Current iPhone 4 Owner Considering HTC One X

Posted by silellak on May 4, 2012 06:56 pm 13

Mission Statement

Here's the deal. I own an iPhone 4 and am thinking of jumping ship and getting the HTC One X, but I am torn - and yes, to get it out of the way, this is totally a #firstworldproblem...but I also thought it might be something the fine community of the Verge could help me with. So, I am partially writing this post to get feedback, and partially because I wanted to see my thoughts written down and figured it couldn't hurt to do so in a public forum.

The Dilemma

I own an iPhone 4. I really, really like it...but I'm also a gadget whore, my contract with AT&T is up, and I am easily distracted by shiny things. And, frankly, the HTC One X is pretty damn shiny. I went to an AT&T store to play with an HTC One X, and it didn't help my decision whatsoever.

That said, I am reluctant to leave the iOS ecosystem...partially because of dependence, and partially because of convenience. I'd also like to see what Apple brings to the table with iOS6 and the iPhone 5 - hence my current dilemma.

The Arguments: Staying with iOS

1. Ecosystem. I currently own an iPad, so I won't be abandoning the iOS ecosystem entirely even if I get an Android phone. This is both a plus and a minus, however, as iOS devices work quite well together - and hopefully this will be improved with iOS6 - so there's benefits to keep both my mobile devices on iOS. Most of my personal music is on iTunes now...but this isn't AS big a deal, since most of my music listening is done on Slacker Radio anyway. I would also miss iMessage and Photo Stream.

2. Familiarity. I know what apps I use on a daily basis, and they're fairly-to-very reliable. I'd need the same apps - or equivalent apps - to do what I want on Android. Some of the stuff I use daily:

  • Reminders
  • Calendar
  • Waze
  • Facebook
  • Tweetbot
  • Foursquare
  • The Weather Channel
  • Slacker Radio
  • RunKeeper
  • WahooFitness (for ANT+ heart rate monitor)
  • IMO

I know most of these already have equivalents. If nothing else, I'll still have my old iPhone for things like the heart rate monitor.

3. Quality. This one is simple - I know Apple mobile products, and so far I've yet to be let down by one. And on the rare occasion I have a problem...
4. Support. I live near an Apple store, and I have no complaints about the service I've received there. It's very comforting to know that support (or a replacement device) is just a 10 minute drive away.

The Arguments: The HTC One X

1. It's the One X. You've read the reviews. You know how fantastic of a device it is. Most notably, I am excited about the larger (though perhaps bordering on TOO large), amazingly-high-quality screen. The camera is ridiculous(ly good). The build quality is right up there with the best. Honestly, if the One X was the iPhone 5, I'd probably already own one.

2. Change. I really like iOS, and I think it's a very solid, stable operating system. But it's also felt, for lack of a better word, stale. Android 4.0 was a drastic improvement to Android. I need iOS6 to similarly wow me if I'm going to continue to have ALL my mobile devices on it. I think there's also something to be said for having a device running each major OS, as opposed to putting all my eggs in one basket. Finally, I'd also like to own an Android device, just so I can say I've at least tried it.

3. Customization. This one is obvious. Android is the OS of choice if you want to tinker, period. I've been lusting after Android widgets for some time, if nothing else.

4. Google Navigation. Another obvious one. Waze is...decent, for a free option, but nothing really compares to Google Navigation.

5. Google services. I use Google Calendar and Google Contacts quite extensively.

6. LTE. I want an LTE device. The next iPhone will probably be LTE, but there's no guarantee. There's also no guarantee what kind of battery life it will offer if it is LTE. And, while I don't yet have LTE in my area, I do have HSPA+, which will still be a nice speed boost over 3G.

Remaining Questions

So here are the questions I'm still asking myself (and by extension, you guys). I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially if you've gone from iOS to Android (or vice-versa):

1. Just how much will I miss iOS-exclusive features like iMessage, Photo Stream, and iCloud?

2. How difficult is it to move my music library from iTunes to something like Google Music?

3. How well does Android support Exchange for my work e-mail?

4. How much of a REAL quality drop is there between iOS and Android apps? I know the Facebook app is universally reviled, but what about the others I mentioned?

5. Is there an equivalent of an iTunes backup for Android? I really adore the iOS backup feature, as it makes migration between devices incredibly simple.

6. In general, how difficult will the transition between ecosystems be?

7. How good is HTC's hardware support?

8. People who have made the transition - is there anything I'm overlooking?

Conclusion

As of today, after my trip to the AT&T store, my plan is to wait until after WDCC to see what iOS6 will offer, then make a final decision. If nothing else, AT&T offers a 30-day return policy, so I can always change my mind.

That said, I don't necessarily trust myself to wait that long, so I might pick up a One X around the middle of May - so I can still take it back if iOS6 is particularly impressive.

Anyway, I've pretty much finished my rambling for now. Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any input you all can provide!