An Android User in Need of Guidance

Posted by iamappleboy on August 9, 2012 05:20 pm 17

Hi Guys.

So I am trying to decide what my next phone should be. First, let me give you my backstory.

Back in December I couldn't decide to get the iPhone 4s or the Gnex (for some reason I couldn't bring myself to pick the nexus) so when my friend for some ridiculous reason decided to switch from his two-month old HTC Thunderbolt to an un-subsidized Gnex I bought the Thunderbolt from him. It was my thought that I could keep this phone (with no contract) for as long as I needed to decide (possibly till the iPhone 5) and despite its many flaws it was better than the Palm Pre 2 I currently had (yes I was a webOS fanboy). After about a month I was fed up with stock 2.3 so I put CM7 on the Thunderbolt and I have been pretty happy since.

So here is my dilemma. A large part of me wants to stick with Android. All my experiences with ICS have told me that its awesome and when I use my CM9 Touchpad it makes CM7 on my Thunderbolt feel like junk. I want a new phone badly and it would be really nice if it would be usable on stock (so I don't have to deal with bugs: rare audio static and data dropping on my Thunderbolt). Another part of me knows that Apple has the best ecosystem and as I am a Mac user there are quite a few nice little bonuses in how an iPhone will work with my computer. I know the iPhone will be perfectly fast and have fantastic hardware and a great camera (things you can't always be sure of with Android devices).

I am pretty sure I want to stick with Android in spite of its admittedly diminishing flaws. Currently my dream phone would be a One X on Verizon, but I am pretty sure that won't happen. Question #1: Is there any chance or have you heard any rumors of a One X class device for Verizon (possibly a Rezound 2)? I am trying desperately to hold out against a foolish purchase of the now free Gnex on Verizon as I know one is coming and doubt I should get an 8 month old phone for 2 years. There is no way I would ever buy the GSIII as I despise Samsung (Excluding their Nexus devices) and think the hardware is disgusting. Question #2: Would I really be an idiot to get the free Gnex on contract? Another part of my dilemma is the fact that both the iPhone 5 and a new Nexus could be around the corner. Question #3 Should I wait for Apple and Google to announce their flagships?

To summarize; I am a big fan of HTC's hardware, but there aren't any options. My current phone has almost no chance of getting ICS thus a wait will be kinda painful. The Galaxy Nexus is a fantastic phone and is now free on Verizon, but it is kinda near the end of its dominance (it would be almost as stupid to buy it as the iPhone 4S, right?). I will never buy the GSIII so that is off the table.

I would appreciate any advice, thoughts or rumors that are relevant.

Thanks.