Been meaning to ask this for a while ...
What does everyone here think is the best smartphone?
I'm normally something of a closet iPhone fan - the environment is great to work with - and safe - and the hardware is usually top quality. There is a sense that this is a premium phone.
But - over the past couple of years it's become clear that it's premium that comes at a hefty additional price - both for the handset, and the apps - and no longer seems that much of a premium.
For example, though the iPhone camera remains one of the best quality on the market, even at 8MP, it's long felt too limited, especially when other phone have moved beyond that.
The screen size is also quite small for watching anything on - and while there are clear suggestions the iPhone 6 will have a bigger screen, it won't be that much bigger, and will remain one of the smallest among the biggest selling brands.
There's also the point that Sony and Samsung's latest models are certified as waterpoof - surely something that should be standard on premium phones these days, especially considering their cost - and the high chance of getting them wet by accident?
There are also minor annoyances about the iPhone - the inability to expand memory, and the fact that you become locked to a single network, no matter what SIM card you put in.
Despite that I enjoy my iPhone, I've long been looking enviously at the latest Sony Xperia range, especially the Xperia Z1.
It's a solid piece of kit, expandable memory, up to 21MP camera, waterproof, and lush big screen for a phone.
You can do everything on it that I'd need to on an iPhone - and more. And it's a helluva lot cheaper - currently selling at around £350 on Amazon.
The Xperia Z2 is not long out, but it seems the main addition is really just 4K video recording, which I can't see being an issue for me for a long time.
So, what does everyone think about in terms of smartphones? Which do you think are the best? Do you think Apple's lost it? Where are you looking to now?
Just a conversation starter.
What does everyone here think is the best smartphone?
I'm normally something of a closet iPhone fan - the environment is great to work with - and safe - and the hardware is usually top quality. There is a sense that this is a premium phone.
But - over the past couple of years it's become clear that it's premium that comes at a hefty additional price - both for the handset, and the apps - and no longer seems that much of a premium.
For example, though the iPhone camera remains one of the best quality on the market, even at 8MP, it's long felt too limited, especially when other phone have moved beyond that.
The screen size is also quite small for watching anything on - and while there are clear suggestions the iPhone 6 will have a bigger screen, it won't be that much bigger, and will remain one of the smallest among the biggest selling brands.
There's also the point that Sony and Samsung's latest models are certified as waterpoof - surely something that should be standard on premium phones these days, especially considering their cost - and the high chance of getting them wet by accident?
There are also minor annoyances about the iPhone - the inability to expand memory, and the fact that you become locked to a single network, no matter what SIM card you put in.
Despite that I enjoy my iPhone, I've long been looking enviously at the latest Sony Xperia range, especially the Xperia Z1.
It's a solid piece of kit, expandable memory, up to 21MP camera, waterproof, and lush big screen for a phone.
You can do everything on it that I'd need to on an iPhone - and more. And it's a helluva lot cheaper - currently selling at around £350 on Amazon.
The Xperia Z2 is not long out, but it seems the main addition is really just 4K video recording, which I can't see being an issue for me for a long time.
So, what does everyone think about in terms of smartphones? Which do you think are the best? Do you think Apple's lost it? Where are you looking to now?
Just a conversation starter.