iPhone 4S vs. Competition for my 16 year old daughter?

TripleB

TripleB

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I've got a daughter turning 16 on Sunday (Heaven help me!!!) who wants a new phone...of course an iPhone!

I'm going to spend $100 max (because we've bought her other items and we have to spend $125 to cancel the phone she has now) so I'm trying to decide between an iPhone 4S and the competition.

The quality competition (in that price range) for the 4S seems to be (at least going by reviews):
- Motorola Droid Razr M
- Motorola Droid Razr Maxx
- Samsung Galaxy SIII

Her current phone doesn't have internet access (not sure how much she would use that feature of the phone) so she only uses it for music, to call friends, and send 5000 (or so it seems) texts a month...and of course to check Facebook!

Several concerns I have about the 4S (some mentioned by a Verizon rep today): it seems the 4S isn't "4G" (whatever that means), the cost of downloading Apps or Songs (rep said you could get them free on a Droid, not so on iPhone), durability (rep said iPhone would break easier (especially the screen) than the others mentioned above.

So, is the iPhone 4S my best bet for under $100?

Thanks for your input.

TripleB
 
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You say she wants an iPhone? Phone's these days are about making a statement in many ways. If that's what she wants then anything else probably won't do.

Is the 4S the best out of the bunch? Well, no. The Samsung Galaxy S3 is from the ones you've listed, it's only been out for a few months so it's more up to date.

There is a thread here about the new iPhone 5 and the S3 where we all compare specs and the like, it's a bit geeky I suppose. For a 16 year old girl, i'm guessing things like that don't really mean much to her.

So if it's the prestige and look of the iPhone she want's, i'd say that's your best bet.
 
No 4G. No Care.

If you're going to be paying 30 bucks on top for a dataplan you really should get a 4G capable phone. The speed difference is night and day.

Of the phones you listed the Galaxy S3 is the best.





Sent from my IPhone
 
Aside from Facebook, it sounds like she doesn't even need a smartphone. A regular phone with unlimited texting should suffice.

If she insists, the 4S is definitely the way to go. 4G isn't quite a gimmick, but it's mostly a marketing term for high-speed internet that's really only been activated in major cities. I also think a young girl doesn't want the ridiculously large GSIII. I don't recommend Motorola phones because they rarely get updated and are bloated by the UI skin and preinstalled apps.

An iPhone 4S is ideal, and free texting to other iPhone users should be a nice perk. Your rep also seems to be talking out his ass. First off, the iPhone is certainly as durable as the GSIII (which is made out of cheap plastic), but most people just get cases anyway. More importantly, you'd have to be extremely misinformed to think Android gets free apps and songs. That makes absolutely no sense. You have to pay on either platform. I think the Verizon dolt must only get commission from Android phones.
 
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I have a Motorola Razr Maxx and I love it, but I would not recommend it for a 16 year old girl. It's heavy / bulky / feels like a Craftsman phone. Meanwhile, my wife has an iPhone and loves it, but she's broken the front glass of it twice. iPhones are not durable.

You should know that 4G is not an empty marketing gimmick; the difference between 3G and 4G is honestly stunning. But if your kid doesn't really want to use the internet on her phone, 3G is probably fine.

Apps and songs are generally fee-required on Droid; if the rep told you otherwise, they're incompetent or dishonest.
 
db10s said:
FAIL, the I isn't supposed to be capitalised, the proper way is iPhone. :razz:
Click to expand...

haha caught me. I sent that from my computer.

However, I do actually have an iPhone for work. But, I would never EVER purchase a 3G phone with my own money after experiencing 4G LTE. The whole point of a smart phone is internet connectivity.

That being said I don't think children need iPhones.
 
OP- the iPhone 4S would be a great choice for a 16 year old. Its simple to use and most likely she's already using iTunes (i'm guessing). Androids (Droids & Galaxy) are a much more complex operating system that are much more easily susceptible to getting viruses or malware which will really hurt the phones performance. Apple stands by their products and is perfect for someone getting their first smartphone (or their 10th like me - I use an iPhone BTW)
 
OP- couple more thoughts: You're Verizon rep is wrong in a couple of areas- Most Android phones are about as breakable as the iPhone. Androids are plastic and can break quite easily, the 4S is made of two glass panels that are held together by a steel band- if your daughter would put a case on it she's more than likely going to be ok. A front panel can break on either type of phone.

