"iPhone or Droid?" I get the questioned asked of me almost daily. One of the greatest things about being in the Wireless business is... I don't have to choose - so I simply and happily carry both.This certainly isn't the first iPhone vs. Droid blog post... probably isn't even the first one that you've read; however, I'll attempt to compare the two options in layman's terms and since carrying 2 smart phones may not be viable for all, this can provide insight as to which choice might be the best for you.
I've carried the Verizon iPhone4 and the HTC Thunderbolt for a couple of months now and one thing is certain - both are incredible devices and both have benefits over the other. There are numerous spec sheets and technical comparisons on the web (like here) so I'll avoid getting into comparing megapixels and memory. Keep in mind that new Android devices are dropping every month, if not weekly, compared to a new iPhone every year or so. That being said; it is to be expected the that latest and greatest high end Android devices will have better "specs" than the current iPhone.
5 iPhone advantages:
- stunning design
- intuitive & simple
- smooth & snappy
- battery life
- accessory selection
5 Android advantages:
- selection/choice of device
- 4G LTE Network
- Google Maps with navigation
- open & customizable
- Flash
Simply put - Android can do more; but what Apple does... it does very, very well!
After carrying both devices, I find myself using one for certain things and the other for different tasks.
My Thunderbolt has become my 4G modem (love the mobile hotspot!) and my navigation device. I realize there are navigation apps available for the iPhone, some even free (Skobbler); however in my opinion none of them compare to Google Maps. I pick up my phone, click the microphone for voice search and say "navigate to starbucks" - google finds the closest Starbucks - shows me and tells me how to get there with audible turn by turn directions. "Street View" is the feature that puts their Nav over the top - literally showing me a picture of my destination. Flash is also available on Droids; however, this isn't as big of a deal as it is for some... I guess I don't do as much web browsing on my devices as others might.
Outside of navigation and the mobile hotspot (note - 3G hotspot is available on iPhone); I find myself going to my iPhone for nearly everything else. It simply works as it should...nearly 100% of the time. Email, Texting, Camera, Apps - everything is incredibly snappy. It's also very simple, even if this was your first Smartphone, you'd have the basics mastered within 30 minutes. I mentioned the camera - despite losing the megapixel war (5MP to 8MP on most Droids), it's better... the shutter speed is faster, it never locks up - it's the best camera I've used on any phone. The battery is also phenomenal, I get a full day of heavy use - compared to half a day at best on my Thunderbolt. Lastly, the accessory selection for the iPhone is unlike any device in the history of Wireless. Odds are, if there is an accessory you want for your iPhone - you won't have any trouble finding it. (if you do - send a DM to @YrlessConcierge on twitter and he'll find it for you)
In closing, you can't go wrong with either device. My recommendation would be: if you are an Apple fan that rocks a Macbook, iPad and iMac, or just looking for a smart phone that will do basic tasks and do them very well - get an iPhone... if you're a Googler and/or a techy geek who wants to tweak your device and be able to fully use the latest technology - get a Droid.
It's very exciting for me (and should be for all consumers) to witness the growth of Android and see Google put out a viable competitor to the iPhone. Competition is a great thing for consumers - it gets the creative juices flowing and companies pushing the envelope. Google has made a very big splash in this Smartphone war, a war that is just beginning; however, Apple is still winning the battle in my opinion. With the upcoming launch of iOS5 and iCloud - Google, and more importantly - the hardware manufactures, are going to really have to step up their game to keep it a 2-sided war.
