Thinking of an Android phone?

If you’re thinking about getting a smartphone, and Android phones are on your list, you might want to check out this: 3 Reasons You Might Want to Get an iPhone, Instead of an Android.

Reason #1: screen size and physical quality

Android screens are big. The size of the iPhone was carefully thought out. Lots of Android phones think they could be a tablet. However, if that works for you, it works for you. In fact, if you can work with a big-screen Android without buying a tablet, you win. There are many iPhone users who feel that they also need an iPad.

The overall fit finish and feel of Android phones is good, but not as good as the iPhone. The iPhone is a beautiful and quality device – there is simply nothing (in our opinion, that feels wrong).

Reason #2: Repairs and value retention

You may not care about your phone retaining value, and that’s fair enough. Maybe it’s just a low enough price that you don’t have to worry about it, and we get it.

What about the iPhone? The first iPhone, the 2G, is still worth up to $100 in good condition. We think that’s extraordinary, considering the phone was introduced in 2007. The 3G will still be around $150, and the 3GS (which is still being made as of this writing) can be $200 or more, used.

What about repairs? The iPhone is extremely repairable. Independent repair shops are springing up because people love all Apple devices, and are willing to spend the money to fix them. If you are working to live a green life, then there is no other option in a cell phone. Repairing an iPhone is as green as possible.

Android phones are repairable, and if you’re diligent, you can find a store that will repair your Android, as long as it’s not too old.

Reason #3: Software can be a bit of a challenge with Android phones.

If you’ve heard or read Steve Job’s biography, you know he was crazy to get Google to (in his words) “steal” the iPhone’s operating system. Steve is dead, but Apple is winning in court against Google and it may affect your Android phone in the future.

The Android operating system is a great operating system. However, it lacks the same level of user experience (in our opinion) as the iPhone. iPhone is intuitive—you can use it like a pro within minutes of handling iPhone for the first time.

The latest Android phones no longer have physical buttons. Electronic buttons can be reprogrammed to do different things than originally assigned. Android manufacturers do this to save manufacturing costs. However, most people don’t miss having “real” function buttons.

Android’s efforts to match the color quality of the iPhone screen are getting closer. If you’re not concerned about color noise on the screen, you won’t miss a thing.

Some people think Apple’s SIRI talking assistant on the iPhone 4S isn’t their cup of tea. Different styles for different people. In our opinion, SIRI is the future: we believe that we will all be talking to all of our devices, sooner than we think!

WARNING:

If you’re buying a used iPhone, buy it from a reputable store that gives you a decent warranty. The 2G is still a great phone, but it’s getting a bit long. We recommend that you do not buy a 2G unless you are buying it as a collector’s item. You should at least buy an iPhone 3G because it will do almost everything a new smartphone does and it’s very repairable. Repairing the glass (for example) costs about $45.

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