One of the most common questions I get about traveling is what kind of phone and plan I use on the road and most people want me to comment on iPhone vs android.
For the longest time I had no idea. In the first year traveling through Latin America I didn’t have a phone at all and I loved it but then Coca insisted I get a phone in Chile and I must admit it really helped while I had an apartment in Buenos Aires.
I came back to Canada for the summer and moved up to the iPod Touch to travel through Europe. It was so helpful and while I contemplated how technology changes travel I realized there was no going back.
I tried to hang on to the Touch but when I moved back to Toronto and tried to coordinate things with friends on iPod Touch without reliable wifi I realized I had to move on.
So I bought an unlocked iPhone 4S and within 24 hours there was no looking back.
I loved the phone and when I traveled to Montana, Portland and other areas I simply bought a SIM card and popped it in so I never had to worry.
When Samsung offered to give me the GalaxySIII to use and review for November I was happy to try it out but I was completely on the Apple fangirl bandwagon.
In my eyes the iPhone could do no wrong and I thought come the beginning of December I would return back to my love.
As usual I was wrong.
I should preface I am one of those people who panics when the phone rings and I may have only answered it a few times in the last year.
For me the phone is about social media, texting and googling things to make an argument at a party. I have no desire to actually talk on it anymore.
As soon as I turned on the phone and saw the size of the screen I was impressed. I had never considered my 4S small until I realized how much more I could see with the GalaxySIII.
But size isn’t enough to impress me, here’s how the Samsung Galaxy SIII fared in the last month.
Thumbs Down
The first days are the hardest, no one likes change.
The first thing I did was change the keyboard by downloading Swiftkey, while the Galaxy keyboard did remember my name after 2 days (my iPhone kept auto-correcting me to synergy for weeks) I found it difficult to use and Swiftkey is better.
No iMessage. Obviously this wasn’t a surprise. It`s not a huge deal as I have unlimited texting and What`sApp but some of my Apple friends with smaller texting plans were disappointed texting to me wasn’t free.
I needed to look for all new apps. I had 4-5 screens full of purchased apps on the iPhone, including my beloved Camera+ which isn’t available on Android.
You do have to be careful when choosing Android apps as they don’t go through the same stringent scrutiny from iTunes.
I dropped another $30 on Android apps but thanks to As the Bird Flies I found Camera FV-5 and Hecktic Travels for Camera Zoom FX I have found other camera apps which are just as good.
The great thing is that the Android community is so vocal, with a tweet, note on Instagram and Facebook people had fantastic suggestions for me.
I feel like I have joined this group of anti-conformists – although who are we kidding now I’m just conforming to another group, but instead of being with the cool kids in school it feels like the quiet group who then goes on and rules the world.
Thumbs Up
The entire phone is a screen. There have been times when I traveled and I made the sacrifice not to bring my laptop but the screen feels large enough I find myself using it more and more instead of my laptop.
GTalk. I use Google chat all the time on email and kept wondering why I couldn’t get it for iPhone. I love that it`s available on the Samsung GalaxySIII and it has more than made up for iMessage.
There are some really great features that just make so much sense:
Smart Stay – The phone actually tracks your eye movement and keeps the display bright as long as you are reading.
Pop-Up Play – you can multitask on the phone! I have watched a video podcast while replying to a text.
Intelligent Camera – I have mostly been using Camera Zoom FX and Bird’s recommended Camera FV-5 to take shots but I have also used the panorama function and burst, which takes 20 shots at once and you can choose the best which is great for group shots or someone moving.
You can also take stills while you shoot video but I haven’t used that yet.
Then there are some functional things that make sense. Such as if the phone rings or I want to turn off music I can just put my hand to the screen or turn it over on the table.
Also I have it set so when the phone is turned over it never, rings or buzzes until you pick it back up. I think this is crucial when in meetings or eating out with friends as we all have the bad habit of putting our phone on the table and when someone gets a double buzz everyone reaches for their phone.
I could go on and on, each day I find something (like photos are automatically uploaded to Dropbox) that makes me love this phone.
The surprising
The mannerisms of Android are a bit different to Apple and you have to learn them. I know everyone says Apple is intuitive but I now think we have been pushed into believing that Apple intuition is the universal intuition of humanity. It only took a few days for me to figure out how Android actions are different.
