The smartphone debate

fayainz

fayainz

New member
I've been looking into a new smartphone since my precious HTC Desire got nicked a few months ago and sadly not having insurance on the frigging phone I've decided to hold out for bigger and better phones... and they are here!!

I've always been a huge fan of Android phones since they came out, and I'm having trouble choosing between the Samsung Galaxy SII and HTC's latest Sensation. I wanted to hear the views of other "potential buyers" and perhaps owners on what they would choose and why. It often comes down to a personal choice I think but there are a few things that make me wish I could just combine the two phones :P

After using the phones in stores, and a mate of mine has a HTC Sensation, the Samsung's screen beats the HTC's hands down, it also has more built in storage than the Sensation. On the other side Sense UI is awesome and I've really enjoyed it on my Desire (cry will miss you), and the Sensation comes with Sense 3.0. Also the Sensation records audio with stereo sound, which is the only phone on the market that does if I remember correctly.

The last thing that gets me is the Samsung feels like a superior phone with it's big fancy screen and reams of storage space, but it feels very light and plastic which kinda puts me off. HTC has always had good build quality and when I pick up the Sensation you get that feeling that wow, this is an expensive, sophisticated modern device. Saying that it is equally impressive to grab the powerful Samsung phone and feel just how light it is, almost like how "dynamite comes in small packages" or light ones ^^

In terms of price they are both available for R320pm from various networks.

help me chooose!
 
Don't go HTC, rather take Galaxy SII it's a very very nice phone and it's gonna outlast the rest, I can see it now... If I could afford it I would have gone for that instead of the iPhone 4. :) just my 2c
 
sycogrim said:
Don't go HTC, rather take Galaxy SII it's a very very nice phone and it's gonna outlast the rest, I can see it now... If I could afford it I would have gone for that instead of the iPhone 4. :) just my 2c
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+1 for that

The SII is an incredible phone, packed with any and every future you could possibly want. At the moment there is nothing on the market that comes even close, and having used 2x HTC's which gave me endless hell, I would never touch them again.
 
I have this exact dilemma. But what's deciding it for me is the battery life. I checked some reviews on youtube and the sensation is reported to have a disgustingly bad battery life (One review reported 10 hours with general use). So its the SGSII for me.
 
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I a HTC and NOKIA fan, so I would strongly suggest HTC they are just so much better and have the best features but rather go for the HD series not the sensation.
 
I've always liked the build quality on HTC phones, even going back to the HTC HD2 windows mobile phone. http://www.gsmarena.com/ has some nice reviews on both phones but man it's a tough decision. Right now Virgin Mobile have a deal on the S2 for R320pm withR300 airtime on their Classic 300 package. Looks like a pretty good deal, they also do the Sensation for R320pm same contract but includes 1000 free sms's pm.

This was a particularly good read and comparison between the two phones. http://blog.gsmarena.com/htc-sensation-vs-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-comparison-table/

I'm leaning towards the Sammy, it seems like many people prefer it.
 
I have the first gen SGS. Seen the SGS II and it's definitely my next phone.

The SGS is quick, pictures and colours are crisp and clear. Videos look awesome on it. It's easy to use and navigate. With so many apps being written for Android, the SGS is a great phone to appreciate them. Also, the screen is really tough and had mine a year now without a single scratch on it (and no cover either).
 
Wow, i like the way Blackberry doesnt get mentioned in the great smartphone debate :)

I know spec wise, BBs cant compete, but pound for pound or rand for rand, they win with the dataplan. I have a few friends at work with their HTC's but they keep complaining they cant make full use of it, unless they at home using their wi-fi.

Now im not trying to disagree with anything said above or defend blackberry, but look at your usage as well and how much that will cost you when u are making your decision.
 
i like nokia, but in this case i would go with the Galaxy SII...just its screen quality in general and in sunlight alone would make me want one
 
I have not tried the HTC, but I love my Samsung Galaxy S.

1. It takes superb pictures when you need a quick photo on the run
2. It is very light
3. It is quite thin and has nice grip pad on the back
4. Has android like the HTC so easy to configure to how you want it
5. You can make the Samsung Galaxy S an access point to share the internet
6. The Wireless N works considerably while with range and speeds
7. Google Maps to use for GPS or for checking the map
8. Good games and applications from the market
9. Bluetooth, radio, youtube etc.

