On May 11, 2013, I was available for a phone upgrade. I have read Andy Ihnatko’s article “Why I switched from iPhone to Android” and it got me thinking of my options. Like Andy, I have been an iPhone user since the original iPhone. I still have the 4GB original working iPhone with the charger and ear buds. I have been reading about the Samsung Galaxy S4 phone , which got me thinking more about trying a Android phone. I have also looked at a Windows phone 8, which had me curious as well. I did my research on the Nokia Lumia 920 and the Samsung Galaxy S4. I also forgot to mention that my cell phone carrier is AT&T.
Nokia Lumia 920 Advantages
Price: $99
Phone Insurance: $99 for two years and covers 2 accidents, tech support, and a $50 deductible
Note: I discovered this feature at the South Park Mall Microsoft Popup Store.
Durability: The phone is heavy but feels sturdy which I believe can hand how tough I can be with cell phones
Operating System: The cell phone is tied into Windows 8, which will allow me to synchronize my information with my Windows 8 laptop.
Uniqueness: Not may people are using a Windows Phone 8 which can generate some curiosity.
Find Phone Feature: Windows Phone 8 has a built in feature to locate your phone when it is lost.
Screen Size: 4.5 inch screen
Nokia Lumia 920 Disadvantages
Ecosystem: There are not a lot of apps for the Windows Phone 8. Yes there are some of the basic apps for the phone but a lot of the apps I use where not in the app store. Each time I asked a rep at the Microsoft Popup store about a app I use on my iPhone I would get a response of the apps is not available or here is a alternative.
Storage: The phone has 32GB of internal storage and no option for adding a memory card.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Advantages
Screen Size: The screen is 5 inches and has the same foot print as the Samsung Galaxy S3. I use my phone to watch Netflix and Huluplus and the bigger screen size makes watching movies and show more enjoyable
Screen Resolution: The 1080P screen at 1,920 x 1,080 resolution is easy on the eyes
Ecosystem: Most if not all the apps I have been using on my iPhone 4S I can find on the Samsung Galaxy S4. For those apps I am not able to find, there is an alternate
Hardware: The phone has the latest hardware for a android phone
OS: The phone comes with Jelly Bean (4.2.2)
Storage: The phone comes with either 16GB or 32 GB of internal storage. I can also add up to a 64GB microSD card for more storage.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Disadvantage
Apps Market Place: The price of the apps resembles an open market. The prices for apps vary from $.99 to $7.99 and up. Also there is less quality control for the apps.
Learning Curve: I have not used an Android device, which requires me to learn how to use the phone and all of its features.
No find my phone feature: I have to find a app which Windows Phone 8 and iPhone have that feature built-in.
Storage: With the Android OS and Samsung’s applications, it does not leave me much room to install apps. I am not able to install apps on a microSD card.
Phone Insurance: Samsung does not offer phone insurance like Apple or Microsoft. The cell phone carriers do offer phone insurance but not at a flat price of $99 with a $50 deductible
Which cell phone will I choose? There are some hard decisions for me to make. By searching both phones on the Internet and talking to Jim Collison (@jcollison), I was able to make a decision.
Thanks Jim Collison for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk with me about each phone.
Originally published on 5/18/2013
Ed's World 