December 2nd, 2011 // 62 Comments
Filed: Tech
Which of these phones would you buy — the iPhone 4S or the Samsung (Google) Galaxy Nexus? If you saw them sitting side by side in the store, which one would you take home with you?
I finally got an iPhone 4S last night, and now can do side-by-side comparisons with the Galaxy Nexus I picked up at Google a couple weeks ago. First impressions: the camera on the iPhone 4S is amazing, and definitely better than the camera on the Nexus. (I still can’t fathom why Google and Samsung put a 5-MP camera in the Nexus when the Galaxy S II has an 8-MP camera.)
The feature I really wanted to check out is Siri, and I haven’t had much time yet. A few 4S owners I’ve talked to say they don’t use it much. But even in my few early tests it seems Siri is better than any of the alternatives on Android. (Vlingo, Skyvi, Iris, Cluzee.)
My other immediate impression is more visceral. The Nexus is much bigger, but also lighter. The screen is brighter. At first I thought it was too big, but over the past two weeks I’ve come to like having all the screen real estate.
Apple fans claim the iPhone 4S is the perfect size, because you reach every part of the screen with your thumb. I get that. But I think the iPhone is starting to look too small. I was surprised this week when one of my neighbors, a petite woman, said she’s frustrated with the small screen on her 4S. She tried out the Nexus and liked it. And her hands are really small. Maybe the ability to do everything with one thumb is overrated — or, at least, maybe it’s outweighed by the benefits of a bigger screen.
My technique with comparing phones is just to have a bunch of them lying around, all connected to Google Voice. I have all of them available and just see which one, over time, is the one I most naturally pick up and want to use. I try not to think about it, and just see which one do I grab and throw in my pocket when I’m headed out, which one is the one I pick up to check email in the morning, that kind of thing.
Recently I had a Nokia Lumia 800 running Windows Phone in the mix — and every time the phones rang, the Nokia was the one I picked up. The design is just really nice, and it feels great in your hand. I’m doing an interview with the head of design at Nokia next week, and I’m anxious to talk to him about the Lumia 800. It really is a gorgeous device, and the Windows interface is really fresh and different.
i’ve only had one windows-based mobile phone — i can’t even remember what it was called, but it was made by htc — and that thing was the biggest piece of shit on the planet. the OS froze all the time and none of the applications (email, calendar, etc.) worked in a way you’d intuitively expect them to. total nightmare. won’t try a windows or htc phone ever again.
The Lumina 800 is a drop dead gorgeous piece of hardware, no wonder you like it. Couldn’t face dealing with the OS, myself, but if I could get one running iOS I’d be one happy nerd.
See, that’s the problem. What you remember is Windows Mobile. Windows Phone is something absolutely new. Speed-wise, only few phones can match it (SGS2), yet WP7 phones run on way, way older hardware (1.5GHz singlecore for 2nd gen). Design-wise, nothing has matched it yet (at least by my taste).
If you wouldn’t just read “Windows” but full “Windows Phone”, you wouldn’t be saying false things.
Just FYI.
that was windows phone mobile. Not windows phone 7. They are two entirely different things.
@James,
You should take a look at the NEW Windows Phone 7 devices (especially the Nokia Lumia 800). The new OS is really fast, fluid, and stable.
Yeah, this is not the same thing. Windows Mobile has been completely scrapped.
That was reply to James Brown, it didn’t get categorized.
James, Andy, Windows Phone (not the same as windows mobile) are not the same thing. They are hardly comparable. Windows Mobile was a piece of shit. Windows Phone is a pretty awesome OS. It’s fast, fluid, battery efficient and has tons of features right out of the box that for other OSes you’d have to download a bunch of apps. Seriously, look it up.
Android v1.0 was a piece of crap too. The new windows phones are very nice.
that was most likely a windows mobile device
windows mobile is closer to android than windows phone is closer to windows mobile. it’s a completely different (and better) experience.
i urge you to give it a shot
So was Android 1.6, the G1 has to be the ugliest smart phone to be released post iphone.