4G isn't a big deal. You're 16 year old isn't working a full time job where she'd be streaming music or whatever straight from the Verizon network so I'm guessing 95% of the time when she's using her iPhone she'll be on a WI-FI connection that will make her phone as fast as "4G". My iPhone 5 is on 3G and it's plenty fast for what I need for business needs.

As for the songs, itunes does charge but the audio quality is the best and isn't compromised which is very often the case when you download free music on an Android device. I used an Android for a month and struggled to get great audio sound. If your daughter uses an iPhone / iTunes there are iTunes gift cards that can be purchased everywhere which will let her download what she wants (great gift idea for people to give to her). Also, iTunes requires a credit card so you can set up the account if she is buying too many songs you'll know exactly what she's buying.
 
tenniscasey said:
I have a Motorola Razr Maxx and I love it, but I would not recommend it for a 16 year old girl. It's heavy / bulky / feels like a Craftsman phone. Meanwhile, my wife has an iPhone and loves it, but she's broken the front glass of it twice. iPhones are not durable.

You should know that 4G is not an empty marketing gimmick; the difference between 3G and 4G is honestly stunning. But if your kid doesn't really want to use the internet on her phone, 3G is probably fine.

Apps and songs are generally fee-required on Droid; if the rep told you otherwise, they're incompetent or dishonest.
Click to expand...

Tell your wife to stop dropping (or abusing her phone). Any phone can break if dropped in the right way. I've never had an issue with my iPhone.
 
krz said:
No 4G. No Care.

If you're going to be paying 30 bucks on top for a dataplan you really should get a 4G capable phone. The speed difference is night and day.

Of the phones you listed the Galaxy S3 is the best.





Sent from my IPhone
Click to expand...

Disagree, a 16 year old isn't going to be using a ton of network data. 90% of the time she'll most likely be in a wifi spot. a 16 year needs something that works consistantly and is easy to use. I tried the GSIII and its much more complex than an iOS is. Not to mention all of the bloatware that they come loaded down with.

The speed difference between LTE (4G) and 3G is night and day but I just don't think that most people care all the much. In fact its been shown that people actually burn through more data (and incur overage charges). I'd personally rather have a phone that runs smooth and not at risk for viruses and malware. Had the 4S for a year and it worked the same a year later as it did the day I got it.
 
Blaxican10s said:
OP- couple more thoughts: You're Verizon rep is wrong in a couple of areas- Most Android phones are about as breakable as the iPhone. Androids are plastic and can break quite easily, the 4S is made of two glass panels that are held together by a steel band- if your daughter would put a case on it she's more than likely going to be ok. A front panel can break on either type of phone.

4G isn't a big deal. You're 16 year old isn't working a full time job where she'd be streaming music or whatever straight from the Verizon network so I'm guessing 95% of the time when she's using her iPhone she'll be on a WI-FI connection that will make her phone as fast as "4G". My iPhone 5 is on 3G and it's plenty fast for what I need for business needs.

As for the songs, itunes does charge but the audio quality is the best and isn't compromised which is very often the case when you download free music on an Android device. I used an Android for a month and struggled to get great audio sound. If your daughter uses an iPhone / iTunes there are iTunes gift cards that can be purchased everywhere which will let her download what she wants (great gift idea for people to give to her). Also, iTunes requires a credit card so you can set up the account if she is buying too many songs you'll know exactly what she's buying.
Click to expand...

Way to over-generalize!

All Androids are not made of plastic, to say so is quite ignorant! Samsungs tend to be plastic on the outside, yet have great internals. Motoralas, especially the Razr, are stunning in design and durability and build quality and are not plastic! As a matter of fact the Razr's build is a close second to the iphone 4 but better than that of the new iphone 5! HTCs are known for their unibody design and tight construction...

Lets get the facts correct shall we..

However, overall I agree that for a teenage girl the Iphone 4 is probaly the best choice.
 
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Blaxican10s said:
Tell your wife to stop dropping (or abusing her phone). Any phone can break if dropped in the right way. I've never had an issue with my iPhone.
Click to expand...

I'd guess you're in the minority. Apple is known for making fragile chintzy products that are more form than function.

The thin charging cord on pre-5 models was a typical example of this; there's more than one reason they're leaving the old design behind. Apple also couldn't get the antenna right on its 4, and embarrassed itself with maps on 5.

Droids have flaws too. The question becomes which flaws are easier for your daughter to tolerate.
 
TripleB said:
Several concerns I have about the 4S (some mentioned by a Verizon rep today): it seems the 4S isn't "4G" (whatever that means), the cost of downloading Apps or Songs (rep said you could get them free on a Droid, not so on iPhone), durability (rep said iPhone would break easier (especially the screen) than the others mentioned above.

