Cell Phone Comparison: iPhone vs. Android Phones
Still deciding between an iPhone and one of the numerous Android phones running Google’s mobile OS? Start by comparing some of the simple specs. This quick rundown will help you identify any selling points or deal breakers before you delve deeper into Android cell phone comparisons.
| Smartphone |
iPhone 3gs |
Motorola Droid |
HTC Droid Eris |
Samsung Moment |
T-Mobile G1 |
| Open Source | iPhone | iPhone | Yes | iPhone | iPhone |
| App Store | Appple’s App Store | Android Market | Android Market | Android Market | Android Market |
| Keyboard | Touchscreen | Touchscreen Slide-out QWERTY |
Touchscreen HTC Sense UI |
Touchscreen Slide-out QWERTY |
Touchscreen Slide-out QWERTY |
| Multitasking | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS Navigation | AT&T Navigator (subscription) | Google Maps Navigation (Free) | Verizon Navigator (subscription) | Sprint Navigation (subscription) | TeleNav GPS Navigator (subscription) |
| Camera | 3 MP | 5 MP | 5 MP | 3.2 MP | 3.2 MP |
| Removable Battery | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Upfront Cost | $199.99 (16 GB) w/ 2-year activation with AT&T | $149.99 after instant discount w/ new VZW contract | $19.99 w/ new VZW contract | $149.99 w/ new Sprint contract | $119.99 w/ new T-Mobile contract |
| Cell Phone Plans (unlimited voice, data and messaging) | $149.99 | $149.99 | $149.99 | $99.99 | $99.99 |
| Total Cost of Ownership (24 months) | $3,800 | $3,750 | $3,620 | $2,550 | $2,520 |
Like we said, this chart should just get you started. Note that for the TCO, taxes and other fees aren’t included – and with some of these phones (like the HTC Droid Eris) we listed our current promotional discounts as of December 29, 2009. There are also some differences that you aren’t apparent just from looking at the specs. For instance, the Motorola Droid has the same megapixels as the HTC Droid Eris, but many users report that the Motorola Droid’s camera is buggy (slated to be fixed with Android 2.1) while the HTC Droid Eris’s pictures come out a little bit nicer. You might also want to consider the HTC Hero, which is T-Mobile’s version of the HTC Droid Eris.
Our suggestion: find out what’s most important to you. Budget? Keyboard? Carrier? Once you determine that, use the chart to eliminate two or three options. Then, carefully read our specs and reviews to make your final decision.
Related posts:
- Cell phone comparison: HTC Droid Eris vs. HTC Hero (both with Google Android)
- Droid + Google Android > iPhone
- Cell Phone Plans Comparison: Android vs. iPhone | Verizon vs. Sprint vs. AT&T
- Cell Phone Comparison: Motorola Droid vs. T-Mobile G1
- Cell Phone Comparison: Motorola Droid vs. Motorola Devour
- Top 10 Verizon Wireless Upgrades
- Android Fans: Don’t Count Out the HTC Droid Eris
- Android to iphone: A Comparison
- Some More Signs That the iPhone is under Attack from Android
- Meet the Motorola Backflip: AT&T’s First Android Phone
January 3rd, 2010 at 11:51 am
Hey,
How do I get rid of the Google ads so I can view your nice chart?
January 4th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Hi Len, thanks for commenting. Not sure what the issue is – the chart shows up fine for me on Firefox. What browser are you using?