I had one of those HTC made windows mobile phones (an IPAQ), it wasn’t too bad, but you can’t compare it to the devices HTC makes today.
Anyone who ignores a company’s products because he had one bad device from them a long time ago doesn’t realize how fast things move in this industry.
It’s like not getting an iphone/ipad because Newton was a POS
I used to own one of those phones as well.. but the new windows phone 7 is different and way better.. go to aka.ms/wpdemo from your android/ios phone browser to check it out
“Phone” and “Mobile” are 2 different words, arent they?
so yeah Windows Phone is a different, NEW and way better version of what you used.
i dont care if you wont use a windows phone. but its stupid to compare both version when they are totally different.
my last comment was @james brown.
anyway good article, of course the best part for me its that you liked windows phone and nokia lumia 800.
its nice to know Nokia is doing something for Windows Phone compared to other guys like samsung or HTC… with no marketing about wp7 and their wp7 look like android. i dont know, but lumia its so different and nice compared to other wp7 that im happy about finally have Wp7 nokia phone.
I am iPhone to windows phone convert and when possible try to open the eyes of others so they can make an informed decision. The wp7.5 is the freshest, fastest mobile operating system available. I encourage others to check it out with an open mind. It has all the good apps but I tell people it is not “app centric.” It is people and task centric. I am glad I made the switch. As Steve jobs said, think different.
Try a Windows Phone, your experience with the old Windows Mobile will be radically different.
James brown, this is 2011 not 2007. Wp7 has NOTHING in common with windows mobile. Its a total rewrite.
WP 7.5 is actually more stable than the iPhone and a lot more stable than android. Before you hate, you should try one out for a few weeks. I bet you’d change your mind.
I switched to a wp7 (a used HTC Mozart) from iPhone4 4 weeks ago and I can tell you it’s really amazing, really different, it’s a joy to use. Can’t wait for the lumia
I wish I had the luxury of Google Voice to similarly have multiple phones, all of which could make calls and send messages. Unfortunately being in the UK, I would have to have multiple sim cards with multiple phone numbers, hence I couldn’t simply pick up any phone randomly. I presume you must still require multiple sims?
I’m little sad, shouldn’t a tech blogger know that the cameras Mpix value isn’t always everything? I’m not saying that iP4S camera is bad, I’m just saying that Nexus 5Mpix is good enough to do what it is supposed to do.. right?
I LOVE my Windows Phone! It is an amazing platform and my HTC HD7 it runs on is flawless. I can’t say I will never go back to Android or ios but I can’t see it happening anytime soon.
You can not compare the old Windows Mobile OS to the new Windows Phone 7 OS. They are two completely different animals. Microsoft has learned from their mistakes and wiped the slate clean. If you have not seen or tried a Windows Phone, then you can’t judge it.
I’m a bit of an early adapter to Windows Phone, & to this day I’m happy with my first generation WP phone specially since the mango update.
But It’s really hard to resist the temptation to second Gen. WP phones, specially the lumia 800(it’s design really matches with the Windows Phone OS) but for now I’m satisfied with my year old htc surround, because actually it’s WP OS I enjoy more than the phone itself.
James, you’re thinking on Windows Mobile, one of the shityest OS you can find.
Nokia Lumia 800 is running Windows Phone (note: Phone), a brand new OS made from scratch. There is No connection between them.
So, try out Lumia 800, in some store, and you’ll fall in love. Trust me
Windows Mobile isn’t Windows Phone.
They are 2 completely different OS.
Windows Phone doesn’t lag at all, it’s actually a lot smoother than iOS and Android, just look at the thousands of reviews if you don’t believe it, or try one yourself.
I started my smart phone experience with an iPhone 3G. Then went to an Evo 4G, then to a Droid X, then to a Samsung Infuse and am now on both an HTC HD7S and an HTC Titan and I’ll never go back to anything Apple or Android. There simply is no comparison between the OS’s. Hardware and software on both of my Windows 7.5 phones leave nothing to desire. To anyone who hasn’t tried the New Windows Phones, you don’t know what you’re missing.