So, is the iPhone 4S my best bet for under $100?

Thanks for your input.

TripleB
Click to expand...

Several others have pointed out that if the cost is the same and she really has her heart set on the iPhone 4S, go for it. For the price, it's a wonderful device.

I don't think 4G should be a deal breaker for a 16-year old. There is wi-fi available in a lot of places and 3G is decent for the times there isn't wi-fi available.

The Rep you spoke to is an idiot. As a rule, songs are not free on any platform - iPhone or Android, though there are the random freebies. There are a TON of free Apps the iPhone (& Android). As well as Apps for both that cost money.

As for durability - my boyfriend as the Droid Razr Maxx and & I have the iPhone 4S. They are both perfectly durable. As long as you aren't going to abuse/drop them. I have a case on mine, as well as a screen protector (invisi-shield) because I'm neurotic about my 'gadgets'. I even carry a ziplock baggie when rain is in the forecast to avoid water damage (I know).

I would recommend getting a case for your daughter, no matter what phone she has.
 
I had a MyPhone Touch for a week, then had to return that piece of s**t.

Had massive problems migrating addresses over and syncing w Outlook, and whilst the Apps were (mostly) free, they are massively slowed down thanks to all the ads they're running.

Androids may be cheaper, more flexible, but the user experience on an iPhone is unmatched.

I have an iPhone for 2 years now and I couldn't be happier.

Besides, if she really wants an iPhone and you get her an Android, she'll hate you for life :)
 
beeper.gif
 
Mauvaise said:
Just to be clear: the antenna issue was on the 4, not the 4S.
Click to expand...

And they put out a software update for the antenna issue fairly quickly as well. There are technical flaws with all sorts of new products, the thing to look at is (1) does the company take accountability and own up to the issue and take corrective action to fix the problem and (2) will the company continue to support the device for a reasonable amount of time after purchase. In Apple's case the answer is yes!

Can't say that for all Android products. Case and point, look at the Droid Bionic. This time last year is was all the rage and was being touted as the next big thing! Android is now rolling out Jelly Bean (4.1) to new and older phones but the Bionic is still running 2.3 and has yet to even receive its ICS (4.0) update. There are rumblings that they will either push is to next year or even that Bionic owners will not receive the updates at all. Thats a bunch of crap! The Bionic was released in November and people are less than a year into their contract and stuck with a device that is already being surpassed in terms of specs and now also has an outdated OS.
 
DRII said:
Way to over-generalize!

All Androids are not made of plastic, to say so is quite ignorant! Samsungs tend to be plastic on the outside, yet have great internals. Motoralas, especially the Razr, are stunning in design and durability and build quality and are not plastic! As a matter of fact the Razr's build is a close second to the iphone 4 but better than that of the new iphone 5! HTCs are known for their unibody design and tight construction...

Lets get the facts correct shall we..

However, overall I agree that for a teenage girl the Iphone 4 is probaly the best choice.
Click to expand...
Hey a$$neck, I said most because there are droids like the Razr that seem like they can take a pounding. The Galaxy is as likely to break as much as the iphone is dropped. They have glass screens that shatter just as easily. Glass shatters- fact! How am I overgeneralizing? Samsung has a huge % of the Android Market therefor a lot of them are plastic!
 
Throw an otterbox on any phone and your chances are better it will survive a fall. I had a fairly sturdy case for my iPhone 3. One day after tennis, I put it on top of my car to get my stuff in the car. I forgot about it and drove off. It fell off my car going about 30 MPH. The case was scratched but the phone worked just fine.
 
Blaxican10s said:
Hey a$$neck, I said most because there are droids like the Razr that seem like they can take a pounding. The Galaxy is as likely to break as much as the iphone is dropped. They have glass screens that shatter just as easily. Glass shatters- fact! How am I overgeneralizing? Samsung has a huge % of the Android Market therefor a lot of them are plastic!
Click to expand...

Look back at your post, tinkerbell...

You said, blanketly, Droids are made of plastic. Wrong!

Also, the new Iphone 5 scratches very easily. Some are even coming with nicks and crannies out of the box even though its made out of aluminum (probably because its made out of aluminum instead of stainless steel like the 4)...

Samsung is the leader right now in the Android market but has not been always. More accurately you should have said that Sumsungs are plastic, not all 'Droids'!
 
A couple of things;

First this is not a cell phone issue, this is a teenager issue.

If you are of a mind to get her what she wants, then what she wants is an iPhone, so get her one.