Thats all I can think of which the HTC sensation can probably do most of it also
 
myjdjames said:
Wow, i like the way Blackberry doesnt get mentioned in the great smartphone debate :)

I know spec wise, BBs cant compete, but pound for pound or rand for rand, they win with the dataplan. I have a few friends at work with their HTC's but they keep complaining they cant make full use of it, unless they at home using their wi-fi.

Now im not trying to disagree with anything said above or defend blackberry, but look at your usage as well and how much that will cost you when u are making your decision.
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I hear you and blackberry do offer a great data deal but my debate was between Android OS phones since I absolutely love the OS. But may I pose this question to you :) Should a provider (MTN/Voda/CellC) offer a special data service much like BIS/BES to Android phones or iPhones, giving them unlimited data for a fixed amount would that not be way more attractive than any blackberry?
I think if they do something like this it will steal a large protion of BB's customer base.

The reason Blackberry's dont appeal to me is because typically I am either at home or at work where I am connected to uncapped broadband, and should I be out on the weekend I turn my data roaming on when needed. I find it incredibly annoying to receive IM messages (BBM if you may) when I'm say having breakfast or dinner with my girlfriend, and it can be very distracting and annoying. I am out of reach for a reason :) I would turn on data roaming to see what movies are on at my local cinema for example, and teh data costs these days are on the decrease, but I hardly use data when I'm out.
 
fayainz said:
I hear you and blackberry do offer a great data deal but my debate was between Android OS phones since I absolutely love the OS. But may I pose this question to you :) Should a provider (MTN/Voda/CellC) offer a special data service much like BIS/BES to Android phones or iPhones, giving them unlimited data for a fixed amount would that not be way more attractive than any blackberry?
I think if they do something like this it will steal a large protion of BB's customer base.

The reason Blackberry's dont appeal to me is because typically I am either at home or at work where I am connected to uncapped broadband, and should I be out on the weekend I turn my data roaming on when needed. I find it incredibly annoying to receive IM messages (BBM if you may) when I'm say having breakfast or dinner with my girlfriend, and it can be very distracting and annoying. I am out of reach for a reason :) I would turn on data roaming to see what movies are on at my local cinema for example, and teh data costs these days are on the decrease, but I hardly use data when I'm out.
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If they were to offer that...i would DEFINITELY jump ship:)
 
I'm not a fan of Samsung, their build quality a few years aho left much to be desired, On the other hand HTC has never let me down, solid well designed phones :D
myjdjames said:
Wow, i like the way Blackberry doesnt get mentioned in the great smartphone debate :)
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maybe because its not a smart phone ;)
 
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LOL

tpex said:
I'm not a fan of Samsung, their build quality a few years aho left much to be desired, On the other hand HTC has never let me down, solid well designed phones :D

maybe because its not a smart phone ;)
Click to expand...


Fortune’s Jon Fortt, who covers “digital giants” for the publication, actually made the claim that the iPhone is a smartphone and the BlackBerry is not. Fortt must have said this tongue-in-cheek because the basic definition of a smartphone applies to iPhone, BlackBerry, Android etc. His colleague on the show, Michael Copeland, senior writer at Fortune, switched to Android from BlackBerry. Michael points to the Swipe app which helps texting on a touchscreen, and insinuates that this was the biggest selling point for RIM that is now lost to the touchscreen Android.

http://bit.ly/qrGQaU
 
HTC ftw. I just go the Samsung Galaxy S II and really can't get used to it. I owned a Desire HD before. The built quality and HTC sense are the factors that sway me. Sold my Galaxy and now looking for a Sensation.
 
I've got myself a Galaxy S II and it's an incredible phone. Performance is top notch, display is jaw droppingly gorgeous! I highly recommend it.
 
I agree on the screen and it's very very fast. But it just feels too plasticky. But most other's love the phone. I think HTC just ruined my chances of ever getting another phone.
 
I also felt it was rather plasticky in the hand, which is the main drawback for me. I really dig the features on the Galaxy SII but I just don't like how it feels in the hand :(

Can't I just marry the two phones and be done with it :)
 
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