Which is the best Smartphone?

05.16.13: I have revised my smartphone comparison chart for current products from Rogers, Bell and Telus.

Bottom Line: Samsung Galaxy S4 is the best product available today. 

04.08.13: An update comparison between the leading smartphones, a few days ago.

Depending on your needs, it is getting more difficult to determine the best smartphone for your needs.

What stands out in this chart:
1. Talk time - iPhone is much lower - very important
2. Speed - difficult to determine - not important
3. Camera (front) - iPhone not as good, (Back) - equal
4. Texting - about equal

What is not in this chart is even more important to me, as a daily smartphone user who has almost replaced his computer with the phone - Interchangeable battery.

There are three main things that dramatically reduce time between battery charging:
1. screen brightness
2. using Network (wi-fi)
3. using GPS

If you aren't very careful, battery life will not last the whole day.

iPhone is the only one (of the major smartphones) not allowing you to change the battery. 

Here are 10 tips to conserve battery charge. 



12.04.12: This item outlines the Bell iPhone 4S and Galaxy Note and the Rogers iPhone 4S and Galaxy Note.


It also includes Bell and Rogers 4G and LTE offerings. Hopefully, it doesn't add to your confusion.

I have now had time to adjust to non Apple interface.
It took a while ... now understand why those who are Apple stay Apple.


Samsung is the leading maker of Android (non Apple) smartphones. Their newest entry into the cell phone space is the Note.


There are a few reasons I prefer the Galaxy Note: interchangeable battery, larger screen and resolution, ease of transferring data to/from a PC.


Some of the best Apple apps are not available in Android models yet ... but sure to appear in the future.
I will outline useful Android apps in future blog items. 

Here are the specifications for the iPhone 4 and the newest iPhone 4S. 
Pls note the very small front camera (for Skype, Google Talk, etc) for 4 and 4S.

Here is a comparison of iPhone 4S and Galaxy Note.


I'll let you draw your own conclusions on which is better for you.

Bell is offering 4G-LTE in most major areas.


Here is a diagram showing GTA areas a this time.


From what I can tell, at this time, it appears both have very similar coverage and comparable speed.

Rogers has "LTE beyond 4G" in larger city areas (including Markham and Mississauga).




LTE - Long Term Evolution. It is the new international standard for next generation wireless networks, as defined by the International Telecommunications Union.

LTE enables faster HD video streaming, gaming, communications, transactions and other connected experiences through mobile Internet. 

LTE allows significantly more data to pass through a network at speeds of up to 150 Mbps and it will become the foundation in a world defined by connected experiences.

4G - Is the fourth generation of cellphone mobile communications. It is not available yet. It will allow mobile ultra-braodband speed between smartphones and wireless laptops. HD TV steaming, and other high speed transmissions will appear seamless.


To add some confusion, LTE is not really 4G speed but it is close.
Both major carriers are inaccurate and confusing their customers by using LTE with 4G. Rogers is worse by indicating their LTE is "beyond" 4g.


Both are really offering 3GPP Long Term Evolution ... better than standard 3G speed.


LTE Advanced (LTE-A) will appear, eventually, and will be true 4G compliant.


From Wikipedia:
"The first release of the 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard does not completely fulfill the ITU 4G requirements called IMT-Advanced. 
First release LTE is not backwards compatible with 3G, but is a pre-4G or 3.9G technology, however sometimes branded "4G" by the service providers. 
Its evolution LTE Advanced is a 4G technology. 
WiMAX is another technology verging on or marketed as 4G."