You aren't going to care about the phone, you are going to care about the Plan.

The best I've seen is a 4S with unlimited texting and data for $35, no contract from Virgin Mobile. Check around.
 
I have an iPhone and it is a great phone for what it's supposed to be. I don't need my phone to do anything but make calls, text, email, and surf the web.

The iPhones biggest advantage is that they have total control over everything. The software can be specifically developed and tailored to one chip set, special jacks, restrictions on usage and app development. This is why the iPhone "works" so well and rarely "crashes."

However, this is the same reason why apple is so hated. They are control nazis and to be honest the other big reason is the majority of iPhone users are appletards/sheep who would buy a rock if it was made by apple and know very little about the tech. (Hows that for generalizing?)

16 year old girl? Definitely a part of the apple sheep heard. I doubt she would be happy with anything else but an iPhone.

"Because they are sheep, and sheep get slaughtered" - Gordon Gekko
 
krz said:
I have an iPhone and it is a great phone for what it's supposed to be. I don't need my phone to do anything but make calls, text, email, and surf the web.

The iPhones biggest advantage is that they have total control over everything. The software can be specifically developed and tailored to one chip set, special jacks, restrictions on usage and app development. This is why the iPhone "works" so well and rarely "crashes."

However, this is the same reason why apple is so hated. They are control nazis and to be honest the other big reason is the majority of iPhone users are appletards/sheep who would buy a rock if it was made by apple and know very little about the tech. (Hows that for generalizing?)

16 year old girl? Definitely a part of the apple sheep heard. I doubt she would be happy with anything else but an iPhone.

"Because they are sheep, and sheep get slaughtered" - Gordon Gekko
Click to expand...


Your generalization is poor. I was a Windows guy forever until I got an iPhone a few years ago. I'm not talking just a Windows user but also a programmer. This year I'm trying to get into iPhone programming. I definitely like Windows Visual Basic as a language much better than some of the nerdier versions of C (Objective C is Apple's baby). In any event, I just want my damn phone to work. I like to tinker around with computers but I just don't care that much about doing the same with my phone.
 
mikeler said:
Your generalization is poor. I was a Windows guy forever until I got an iPhone a few years ago. I'm not talking just a Windows user but also a programmer. This year I'm trying to get into iPhone programming. I definitely like Windows Visual Basic as a language much better than some of the nerdier versions of C (Objective C is Apple's baby). In any event, I just want my damn phone to work. I like to tinker around with computers but I just don't care that much about doing the same with my phone.
Click to expand...

I'm no programmer, but I know my way around computers and after 3.5 years of Android, I was ready for a change. Apparently I'm a sheep too.

I seriously don't understand the mobile wars. It's become so polarized to the point that its starting to rival political debates. People should pick what they like and what works for them and be done with it.

My iPhone 5 runs circles around my old phone, and according to benchmarks, just about every other phone on the market. That and a stable, smooth OS were enough to get me to switch. Apple is far from perfect, but no phone/OS ever will be. For now, this is just what I wanted.

In response to the OP, get the iPhone 4S. If you're willing to spend $100, and she wants an iPhone, there you go.
 
BigServer1 said:
I'm no programmer, but I know my way around computers and after 3.5 years of Android, I was ready for a change. Apparently I'm a sheep too.

I seriously don't understand the mobile wars. It's become so polarized to the point that its starting to rival political debates. People should pick what they like and what works for them and be done with it.

My iPhone 5 runs circles around my old phone, and according to benchmarks, just about every other phone on the market. That and a stable, smooth OS were enough to get me to switch. Apple is far from perfect, but no phone/OS ever will be. For now, this is just what I wanted.

In response to the OP, get the iPhone 4S. If you're willing to spend $100, and she wants an iPhone, there you go.
Click to expand...


I should note that I've only played around with Android for about 15 minutes. It did not remind me of a Google product, seemed much more complicated.

I'm also with you. I don't get why anybody cares what phone I use. Let people choose what works best for them. Competition is a good thing for all of us.
 
I guess you guys missed the part where I said majority and the part where I said I actually use an iPhone now and went on to explain why it works so well due to the software/hardware integration.


Yes, most appletards are still sheep.

As for the irrelevant programming stuff. It's not my main function but, I've built front end sql interfaces with asp/c#.




Sent from my iPhone
 
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krz said:
I guess you guys missed the part where I said majority and the part where I said I actually use an iPhone now and went on to explain why it works so well due to the software/hardware integration.


Yes, most appletards are still sheep.