I was stopped by a lot of people who saw me with the phone and a few guys commented it was too big to put in their skinny hipster jeans pocket.
I hadn’t even thought of it because the size of the screen is what I think makes it so great and I carry a purse and it fits in my coat pocket.
I have a few male friends in Toronto who have the phone and they hadn’t even considered the size as they didn’t put their phone in their pants pocket – but if you did this could be an issue.
Every day it seems like I learn new things the GalaxySIII can do. Yesterday Michael from Art of Backpacking shared a post about combining an inexpensive USB cable to plug my phone into televisions, game consoles and keyboards (hello blogging on the road).
Finally, this is silly but I felt like Apple kept me hostage because of iTunes. I know there are other music players but iTunes is the best.
I found the app DoubleTwist which allows me to keep iTunes on my laptop and it air syncs to my phone.
Verdict
Some of my friends, like Lorenzo, are annoyed because I keep trying to sell them on how great the GalaxySIII is and all of the things it can do (Samsung didn’t ask that I offer unsolicited praise to my friends).
I’d like to pretend that I will eventually stop doing that but every day I find new things it can do.
After two weeks I went back to my iPhone to do something and it felt stubby and small. I decided that it was time for me to move onto Android and last week I sold my iPhone 4S to a friend.
I don’t know if I can comment on iPhone vs android as a whole but I may have been an Apple fan girl but now I’m on the android bandwagon.
Disclosure: Samsung gave me the GalaxySIII but all opinions are my own, they did not request that I write a favourable review or sell my iPhone for half the market value to a friend because I didn`t want to deal with the hagglers on Craigslist.
Hey Ayngelina!
Cool to know that you’ve made the switch. When I was an iPhone zealot up until the 3GS, my faith would not waver until I saw the flexibility of Android, so i took the plunge to pick up a Samsung Nexus S.
while not as “pretty” as the iPhone, it certainly allowed me to infuse a bit of myself into the my phone through all the customizations.
In any case, good stuff on the move. I don’t think anyone should be devoted to anyone platform.. platform agnosticism is the new hotness 🙂
That is a good way of thinking about things.
Haha great post and wonderful assessment! Welcome to the club. I am one of those consumers that have no distinct loyalty to either of the two, I go with what’s most convenient at the time. And at this time its Android. I love the open platform it offers to its users, and you’re right about feeling like you have a computer in your hand.
I have zero desire to talk on the phone anymore. Is that sad?
Yeah, the screen is really huge but the phone does a lot of good things 🙂
Every day I discover new things that I love.
I love that my iPhone4 fits inside the screen of my S3. The reason I made the switch was because of how iOS6 really screwed over 4 (not 4s) owners. There were zero positive updates, and it actually made things worse.
I miss a few apps, specifically iMaschine, where I’d record a beat or lead on the go and transfer it over to its Maschine counterpart at home.
As a Dj, I didn’t ever really use iTunes as their bit rates were too low for performing. I did find the audio quality on the iPhone a little better, but it could boil down to headphones.
As a male wearer of regular non skin tight pants, I have never once had an issue with its size and fitting into my front pocket.
I would like to see a JellyBean update soon. Other devices have it and I’m feeling left out.
— Atypical Rabbit.
Mine has a jellybean update! I have no idea what that means but I do know mine has it. Maybe you can update yours?
Interesting to read. I used an Android phone – the Nokia Lumia – a few months ago and wasn’t much of a fan. I’ve heard good things about Samsung Galaxy though, so it was interesting to hear your pros and cons. Didn’t know about the eye-tracker – that seems super cool!
I think my biggest hesitation for upgrading to a larger phone is not being able to put it in my skinny hipster jeans 🙂
Nokia Lumia is a windows phone as far as I know…
I would have totally bought your iPhone 😀
I had a lot of offers! But I had to give it to the guy who was foolish enough to still have a Blackberry. It was embarrassing being out with him.
Euhm, I have a Nokia 6200. Bet you don’t even know what that looks like without googling it 😀
But I’m going for the SII soon.
Yes, the SII, not the SIII.
