Cell phone dilemna

[rolio]

I know, another cell phone question. Verizon just informed me that I need to upgrade before 6.28.12 or pay full price for an upgrade; this will ensure that I retain my "unlimited" data plan. With time running out, I'm in a rush to make a decision. How many of you have an iPhone 4s? Honestly, what do you think about the phone? I am a firm believer that all technology is inherently buggy, in one way or another, so I don't expect perfection. Or, maybe I should just wait and bite the bullet in September-October for the new iPhone5 or Blackberry 10, paying full price. Or maybe there is another option I have not thought of yet. Thank you in advance for your honest reponses.

[GermanyMatt]

iOS is easily the best operating system out there - android is getting better, but still isn't as polished. I have an iphone-4 and it's a great phone (had a 3GS before it). Only downside is the screen is on the smaller side, but I think that's going to be addressed in the iphone-5.

RIMM's days are limited IMO - they simply can't keep up with their competitors. Business users are the only thing keeping them alive, and a lot of them are moving to iOS and Android..

[Megalobyte]

The 4s is awesome. But I'd wait for the new one, should be a pretty big redesign.

[crew]

I have the 4 and it's been great. I came from a Droid and that was also very good but I definitely prefer the iPhone. My contract on the 4 is up so I can upgrade anytime. I'm choosing to wait for the iPhone 5. The 4S just doesn't have enough compelling advantages over the 4 to upgrade now.

[cleanfreak]

The 4s is awesome and will be even better with the release of iOS6 in a few months.

If you have to upgrade now, I fully recommend the 4s. If there is anyway to hold out until the iPhone 5 is released then I would do this.

[Sherwooddavid]

My 3 year contract ends in November and they are offering me deals to renew now but I think I'll hold off for the Iphone 5.

[Manofsteelpt]

I have the iPhone 4" not "s" and love it. One of my clients works for Verizon and raves about the Droid razor, though I've never played with it. Maybe worth checking out...

[rr-nyc]

The 4S is a great phone and I would take advantage of the upgrade now. There is no doubt the new iPhone will be great but you will have to pay full price at VZW to keep the unlimited plan.

If you want the new iPhone when it's released, you can sell the 4S to offset the ridiculous non-subsidy priced iPhone

[bayerische]

I'm on iPhone 4, had it for close to 2 years now.

iPhone 1, iPhone 2 and iPhone 3 before.

Now awaiting the iPhone 5.

Then iPhone 6.

Then iPhone 7.

[Runnin' Rebel]

I'm waiting for the iPhone 5, I have the 3 and my contract will be up in awhile with Verizon

I really like the 3

[Baco Noir]

Just bought the Motorola Razor Maxx over the IPhone 4s. It has an incredible battery life, 4g, and a great user interface. It is supposed to get the Android 4.0 OS update soon too. I have an iPad, so i'm not anti-Apple, but more interested in performance than brand.

Sent from my Android!

[donas]

I know you asked about iphones, but I'm on Verizon as well and would recommend pre-ordering the Samsung Gallaxy 3s. Brouse youtube and look at some of the comparisons to iphones......just my $.02.

The phone is shipping by July 10, but pre-ordering will keep your unlimited data.

[rolio]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

The 4S is a great phone and I would take advantage of the upgrade now. There is no doubt the new iPhone will be great but you will have to pay full price at VZW to keep the unlimited plan.

If you want the new iPhone when it's released, you can sell the 4S to offset the ridiculous non-subsidy priced iPhone

Ya know, I never thought of this. Resell it. Hmmm

[Andrés G]

I really like my 4s but I'm sure the 5 will be better. I would only get the 4s now, if the savings are significant.

[seand442]

Historically, when you pay full price, you're not required to sign a contract. Since that seems to be the direction carriers are going, you may benefit. I would suggest waiting, saving and going with the new iPhone 5. Without LTE, I'm not sure how popular the iPhone 4s and 4 will be on the resale market. JM2C.

[AIKO]

iphone 4s is awesome, only drawback is the battery sucks bad.

[77T]

Originally Posted by rolio

I know, another cell phone question. Verizon just informed me that I need to upgrade before 6.28.12 or pay full price for an upgrade; this will ensure that I retain my "unlimited" data plan. With time running out, I'm in a rush to make a decision. How many of you have an iPhone 4s? Honestly, what do you think about the phone? I am a firm believer that all technology is inherently buggy, in one way or another, so I don't expect perfection. Or, maybe I should just wait and bite the bullet in September-October for the new iPhone5 or Blackberry 10, paying full price. Or maybe there is another option I have not thought of yet. Thank you in advance for your honest reponses.

If you have multiple devices on data plans, maybe the "unlimited plan" is not such a great deal. VZ is offering a data sharing plan now so you only need 1 plan and can share it with multiple devices.

That means you could wait for the new iPhone.