As for the irrelevant programming stuff. It's not my main function but, I've built front end sql interfaces with asp/c#.




Sent from my iPhone
Click to expand...


Front end is cake. :)
 
Probably lol. Programmings not really one of my job functions. Just thought I'd throw it out there since we were talking about it.
 
Mauvaise said:
Several others have pointed out that if the cost is the same and she really has her heart set on the iPhone 4S, go for it. For the price, it's a wonderful device.

I don't think 4G should be a deal breaker for a 16-year old. There is wi-fi available in a lot of places and 3G is decent for the times there isn't wi-fi available.

The Rep you spoke to is an idiot. As a rule, songs are not free on any platform - iPhone or Android, though there are the random freebies. There are a TON of free Apps the iPhone (& Android). As well as Apps for both that cost money.

As for durability - my boyfriend as the Droid Razr Maxx and & I have the iPhone 4S. They are both perfectly durable. As long as you aren't going to abuse/drop them. I have a case on mine, as well as a screen protector (invisi-shield) because I'm neurotic about my 'gadgets'. I even carry a ziplock baggie when rain is in the forecast to avoid water damage (I know).

I would recommend getting a case for your daughter, no matter what phone she has.
Click to expand...

Yeah, all phones can break. You just have to choose the one that has most of the things you're looking for, and a good case is a real must.

My girlfriend has a Nokia Lumia, she's just graduated and does film making/photography. She loves the camera on the Nokia so it makes sense for her. For my job, text messages are very important and the lack of timestamps means the iPhone is useless to me, so I have an Android.

The competition means all makers have to be at the top of their game, there are no bad phones out there these days. Just pick the best operating system and everyone is happy :)
 
Blaxican10s said:
...but the Bionic is still running 2.3 and has yet to even receive its ICS (4.0) update. There are rumblings that they will either push is to next year or even that Bionic owners will not receive the updates at all. Thats a bunch of crap! The Bionic was released in November and people are less than a year into their contract and stuck with a device that is already being surpassed in terms of specs and now also has an outdated OS.
Click to expand...

That was one of the main reasons I switched from Android to the iPhone. I was an early adopter of Android. I pre-ordered the very first Android phone (G1) and used it from the release date as well as using three other Android phones after that one. I don't want to have to jailbreak or root my phone, potentially voiding warranty or bricking it just to make sure I have the upgraded OS.

I get it - Android is spread out over multiple carriers & devices that all like to add in their own UI. So the carriers or manufacturers decide not to tweak the UI with the new OS and don't roll it out to all devices. It's costly and time consuming, I'm sure, so they pick and choose which devices to "support". It's BS.

Don't get me wrong - there is still a lot to love about Android, but in terms of just pulling a device out of the box and having it work? The iPhone is tops. And you'll almost always be able to upgrade your OS when the new one comes out.

I say almost because the latest OS is only compatible back to the iPhone 3S. Which is still world's better than almost all Android phones can guarantee or have provided.


mikeler said:
Front end is cake. :)
Click to expand...

The cake is a lie. :wink:
 
krz said:
16 year old girl? Definitely a part of the apple sheep heard. I doubt she would be happy with anything else but an iPhone.
Click to expand...

I have come to the conclusion as well...so no matter which phone I think offers the most 'bang for the buck', it's ultimately going to be hers and I don't think she will be as happy unless it says iPhone on it.

So do I go for the 4S for $99 or the 5 for $199?

A lot more 'stuff' currently available for the 4S, could use the extra $100 to buy accessories, and it's in the store right now.

More features on the 5, LTE 4G capable, it's the newest model, but will have to wait for about 3 weeks to get one.

Thanks for all the info and help.

TripleB
 
TripleB said:
I have come to the conclusion as well...so no matter which phone I think offers the most 'bang for the buck', it's ultimately going to be hers and I don't think she will be as happy unless it says iPhone on it.

So do I go for the 4S for $99 or the 5 for $199?

A lot more 'stuff' currently available for the 4S, could use the extra $100 to buy accessories, and it's in the store right now.

More features on the 5, LTE 4G capable, it's the newest model, but will have to wait for about 3 weeks to get one.

Thanks for all the info and help.

TripleB
Click to expand...

If it were for someone who really cared about tech and performance, the 5 is 100% worth the upgrade. For a 16 year old who will check FB and text, the 4S is probably fine.
 
16 year olds always want the newest stuff. for sure, you will get an "I love you so so much daddy" if you get her the 5. i dont know about the 4s. Why dont you ask her? i mean, it is her phone.
 
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