Best Android Phone at the moment ?

[fossyant]

Righty,

Had my HTC Magic since it came on the market. Been very pleased with it and the recent roll out of 2.2 (finally) has been good.

Contract is up in May, but I can upgrade from March - soooooooooo which one to go for ?

I'm guessing the new ones are faster (mine is a bit slow with Angry Birds - yes finally discovered it).

 

[2Loose]

Top: Nexus S (it is the first phone with 'Near Field Communication' in the uk), closely followed by...

Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Desire (any model).




The dual core processor stuff will be hitting the UK in the summer if you can wait (but I'd think the Nexus S will still be top dog).

'Nuff said.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Happy with my Desire Z, but it's my first smartphone so I'm probably not yet a 'demanding' user.
There is supposed to be a software update coming to allow you to download google maps in advance, which mine doesn't do yet (the manual says it's capable, but not yet able)

 

[ufkacbln]

I have a Motorola Defy on grounds of it being waterproof and dustproof, and used for chucking in panniers and bar bags

 

[amnesia]

I am failing to see how my HTC Desire can be bettered TBH.

Does everything I need in a smartphone, and more.
Battery life could be a little better though.

 

[martint235]

If you want to think outside the box a little bit, I'd say the HTC HD2. Same basic internals as the Desire but with a larger screen. Currently able to run 3 separate operating systems: WinMO 6.5 (the one it came with); Android (up to Gingerbread) on a daily use basis; and Windows Phone 7 (bit buggy but the devs are getting there). I'm currently running Froyo as it offers the best battery life.

 

[Chamfus Flange]

Since when does a smart phone need upgrading.

 

[2Loose]

If you want to think outside the box a little bit, I'd say the HTC HD2. Same basic internals as the Desire but with a larger screen. Currently able to run 3 separate operating systems: WinMO 6.5 (the one it came with); Android (up to Gingerbread) on a daily use basis; and Windows Phone 7 (bit buggy but the devs are getting there). I'm currently running Froyo as it offers the best battery life.

Martin, I have done this for a mate too, but we find Froyo a bit laggy (compared to my Desire), do you think this would be improved by a faster SD Card or do you think it always will be slowish?

 

[martint235]

Martin, I have done this for a mate too, but we find Froyo a bit laggy (compared to my Desire), do you think this would be improved by a faster SD Card or do you think it always will be slowish?

SD cards are a bit strange. The class dictates the minimum speed iirc but not the average. Therefore you can actually get a class 2 card that can outperform a class 6. It also depends on which ROM you are using, I've found a couple of them to be a laggy but generally anything using the Cyanogen core isn't too bad. If you're using XDA to find your ROMS I can recommend CleanDROID, when I installed that it was super quick but it didn't allow me to install a couple (they were important to me) apps but I think the dev may have fixed this now. I'm just about to install Cyanogen 7 but if it's laggy I'll go back to CleanDROID

 

[Jezston]

Righty,

Had my HTC Magic since it came on the market. Been very pleased with it and the recent roll out of 2.2 (finally) has been good.

Contract is up in May, but I can upgrade from March - soooooooooo which one to go for ?

I'm guessing the new ones are faster (mine is a bit slow with Angry Birds - yes finally discovered it).

Wait a second!

Unless you really want a new phone ASAP and money is no object, WAIT UNTIL MAY.

Then, once your contract has ended, phone up saying you want your PUK code to switch networks (a lie) and you'll get put through to retention who you'll be able to negotiate a much more favourable deal with.

When I got my current phone I would have been paying £35 a month for 600 mins, unlimited texts and 500mb internet, and paid £70 for the phone I got. Instead after negotiation I pay £30 a month, get 900 mins, unlimited texts, unlimited landline calls and 500mb internet, and paid £50 for the phone.

 

[Panter]

Depends what you want out of it really. I have the htc Desire HD which is fantastic and I'd have to say the best my wife has the nexus s which is very good but lacks (obviously) htc sense which really makes a difference with mine.

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the nexus s's NFC, you can only read with it as far as I can make out and there's nothing to use it on in the uk yet anyway!

The screen is more vivid on the nexus, but of course its larger on the HD which is a winner on the angry birds front for me!

 

[Melvil]

Get an iPhone ;-)

 

[martint235]

Get an iPhone ;-)

Oh dear.

[Pops out to buy popcorn]

 

[MrGrumpy]

Get an iPhone ;-)

get a Blackberry, proper phone not a toy !!

 

[2Loose]

Depends what you want out of it really. I have the htc Desire HD which is fantastic and I'd have to say the best my wife has the nexus s which is very good but lacks (obviously) htc sense which really makes a difference with mine.

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the nexus s's NFC, you can only read with it as far as I can make out and there's nothing to use it on in the uk yet anyway!

The screen is more vivid on the nexus, but of course its larger on the HD which is a winner on the angry birds front for me!

You raise very good points Panter.
Some people don't get on with onscreen keyboards - and are catered for by Desire Z and its slide out real keyboard.
Some people want a bigger screen for whatever reason, so therefore would choose the Desire HD


As for NFC, it is read-only as you say, but I think that it's take up will be quite rapid. Either way, not a deal killer.


I'd like to revise my choice - HTC Desire. (Still).