Help me decide on my next phone

[es.biggs]

So my contract is up in 1 month (Verizon Wireless) and I need to start looking for a new phone. I have the LG Env3 right now...I like the keyboard thing I text a lot now lol. I'd keep this phone but the main speaker is broken so I have to use speakerphone to talk to anybody, and that gets old.

It's been a good phone though. I like that I can organize my text messages by name and order received instead of just order received. I guess I use text messaging more than I actually make phone calls. So I need something good for messaging. I have thought about getting a smartphone or whatever they call them now...android or something? haha

I like the idea of using email and internet on my phone, and it would be very practical for me. But I don't know if it's worth the monthly cost of the extra data package. Either way, I am considering it.

Oh and because of my job (tech at a dealership) I would prefer a phone that is durable and one that I shouldn't be afraid to touch with greasy fingers. I could just not use my phone on the job, but I work on cars when I'm not at work too so I should probably consider that before I buy!

If you guys who know much about phones could recommend me one, or tell me about your phone if you like it and it's sorta new. I'd appreciate it!

Thanks,
Ethan

[tigersharkdude]

my buddy is a mechanic at ford and has a Droid 2

[Alfador]

I upgraded from a Droid to a Droid 2 and I love it. If you get a smartphone with almost any carrier now, you will probably be required to get the data package. Personally I'd say its worth it. You don't realize how handy it is until you need to look something up on the fly. The main reason I personally wouldn't go with something like an iPhone or a Droidx is becuase I need that physical keyboard.

Typing in a touchscreen is kind of a "love it or hate it" thing, but you want a phone that at least has a touch screen if you're going to be using apps and email and such. It's probably better for the greasy hand thing too. You may be wiping it off more frequently to see everything but you won't have to deal with it getting stuck down in the keys or anything.

If you plan on sticking with Verizon I'd definitely recommend something in the Droid line. The Droid2 probably if you want a keyboard, and the Droid X or Droid incredible if you don't. If you go down to either a Verizon store or the phone section of say, Best Buy (I've personally had better experience with Best buy but your mileage may vary), they usually have demo models of these phones to play around with. Third party stores like a Best Buy or whatever else you have in the area may be a little more straight with you talking about features and helping you fit your needs since well, they don't work on commission and the reps at the actual Verizon stores often do.

[RobPaulson]

most of the android devices on verizon are extremely similar, you just have to pick which ones aesthetics(holy crap did i spell that right the first try?) you like the best

[flohtingPoint]

Blackberry

[AppleBonker]

I really like my Droid 2 (so much more than my old iPhone). Personally, I would hesitate to let it get all greasy, but with a decent case and screen protector, I don't think it would do too much damage. The physical keyboard on the 2 is boss. Typing emails/texting is far simpler than when using a touchscreen keyboard.

I bought my phone from a Verizon store, but I wanted to keep it to a one-year contract rather than being tied down for two. I have a strange feeling I'll want to upgrade to an LTE phone in less than two years.

[Alfador]

I doubt my area will have LTE until 2012. I'm hoping they'll just pull an other "anyone who has an upgrade later this year can use it now if they buy this phone" thing again.

Blackberries make me sad. (or is it Blackberrys when talking about the phone? I don't know this s***). They used to be it, and they were kind of the go to for a long time, but they lag pretty far behind now for non-business use. The browser is so clunky and the spread of apps is pretty limited.

[AppleBonker]

Agree with this ^. In the business world they are hard to beat. But from the personal use only standpoint, they do seem to lag. For the record, the lady has one and I find it far more cumbersome to use than the Droid. In fact, when we need to look something up she usually just tells me to do it since it's a given that I will have the answer faster.

[flohtingPoint]

Blackberries make me sad. (or is it Blackberrys when talking about the phone? I don't know this s***). They used to be it, and they were kind of the go to for a long time, but they lag pretty far behind now for non-business use. The browser is so clunky and the spread of apps is pretty limited.

If this is what you want in a phone, then a Blackberry is not for you. My phone isn't a toy, I use it for communication and then it goes right back in the pocket.

[AppleBonker]

Also a valid argument. It definitely all comes down to what you expect from your phone. If you're looking for something with more extensive features, I think an android device would be the best choice (assuming you're staying on Verizon). If you're looking for only communications (email/phone/text) then a BB may be a better option (and should be cheaper?).

[flohtingPoint]

Also a valid argument. It definitely all comes down to what you expect from your phone. If you're looking for something with more extensive features, I think an android device would be the best choice (assuming you're staying on Verizon). If you're looking for only communications (email/phone/text) then a BB may be a better option (and should be cheaper?).

Depends on what BB. They have the touch screen ones and such that the public is leaning more to these days that can cause a dent in the pocketbook. Me, I have a keyboard, no camera and a trackball. My BB is very no-frills (and rather cheap) due to my job and certain areas I wouldn't be able to carry the phone should it have some of the other gadgets they load on cells these days.

[es.biggs]

I might look into the Droid 2. Personally I can't stand typing on a touch screen...my girlfriend had a Dare before she got her BB and I thought typing on that phone was the most frustrating thing haha.

Good points everyone. Thanks for the input!

[Alfador]

I am convinced that touch screen keyboards are only for Women and people with tiny hands. Even if you did go the blackberry route, I would stay away from trackballs. They're fine in most circumstances but since you would be using it with greasy hands... Remember back before mice had lasers and awesome powers, and they just used a latex coated ball? Remember how dirty those things would get and how you'd have to take them out and clean them? Imagine that but 10 times worse because you're touching it with your hands, and not being able to really clean it.

And yeah, to FP's point, it's amusing but my last 2 jobs both had no camera policies yet both places had blackberries with cameras in them on the corporate plan.