Baby steps:p
And about the not fitting in the pocket thing: when I go out, I always take this teeny tiny purse with me (I’m talking about 10cm²). No smartphone will fit into that:/ So that’s why i’ll keep my beloved 6200 as well.
I’m buying a new phone now because I’m really in need of some apps and Internet access while on the road, but my Nokia 6200 is a true survivor.
I’ve bought it 7 or 8 (!!!) years ago, droppen it a trillion times and it still works fine, with the battery lasting for over a week!.
Anywayz. SII it’ll be 😀
Confession: I still have a BLACKBERRY. When I was in Hawaii I was cursing at it for having a horrible camera or some other major fault, and someone said to me, “Its like the Myspace of smartphones.”
So sad, so true.
I won’t lie it is embarrassing. Once you get a phone with a decent camera it changes so much! I haven’t even been carrying around my DSLR lately.
I turned my brother down the other day when he offered to trade me straight up an iPhone5 for our GalaxySIII. He is the kind of person that has a new phone every 3 months, so for him to say that to me, I know that the SIII is where it is at. I think he’ll have difficulty finding anybody to trade with as the SIII is pretty damn good. Thanks for the shout-out. Haven’t fooled around too much with FV-5, but I like that you can adjust shutter. Now to find a tripod 🙂
If you find a tri-pod I am pretty sure you can also do time lapses.
Interesting. I finally gave up my Blackberry when I returned from my trip and spent a whole morning visiting every cell phone store in downtown Chicago trying to decide what to get next. I went with the iPhone 4s in large part because I thought the Samsung was way too big. Even the iPhone was larger than I initially wanted but now I’m getting used to it. I just think back to a few years ago when it was all about how small of a phone you could get. 🙂 Oh how things change…
Remember when the buttons were so tiny you would press the wrong numbers by accident?
If the iPhone 4S is too big then definitely the GalaxySIII is not for you. I like the bigger screen so I can do more but I understand some people want to use their phone…well as a phone 🙂
I have to buy a phone when I get back to the states next week. I’ve had Android for the last year or so and have no problems with it. But I still think I need to give iPhone a shot even though I’ve had the iPad and iPod touch. Decisions decisions… I’ll prob switch back to Android if Apple doesn’t get off their butt and make some interesting changes to their OS or hardware.
I’m not much of a tech person so I hear people talk about OS and hardware and it doesn’t mean much to me. For me it’s all about, how much can I do with my phone and I really love how much I can do with mine now.
As an anti-Apple conformist, I am loving how much people are FINALLY getting on the ‘droid bandwagon! IT’S THE SAME THING BUT CHEAPER!
A perfect example: my office has 6 employees: 2 on iphone, 3 on galaxy III and me-whatever they gave me for free at BestBuy:-).
I think it is because Android used to be the option for people who didn’t want to spend money on an iPhone, at least that was my perception at one time. I was really surprised at how much more I could do with the Galaxy and find myself googling GalaySIII tips as people discover new things to do with it.
I’ll admit–I’m with you on this one, though I’m currently an iPhone user. Granted, I’m only an iPhone user because I got it for free. If I had the choice, I’d pick that Galaxy in a second.
If I had to spend money and buy one today I’d choose the Galaxy. I was a really loyal iPhone user but then again I hadn’t tried anything else.
Now I have yet another thing I need to check out – GTalk. I am just transitioning everything over to google now – so lots of new apps to learn but they integrate really super with the Galaxy SIII!
I used GTalk all the time on my laptop and always wondered why I couldn’t get it as an app, but I guess Google and Apple don’t play nicely so Google never created the app. I am sad to lose iMessage but not if I can have GTalk.
Did they give you an unlocked phone? Do you have a contract with a cell phone carrier?
In any case, I also have switched to Android because of screen size…but en serio chica its much easier to rave about things that are given to you…especially when if you purchase the phone with no contract you have to pay almost 500 bucks. I love you to pieces, but I’d love any phone that was given to me for free as well 🙂
Although I was never a huge fan of iphones to begin with and I got a little android last year in Chiang Mai and I loved it. Mike has kindly surrendered his Galaxy 2 so I have a better camera on the phone, but they are really expensive. I’m obsessed with the Pixlr 0 matic editing app!! So I’ll be on the S2 level until we can afford to buy another one. I’m waiting for the Nexus 4. Maybe Santa will buy it for me for Christmas.
