iPhone

[Whamps]

I'm about to buy my first smart phone and let go of our land line and my flip phone. How much memory does a new user need? I intend to use the phone for email, texts, calls, maps, and simple Google level research, especially when travelling. I may download a magazine or travel guide book. 16 or 32 Gb?

[NFtoBC]

I have a 32 GB phone about half full. Unless you plan to have a lot of Apps, or a number of videos or games, 16 GB could well be plenty.

I have a GPS with on board maps for offline use, and often have a video for travel, but rarely if ever cross the half-full level.

[xl · Accepted solution]

I would lean towards the 32gb.... it really depends on how many apps, pictures, videos and documents you plan to have.  As iTunes app resolutions increase, you want that extra real estate.

For myself, I need many gb for all my videos and images.  To address that space, I'm using a wifi drive.  Or more specifically a 480gb SSD in a wifi enclosure.  It does not help with apps, but it does with my content.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diyZPmqp5RU

With regards to the iPhone itself...

• some say Sept 19 will be the iPhone 6 release date.... do you want to wait?
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APd-ZRRAKSM
• are you prepared to charge your phone daily instead of weekly?
• are you prepared to pay for data?

[FishTire]

Buy as much phone as you can afford. That way it can grow with as your experience level increases (and your hitpoints)

[Lethal]

Personally, I would recommend the Android platform over an iPhone for you for several reasons:

1. For the most part you get better equipment for a lower initial outlay.

2. The majority of the apps you're likely going to want will be free on the Android platform but paid on the iPhone.

3.  The memory is expandable so you are't forced to spend more initially and can upgrade according to your needs.

4. The native map functionality is far superior on Android (being Google) as opposed to Apple's version (you can still download google maps but it doesn't integrate into iOS as well as it does natively on an Android).

Long story short, they are both great phones but I find that due to Apple's marketing, a lot of people entering the Smartphone market are mostly unaware that there are cheaper and better alternatives.

[xl]

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@Lethal wrote:

2. The majority of the apps you're likely going to want will be free on the Android platform but paid on the iPhone.

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It was the opposite for the longest of time.  I was surprised of the change.  Can you recommend some examples?

[Lethal]

Everything from apps for viewing / editing microsoft office documents (pages vs quickoffice / kingsoft etc) to games etc.  There really are too many to get into but a simple google search of "Android free vs iPhone paid" will yield pages of results.

[NFtoBC]

We all like a paycheque. I have no problem paying a reasonable price for useful software. Most of the software with a price is 99 cents, and little is over $5.

By purchasing iTunes cards on sale even those costs are reduced by about 20%.