I am changing jobs and as a result, changing phones. Okay, I’m not changing phones so much as adding another one for my new job, but the opportunity for a side-by-side device comparison still exists. For the record, I’m sticking with an iPhone but opting to do something different for work. I decided on an Android device as I’m really not a Blackberry person.
I scoured the Internet for options and ideas and I discovered few smartphone comparisons that resonated with me. In the end, I upgraded to an Apple iPhone 4 and after much research, added an HTC EVO. I started using both phones within days of each other, so I thought it might be cool to chronicle my side-by-side subjective experience with these two multi-touch devices.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ve been a touch-based device fan since well before I owned two Apple MessagePads (or “Newtons”). I like Apple technology and design, but as I’ve grown older I’ve left the fanboy thing behind. I use technologies that seem right for the job and right for me. I owned both an original iPhone and an iPhone 3G and at roughly the same time, had a Samsung Blackjack, Motorola Razr and an LG flip phone. During this period I decided that I hate tiny mechanical keyboards and keypads; a touchscreen is for me. And before people say I’m biased because I’ve been using iPhones since they popped onto the market, let me point out that upgrading to iOS 4 on my iPhone 3G was one of the worst upgrade decisions I’ve made in recent memory. iOS 4 rendered my iPhone 3G utterly useless. As far as I’m concerned, Android and iOS are at the same point on the starting line, so let’s start this race.
From a hardware standpoint, the EVO is larger, lighter, and arguably easier to type on. The iPhone 4 is smaller, heavier, and has a better display. The EVO’s button placement is a bit odd whereas the iPhone’s antenna issues are both very real (as I’ve personally experienced) and legendary (in a bad way).
In terms of connectivity, I’m not going to dwell on the pros and cons of Sprint vs. AT&T as your mileage will vary. The big difference is 3G vs. 4G and in Chicago, I’ve got access to both. 3G is rough on battery life on both phones (although the iPhone 4 seems to be a bit better on power management than the EVO). The EVO’s 4G mode does drain power at a faster rate than 3G, and if you use WiFi at the same time as 4G by turning on its hotspot mode, the battery’s digital soul will be sucked out in real time. You’ve got to plug the phone in when using the hotspot feature for any length of time.
That’s about it for now. I plan to post future installments of my iPhone and EVO adventure on Friday Sushi. Coming soon will be my thoughts each phone’s user interface and the impact each has on use — the two phones really define two different mobile paradigms.
Thanks, Quinn. SwiftKey is pretty cool and the wizard function makes it easy to set up.
From the keyboard perspective, have you tried Swiftkey, the one that does predictive text? Swype also has its fans, but it's only been released once, briefly, to a small group of beta testers.
Thanks for the comparison, Chad. It's rare to see a review from someone who is actually using these two phones on a regular basis. I'm interested in which one you'll prefer after using them both for a while.