I have always had an unlocked phone because I travel so much. I also never get the phone through my carrier so I don’t have to commit to a contract and can switch to the lowest monthly plan. So before I paid $700 to get an unlocked iPhone 4S from Apple but my data plan was only 20/month so in the end I think the flexibility paid off.
Of course people would be happy to have a free phone. The point I wanted to make was that I like this phone so much I sold my iPhone 4S to a friend for $200. I know I could have gotten more but he has a Blackberry and is still paying that off so I gave him a deal. Having tried both I can say honestly that the GalaxySIII is a much better option for me because of all of its features. Samsung didn’t ask me to write any of this or ask me to switch phones, it’s my honest opinion of using both the phones and it’s the reason why I am no longer using the iPhone 4S.
My iPhone died a month ago (after 2.5 long and hard fought years – I’m a phone dropper) and I’ve been using the boyfriend’s old HTC since. It’s slower than I’d like (old software) and the camera was a bit of a struggle at first (Viva Camera FV-5!) but I like how much control Android gives me to kill tasks, change my keyboard and do more than one thing at once… I’m now hoping Santa brings me a grown up Android all of my own!
I am a phone dropper too, the first thing I did was get a case for the phone. If you like android try the Galaxy SIII, I keep running into people who have it in Toronto and end up starting conversations with strangers about how it’s so good.
Hey T-roy I’m happy to hear that you really liked the eBook! Working on a ship, even for one corntact, would absolutely be fun. And writing about it would be incredible as you’re guaranteed to have endless crazy stories to tell I don’t have a definite date for Turkey yet but I’m hoping by the end of the month. And don’t worry, I’ll fully document how I spend that $15!
Great article. I’m a massive apple fan girl myself and currently have the iPhone 5 which I absolutely adore. The galaxy does look quite enticing because of the big screen size but I’m one of those people who carries my phone in my pocket so it’s just too big for me! But you did a great job at (almost) convincing me to switch.
Oh and the automatic Dropbox photo upload thing…that works on an iPhone too!
I carry a purse so it doesn’t really bother me. The days I go without it fits in my coat pocket.
Interesting. I am fiercely in love with Apple – iPhone, iPod, Mac, iPad – I can’t imagine using anything else! Though I have heard this now from a few people and my contract is up in a few months. Thanks for the useful info!
If you know someone who has it give it a try. You can still use all your other Apple gear, there’s no issue syncing stuff up.
Nooooo. I’m an Apple girl for sure. I don’t think anybody could pay me enough money to switch. Although, I do have to say.. sometimes it is tough to see photos on the iPhone screen, but that’s not enough to make me switch. 🙂
I was a loyal Apple user too, if we ever run into each other I’ll let you try mine out.
I wouldn’t switch from Apple, but I do love the massive screen!
I don’t know Andi, I know how much you like to take photos and the big screen is pretty great for photos. Just sayin’
I was going to get a new unlocked iPhone (Christmas present to myself). Now you have me thinking…. wish everyone had the opportunity to try a new smartphone for a week before committing.
At least check it out in the store, unless they come out with an iPhone that has a larger screen and you can do more than one application at a time I won’t be going back.
I agree! It would be nice to do a little test ride on something that costs so much
This was a really great, balanced review of the phone.
Personally, I don’t know that I’d like the huge screen – especially since I’m so used to slipping my iPhone into my skinny hipster jeans pocket. 😉 Also, that eyeball that keeps track of whether you’re looking at things or not is just WEIRD!
But, if I ever decide to get rid of my iPhone, this would definitely be a phone I’d consider!
I’ve seen your jeans, it would fit 🙂 Honestly the iPhone screen feels tiny now, I could never go back.
My partner works at a cell phone store and basically convinces people to buy Androids instead of iPhones for a living (higher commission.) I have an Android too and I don’t see any real difference between that and the iPhone, except possibly for camera quality, depending on the model. Team Android all the way!
What a fantastic gift! So glad it turned out to be something you love so much. 🙂
I didn’t think I would be so taken with it but I’m sold on the Galaxy.
I’m an early android lover and have to admit that I never had an iphone. However, sometimes it’s annoying that some great apps are for iphone-users only.
