.

[Mike Sixel]

My youngest son (22) needs a new phone, and we are about to switch plans....he's an Apple guy all the way. Wants the newest, so it lasts longer. We'll have to negotiate how he pays for it on my bill.....

[Vanimal46]

My youngest son (22) needs a new phone, and we are about to switch plans....he's an Apple guy all the way. Wants the newest, so it lasts longer. We'll have to negotiate how he pays for it on my bill.....

You're nice to keep his phone on your bill! I got kicked off the family plan after college...

[Vanimal46]

This may be a conspiracy theory with nothing behind it, but I swear companies send out updates that start to affect your older phone. I've got a Google pixel 2, had it for coming up on 2 years. Once that 2 year anniversary comes up, like clockwork, the phone starts acting up. Battery life goes to hell, some apps cause the phone to crash. It's happened with every Android smart phone I've owned...

 

Nothing will ever be as bad as the early Samsung Galaxy phones with battery life. I had to charge that sucker 3x a day at the bitter end.

[Mike Sixel]

 

You're nice to keep his phone on your bill! I got kicked off the family plan after college...

 

Meh, it's not that much for the line, but he'll have to pay for the phone....now, when he gets a full time job? He'll have to pay for it all...

[Mike Sixel]

 

This may be a conspiracy theory with nothing behind it, but I swear companies send out updates that start to affect your older phone. I've got a Google pixel 2, had it for coming up on 2 years. Once that 2 year anniversary comes up, like clockwork, the phone starts acting up. Battery life goes to hell, some apps cause the phone to crash. It's happened with every Android smart phone I've owned...

Nothing will ever be as bad as the early Samsung Galaxy phones with battery life. I had to charge that sucker 3x a day at the bitter end.

 

Heh, you aren't the first person to say this......

 

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

This may be a conspiracy theory with nothing behind it, but I swear companies send out updates that start to affect your older phone. I've got a Google pixel 2, had it for coming up on 2 years. Once that 2 year anniversary comes up, like clockwork, the phone starts acting up. Battery life goes to hell, some apps cause the phone to crash. It's happened with every Android smart phone I've owned...

 

Nothing will ever be as bad as the early Samsung Galaxy phones with battery life. I had to charge that sucker 3x a day at the bitter end.

Apple got nabbed in ‘17 for a power throttling software package that was supposed to improve battery life but caused significant performance issues. Now with iPhone 11, they openly selling it as a ‘feature’ rather than hiding it in an update

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Yeah Google gets weird with their push notifications and especially Google maps... It reminds me on my ride home I didn't make a stop at the liquor store and says there are other options on the way home.

Heh, but that's what Apple does, too... Everyone tracks your movements.

 

But Apple has no financial incentive to sell you on your next decision or let anyone else know what you're doing right now or may plan to do next.

 

It's a double-edged sword. Under this operating decision, Apple will *always* be less effective at predicting your behavior or giving you surprising things that you didn't know you wanted but actually want. But, on the other hand, they will not be selling your data and manipulating you for profit.

 

Choose your poison. A slightly diminished experience or one that attempts to control you (or, maybe more accurately, one that attempts to steer your life in ways that divest you of more money).

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Apple got nabbed in ‘17 for a power throttling software package that was supposed to improve battery life but caused significant performance issues. Now with iPhone 11, they openly selling it as a ‘feature’ rather than hiding it in an update

That wasn't actually to slow phones, it was because Apple wrote an OS that over-taxed some of their phone batteries, which would drain a battery on the spot and power down a phone in seconds. The more you read into it, the more it makes sense.

 

It was still a really ****ty decision because Apple was protecting flawed hardware (instead of replacing it) but not because they were trying to force an upgrade.

 

Apple is the only OS on the market that routinely *speeds up* older phones. Once every 3-4 years, they concentrate on a new version of iOS that maximizes efficiency and speeds up all their phones (and, by default, all their older phones).

 

Android, to my knowledge, did that once... like four years ago, and it's because they improved the underlying software and speed on older devices just happened to be a side effect of that improvement.

 

Then again, good luck finding a four year old Android device still getting updates, while Apple only deprecates hardware after five years.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

This may be a conspiracy theory with nothing behind it, but I swear companies send out updates that start to affect your older phone. I've got a Google pixel 2, had it for coming up on 2 years. Once that 2 year anniversary comes up, like clockwork, the phone starts acting up. Battery life goes to hell, some apps cause the phone to crash. It's happened with every Android smart phone I've owned...