As everyone has said this is not the same Windows Mobile from before. But I totally understand why you wouldn’t want to use another Windows or HTC phone again. I also tend to black list products that do me wrong. It’s the main reason I haven’t bought another Apple product after my displeasure with the iPod classic and iTunes. It was back in 2008. I know iTunes has improved tenfolds but it’s hard to trust a company when they screw up your music library and make a device that breaks with one fall. So I totally understand why you don’t want to try Windows again. BUT I will say it is an awesome phone and if you’re looking for something fresh and different then don’t hesitate to give Windows Phone 7 a try! And btw Microsoft doens’t leave out features out of old Windows Phone hardware just to make you buy the new version like Apple does.
The new Windows Phone 7 is night and day with the old Windows Mobile 6. You wouldn’t think they were made by the same company
you do realize that windows mobile and windows phone are two completely and totally different things don’t you?
This is windows PHONE, not windows mobile, it’s a new OS
@Eshy – like the analogy comparing iphone/ipad to Newton
Just to add to what’s already been said … Windows Mobile pre-iPhone wasn’t bad compared to what was on the market, but it has no resemblance to what Windows Phone is – whole new OS, beautiful, fast UI. I’ve got an HTC HD7, waiting on an HTC Titan (ATT&T is out of stock within a few weeks of release).
Would consider the Lumia 800 if it were available in the US – sounds like there is a Lumia 900 coming early next year.
Was it Windows mobile or the new OS?
I’m running iOS an WP 7.5 right now, and WP is the superior OS hands down.
Windows Phone 7 is an amazing OS and Nokia Lumia adds all the missing finishing touches. This unlike any old Windows Mobile phones. You have to give it a try to see the magic for yourself!
You should try the new Windows Phone 7 os it great different to the windows mobile stuff it was crap. Dont mock it till you try the new OS.
This is a completely new OS from the ground up. Its like saying youd never try Windows 7 because you didnt like 2000.
I’ve been running ios since the first iphone and I’ve had an iphone 3GS up until a few days ago. My wife still uses an iphone 4S but I recently got myself a used samsung focus. This phone is different and refreshing! Windows phone 7 is very fast and fluid. There are no stutterings or lag with this OS. It does take some time to get used to but it gets easier as you transition away from what you learned with either ios or android. Everywhere I go I see people with iphones. Guess what? I am the only one who thinks different.
At the moment when you wanna give up,think about why you have come this far.
“Everywhere I go I see people with iphones. Guess what? I am the only one who thinks different.”
One of the best thing I’ve read for quite a while.
Hey, I had one of those HTC windows mobile devices as well. And have always regretted it.
Since then i had an iphone and now… a windows phone.
The windows phone can’t be compared to the windows mobile phone…. Windows phone is the best there ever was and will continues to improve at a rate that apple won’t be able to follow
I have been getting hands on time with the Lumia 800 since it dropped from tech heaven earlier this month in the UK. It is nothing short of amazing! I am not an iPhone fan but do work with many, I am an old school Windows Mobile user, my HD2 is always near by.
Windows Phone is so fresh and unique that you can’t help but want to use it.
Trust me you need to try this handset and phone OS – I qualify for my upgrade in January and I will be getting the Lumia 800…unless there is a Lumia 900 announced, that is meant to be 4.3 inches of Nokia goodness running Windows Phone!
Bring it on!
You can’t really compare Windows Mobile (which is probably what you’re referring to here) and Windows Phone 7.
Windows Phone is in all respects a complete “reset” of Microsoft’s mobile efforts. You owe it to yourself to try one. Seriously.
You probably had a phone running “Windows Mobile” which was indeed a piece of shit. Microsoft have gone back to the drawing board and started writing “Windows Phone” OS from scratch. Read up some reviews, the performance is excellent and I really like the UI.