I have already been annoyed by that, I would really love to have Camera+ for Android. Actually I’m going to email them about that…
Which of the two camera apps did you like better?? Im still getting accustomed to my samsung s3 as well and looking for apps.
I although, never jumped on the apple bandwagon, came from blackberry
-marcello
I usually shoot with camera zoom FX but I edit on Awesome Miniature or After Focus Pro depending on what I want to do with the shot.
The bigger screen does sound good, but I think I am still on the apple bandwagon… but then again my computer is mac, i have an ipod as well, so it just makes sense to keep everything compatible
The GalaxySIII is compatible too, I still use iTunes and just use DoubleTwist which syncs iTunes to my phone. The interface is very similar and it took 2 seconds to figure out.
Join the team! I never really knew about any phone other than Iphone last few years but then someone hooked me up on SIII and now it’s like the best thing that ever happened to me!
Yeah it is weird how iPhone was the only real player and now there are some fantastic android options.
I’ve been really happy with my Ace Plus so far. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the SIII, but it works great for what I need, and it was much cheaper than the iPhone!
I really loved my iPhone but it was expensive to buy, $700 because I wanted it unlocked. I just sold it for a steal to my friend because he was using a Blackberry and really that is embarrassing.
Interesting to know! I’m still on Pay as You Go and my phone struggles to do anything other than text! I always assumed I’d join the iPhone crowd one day soon, but now I’ll rethink!
I’m on a monthly plan and when I travel I just pick up SIM cards wherever I go. London actually has great data plans. I think I used one from Three for 15 pounds a month for unlimited data.
Welcome to the Android club, where sharing is easy, and apps don’t need to be approved by Apple. 🙂
Yes tech expert, please share your best apps. Especially photo, I’m keen to try out more.
These days I’m using Pixlr Express & Lithic mostly. What about you?
Right now shooting with Camera Zoom FX and then editing with Awesome Miniature and/or AfterFocus Pro.
I am actually really impressed with the right light the food shots are fantastic.
We are looking into getting a new phone for the road. We were looking into an Apple but maybe we will do some more research. Thanks for write up.
I find I use the phone more and more for things I would have pulled my laptop out to do, you should definitely take a look at it.
For an iPhone user to switch to Galaxy SIII definitely takes time and some hard feelings but at the end, Galaxy SIII provides much more than we used to get in iPhone. I am simply obsessed with my Galaxy !
Every day I find something new that I had no idea I could do on it. Plugging into HDTVs is something that is so useful for me and I may consider getting a television because of it.
I fell in love with my first Droid Incredible and I’ve been and Android fan ever since. It does feel like anti-conformity!
It is a bit of a special club, isn’t it?
Samsung…I refuse to use them based on principle due to how they treat bloggers (Google it, more than one horror story) and how appallingly they treat their employees, plus the more than questionable ethics of the company. They play dirty when it comes to business, don’t come up with original ideas (they steal them from other companies and then tweak them…very little actual innovation) and I’m not going to be giving them any of my money any time soon!
But I don’t like the direction Apple are going, either. Too many updates recently which render user products obsolete within months, and they’re bringing out things that Steve Jobs said categorically do not release…which is disrespectful, IMO.
I had forgotten about that blogger story from a while back and I do agree it was appalling. Maybe it is because I worked with a different division but Samsung has been really fantastic to work with and really respectful that I needed to write a fair and honest review of the phone. To be practical, if you look into any major corporation and how/where they make their products you have a very slippery slope of never buying anything. But I do hear you and would never try to convince you to try to change your mind about something you feel so strongly about.
I still wish i had an iPhone 5…
Haha I don’t know, the screen just isn’t as big. Plus I am kinda loving talking to other android users, it’s like you instantly bond when you realize you both have shunned Apple.
YAY!!!! Join the Galaxy S3 CLUB!!! I love mine (although I’ve already put a crack in my screen). I’ve not heard one complain about it so far and I certainly don’t have any xx
The first thing I did was get a protector for the phone as I was so worried about scratching it.
It’s so funny that Apple users say they wouldn’t switch to Samsung because the screen is too big… you’re not convincing, people! 😀
I never had an iPhone (came from Blackberry) but my brother and many friends have one, so I spent some time playing around with it. It’s definitely a cool phone, but Samsung Galaxy III is… just better. Sorry to say!
