Galaxy or iphone?

Both are excellent phones with great specs. In a lot of cases (but not always), the apps for iPhone tend to be slightly better/more polished than the Android versions. But if you're a tweaker, you can tweak Android phones to your heart's content - there are few restrictions in the OS. This means Android apps can do pretty much anything to your phone, and some say this is it's downfall. It's easy to install a bunch of dicey apps on an Android phone and before you know it it's slowing down and/or locking up etc. That said, as long as you stick to apps with a good reputation, you'll be alright. 

In contrast the iPhone OS is much more of a closed system and Apple restrict which parts of the OS developers can and cannot access (unless you "jailbreak" it of course, but that's a whole other kettle of fish with its own risks). There is also a stringent acceptance process to be able to sell your app in the app store. While tech heads lament these restrictions, the result is that for the casual user (especially first time smartphone users), iPhone apps are generally very stable and don't have the same potential to screw up your phone like some Android apps do. 

I'm quite a techy person but I chose the iPhone because I use it for business and I need rock solid stability. I have the 4S and it's an excellent phone with a superb camera. The user experience on each is very smooth and fluid, although I think the iPhone's retina screen wins hands down because of its smaller dot pitch (small text is much easier to read). 

The other difference is in the batteries. With the iPhone, you cannot remove the battery and put in a spare, which means if you're a heavy user and your battery runs out halfway through the day, you either have to plug it back into the wall or put it in a charging case (which can be clunky and expensive). However with the Galaxy you can carry a spare battery around and do a switch. I'm a heavy iPhone user so I have a Mophie charging case which works great. Something else to think about. 

If I had to make a choice for you (which of course I can't), I would say that the iPhone is a better choice for the first time smartphone user.

I've got a Galaxy S3 and it absolutely smokes all the iPhones which a few friends own, and now that Samsung are really pushing the S4, you can get some great deals for the S3.

Bristol_Jonesey


I've got a Galaxy S3 and it absolutely smokes all the iPhones which a few friends own, and now that Samsung are really pushing the S4, you can get some great deals for the S3.

This ^...
 
There is no longer a single good reason to buy an iPhone. The S3 is streets ahead of the iphone in specs and the current android version is also much more capable and flexible than ios, as well as being viewed as easier to use in current surveys...http://news.cnet.com/8301...an-iphone-survey-says/

  
  Anything like Garageband or loopy on android?  If you want to tinker with music on it I would get an iphone.

 I don't feel in any way like the app system is "closed" with iphone. It's all I could want. No restrictive feeling....now if I can only teach Siri how to sing.

Google glass looks pretty cool. Hope we have Boba Fett hemets soon too with all the realworld showing up on our HUD like Ironman and Samus Aran etc etc.

Remember when people were worried about computers taking over mankind? Well it seems we're pretty happy to meet them half way nowdays.


Between Galaxy S4 (I don't think it's actually been released yet) and iPhone I'd go Galaxy (I have S3)

A few random thoughts: I doubt I will use my phone for music apps other than a playback device i.e. iTunes but you never know. I hate the iphone battery deal and proprietary b.s. I'm not a tweaker kind of guy but I may want to noodle around with a few options. I'm still a month out on the upgrade so I have lots of time to decide.

Rocky

I have owned 3 Galaxy's and currently use the Note II. I'd say the Galaxy over the iPhone, but I'd take an iPad over any other tablet.

I've been reading reviews of the new HTC One and am seriously considering ditching my beloved iPhone for it...what a tasty piece of kit. It's a big step to switch OS's though especially when you have so much invested in one and rely on it every day. 

bitflipper


My wife has an iPhone, I have a Galaxy S3.

I absolutely hate the iPhone. But I only dislike the S3.

 
 
 
 
 
(sorry bit! 

I concur, "Apple Maps is completely useless."   When I ios 6 came, I promptly updated my phone and was not happy with the fact that Apple gave no choice:  When they removed the old Google Maps app, and replaced with the Apple Maps.

GPS in a phone is very important to me.  I run my own business, and I visit many of my clients in their home, or at the businesses they own/run.  This is common courtesy in the business that I am in.
It just so happened the week ios 6 came was one of my busier moments, and I had to drive to Miami several times that week, and I got completely lost several times that week, and had to find my way using the Safari Browser and the mobile version of Google Maps.  

This is really one of these cases, where an app works better then a website.  I haven't used Apple Maps since, and most likely will not  ever use it in the future.

GPS in a phone is very important to me.  Another reason I am so interested in the Lumia 920.  Apparently the Nokia Maps are great, and the way Microsoft has setup their mobile os is so neat.  

Maybe Win 8 wasn't such a smashing success on the desktops, laptops, and all.  But I think as a mobile os, fuddy duddy microsoft, has become the new cool kid on the block.

Lol..  I guess he drove from UT, down through AZ on the way to TX.

It's amazing that Lewis and Clark found their way to the West Coast with out an iPhone 5.  :-)

IK Obi


But how did they check in on Facebook to let Davy Crockett and Abraham Lincoln know and like the status?

With a bit of luck, a bit of ingenuity, and really long cord.

MakeShift


It's amazing that Lewis and Clark found their way to the West Coast with out an iPhone 5.  :-)

Actually, they did have an iPhone 5.. and were heading to Montreal..........:D

It's amazing that Lewis and Clark found their way to the West Coast with out an iPhone 5.  :-)

Fortunately, the natives had one and could point the way. The Siri tribe were especially helpful.