[tigersharkdude]

Blackberry

Trash. I know from experience. I have to pull my battery about 4 times a day

[Jesda]

A Blackberry with an optical trackpad and no touch screen would take the most abuse.

If you're doing 4 battery pulls a day, something is wrong. Do a hard reset and start over.

If youre going with a touch screen smartphone, Motorola > HTC

[sup_mario]

Try iPhone or BB man...

[seyath]

A Blackberry with an optical trackpad and no touch screen would take the most abuse.

If you're doing 4 battery pulls a day, something is wrong. Do a hard reset and start over.

If youre going with a touch screen smartphone, Motorola > HTC

^^^This^^^
I have a Bold and it's bloody fast and has yet to crash (owned it for about 6 months).
Before that I had a Curve that never gave me problems in two years once the OS was updated.
If you are looking for a great phone do take care of your calls, emails, contacts, and great keyboard, BB Bold all the way.
If you want something with a lot of apps and gadgets, go Droid.
If you want to be "cool", switch to AT&T and get a Iphone...

[tigersharkdude]

If you're doing 4 battery pulls a day, something is wrong. Do a hard reset and start over.

Its the 3rd one Ive had. Ive made Verizon give me 2 new ones because of it being gay like that

[AZ89two4Tsx]

The Droid 2 is an outstanding phone. Battery EASILY lasts all day with hard use. I can squeeze almost three if I use the phone conservatively. Options/features are endless and the internet is super fast. It hardly ever glitches and it's never completely froze on me, not once.

I am all for Droid phones now. I had an Iphone 3g, liked it, but this is way ahead of it. I can't say the same about the Iphone 4 though, it seems to be just as good as the Droids in it's own way. But the dealbreaker for me would be AT&T, they have terrible service here.

Whatever you do, don't get anything Samsung. The quality is just not there and I've had bad experiences with two of their phones. And the Blackberry storm sucks too.

[Alfador]

If you're doing 4 battery pulls a day, something is wrong. Do a hard reset and start over.

Its the 3rd one Ive had. Ive made Verizon give me 2 new ones because of it being gay like that

Honestly, that's not the standard for any device, be it a Blackberry, iPhone, or Droid. You've got to have some app running that's eating up power, or quite possibly, are you in a building with absolutely no signal? If don't turn a phone onto airplane mode in a poor or no signal area, it will keep power amped up while it actively searches for better signals.

[AppleBonker]

The Droid 2 is an outstanding phone. Battery EASILY lasts all day with hard use. I can squeeze almost three if I use the phone conservatively

There is no way I could get my Droid 2 to run all day. I have a charger at work and I charge it every night. With heavy use 8 hours might be about the max I can squeeze out of it.

the Iphone 4 though, it seems to be just as good as the Droids in it's own way. But the dealbreaker for me would be AT&T, they have terrible service here.

Well, the OP said he was on VZW. This would make him switch carriers. And the iPhone is certainly not worth transferring carriers for, especially not to AT&T. But as far as a comparison to various Android offerings, all I can really give it the edge on is physically looking better. A jailbroken iPhone, on the other hand, closes the gap a bit. It's still a hassle though. And I find the Droid far more enjoyable than even the JB iPhone. Just my 0.02

[ADDirishboy]

iPhone 4

Damn trolls....

[AppleBonker]

iPhone 4

Damn trolls....

Isn't the typical troll when it comes to iPhones bashing the phone rather than promoting it?

[AZ89two4Tsx]

There is no way I could get my Droid 2 to run all day. I have a charger at work and I charge it every night. With heavy use 8 hours might be about the max I can squeeze out of it.

Really? I must have a super battery then. I have zero problem running the phone all day even if I play videos/games/text/web browse/whatever.

Do you have an active background or something? I know that KILLS the battery.

But overall, still a great phone.

[ADDirishboy]

My Droid (the first one) gets terrible battery life if I'm really hammering on the phone. Wasted my freshly charged battery in about 5 hours sitting at the airport waiting for a delayed plane.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Damn trolls....

BAN!

To be fair you didn't get banned.


I don't know if I would trust and HTC product for the long term. They seem to cheap out on the little things. My G1 was almost useless after a year of use.

[Jesda]

I'd have an iPhone 4 if not for ATT.

The Evo is a pig but the Samsung Galaxy looks nice. I'm satisfied enough with my Blackberry Tour that I probably won't upgrade again until July when I get my discount.

[Oatmealman]

A Blackberry with an optical trackpad and no touch screen would take the most abuse.

If you're doing 4 battery pulls a day, something is wrong. Do a hard reset and start over.

If youre going with a touch screen smartphone, Motorola > HTC

This man speaks the truth.I work in a ceramic factory and keep my phone in my pocket and stream music all night long,and still have about two bars of battery after a 9-10 hour shift.I work on cars with it in my pocket and text with greasy hands.Unfortunatley the track pad stopped working but it's because i was bleeding some brakes and got brake fluid on my hand and then touched the track pad. No worries though,took it to the verizon store,and 20 minutes later i was walking out with a free blackberry.I have the curve 8530 fyi

[takethewall]

I have an EVO. I love it to death. I've had an iPhone, BB, and low-end android device. Wouldn't recommend any. Android is a great OS, but definitely needs better hardware.

Verizon or AT&T are going to have more expensive plans than Sprint, but Verizon definitely has superior service. I had nothing but trouble with AT&T's service when I had my iPhone, and Sprint has really worked wonderfully so far.

Droid X, Incredible, D2, EVO, Galaxy S, G2, all good choices IMO. Just read reviews of all of the phones, do some research on plans for any providers you'd be interested in switching to, and see what you think would look best for you.

And for the record, I type way faster on my on-screen keyboard than I ever could on my BB, and I have pretty sizable hands. Software keyboards have come a long way. Definitely my preferred input method.