I love mine. Every day I am happier and happier with it.
I have a Macbook Pro but this doesn’t mean all my gadgets have to be Apple. I chose Samsung over iPhone.
Thanks for suggesting Swiftkey, will give it a try!
If you still want to use iTunes just get DoubleTwist, I haven’t had any issues with it at all. I also have to say that I have no regrets selling the phone. I had my friend’s iPhone in my hand last night to show him Instagram and it felt so small and hard to use.
Thanks for sharing your honest opinion of the phone! I definitely started wondering about your opinions when I began to see the hashtag.
However, as someone who is still changing countries so often — here’s what I’ve not seen any of you answer: is the Samsung unlocked, can I put a new SIM in it in every country I visit, is it a global phone?
Yes it’s a global phone, it takes a microchip just like the iPhone. I started using it in London and just bought an unlimited data SIM from Three for 15 pounds and then when I got back to Toronto I put my SIM that was in iPhone S in it. Pretty seamless.
Well now I am intrigued! After the iOS6 update, I got pretty pissed at Apple.
Still, since Mobile Photography is what I do it’s going to take a lot to get me to switch for good. I’d like to at least try the Samsung for a while. I’d love to see if they could be as good for mobile photography as Apple is. Instead of just good for techies and geeks who like to make apps that Apple doesn’t control.
The bigger screen definitely helps taking photos. The only thing is that there is no Camera+ and I am still struggling with spot focus on the new apps.
I’ve never owned a smart phone. I have an old phone that I bought in 2008, but I never bother to charge it up. I’m already glued to my MacBook for 10 hours a day … is it really healthy to get another digital device to perpetuate my addiction? Probably not.
Very interesting review! I am due for my New Every 2 with Verizon and will be getting my upgrade when I’m in the US in April. I made the switch from BlackBerry to iPhone in February 2012, so I’m pretty sure I’m upgrading to the iPhone 5.
I did see a Samsung Galaxy in a store in Norway the other day and being so large was actually a put off for me. I like to stick my phone in my pocket for easy access, especially when I’m traveling. And my iPhone already takes up so much space in a clutch.
But the intuitive features you describe have me wavering now!
I’ve actually just gotten the Samsung Galaxy SII (that’s right, not the newest model) and already think that screen is a bit too big. My boyfriend has an iPhone and I must admit I like the look of the iPhone better, but I’m still getting used to the Samsung SII.
Just to say, this is the biggest I’m going as far as the screen goes.
This comment is long overdue. I read your review a few months ago and it really helped me when I was in the market to replace my stolen IPhone. I struggled a lot to make the switch, being the Apple freak that I sometimes are… But I really wanted a bigger screen to use my phone as an allround device, not just a phone; I wanted to have a Kindle, camera, tablet, phone, personal computer all neatly round up into one. So I went with the Galaxy Note II, which is even bigger than the S3; but I don’t want my phone in my pocket and I always carry a purse, so it made sense for me.
Two months later, I’m super happy with it; I’m reading more books than ever, which was a major factor in deciding for this device! And I agree that the interface on this phone is way better than what IOs offers right now. I don’t regret my choice at all.
One big lesson I learnt from the switch though, I’m trying not to use any app that’s not available on both operating systems just so that I can switch back and forth whenever it’s most convenient. I hate to work creating content somewhere that then I have to abandon because of compatibility issues.
The S3 is awesome indeed! One question about finding wifi in South America – do you happen to know any companies that rent mobile wifi hotspots (similar to internet dongles but without usb so that you can connect more devices at once)? I made a MiFi directory and I’d like to add some providers from Argentina, Brazil etc.
Now , I have known which once is better mobile phone for travelling, Along this time I also used Samsung and using camera 360 Apps for taking photos. But I think your choice is better, Thanks for your information.
You can try sony xperia, it has good result in picture snapping.
It’s been a few years since you’ve posted this article, but the iPhone has come a long way. I’m sure Android phones have too, but iPhones have great cameras now, and you can’t beat their ease of use.
Hi Ayn
You are right, Just different in capacilty and internet loading but Android has more nice navigation to use.