I'd say the iOS ecosystem is heads and shoulders over Android market. So iPhone is what I'd suggest.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by rolio

Ya know, I never thought of this. Resell it. Hmmm

You live in the bay area, with a ton of visitors from Europe and Asia. You'll be able to sell it for top dollar for sure.

i have sold every one of my previous iPhones... to people from Russia to the Philippines. 4G LTE isn't the standard both here or abroad so you won't have a problem selling it for at least your upgrade price

[Passionata]

take the 4s , i m not sure they ll release in this year the #5,
wouldn t take RIM they are close to bust.

[Rockrolex]

I'm not up for an upgrade till next Feb. By that time the i5 should be out and the Android market will be more mature. At that point I may well switch from my BB Torch 9850 to either an iPhone or an Android version.

My wife likes her physical keyboard so I'm not sure I will be able to wean her off her BB Bold when the time comes for her to upgrade.

[daunwaun]

Samsung Galaxy s3 but all accounts its going to blow apple out of the water.

I know, I know the mac heads will be bias and nothing will be better but 1000's of tech gurus who have reviewed this phone unanimously agree the samsung is the phone for this year.

[renfield33]

i have a hard time believing they will make people pay the full price ($600-800) to upgrade their phone and keep the unlimited plan. people will jump ship for sprint so fast. you may want to check your data usage anyway. you likely use less than you think and may not even need the unlimited data plan. the most i've ever used is 1054 megabytes!

[seand442]

Originally Posted by renfield33

i have a hard time believing they will make people pay the full price ($600-800) to upgrade their phone and keep the unlimited plan. people will jump ship for sprint so fast. you may want to check your data usage anyway. you likely use less than you think and may not even need the unlimited data plan. the most i've ever used is 1054 megabytes!

You may not use much data now but when it comes in at some of the speeds I've seen, that number is bound to go up. Also, buying the phone at full cost eliminates the need for a contract, so you are free to stay or go without an ETF. Either way, the consumer is going to get screwed.

[springer]

Razor Maxx - awesome phone. It is second to none right now.

[crew]

Originally Posted by daunwaun

Samsung Galaxy s3 but all accounts its going to blow apple out of the water.

I know, I know the mac heads will be bias and nothing will be better but 1000's of tech gurus who have reviewed this phone unanimously agree the samsung is the phone for this year.

Everything I have read points to the Samsung being a giant leap in cell phones.
However I don't know how many iPhone users will convert. I know that I won't as I like the ability to synchronize my phone with my iPad.

[Sig228]

I have owned and used cell phones since the first Motorola "brick" in the late 80's. I have always looked for "better". I have probably owned 25 different cell phones. About 6 months ago I switched from a Droid to the iPhone 4s. My search is over. This phone is wonderful. Siri is fun but a little quirky. Otherwise it's solid technology. If you go with the iPhone and you have a substantial music collection on iTunes, I would strongly suggest subscribing to iTunes Match to listen to your music. Another must have app is Dropbox. Works seamlessly on the iPhone. Camera is excellent too. I haven't used my point and shoot in months.

Bottom line if your not a Mac user is that there will be a short learning curve. After that you won't look back.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by seand442

You may not use much data now but when it comes in at some of the speeds I've seen, that number is bound to go up.

Absolutely. I switched from an iPad 2 to the new iPad and my data usage has gone up considerably. I went from averaging 1.5 gb per month to 2.5gb. I don't have the unlimited plan on my iPad but have switched from 2gb plan to the 3gb

[CashGap]

Originally Posted by rolio

Or, maybe I should just wait and bite the bullet in September-October for the new iPhone5 or Blackberry 10

The new iPhone is more likely to be called "The New iPhone" rather than 5. iOS 6, LTE with battery to support it, 16:9 Retina display, etc. etc. etc.

The Blackberry 10 ship date was updated yesterday from "Expected to ship Fall 2012" to "Agghggahhh help us we're dying help us someone please just put a bullet in us now and end the suffering oh the pain make it stop make it stop".

Originally Posted by daunwaun

Samsung Galaxy s3 but all accounts its going to blow apple out of the water.

I know, I know the mac heads will be bias and nothing will be better but 1000's of tech gurus who have reviewed this phone unanimously agree the samsung is the phone for this year.

Hyperbole much :)

Roughly four months before a new iPhone, someone (this time Samsung) always releases something "close enough" that it gets declared as the iPhone killer.

Always "killing" the iPhone of eight months before, and always with lots of asterisks qualifying it's superiority. And those models are always looked down upon as trash a few months later, fodder for the mall BOGO Promos.

[signcarver]

I have the original Droid and it is quite slow. I'm waiting for the iPhone 5 because there will be many new features. I will probably wait for at least a month after release just to be sure there are no serious issues with the 5.

I'm wondering if the iPhone 5 will have some of the new features that the S3 has, such as realizing that you are looking at the display and not shutting the screen off.

[mjclark32]

Love my iPhone, hate my blackberry (thankfully I only use it for emails on the run)