What Android is closest to iPhone 4S?

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lyonrouge

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#697172 6-Oct-2012 16:52

P1n3apqlExpr3ss:
gjm: Ive been having similar thoughts to you in that my iphone is too big for me. Do you know if the ray is getting ICS?

Yes, the Ray will be getting Ice Cream Sandwich

Source: http://www.androidmobile.co.nz/item/1032-sony-ericsson-detail-their-ice-cream-sandwich-update-plans

i've applied ICS today, see previous post about reduced radio capability

Linuxluver

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#697241 6-Oct-2012 19:10

johnr: SII is the best handset I have ever used

Just to lend perspective....the LG 3D Max performs much like the SII...but has the 3D camera and hands-free 3D display.

The SIII or HTC One X or Galaxy Note (or Note 2) would be my list of happy-with-any-of-them Android phones that aren't 3D.

(I have never tried a top-end Motorola or Sony-Ericsson Android phone.)

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lyonrouge

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#697264 6-Oct-2012 20:28

I replaced the S2 with a iPhone 4S (when the priced dropped due to the release of the 5) happy with the choice.

DrStrangelove

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#697467 7-Oct-2012 14:08

lyonrouge: I replaced the S2 with a iPhone 4S (when the priced dropped due to the release of the 5) happy with the choice.

So you bought the device most similar to an iPhone 4S... an iPhone 4S. :-)

There is no Android device even slightly close to matching the hardware spec of an iPhone 4S.

This is because of the factor of three.

1) The CPU. [Dual-core 1GHz Cortex-A9]
2) The GPU. [PowerVR SGX543MP2]
3) The Screen size. [640 x 960 pixels, 3.5 inches (~330 ppi pixel density)]

CPU

The CPU is pretty average for a dual-core mobile phone and most, if not all of today's Android phones can match it or better it.

GPU

The GPU was a bit of a monster. In it's day there probably wasn't an Android phone that could match it.
It's only today with the introduction of the S4/Adreno 225 Soc(And others) that Android can make in roads on an iPhone 4S in the GPU department.

Screen Size

With a density of ~330 ppi in a 3.5" screen there was never going to be an Android phone to match screen size with the above specs.
The 640 x 960 pixel screen(Double-size VGA) on the iPhone 4S means any 16:9 videos will become 960×540 on the screen which is effectively 1/4 Full-HD.

If you really had to compare, I'd say the Sony XPERIA Sola (with NFC and SDcard) at 59mm wide, was as close as you could get to an iPhone 4S with an Android phone, but the GPU on the XPERIA Sola is VERY lack lustre.

And interestingly it is my option, that the iPhone 5 has thrown the same curve ball.

Again CPU, GPU[PowerVR SGX543MP3] and size(body width) on an iPhone 5 can not be matched in an Android device.

An LG Optimus G (S4/Adreno 320) will compare with an iPhone 5 on CPU/GPU, but again not on body width. iPhone 5(58.6mm). LG Optimus G(68.9mm)

Most high-end Android phones are around 70mm wide these days.

The only oops moment for an iPhone 5 is that is doesn't have NFC and the screen isn't true 720p.

So buy a 'cheap' iPhone 4S skip the iPhone 5 and await the iPhone 5S which more than likely 'will'(guessing) have NFC and maybe a CPU upgrade ...Quad-Core???
In which case I'd be amazed to see a woman carrying a high-end Android device or Windows phone(more like PDA's these days) in favour of an iPhone 5S which MAY have NFC.

Now that said, it's been mentioned that Sony is out selling Nokia and Blackberry in Europe with their XPERIA range, many of which are smaller form factor phones WITH NFC.
So there may be a place for devices like the XPERIA Sola, when trust me, you do NOT what to take your gloves off at -20C in s-Gravenhage!!!

On another note, how is ICS on an XPERIA Ray? Are the benefits over shadow'd by only having a 1GHz CPU and an Adreno 205 GPU. I've read some with XPERIA Arc S (1.4Ghz) have downgraded back to Android 2.3 just to keep the ball rolling.

lyonrouge

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#697739 8-Oct-2012 09:30

I currently use a SonyEricsson Ray, iPhone 4S, HTC Trophy and Nokia N8. Specifications are very interesting, but form factor and camera are my focus points. The N8 is my weekend phone, Ray is weekday, iPhone and Trophy are work [NZ number (XT) and Australian number (Optus)].