Oops didn’t realise this site doesn’t have threaded comments (oops)
Above message was directed at james brown
crazy, an article about iphone and android phones with a mention of WP7 and look at all the comments about WP7. WP7 is awesome.
Its not the Windows Mobile you tried years ago, moron. Its called Windows Phone and it bears no resemblance to what you recall. Technology changes, try to keep up.
The new Windows Phone is nothing like the old days of Windows Mobile. They redesigned from the ground up and it shows.
It’s great to see so many folks defending WP7. I think over time people will catch on to just how great the Windows Phone platform really is. This OS has truly brought different thinking to the mobile platform. With better phones out like the Lumia, Titan, Radar, and Focus S, the outlook for 2012 look to be very bright.
Sent from my kick-ass HTC Titan.
WP7 is just amazin… I came from an iPhone 3GS but LOVE my Samsung Omnia 7. It’s so smooth, so fast and so reliable. It’s not a downsized computer like WinMo or Android is, it’s a real smartphone and it’s awesome.
You must be referring to a windows mobile 6.5 device. Windows phone 7 is absolutely nothing like that, it was rebuilt from the ground up, and having used once as well as an iphone and android phone, I can honestly say that it is one of the smoothest, most stable experiences I’ve had. I’m currently using a galaxy S II just because of the functionality, but windows phone 7 is a beautiful OS, just young. Try giving it a shot, I think you’d be impressed.
Windows Phone and Windows Mobile are two different things. WP7 is very smooth and very good. I love it.
Windows Phone is the best smartphone operating system hands down and it’s only going to get better come Apollo (windows phone 8). Like the Apollo mission, windows phone next year will be ‘out of this world’, mark my words.
I, too, am a former WinMo 6.5 user (Apache) who made the transition to WP7 (Arrive). Can’t say enough good things about the OS and have recommended it to several people already, with a handful of purchases. Many more are waiting for the Nokia 800 or 900 as the design just blows people’s socks off. Just chiming in because I think it’s hilarious that this article’s one paragraph WP7 blurb hit the WP7 News app and got 99% pro-WP7 comments
I think the authors analytics will see a lot of IE9 mobile user agents on this article! Can’t wait for the interview with Nokia!
Listening to the wpradio podcast they alerted me to: http://aka.ms/wpdemo. an html5 page that is intended to be opened on android and ios phones.
It does not have all the functionality as the full phone obviously, but still a neat thing that people can play with on their own device. Pretty brilliant.
I’m Samsung Omnia 7 user (running Windows Phone 7)
The WP7 OS is absolutely amazing, smooth, lively and total pleasure to use. Zero lag, zero “force close”, zero reboots, excellent battery, automatic updates, no spyware, will be hard for me to return to Android. Only thing I’m missing is Skype, WP7 has Tango voip software, but my contacts were on Skype.
My next phone will likely be a Nokia though. I simply miss Snake
@james brown : that was probably a long time ago right? The OS has moved on since then. In fact it’s completely different. Have a look at this chart. WP7 is surprisingly competitive.
http://myphonedeals.co.uk/blog/33-the-smartphone-os-complete-comparison-chart
James Brown – you surely must be 40+ to have seen Windows Phone that way! Go to a store and play with Windows Phone 7.5 HTC Titan – if that won’t change your opinion, I will share my wife!
James, you like many others, need to be surprised everyday, so that you don’t stay ignorant. Try out the Windows Phone Nokia Lumia (Nokia is no HTC) and see for yourself. Be pleasantly surprised!
I agree with others…while WinMo was a cludgy, frustrating OS, Windows Phone 7.5 is an absolute delight to use. It is easier to use and much more streamlined, organized, and intuitive than an iPhone or Droid. You don’t have to run so many bloody apps to get things done. It took Microsoft a while to get there, but honestly, they have the best phone OS out there now. Don’t follow the crowd (and the Apple fad)…try one of these out. They have the highest satisfaction rate of any phone platform, because once people try them out, they see how they’re different (and in a good way).