Features
Marin Perez
19:01, Apr 18 2013
We walk you through how you should choose your new smartphone
Congratulations, you've decided to get a new smartphone. Welcome to a wonderful world of great apps, ubiquitous Internet connections and a great camera in your pocket. It can be a tough decision, so we'll walk you through what you need to know.
Carrier
For most of you out there, you're going to choose between AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon and each offers its own advantages and disadvantages.
AT&T has a great selection of devices, has a robust 4G LTE and HSPA+ 4G network and it can work pretty well in nearly any place in the country. On the down side, some major metropolitan neighborhoods have reported congestion and the monthly rates skew toward the higher end.
Verizon is all about the network, as it has the biggest 4G LTE network in the country. It's fast, reliable and Verizon has a great selection of devices. On the down side, pricing is going to be a bit on the higher side.
Sprint has a nice mix of a growing 4G LTE network, good devices and smartphon plans which offer truly unlimited data. On the down side, the non-4G LTE networks are quite slow and it can be tougher for family plans using multiple smartphones.
T-Mobile is the only major carrier which has ditched long-term contracts entirely and this leads to hassle-free plans which are utterly reasonable. T-Mobile doesn't have a robust 4G LTE network though and it's in-building coverage leaves a bit to be desired. Additionally, you'll have to pay off the full price of the device over the course of 24 months.
Different parts of the country will have better carriers to serve your needs and make sure that you choose a carrier which works well in the places you're at the most (work, home, the pub, etc.).Prepaid carriers like Ting, Virgin Mobile, StraightTalk Wireless and others are viable options because most use existing networks but offer it at a cheaper price. The down side of these is that you'll generally have to pay the full price for devices.
If I had to choose, I'd say Verizon has the best network, T-Mobile has the best prices and Sprint has the best mix of the two.
Platform
I have no need to start a flame war here, so I'll say that if you're choosing a smartphone today, you're really choosing between an iPhone, Android device or a Windows Phone. Let's go over the plusses and minuses of the platforms.
The iPhone runs iOS and it's likely the easiest platform to pick up and use. It has a grid of icons, is touch friendly and it's backed up by a robust app and content ecosystem. Most of the new, hot apps still come to iOS first. Apple's platform isn't the best for those who want to really customize their interfaces, rely heavily on Google services or want a variety of form factors.
Android powers a variety of devices, as you can use this Google-backed platform on phablets, smaller devices and everything in between. Handset makers can play around the interface and you can even do things like put Facebook Home on it. It works extremely well with Google services and users can customize it to their heart's content. On the negative side, hot apps like Twitter Music still come to iOS first and depending on what device you get, it can be difficult to pick up and learn.
Windows Phone is not as popular as iOS or Android but I suggest you give it a look. The live tile interface is fresh and fun to look at, it's a powerful platform which puts people first and it is the only platform which comes with a mobile version of Office. On the negative side, the app ecosystem is still behind both Android and iOS and the variety of hardware isn't as good as what you'd find with Android.
You may also want to give BlackBerry 10 a shot, as it has a fresh take on mobile computing and has compelling features like BBM. The app store is the worst of the platforms though and you can only get it on the BlackBerry Z10 right now.
In general, iOS, Android and Windows Phone are great platforms for making calls, sending messages, browsing the web and adding new apps. Your personal preference may vary but each does a good job of being a computer in your pocket.
Price
The price of a new smartphone is often much more than what you pay when you walk into a store. When you factor in total cost of ownership, smartphones generally cost over two thousand dollars over a two-year lifespan, so keep that in mind when you're picking up a new one.
If you get a new smartphone on AT&T, Sprint or Verizon with a new contract, be prepared to pay about $200 or $250 for something like the Samsung Galaxy S4. Buying a smartphone on T-Mobile will come with a down payment and then monthly payments over the course of 24 months. Most prepaid carriers will have you pay the full price of the smartphone at the beginning and if you want something like an iPhone or high-end Android phone, be prepared to pay at least $600.
You're going to be paying thousands of dollars over the life of your device, so invest in the best device you can afford at the beginning. It will pay dividends 18 months down the road.
Recommendations
We wholeheartedly recommend the iPhone 5 on AT&T, Sprint, Verizon or T-Mobile. It's a great phone, has the best selection of apps and the camera is still the overall best on the market. The AT&T and Verizon versions will cost a bit more per month but you'll see the difference in terms of network coverage.
Likewise, you can't go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S4 on the seven carriers it will launch with later this month. It's a stunningly-powerful phone which has a friendly and useful Android platform. We haven't played with the camera fully but it looks to be a great way to capture everyday moments.
A cheaper option which doesn't sacrifice much is buying the Nexus 4 unlocked online and then using the T-Mobile or StraightTalk Wireless prepaid service. You'll pay about $400 for the phone upfront but the monthly savings on service can quickly add up.
Personally, I bought an unlocked iPhone 5 and use T-Mobile's prepaid plan. It works for me but I can't say I'm in love with my coverage.
(Photo credit)
Apple
Android