I've been thinking about getting a smartphone for a few years but the plan costs have been deterring me from making the switch. Enter a new promotion from Verizon offering a $60 plan to get people still running a feature phone to switch over to a smart phone. Great! But what phone to buy?
I've visited two different Verizon stores asking for advice for someone like me who is reasonably tech savvy but knows basically nothing about smartphones. Neither store has been much help other than, "Most of them work pretty much the same. Just choose the one you like that's in your price range and we can go from there."
That's not much help.
I've been using a Motorola V9m/Razr 2 flip phone since they were first released. This rugged and thin flip phone has been an excellent work horse for me and has fit my needs perfectly. What I'm looking for is basically the smart phone version of this. My list of requirements is pretty basic but the one that is non-negotiable is that it has to have great reception. I live in a very rural area and I frequently travel to very remote locations where I need to be able to make calls if needed. My V9m has rarely ever let me down in this regard.
Great reception aside, my list of requirements are as follows:
- Decent battery life. I must be able to make it all day; 14 hours without having to charge would be awesome. I need to have a 12 hour minimum.
- Needs to fit in the pockets of my jeans without being uncomfortable. I don't wear skinny jeans.
- Needs to be reasonably rugged. I don't drop my phone often but it could be exposed to indirect moisture since I work in wet environments and in all weather conditions.
- I have giant hands, so a screen that is easy to type with sausage fingers is a big plus.
- It has to be a current phone that Verizon offers either online or though their retail stores.
I don't text often, and honestly I don't talk very often but when I do it can be for 30 minutes or (much) more. I really want a smart phone so I can occasionally check my email, get directions, check the weather, or use it to surf the web on the go. I would classify myself as a light user.
The phones that have piqued my interest so far are (in no particular order): iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Motorola Razr HD, and the Razr HD Maxx.
I like the iPhone mostly due to the small size of it. It seems the least intrusive in my pocket and the screen reacts well to my fingers. I also have a coupon for $100 off any size iPhone 5. I don't like how restrictive it seems to be compared to a Android device. Battery life seems like it will work and call reception seems to be ok. I don't like the lack of user serviceable battery or expandable memory, but I think a 32GB model should suffice.
The GS4 is awesome for my giant hands and I hardly ever mistype on it's gorgeous screen. On the other hand, I'm not sure I could stand having such a large device in my pocket all day. Battery life could be iffy and from my research, it's unclear how strong the radio is in this phone. People either say it's on par with Moto devices or it stinks like the GS3. I'm also not sure how durable it is.
The Motorola Razr HD and Maxx HD are interesting because they have what appear to be excellent radio capabilities and the Maxx has great battery life. They also are splash resistant and while a large device, aren't quite as large as the GS4. The downside to them is that their performance seemed lack luster on the well screen burned floor models I tried and the overall feel of them just wasn't great to me. Add to it that they have some software glitches, have a non user replaceable battery, and that they are getting "old" in phone standards, has me thinking twice.
Other than these four phones, are there other models that will fit my needs that I've missed? I don't necessarily need the latest and the greatest, but I tend to hold on to things for the long haul. I'm not a favor of the day type of person. I am rather unimpressed with Verizon's current phone lineup.
Sorry for such a long post, but I want to make sure you guys have enough information to give me a good suggestion. I have until the 30th to make my decision so no, I can't wait for the HTC One X or the new Motorola devices that are due out very soon. I also don't want this to turn into a Apple vs Android argument but being that I basically know nothing about either one, I would appreciate some input.
I've visited two different Verizon stores asking for advice for someone like me who is reasonably tech savvy but knows basically nothing about smartphones. Neither store has been much help other than, "Most of them work pretty much the same. Just choose the one you like that's in your price range and we can go from there."
That's not much help. I've been using a Motorola V9m/Razr 2 flip phone since they were first released. This rugged and thin flip phone has been an excellent work horse for me and has fit my needs perfectly. What I'm looking for is basically the smart phone version of this. My list of requirements is pretty basic but the one that is non-negotiable is that it has to have great reception. I live in a very rural area and I frequently travel to very remote locations where I need to be able to make calls if needed. My V9m has rarely ever let me down in this regard.
Great reception aside, my list of requirements are as follows:
- Decent battery life. I must be able to make it all day; 14 hours without having to charge would be awesome. I need to have a 12 hour minimum.
- Needs to fit in the pockets of my jeans without being uncomfortable. I don't wear skinny jeans.
- Needs to be reasonably rugged. I don't drop my phone often but it could be exposed to indirect moisture since I work in wet environments and in all weather conditions.
- I have giant hands, so a screen that is easy to type with sausage fingers is a big plus.
- It has to be a current phone that Verizon offers either online or though their retail stores.
I don't text often, and honestly I don't talk very often but when I do it can be for 30 minutes or (much) more. I really want a smart phone so I can occasionally check my email, get directions, check the weather, or use it to surf the web on the go. I would classify myself as a light user.
The phones that have piqued my interest so far are (in no particular order): iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S4, Motorola Razr HD, and the Razr HD Maxx.
I like the iPhone mostly due to the small size of it. It seems the least intrusive in my pocket and the screen reacts well to my fingers. I also have a coupon for $100 off any size iPhone 5. I don't like how restrictive it seems to be compared to a Android device. Battery life seems like it will work and call reception seems to be ok. I don't like the lack of user serviceable battery or expandable memory, but I think a 32GB model should suffice.
The GS4 is awesome for my giant hands and I hardly ever mistype on it's gorgeous screen. On the other hand, I'm not sure I could stand having such a large device in my pocket all day. Battery life could be iffy and from my research, it's unclear how strong the radio is in this phone. People either say it's on par with Moto devices or it stinks like the GS3. I'm also not sure how durable it is.
The Motorola Razr HD and Maxx HD are interesting because they have what appear to be excellent radio capabilities and the Maxx has great battery life. They also are splash resistant and while a large device, aren't quite as large as the GS4. The downside to them is that their performance seemed lack luster on the well screen burned floor models I tried and the overall feel of them just wasn't great to me. Add to it that they have some software glitches, have a non user replaceable battery, and that they are getting "old" in phone standards, has me thinking twice.
Other than these four phones, are there other models that will fit my needs that I've missed? I don't necessarily need the latest and the greatest, but I tend to hold on to things for the long haul. I'm not a favor of the day type of person. I am rather unimpressed with Verizon's current phone lineup.
Sorry for such a long post, but I want to make sure you guys have enough information to give me a good suggestion. I have until the 30th to make my decision so no, I can't wait for the HTC One X or the new Motorola devices that are due out very soon. I also don't want this to turn into a Apple vs Android argument but being that I basically know nothing about either one, I would appreciate some input.