I have the "administrative" responsibility for both my own and my wife?s mobile footprint, iOS devices take the least effort, all the others have weird and wonderful desktop solutions with rollout interdependencies I've never been unable to fathom.

Android is OK, but I?ve learned to ensure it has everything I want now and never rely on ?future upgrades?. WP7 is the same, but to a greater extreme (took a year to get WiFi hotspot). As for Symbian, well, that?s dead now, I just wish the camera would be migrated to the new Lumia platform.

DrStrangelove

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#697949 8-Oct-2012 15:31

lyonrouge: [extract] Android is OK, but I?ve learned to ensure it has everything I want now and never rely on ?future upgrades?. WP7 is the same, but to a greater extreme (took a year to get WiFi hotspot). As for Symbian, well, that?s dead now, I just wish the camera would be migrated to the new Lumia platform. [/extract]

That's probably very true. Most Android phones get one major version upgrade and then that's it [generalised]. However some just keep going..i.e. LG Optimus 2X. Android 2.2, 2.3, 4.x

For Symbian there is still the odd Nokia Belle upgrade kicking around, so don't write off the Nokia N8 just yet. :-)

What's New in Nokia Belle?

With an all-new look, more home screens, new widgets, and easier personalisation, it's fresher and clearer to use.
The clearer menus, smoother screen transitions, and pull-down notifications help you stay up-to-date.
There’s a new status bar, a new toolbar, new Nokia Maps, improved video recording, web browsing, and more.

Windows Phone 8

WP8 may have a bit more staying power than that of WP7, however Windows Phone buyers may have been a bit spooked.
If features of DirectX 11 get pushed further, we may end in a situation where again, the supported hardware has hit a wall with the existing Adreno 225 (Currently in WP8 Lumia devices 920/820). But that's probably a few years down the track.

Android

Android is not much better but unlike WP8, 2013 will be mostly about the S4/Adreno 320 in high-end Android devices.

If we start to see the Mali T-604 GPU pop up in mobile smart phones the GPU landscape will be vastly different to what we see today for high-end phones. It's going to make an Adreno 320 or PowerVR SGX543MP3 look slow.

Samsung Galaxy S3 mini.

Maybe not everyone's cup of tea but there are rumours of a new Samsung Galaxy device.

This is mooted to have a 4" screen, a 5MP camera with further details coming soon.

Samsung Galaxy S3 is one of the most future proof Android phones around at the moment and will probably see one through a few years. It's a pity [in my view] it's so pig ugly. :-(

At least Apple, Nokia, Sony and LG have some style to their phones, which I'll gladly even take a drop in specs for.

Does this mean the iPhone 5 has spook'd Samsung into curb'n the growth of the screen size with every new high-end phone?

Anyway, more choice is always good in my book. Means there's a fair chance I'll be happy (smaller screens) and others will also be happy (larger screens).

Be interesting to see how these rumours pans out.

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aim

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#698013 8-Oct-2012 16:55

I would have said the One S or One V are the closest in form factor. Nice build materials and quality too. But it appears that OP now has the closest thing to an iPhone 4S, an iPhone 4S.

lyonrouge

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#698060 8-Oct-2012 18:05

DrStrangelove:
lyonrouge: [extract] Android is OK, but I?ve learned to ensure it has everything I want now and never rely on ?future upgrades?. WP7 is the same, but to a greater extreme (took a year to get WiFi hotspot). As for Symbian, well, that?s dead now, I just wish the camera would be migrated to the new Lumia platform. [/extract]

That's probably very true. Most Android phones get one major version upgrade and then that's it [generalised]. However some just keep going..i.e. LG Optimus 2X. Android 2.2, 2.3, 4.x

For Symbian there is still the odd Nokia Belle upgrade kicking around, so don't write off the Nokia N8 just yet. :-)

What's New in Nokia Belle?
With an all-new look, more home screens, new widgets, and easier personalisation, it's fresher and clearer to use.
The clearer menus, smoother screen transitions, and pull-down notifications help you stay up-to-date.
There’s a new status bar, a new toolbar, new Nokia Maps, improved video recording, web browsing, and more.

