Android vs. iPhone vs. Windows Phone: Pick your smartphone OS
With a rush of amazing Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, this is a great time to buy a new phone for you or for someone else. There are excellent phones flooding the market (here are our top five favorite smartphones), but unless you plan on switching your next handset before your contract is up, you'll want to consider a few points before making any semi-permanent decisions.
OK, so what if you're looking for even more basic guidance, like which mobile operating system to get? Is the iPhone 4S really a better choice than a shiny, new Android phone? What's the story with Windows Phone, and are BlackBerrys even a thing anymore? Believe me, these are great questions, and they've been at the top of your mind. Earlier this month, I helped take your burning cell phone questions in a live chat, and fielded even more queries at our weeklong CNET Gotham event in New York. I expected questions comparing iOS versus Android, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus versus the HTC Rezound versus the Motorola Droid Razr--but what surprised me is how many of you were considering Windows Phone.
So to get you started, here's a quick primer on iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone (sorry, BlackBerry, you've lost your momentum), and a smattering of the most common questions about smartphone OSes I've received from you. (If you've got more to ask, mark your calendars for the next Ask the Editors live chat on November 29!)
iPhone 4S in a nutshell
- Runs Apple's iOS 5 operating system
- Available on three carriers: AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
- Available on three storage sizes: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
- Easiest compatibility with iTunes, Apple ecosystem, and products
- Form factor: One 3.5-inch screen (on the smaller size by today's standards)
- Interface: Approachable, but not very customizable. Some hidden features
- Key features: Excellent 8-megapixel camera, front-facing camera, colorful Siri voice assistant
- Next big release: iPhone 5, release date unknown, but speculated for summer 2012
Android in a nutshell
- Google's mobile operating system
- Form factor: Available on all carriers, all shapes, all sizes
- All capabilities: Range from budget to super premium
- Not all Android phones are created equal in capability: some have excellent cameras, screens, etc. Some don't.
- Easiest compatibility with Google services, Google Music, other Android devices
- Interface: Varies by manufacturers, has a small learning curve for some features
- Key features: Free voice navigation with turn-by-turn directions, very customizable, voice actions
- Next big phone release: Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone, Verizon release date unknown, but probably December
- Next big operating system release: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Released with Galaxy Nexus, coming to existing handsets starting "early 2012"
Windows Phone in a nutshell
- Microsoft's mobile operating system
- Form factor: Available on all carriers, all shapes, all sizes.
- AT&T has the largest and best selection
- All capabilities: Mostly midrange, solid performers. Minimum 5-megapixel camera
- Easiest compatibility with Zune, Xbox Live, Microsoft services like Microsoft Office, SkyDrive online storage
- Interface: Very straightforward, but some hidden capabilities
- Key features: Clean interface, built-in barcode-scanning and music identification, Xbox Live integration, voice actions
- Next big phone release: Nokia Lumia 800 or similar for U.S. markets, probably January
- Next big operating system release: Unknown. Version 7.5 Mango released in September
Source:CNET
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