Nothing will ever be as bad as the early Samsung Galaxy phones with battery life. I had to charge that sucker 3x a day at the bitter end.

To be clear, this isn't actually a real thing.

 

Think of it this way:

 

You buy a 400hp car. You run it hard for 10 years, put 150,000 miles on it, then put it on a dyno. Are you really pissed that it only turns 300hp now?

 

Of course not. Your car isn't expected to as good as it once was because parts wear down and things become less efficient in time. Lithium-Ion batteries are AWFUL at sustaining a maximum charge point, especially when baked into the horrific ways we all use our phones (hot weather, random charging times, no ventilation, etc).

 

Yet you put a Li-Ion battery in a car and it can easily run for a decade, often much longer than that. Why the difference? Cooling. And battery monitoring. All those cells give the opportunity for displacement of use, heat, and power, which can be controlled by a computer. And cooling keeps the entire battery in check and optimizes itself for longevity.

 

A phone? Nah, you just churn and burn them because the money isn't there to attempt that sort of thing because people simply don't give a ****.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

That wasn't actually to slow phones, it was because Apple wrote an OS that over-taxed some of their phone batteries, which would drain a battery on the spot and power down a phone in seconds. The more you read into it, the more it makes sense.

 

It was still a really ****ty decision because Apple was protecting flawed hardware (instead of replacing it) but not because they were trying to force an upgrade.

 

Apple is the only OS on the market that routinely *speeds up* older phones. Once every 3-4 years, they concentrate on a new version of iOS that maximizes efficiency and speeds up all their phones (and, by default, all their older phones).

 

Android, to my knowledge, did that once... like four years ago, and it's because they improved the underlying software and speed on older devices just happened to be a side effect of that improvement.

 

Then again, good luck finding a four year old Android device still getting updates, while Apple only deprecates hardware after five years.

I think the intent was virtuous. The execution was flawed, and the recovery made it look shady

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think the intent was virtuous. The execution was flawed, and the recovery made it look shady

Without a doubt. Apple blundered their way through that situation.

[PseudoSABR]

 

This may be a conspiracy theory with nothing behind it, but I swear companies send out updates that start to affect your older phone. I've got a Google pixel 2, had it for coming up on 2 years. Once that 2 year anniversary comes up, like clockwork, the phone starts acting up. Battery life goes to hell, some apps cause the phone to crash. It's happened with every Android smart phone I've owned...

Nothing will ever be as bad as the early Samsung Galaxy phones with battery life. I had to charge that sucker 3x a day at the bitter end.

It may not be a conspiracy, but new software esp. when it's forced on old phones will always lead to those phones having problems.  My LG G6 runs like crap after the latest android update.  Like my fingerprint access no longer works, among other issues.

[Badsmerf]

After having an i phone for 4 years now against my will, I still just wish there was more customizable features. Forget third party apps, I just want to have the ability to tweak the settings on my phone as I see fit. Also, while the camera hardware is good, the camera options are really weak. No ability to adjust shutter times or exposure before taking the picture.

 

I'd still choose Android if I had the chance. The data mining the happens on Chrome, and Facebook already violate me everyday, adding Android to the mix is negligible.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

It may not be a conspiracy, but new software esp. when it's forced on old phones will always lead to those phones having problems.  My LG G6 runs like crap after the latest android update.  Like my fingerprint access no longer works, among other issues.

Google had a bad system from the start and no matter how hard they try to patch it, their solution of letting manufacturers (and carriers, too) manipulate their code and dictate which phones get updated will always be a problem.

 

It helped them get market share in the beginning because manufacturers were basically given a base OS from which to create their own UX (big money savings for them) but it led to horrible upgrade problems, which will never fully go away because companies in the Android space have very little incentive to to support four year old devices. They just want you to buy a new phone because they get no residual money after the purchase, that all goes to Google through their services baked into the Android platform.

[Twins33]

This may be a conspiracy theory with nothing behind it, but I swear companies send out updates that start to affect your older phone. I've got a Google pixel 2, had it for coming up on 2 years. Once that 2 year anniversary comes up, like clockwork, the phone starts acting up. Battery life goes to hell, some apps cause the phone to crash. It's happened with every Android smart phone I've owned...

Nothing will ever be as bad as the early Samsung Galaxy phones with battery life. I had to charge that sucker 3x a day at the bitter end.

Haha, I’ve heard someone say the same about iPhones.