Best Windows Phone for Nexus 4 owner?

[OrsenPike]

Hey. So today I dropped my Nexus 4 and cracked the screen :( While I like the N4 there are some things I do not like that much about it as well. I owned every iPhone from 1 to 4S before I switched to my Nexus in january this year so I am thinking of giving Windows Phone 8 a try as I really like the design and using the demo phones in store they are very nice.

 

I don't really use many apps on my phone so the lack of apps is not a huge deal for me however I will list out the apps I do use most often so that I can get some feedback from you guys about WP8 alternatives.

 

WhatsApp, Bus Checker (UK bus stop/maps app), Amazon UK, Wikidroid (generic Wikipedia app), IMDb, Facebook, Hacker News (YCombinator), BaconReader (reddit client), Barclays Banking App, Google Keep (todo list), BBC Weather, BBC News, National Rail (train status/booking app), Pedometer, Trainline (another train app similar to National Rail), Skype, Twitter. Plus the usual Google apps like Maps, Calandar, etc.

 

I use Gmail however I am more than happy to switch to Outlook.com for all my email/calandar/contacts.

 

What I am wonder is which is the best phone for an N4 owner? I am looking for something about the same size physically. I am not too bothered about the tech specs (screen res, cpu, gpu, etc.) with exception of a semi decent camera (although the N4 camera is pretty poor really).

 

The flagship phones are obviously the Nokia Lumia phones however the HTC ones look quite nice as well.

 

All feedback is welcome. I am looking for the good and the bad about the phones and WP8 as an OS in general. Android and iOS are good but not great so I don't expect WP8 to be perfect either. I mainly use my phone for texting (WhatsApp mostly), email, browsing the web with Chrome, reading reddit and Hacker News, watching trailers on IMDb and the occasional video when on the train, looking things up on Wikipedia and checking FB although I am not a heavy FB user so that isn't a big issue. I also use it as an iPod replacement but I assume the built in music app in WP8 is as good as on Android.

 

So what are your opinions people? :)

[mrmomoman]

I think you should consider the Lumia 925 as it has almost the same size feel and the updated software from WP on it. Nokia HERE seems to work well for the UK as far as the bus/stops from what I have read. Correct me if I am wrong. 

 

Whatsapp, FB, BBC News, Skype and Twitter are for sure on WP8 and the experience is actually very good now. WP8 is getting a lot of attention and the Major Apps are coming or have arrived and will continue to be built. Instagram will arrive soon too I think. But there are alternatives.

 

Many people who are open to the idea of discovery of apps will find many similar apps in the WP app store that fits their needs for the most part. Nothing is perfect and unfortunately iOS gets all the major apps first and will continue to do so. 

 

I am waiting for my Lumia 1020 and currently am playing around with the Lumia 925 and really like the phone a lot. The camera on it is really fantastic and should be strongly considered when looking for your next phone. 

 

I have the HTC One, iPhone 5, Lumia 928, Lumia 925(temp maybe) and pre-ordered the Lumia 1020. I like to play around with phones and really like the WP8 experience. I am kinda of tiring of the HTC One already(It's android in general). iPhone 5 is kept because there are a key apps work related that keeps me on the iOS currently. 

 

The screen and the ability to control the saturation levels via the app from Nokia on the Lumia 925 is really a great feature. I like mine a little saturated and bright. The screen is very good. The weight and the feel is premium and its still so fluid. 

 

The Camera is better than my iPhone 5 and HTC One. I am an avid photographer and that is the reason I want to try out the Lumia 1020. I can't wait. :) 

 

Good luck.

[vcfan]

 

 

WhatsApp, yes 

Bus Checker (UK bus stop/maps app), paid app,and 3rd party ones, and nokia HERE

Amazon UK, yes

Wikidroid (generic Wikipedia app), 3rd party 

IMDb,  yes

Facebook, yes  

Hacker News (YCombinator), 3rd party(Hacker News) 

BaconReader (reddit client),  yes,Baconit

Barclays Banking App, don't know

Google Keep (todo list), don't know

BBC Weather, don't know

BBC News, tons of 3rd party

National Rail (train status/booking app), don't know 

Pedometer, yes

Trainline (another train app similar to National Rail), yes,official app 

Skype, yes

Twitter. yes

Plus the usual Google apps like Maps, Calandar, etc. google maps few nice 3rd party apps,

 

go to windowsphone.com and you can search for apps

[+LogicalApex MVC]

Recommending a phone is always a very tough thing since we don't know you in person. Just to throw it out there, you can generally get the Nexus 4 repaired by LG for around $150 so that may be cheaper than buying a new device depending on how you're acquiring the device (such as Craigslist or some other used scenario).