I got Belle the last time I took the phone to the Nokia service centre (I didn't actually want it, it was installed as "fix"). It was only a week ago that a update finally arrived to fix Belle and it now operates about as well as it did with Anna.

lyonrouge

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#698063 8-Oct-2012 18:09

Windows Phone 8

WP8 may have a bit more staying power than that of WP7, however Windows Phone buyers may have been a bit spooked.
If features of DirectX 11 get pushed further, we may end in a situation where again, the supported hardware has hit a wall with the existing Adreno 225 (Currently in WP8 Lumia devices 920/820). But that's probably a few years down the track.

After the voyage of Windows Mobile 5, 6.1 and now WP7 I'm not brave enough to enter the hell that is Microsoft phone platforms. It's a shame as I enjoyed the WP7 interface, but the update releases are diabolic (acutally worse than Android). I only ever had Microsoft phone platforms for ActiveSync and RDP. I lost that in WP7 and now all the others have ActiveSync (although limited to one account in Symbian ^3).

I have resigned myself to the fact that I will probably end up with a W8 as that will be the only way to get a good camera, but I'll wiat a year or so for everyone to beta test it for them.

jeffnz

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#698066 8-Oct-2012 18:13

what about a Galaxy camera, is this a bit OTT

http://www.samsung.com/levant/promotions/galaxycamera/

sorry bit off topic but given the mention of the S# mini thought I'd post the camera

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toyonut

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#698111 8-Oct-2012 19:53

I would probably vote for the Sony Xperia P or HTC One S as a close replacement. They have the looks and should have enough grunt inside to work really smoothly and fast. Thinking the P will be my next phone. Like it a lot. Would go for the One S, but nobody has them.
Otherwise will just have to see what is around when my contract with 2 degrees is up in a couple of months.

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DrStrangelove

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#698359 9-Oct-2012 13:10

paulmilbank: I would probably vote for the Sony Xperia P or HTC One S as a close replacement. They have the looks and should have enough grunt inside to work really smoothly and fast.

I missed the XPERIA P altogether and I'm thinking there is a very close match. Well noted.

iPhone 4S width = 58.6mm
XPERIA P width = 59.5mm

iPhone 4S screen size = 640 x 960 pixels, 3.5 inches (~330 ppi pixel density)
XPERIA P screen size = 540 x 960 pixels, 4.0 inches (~275 ppi pixel density). True quarter HD screen.

iPhone 4S and XPERIA P both have dual-core CPU and are almost a match in performance.

iPhone 4S PowerVR SXG543MP2 GPU will run rings around the XPERIA P Mali-400MP, but at the end of the day, who is really going to be attempting to watch 1080p mkv/mp4 movies on a 40" TV... oh, that'll just be be then.

The XPERIA P comes with 16GB internal and USB OTG so the lack of SDCard isn't really a problem.
The HDMI and NFC are a bonus.

The only down side is the battery is built-in. Now Muggen Power make a 1500mAh replacement battery for the XPERIA U which replaces the original 1320mAh battery. This 'may be' similar in size(I have no idea) to the XPERIA P. BUT, wait. before you think you can just use a Muggen Power battery check if the battery houses the NFC antenna or not.
You may just be stuck with the 1300mAh battery which is reported to give a solid days use, leading into the second day.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=97&topicid=105310

Also it is reported that the phone screen has poor blacks and that high brightness levels result in poor color rendering and loss of contrast.

I'm not sure what's going on with the Mali-400MP GPU. Using an XPERIA U (same chipset) I couldn't get HW acceleration working using BSPlayer (Video player) and MX Player. This was on Android v2.3.x so round two on ICS and we'll see what happens. Someone elses' phone so I only get 10 minutes to play on it within a month.. :-)

couple of other things missing on the XPERIA P:

No GLONASS GPS
Bluetooth 2.1 only
No WiFi-Direct (but you have HDMI and DLNA)
No 5GHz WiFi

If you look at the complete package that is the XPERIA P and consider the price, it's a VERY attractive phone. This overall package can not be matched with the iPhone 4S(Native Apple environment excluded).

XPERIA P approx $440.00

Anyway who need an iPhone when one can impress everyone with Android in old school tech.

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