Recommend me an Android handset

[jelock]

Currently looking at getting a new phone and will most likely get an Android based phone. Im looking at the HTC Desire HD.

Anyone got any feedback on this handset (the only real issue I have so far heard about is battery life) or could recommend another one?

 

[Dags90]

I prefer my HTC Aria, it actually fits in my pocket. If you carry a purse then I guess size isn't a big issue (My sister got a Galaxy S for this reason), but I think a lot of people overlook the downsides of a big phone screen.

HTC Sense on Android is pretty awesome, though. Battery life for most smartphones is pretty "eh" depending on use, but they pretty much all get through a full day of reasonable use.

 

[Sethzard]

HTC Desire is brilliant, I'm not sure about the HD because I haven't tried it

 

[Mr Shrike]

I know someone with an HTC HD2, and let me tell you, that thing is like a fucking monolith. It barely fits in his pocket. However, it runs very smoothly and the battery is alright for a day if you're careful.

Personally, I have an HTC HD mini. It's shit. Don't get it, seriously. It lags up and actually runs some form of Windows Mobile. It's got no good apps and, although the hardware is brilliant, the software lets it down massively.

 

[SoulChaserJ]

First off what cell provider do you have?

Second off, unless you need a phone today, wait for the LTE/4G phones to actually get out there. Why buy a phone that will be invalidated in the short span of a few months.

Thirdly, and this is my opinion so don't take it as more than that. Avoid all HTC phones like the plague. Go Samsung, Moto(which are also problematic with blur), LG, hell anyone but HTC.

Lastly, if you can manage it get a phone that doesn't sport that handset manufacturer's UI. HTC has "Sense", Moto has "Blur", all of them SUCK. Stock Android is and always will be the best(and easiest to hack).

 

[lukey94]

The best ones out there have to be the Desire and the Nexus One, both of them are top quality, and are probably the exact equivalent of the iPhone 4, coming from a ios4 and Android user, i'd much rather have an Android just for the shear fact you can actually make it your own.

Ignore Soulchaser, HTC have the best ones out there as long as you avoid certain mistakes, Samsung's and Moto's are absolute crap half the time. Sense is the best UI out there.

 

[Dags90]

Second off, unless you need a phone today, wait for the LTE/4G phones to actually get out there. Why buy a phone that will be invalidated in the short span of a few months.

That's dependent on so many factors, like where the OP lives. 4G is still being rolled out in a lot of places. So it'd hardly "invalidate" his phone. You can also turn off Sense UI if you don't like it. The real boon for stock Android is that you get updates faster, but then you run into the problems involved with running new software on old hardware (some lag, battery issues, hardware compatibility).

 

[jelock]

Sorry, yeah should have mentioned I live in the UK. However my operator is not an issue as I am buying the handset unlocked.

 

[3AM]

Although I really love what my HTC Evo can do, I hate that the battery is so bad I can't get through a day without charging it. I can get through the day without power if all I do is let the device sit or just use the phone, but if I text, use the web, play a game or listen to music, my battery drains like a sieve. I bought an after-market battery which is a little better but still I have to keep my phone plugged in to use all it's features. I have a friend with the Samgung Galaxy and he's quite happy with both the capabilities of the phone and battery life. I am jealous and looking to get rid of my HTC phone and will probably never buy an HTC device again.

 

[SoulChaserJ]

Sorry, yeah should have mentioned I live in the UK. However my operator is not an issue as I am buying the handset unlocked.

Checkout AndroidCentral(http://www.androidcentral.com) or one of the other many many android sites. You'll find more information than you ever needed to know about Android devices.

Just keep in mind that if you do go with a phone that doesn't run stock android there will be garbage running on your phone that you can't stop or get rid of.

 

[TheColdHeart]

I have the HTC Desire and it works pretty well on Android still getting to grips with it so I'm no expert. It took me a while to get all the settings and stuff right so my battery didn't just melt away in a few hours but now I can get 2ish days out of it on normal useage.

 

[jelock]

Sorry, yeah should have mentioned I live in the UK. However my operator is not an issue as I am buying the handset unlocked.

Checkout AndroidCentral(http://www.androidcentral.com) or one of the other many many android sites. You'll find more information than you ever needed to know about Android devices.

Just keep in mind that if you do go with a phone that doesn't run stock android there will be garbage running on your phone that you can't stop or get rid of.

How can I tell if a phone is running stock version? I realise that HTC runs Sense which is modified, but if I look at other handsets what should I look for?

 

[SoulChaserJ]

How can I tell if a phone is running stock version? I realise that HTC runs Sense which is modified, but if I look at other handsets what should I look for?

This is one of those instances where research pays off. All Motorola phones except the original Droid run their blur on top of Android. All HTC phones except the G1 and Nexus one run Sense. Samsung phones run Touchwiz except the Nexus S(which is stock) and I think most if not all LG phones run their own UI as well.