Consumer Reports: iPhone 5 vs. Android
»Play Video
Consumer Reports has just finished testing the iPhone 5. With 4G, it’s now as fast as the fastest Android phones, but there are still plenty of differences. Consumer Reports puts all phones through their paces, assessing each one’s features and options.
First up, the display. Everyone wants a big screen to watch movies, play games, and use apps. Though the iPhone 5’s 4-inch screen is Apple’s biggest yet, it can’t compare with the screens on many Android phones.
Voice-control is another area of competition. The Android capabilities are quite good, though they’re no match for Siri, which can understand and execute more complex commands.
Next up, the navigation. Android phones offer more detailed maps, better traffic info, and more customization. Apple has a few glitches, and until those are worked out, Android carries the day.
With everyone using their phone to take pictures, how do the cameras affect your Apple-or-Android choice? Though the iPhone and some Android phones have the ability to take panoramic photos, Consumer Reports finds that when it comes to photo and video quality, the iPhone 5 outperforms Android.
What if you want to talk on the phone and connect to the Internet over the cellular network at the same time? All 4G phones can do that, but not the iPhone 5 on Verizon or Sprint.
So although the iPhone 5 gets many things right, a lot of the top-rated Android phones do too, making them worth consideration.
Due to significant improvements over the iPhone 4S, the new iPhone 5 has moved way up in Consumer Reports’ ratings. It is now among the top-rated phones, along with the Samsung Galaxy S-3 and the Motorola Razr.
Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports’ website. Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org.
Consumer Reports have become too political for me. I used to like them till they started with the editorials which shows they are biased. Now I can't trust them because of their bias.
The biggest difference between the iPhone and Android phones is that the iPhone actually works. In 3 years I had 3 iPhones and never had a problem with any one of them, but made the mistake of switching to Android 2 years ago. I've gone through 3 different phones (high end phones, not garbage free ones) and never had more problems with a smart phone than with those. Constant lock-ups, crashes, having to force close non working apps along with many other issues. I can honestly say I will never buy another Android phone. The OS is good. The Hardware implementation is garbage.
 @Ramsesthegreat I prefer the iPhone as well. It is simply more refined and in my opinion, superior.
 @Torino  @RamsesthegreatÂ
Â
I like the iPhone also. Especially the integration with all my other devices.
Â
My wife and I use Notes all the time. We add stuff on to the shopping list and when one of us is at a store we look at the Notes for shopping and get stuff on the list. Very convenient and practical.
Â
iCal is another nice feature. We put in an appointment and it updates all of our other devices.
 @Repoman    @Torino  @RamsesthegreatÂ
I like using computers and not fixing them. While there are some things that I would like to change they are minor.
Â
If I want to do stuff I can use the UNIX terminal. There are tons of UNIX programs out there that are written for all kinds of applications.
Â
I also use Apple Script for controlling applications and making them do things that speed up processes and automate things.
Â
Currently I am running Ubuntu, OSX and Windows 7 all on the same machine, all at the same time.
 @RalphCramden  @Torino  @Ramsesthegreat
Â
As a person in technology, that integration actually turns me off.Â
Â
Kinda like if you're a motorhead, you want to customize what's under the hood and know how it works and change it if you want to.
Â
Apple does not allow that. As such I could not ever see myself buying an Apple product.
Â
It's also no fun trying to support Apple products either.
Â
Oh and I HATE iTunes LOL
Â