 

If you go Windows Phone I'd strongly recommend sticking to Nokia as they offer the best first party support for Windows Phone, at least they did when I left the platform. You'll end up with a better experience via the app selection and them attempting to add functionality to the device over the course of a year or two. That matters to me, not sure how much it matters to you.

 

The best advice I can give you is to buy the device from a place with a very good return policy (as close to 30 days or longer as you can get with as little a restocking fee as possible) and use it yourself and see what you like and don't like. That will be the only real way to discern if the device will work well for you. Windows Phone has its limitations and they aren't always a problem. I'm happier having left the platform, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't be happier migrating to it. The thing Windows Phone excels in it does better than anyone else, but the things is doesn't do so well in it also does worse than almost any other platform. So you really have to figure out how often you run into those walls and how much of a burden they are for you (as you need to do for every platform).

[vcfan]

Lumia 925

 

[OrsenPike]

Thanks for the replies so far. The 925 is a little too expensive for me at the moment. I am looking at the Lumia 520 and 620. Both seem like pretty good phones for the price. It isn't as powerful as the N4 by a long shot but I don't really need the power for the basics things I do. I am not a big game player. The 520 is cheaper at ?124.95 and has a 4" screen compared to ?169 for the 620 with a 3.8" screen. I think I will pop into town tomorrow and try them both out.

[Deihmos]

I find it hard to recommend to anyone buying a Windows Phone. It isn't there as yet and I am not sure if it will ever get there. You should be able to get the htc phones really cheap right now. The demand is low. 

[jakem1]

I'd recommend a Lumia as well. There are a few to choose from but the 925 is a pretty nice looking phone if you don't mind having 16GB of storage.

To add to vcfan's app list, Barclay's are currently working on an official app and Rail Planner is a great National Rail app.

Thanks for the replies so far. The 925 is a little too expensive for me at the moment. I am looking at the Lumia 520 and 620. Both seem like pretty good phones for the price. It isn't as powerful as the N4 by a long shot but I don't really need the power for the basics things I do. I am not a big game player. The 520 is cheaper at ?124.95 and has a 4" screen compared to ?169 for the 620 with a 3.8" screen. I think I will pop into town tomorrow and try them both out.

Whoops, I see you posted at the same time as me. I think you'll find that the 520/620 feel at least as fast as a Nexus 4 because Windows Phone is so smooth and snappy.

[OrsenPike]

I am pretty sure I am going to pick up either a 520 or a 620. Not sure which yet. Will have to try them out in store and see which I prefer.

[jakem1]

Have you seen this video:

http://wmpoweruser.com/nokias-full-windows-phone-8-range-all-in-one-video/

[OrsenPike]

So I popped into Phones4U this morning to play with the 520 and 620 and really didn't like either of them. Luckily the guy in the store let me trade in my broken Nexus 4 for ?150 so I picked up a Galaxy 4S and S View Cover :D It is amazing!

[L1520]

Lumia 925

 

My thoughts exactly.  I have a lumia 920 & I really want the 925 for lighter chassis, improved AMOLED screen & improved battery life, a better camera lens & GDR2 out the box :-)

So I popped into Phones4U this morning to play with the 520 and 620 and really didn't like either of them. Luckily the guy in the store let me trade in my broken Nexus 4 for ?150 so I picked up a Galaxy 4S and S View Cover :D It is amazing!

Shame mate, should've stuck with it - it took me about a week to get used to Windows Phone (7.5 as it was then), after that I loved it...I went back to Android for a few months as technology moved on, hated the laggy nature / inconsistent UI (galaxy nexus & galaxy note 2), now I am back with WP (8 this time) and I'm sticking with Nokia & WP from now on.

[L1520]

I find it hard to recommend to anyone buying a Windows Phone. It isn't there as yet and I am not sure if it will ever get there. You should be able to get the htc phones really cheap right now. The demand is low. 

Its had a faster pace of improvement from launch relative to Android has had. I work in IT, and I see businesses shifting all the time from iPhone corporate agreements, to WP company-wide employee contracts.  Traction is picking up very well now.